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Walmart just announced a rival Amazon Prime Day sale in October: What to know about the Holiday Deals event
Amazon’s October Prime Day sale is right around the corner, but it’s not the only holiday kickoff sale you need to know about. Walmart’s competing sale, the Holiday Deals event, will be held from Oct. 8-13 this year. It will include must-see deals on electronics, home, fashion, the best toys of Christmas 2024 and more. We’re talking top brands like Sony, Lego, Bissell and more.
Learn more about Walmart’s rival October Prime Day sale ahead.
When is Walmart’s October Prime Day sale, the Holiday Deals event?
Paid Walmart+ members get exclusive early access to the Holiday Deals event on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at midnight ET. That’s 12 hours earlier than the general public.
Everyone else can shop the sale online starting October 8 at 12 p.m. ET; the sale starts in stores on Wednesday, October 9. The sale goes through October 13, meaning there are six days of deals to shop, unlike Amazon’s two days.
Do you need to be a Walmart+ member to shop the Walmart Holiday Deals event?
Unlike Amazon’s sale, you don’t need to be a Walmart+ member to get the lowest price. That said, paid Walmart+ members get to shop the Holiday Deals event early, giving you access to deals that might otherwise be sold out by the time the general public can shop.
Right now, you can start a 30-day free trial of Walmart+, or sign up annually for $98. If you’re on government assistance, you can even get 50% off. Note that to gain early access to these deals, you need to be a paying member of Walmart+.
Walmart+ offers free two-day shipping on purchases made on Walmart.com, plus a host of other discounts on prescription drugs, gasoline and more. Walmart+ members can also get same-day delivery of purchases from their local store (where available), including groceries like milk and eggs.
Walmart+ subscribers also receive access to the Paramount+ streaming service at no extra cost. The included plan is the ad-supported Paramount+ Essential tier, perfect for watching NFL games live this fall.
For some relief to your bank account, consider becoming a Walmart+ member for a discount on gas. Walmart+ members get 10 cents off of gas at more than 14,000 Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, & Murphy stations nationwide. You simply scan the QR code that appears on the Walmart gas station pump screen to get started and save cash. Walmart+ members can also enjoy member prices at Sam’s Club fuel centers.
If Walmart+ members buy tires at Walmart, they can get free flat tire repair at Walmart’s Auto Care Centers and will receive a free road hazard warranty. Since Walmart tends to have tons of major tire deals throughout the year, this is a nice benefit for Walmart+ members living near a Walmart Auto Care Center (they are typically attached to Walmart stores).
What will be on sale at Walmart’s competing October Prime Day event?
Walmart has already announced some of what will be included in the Holiday Deals event in October. Some highlights include:
- 98″ Roku TV: $1,498
- Lego Disney Stitch toy building kit: $52, was $65 ($13 savings)
- Bissell Little Green Pro portable carpet cleaner: $109, was $153 ($44 savings)
- GTRacing gaming chair with footrest and adjustable headrest: $100, was $250 ($150 savings)
- Better Homes and Gardens Farm Apple Pumpkin scented wooden wick jar candle (14 oz.): $5, was $11 ($6 savings)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Delivery Van: $29, was $49.15 ($20 savings)
- Frigidaire refrigerator, Platinum Series with stainless look: $198, was $499 ($301 savings)
- Ororo Heated Fleece Hoodie for men and women with battery: $105, was $150 ($45 savings)
- Restored Apple MacBook Air bundle: $226, was $279 ($53 savings)
- Dr. J Professional HEPA air purifier: $70, was $180 ($110 savings)
- 24V two-seater ride-on Ford Bronco Raptor with remote control: $330, was $500 ($170 savings)
- MSI thin 15.6-inch i5 3050 16GB/512GB gaming laptop: $599, was $699 ($100 savings)
- Sharpie permanent markers limited-edition set, assorted colors (60 ct.): $39, was $49 ($10 savings)
- Hart 215 piece mechanics tool set, multiple drive: $98, was $158 ($60 savings)
- Swisstech 24-inch Excursion travel duffel, Blue/Grey: $5, was $35 ($30 savings)
- George men’s long sleeve tees: $5, was $7 ($2 savings)
- Wonder Nation boys jeans and girls fashion jeggings: $10, was $14 ($4 savings)
The best deals at Walmart ahead of its rival October Prime Day sale
Walmart always has great deals, so there’s no need to wait until the Holiday Deals event to score steals on tech, home goods and more. Check out some of the best deals available at Walmart now.
Samsung 65″ QN90C Neo QLED 4K smart TV: $1,298 (save 54%)
If you’re looking for a TV that brings your movies and games to life, the 2023 Samsung QN90C is definitely worth checking out. Samsung fans love this TV for its Quantum Dot tech and HDR+, which make everything pop with deep blacks, bright whites and colors that look so real you’ll feel like you’re right there.
One of the coolest things about this TV is its AI upscaling. It can take older shows and movies that aren’t in 4K and make them look way sharper and more detailed. So, even if you’re bingeing on some classic sitcoms or old-school flicks, the TV’s technology will make them look better than ever. Plus, the anti-glare screen is a lifesaver if you’ve got a lot of light in your room.
Another great feature is the wide viewing angle. No more fighting over who gets to sit in the sweet spot! Everyone can enjoy a great view from anywhere on the couch. And with the Object Tracking Sound+, the audio follows the action on the screen.
Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones: Save $115
Right now, the Sony WH-1000XM5s are Sony’s top-of-the-line consumer headphones that offer noise canceling and spatial audio. They feature up to a 30-hour battery life and produce incredibly clear and robust audio.
One feature we love about these headphones is their support for DSEE Extreme. This tech upscales compressed digital audio files in real time to restore sounds that would otherwise be lost to compression. These headphones also support multipoint connectivity and Google’s Fast Pair feature.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones offer superior sound quality and use Sony’s noise-cancellation technology to eliminate unwanted ambient noise. When supported, the 360 Reality Audio sounds terrific.
These headphones are currently $285, reduced from $400.
LG 65″ OLED Evo C2 4K UHD smart TV: Save $908
This 65-inch LG Evo C2 OLED TV offers a bright and particularly brilliant screen that can display more than one billion colors with satisfying contrast. This makes for a lifelike viewing experience from a TV that was originally released back in 2002.
This model uses LG’s a7 Gen5 AI Processor 4K to automatically optimize picture and sound quality. Plus, you get support for Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos.
This LG OLED smart TV runs using WebOS and has a slim profile and sleek design. If you’re looking for a TV that fits into more modern decor, this one is the perfect size for an average-sized room. And if you buy it now, you can save $908 on your purchase.
Samsung Q-Series Q900C 11.1.4ch wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar and rear speakers: Save $874
Here’s your chance to save big when you purchase this bestselling Samsung Q900C surround sound system. It’s designed to work seamlessly with any Samsung smart TV, but it’s also compatible with any other smart TV from any brand.
Imagine filling your TV room with 22 powerful speakers designed to wrap you in sound. Well, you can expect that and more from the Samsung Q-Series Q990C surround sound system.
The soundbar alone offers 11 front-facing speakers. Using the Adaptive Sound function, the Q990C optimizes audio in real-time to ensure dialogue can be heard clearly. For gamers, thanks to the Game Mode Pro feature, when you plug in a gaming console, the sound system automatically adjusts to provide the most immersive audio possible when playing your favorite games.
Whether you’re watching TV, movies or sports, the Q990C offers a loud, clear and overall impressive listening experience. Included with the system is a remote control and wall mounting kit.
This system is currently $1,025, reduced from $1,899.
Samsung 65″ Class OLED S90C 4K smart TV: $1,498 (save 55%)
This smart TV delivers stunning native 4K viewing and uses AI-powered upscaling to make lower-resolution content look sharper than ever.
Thanks to its OLED display, you’ll get remarkably deep blacks, vibrant colors and impressive brightness. HDR support adds crisp, smooth images. This is a slightly older model of this TV, but the S90 series continues to be a CBS Essentials favorite.
As with all Samsung TVs, you get plenty of free live and on-demand programming, provided by Samsung. When you pair this TV with any Samsung soundbar or surround sound system, you can take advantage of Q-Symphony to utilize both the TV’s built-in speakers and the speakers you connect to the TV to generate a much more robust sound.
Plus, you can easily connect your favorite console gaming system to the TV, or play online games via a service like Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass, using your favorite handheld controller that pairs directly to the TV.
Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum: Save $124
The Dyson V8 is a great vacuum, and one of the best, most reliable stick vacuums you’ll find when it comes to the Dyson line. It offers super powerful suction, lightweight maneuverability and more, with 40 minutes of run time per charge.
Not only does the vacuum look cool, but it has a great brush tool with a cleaner that can deep clean carpets and hard floors. It uses hair removal vanes to break through long hair and pet hair alike, so the vacuum won’t get tripped up when you run it.
It can convert to a small handheld vacuum that you can use to reach those tiny nooks and crannies all over your home. Plus, it comes with a set of four accessories you can use to make tidying up a bit easier.
If you need to clean up pet hair or other debris in hard-to-reach places, this stick vacuum can help get the job done. It’s on sale for $396, reduced from $520 now.
Idoo electric spin scrubber: $32 (save 71%)
Is your bathroom overdue for a cleaning? Bring a power scrubber into the mix and you’ll never have a better-looking shower and toilet — or kitchen, for that matter. Not only that, but letting this cleaning tool do all the grunt work for you will mean less fatigue and back pain in the long run.
This cordless electric cleaning brush has a motor that runs at 435 RPM to effortlessly cut through the most stubborn stains you can bring it. It’s great to be used anywhere you have tile, shower glass, hard floor, and patio furniture. Plus, it has five types of brush heads to facilitate better cleaning.
You can get it from Walmart for just $32, a huge 71% price cut from its list price of $110.
Vavsea immersion hand blender: $30 (save 70%)
This hand blender set offers incredible value for its price. It comes with four attachments, including a whisk (perfect for beating eggs), a blender (great for pureeing soups), a chopper (very effective at mincing garlic and onions) and a milk frother, the latter of which is essential for those of us who like to make our lattes cappuccinos at home.
The immersion blender also has 12 speed settings, allowing you to customize your mixes further, and a cup for the chopper setting. What’s more, all the attachments are dishwasher-safe.
The Vavsea immersion hand blender has a 4.4-star rating on Walmart. One reviewer said this product “deserves 10 stars,” adding: “I have no idea why it has taken me this long to get an immersion blender, but I’m glad this was my first one. I was so impressed with the power this thing has.”
This hand blender is currently, $30, reduced from $100.
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CDC confirms first severe bird flu case in the U.S.
A person in Louisiana has the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
Officials determined the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, though an investigation into the source of the infection in the state is ongoing. This is also the first case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. that has been linked to exposure to a backyard flock, a news release noted. Officials have not shared details on the patient’s symptoms.
The case was first confirmed by health officials Friday, adding to the total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. Another severe case of H5N1 has been reported in a teen in British Columbia.
A release from the Louisiana Department of Health Wednesday added the patient, a resident of southwestern Louisiana, is currently hospitalized. Until now, the H5N1 cases in the U.S. have been mild, including conjunctivitis and upper respiratory symptoms.
“While the current public health risk for the general public is low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk,” the state’s health department added.
Mild illnesses have been seen in dairy and poultry workers who had close contact with infected animals. In two cases, no known source of the illnesses have been identified, which has worried infectious disease experts about the possibility of human-to-human transmission, which could trigger a pandemic.
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Houston father desperate for help after wife recovering from C-section, kids deported to Mexico
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Are gold ETFs a good investment now that the price is dropping?
Gold has long served as a safe-haven asset for investors during times of economic uncertainty and market volatility, which is a large part of why it has been so popular over the past year. Thanks to that uptick in gold interest, the price of gold has been climbing throughout much of 2024 — hitting multiple record highs and surpassing $2,700 per ounce at one point late in the year. That price trend has been shifting lately, though, and over the last few weeks, there have been significant fluctuations in gold prices, with the price of gold dropping over the last few days in particular.
With gold’s price currently sitting at under $2,650 per ounce, today’s lower price is prompting many investors to reassess their positions in gold-related investments — including gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These investment vehicles, which track the price of gold without requiring physical ownership of the precious metal, have become increasingly popular among retail and institutional investors alike. Much of the appeal of gold ETFs lies in their simplicity and accessibility. Unlike physical gold, these funds can be easily bought and sold through standard brokerage accounts, offering investors a convenient way to gain exposure to gold price movements.
But while the current price dip could present a good opportunity to buy into gold at a discount, it makes sense to remain cautious about any type of investment right now. So is investing in gold ETFs still a good strategy now that the price of gold is slipping?
Find out how to add gold to your portfolio today.
Are gold ETFs a good investment now that the price is dropping?
When gold prices drop, it can create opportunities for investors to buy at a lower cost, potentially increasing their returns if prices rebound. Gold ETFs provide an easy way to capitalize on this strategy. Unlike physical gold, ETFs can be traded on stock exchanges just like equities, offering liquidity and convenience. They also eliminate the need for storage and security concerns associated with owning physical gold.
There are also a few other reasons to consider investing in gold ETFs despite the current price drops. For starters, gold ETFs offer an efficient way to implement dollar-cost averaging during price dips. By regularly investing fixed amounts, investors can potentially lower their average purchase price over time. This strategy can be particularly effective during periods of price volatility, allowing investors to accumulate positions at various price points.
And while gold prices may be dipping now, it’s unlikely that today’s lower prices will remain the status quo over the longer term. Gold prices have historically rebounded and grown over longer time horizons, so while the current price may be lower than it was a few weeks ago, it could represent a good entry point for long-term investors. That’s particularly true if the fundamental factors supporting gold prices remain intact, such as inflation concerns, currency devaluation risks and global economic uncertainties.
However, investors should consider that there are risks to investing in gold ETFs. One issue is that gold ETFs are subject to market volatility and may not provide immediate returns — so it’s important to make any investing decision based on your unique investment goals and strategy. Gold also generates no income or dividends, making it a pure price appreciation play. The opportunity cost of holding gold ETFs also becomes more significant in high-rate environments where yield-generating investments become more attractive.
Diversify your investments by adding gold to your portfolio now.
Who should invest in gold ETFs now?
While investing in gold ETFs may not make sense for all investors right now, it could be particularly suitable for certain types. For example, investors who need to diversify their portfolios may find gold ETFs attractive, as gold has historically shown a low correlation with traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds. So, the current price drop could present an opportunity to achieve portfolio diversification at more favorable prices.
Risk-conscious investors who are looking to hedge against inflation, currency risks or geopolitical uncertainties might also want to consider adding gold ETF exposure. After all, with the uptick in inflation over the last few months, gold’s historical role as a store of value remains relevant right now, despite the potential for short-term price volatility. Long-term investors might also find current prices attractive in terms of building strategic positions.
However, short-term traders and income-focused investors may want to exercise caution when it comes to gold ETFs. Gold’s price volatility can make short-term trading challenging, while the lack of yield may not align with income-oriented investment objectives.
The bottom line
The current drop in gold prices presents an intriguing opportunity for investors who are interested in gold ETFs, but it’s essential to weigh the potential risks and rewards of this type of gold investing carefully. Gold ETFs offer a convenient and liquid way to gain exposure to gold, making them a viable option for many investors, but they are just one of several ways to invest in this precious metal. Whether or not gold ETFs are the right choice for you will ultimately depend on your investment objectives, risk tolerance and overall portfolio strategy, so before you buy in, do your homework to make sure your decision aligns with your long-term goals.