Sooner or later just about everything goes on sale. Knowing when items are at their lowest prices and buying them before you need them is a shopping technique that can save you hundreds of dollars every year on all kinds of items from groceries to gifts!
Even people who never shop end up shopping this month. Feel better about your purchases by knowing what to buy and not to buy in December!
Best Things To Buy In December:
From the Grocery Stores:
- Turkey
The grocery stores are stocked up for the high turkey demand the holidays bring. That enables them to pass along the lowest prices of the year to their customers! Pick up a few extra turkeys to keep in your freezer for the months to come. A turkey sandwich is great any month! - Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap
Homemade baked goods make amazing gifts, and grocery stores will be ready with sales on the containers to put them in. Manufacturer’s also release high-value coupons on foil and plastic wrap now, too! It’s the perfect combination to produce stock-up prices! This stuff won’t spoil, so get enough to last several months. - Baking Supplies
Flour, sugar (white, brown & powdered), baking soda, corn meal, baking powder, cake/cookie/brownie mixes, frosting, chocolate chips, sprinkles, flavorings and extracts, nuts, evaporated milk and MORE are all at low prices in November and December. - Seasonal Foods
Canned pumpkin, cranberry sauce, Stove Top Stuffing, gravy (jar, canned & mixes), broth and canned dried onion toppings are some of the items to buy now.
In Season Produce
The cheapest produce in stores and at local farmer’s markets is always what’s in season. Here are December’s in-season fruits and veggies:
- Bananas
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cucumber
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Lemons
- Lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Onions
- Oranges
- Pears
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
Bicycles
With December bringing colder temperatures, buying a bike might be the last thing on your mind. However, now is the time to get the lowest price on bicycles. Buy now, ride later!
Cookware
November brought the lowest cookware prices, but the deals still continue into December. Search out the “sale” or “discontinued” or “clearance” cookware for the best prices.
Toys
Well, almost. Hold off on toy purchases until mid-month. December 11-24 will bring the lowest toy prices as stores try to clear out their Christmas inventory. Go ahead and get the must-have items on your wish list, but save those filler items or non-specific gift purchases for just before Christmas.
HDTVs
Black Friday may have offered the lowest prices on off-brand HDTVs, but the top-brand sets hit near Black Friday prices mid-December through February.
Movies on Blu-ray Disc
The Black Friday prices on Blu-ray discs continues into December. Add to your movie library or pick up a few for stocking-stuffers or gifts for friends.
Desktop Computers
The deals were on laptops last month, but in December you should be shopping for a desktop computer. Last year desktop prices dropped 40% from November to December!
Tools and Hardware
Items like drills, wrench and screwdriver sets, lawn tools and more are at their lowest prices this month. If Dad’s a handyman you might want to get his Christmas and Father’s Day gifts now!
Fall/Thanksgiving Decorations
Fall and Thanksgiving decor goes on clearance now! Choosing decorations with an autumn theme (instead of a more specific theme like Halloween) will stretch your decorating dollar further! Steer clear of the ghosts and jack-o-lanterns and opt for the no-faced pumpkins, haystacks and almost any accessory in the beautiful golden yellows, reds, and oranges of the season. Save time changing out decorations by display your autumn themed decor late September all the way through November next year.
Christmas Decorations
Buy only what you absolutely need before Christmas, because starting the day AFTER Christmas you’ll see deals everywhere on Christmas decor. December 26th is the day to get to stores early for the large, high priced Christmas items like trees and lawn decorations. You’ll save big and have some thing new for next year!
Jewelry Boxes
Jewelry boxes are an odd addition to our list. They aren’t necessarily at their lowest prices, but many stores ONLY stock them during the holiday season. So, if a specific style of jewelry box is on your wish list, now is when you’ll find the best selection in stores that will allow you to comparison shop. If you wait till later, you might not have much of a choice.
What NOT To Buy in December:
Here are a few of the items you’ll want to wait to purchase later:
Jewelry and Watches – Jewelry and watches are very popular gift choices. However, stores are not offering their lowest prices right now. If you really need a watch this month, you can find some deals from online deal sites like World of Watches. The department stores…not so much.
Calendars – Wait till next month for the lowest prices!
~ Happy December Bargain Shopping!
