The holidays are officially here. Tis the season to be shopping. If you didn’t get everything on your Christmas list on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, then you’ll most likely be strolling the malls or surfing the Internet well into December. In many cases, you’ll still see some great deals on Christmas gifts and essentials for holiday parties. Some items, however, won’t be going on sale until next year. So while December is, in general, a good month to shop, you won’t find everything deeply discounted.
What are some items to stock up on during December? Which items should you hold off on for several months until they go on sale? Read on for your December shopping guide to savings!
December’s best buys are all right here, so check them out!
Toys: While you saw great deals on toys on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don’t feel too bad if you missed out. New toys tend to come out in February, so you can bet that retailers will take advantage of this by having sales right before Christmas - specifically the middle two weeks - by dropping costs to Editor’s Choice prices. You’ll be able to find big brands, too, such as LEGO, Fisher-Price, Barbie, and Star Wars.
Gift cards: According to WalletHub, gift cards are 2017’s most wanted holiday gifts. Many retailers tend to offer gift card bundles with special purchases, particularly coupled with limited edition gaming sets or gift cards of specific increments bought from restaurants. Discounted gift cards up to 20% off are common this time of year, so keep your eyes peeled. Sites that sell discounted gift cards like Raise are a great place to shop as well.
Winter coats & jackets: Believe it or not, the best time to buy outerwear suitable for the cold is in right in the middle of it - not Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or at the end of it in January. You will see the cheapest prices in December, with up to 75% off these pieces as well as cold weather accessories. If you want to shop generic brands such as those you can find at Walmart, expect to see prices as low as $5.
Christmas decorations: These holiday decorations will experience a major price cut after Christmas, so starting December 26th, get your shopping carts ready. You can find Christmas inflatables, decorations, lights, and even real and artificial trees for up to 50% off. If you’re looking to save just before Christmas this year, we recommend heading over to Target in the days leading up to the holiday where you will find artificial trees at up to half the original price.
Older generations of iPhones: Last year, we saw all-time low prices on iPhone 6 by the end of 2016, and we’re expecting the same of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus this year. We hope retailers such as Best Buy will repeat their offer from last year- buy one, get one free contracts on the iPhone 7. Potentially, we could see this happen for the iPhone 8 this year.
Kitchen items: Chances are, you’ll be cooking and baking more in December. The good news is that kitchen utensils and other essentials will be at their lowest prices of the year. It’s a good idea to wait until December, especially if you’re looking for high-quality knives and bakeware. Editor’s Choice deals will be more prevalent in December.
Golf clubs: New golf clubs are released every year. Die-hard golfers only want the latest and greatest, but if you have someone on your list who doesn’t care that the clubs are a year old – as long as they are decent quality – then December is a great time to snag some golf clubs to place under the Christmas tree.
Cars: Considering a 2017 model? If so, December is the best time to buy, as car dealerships everywhere are unloading the 2017 models to make room for the shiny new 2018 models. To save the most money, schedule your car shopping for December 31st, when the average discount is 8.8%.
Tools: December is a great time to buy a tool set, wrench, or drill because many home and garden stores tend to have those tools still lying around after Black Friday has come and gone. Take advantage of these deals, but don’t wait too long. These items won’t stick around too long at these prices - $20 for circular saws! – so plan a visit to Lowe’s or Home Depot within the first two weeks of December.
Champagne: Get your glasses ready to toast because December is the best time of year to make moves on champagne. Retailers know shoppers will be stocking up for holiday festivities and to ring in the new year, so competition inevitably drives the prices in the only direction bargain shoppers love - down. You’ll want to shop during the second half of December for the best deals.
Pool: Pool companies hardly have any business this time of year, so if you decide to have a pool installed in December, expect to get an excellent deal. Wait until spring and the prices climb much higher. If you’ve been thinking of getting a pool for quite some time, consider one in December.
Stay away from these products this month - you'll regret it if you don't!
Electronics: Black Friday or Cyber Monday would have been a good opportunity to purchase new tech. If you missed your chance, just wait a few months longer. Once 2018 rolls around, there will be newer versions of computers and mobile devices and the 2017 models will go on clearance to make room.
Gym memberships and exercise equipment: Don’t expect any good deals in December but January when everyone is preparing to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions. Gyms will offer generous discounts on memberships at the start of 2018, and that also means deals on exercise equipment will be abundant compared to December.
Calendars: Some people have to be prepared for 2018 and therefore will want to buy a calendar in December. Just wait a few weeks. Once January rolls around, calendar prices will be dropping rapidly. By February, you’ll find them for a buck. Better yet, just use the calendar on your tablet or smartphone.
Jewelry: Many people expect pricey necklaces, rings, and bracelets this time of year. Unfortunately, their partners have to pay the price. Jewelers take advantage of this situation by charging high prices during the Christmas season, making huge sales rare this time of year. Expect better deals around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, so if you can, wait a few months.
Broadway show tickets: If you’re in New York and planning to attend a Broadway show in December, we suggest waiting until January for the return of Broadway Week. From January 16 to February 4, 2018, you can book BOGO free tickets to some hot Broadway shows. Tickets go on sale starting January 5th.
Shopping is inevitable in December; there’s no way around it. You’ll need last-minute gifts, food for Christmas dinner, supplies for your holiday party. - the list goes on. The goal is to get what you need without overspending, so we hope this guide was helpful!
