What to Buy and What Not to Buy in December

Check This List Twice

Holiday shopping is gearing up to the point of frenzy — even if things look a bit different this year thanks to the pandemic — and just about everything appears to be on sale. While this might tempt some shoppers to buy things they weren't planning on, savvy consumers know that seemingly ubiquitous discounting doesn't necessarily make this the best moment to make a purchase. What, then, should consumers buy in December? And what should they skip? Read on, then check out Cheapism's Unique Gift Ideas roundup for inspiration on what to give everyone from couch potatoes and co-workers to teens and grandkids this holiday season.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_1_fs — ValeStock/shutterstock

Toys

Just don't rush out right this second to buy all the goodies for under the tree. The best toy deals of the year are yet to come. Early to mid-December is historically the best time to buy — right in the midst of the holiday shopping season and before last-minute shoppers drive prices back up.

man buying a large tv — Philip Pacheco/Stringer/Getty Images News/Getty Images North America

TVs

Black Friday is the best time to score deals on electronics, but December is still a great time to buy TVs. Ultra-high-definition 4K TVs, and even some OLEDs, are seeing major discounts this holiday shopping season. Shoppers looking for something cheaper can also snag a regular HDTV for a bargain price in December. Blu-ray movies and DVDs are reduced, too.

Kitchen Items

Planning to spend a lot of time in the kitchen over the holidays? Kitchen items are typically marked way down in December. Even if you don't expect to cook much this season, a mixer makes a good gift for the in-laws.

Tools

Black Friday has proved in recent years to be the best time to buy tools. However, don't discredit December. The whole month is still an ideal time to buy tools — particularly wrench, screwdriver, and drill sets — for the handy people on your holiday shopping list.

Holiday Goods

Dec. 26 is the time to start buying Christmas decor for next year. And if you haven't had enough Christmas candy by late December, pick some up for cheap.

Gift Cards

Many restaurants and some retailers looking to close out the year on a high note offer free gift cards to customers who spend a certain amount buying gift cards for others. A recent report from WalletHub highlights some of the gift cards that offer the best value.

Champagne

With New Year's Eve right around the corner, champagne drinkers have much to cheer about. December is the season of high demand but still the best time to stock up on cheap champagne, as stores vying for all that celebratory business lower their prices on the bubbly stuff.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_9_fs — Kei Shooting/shutterstock

Wedding Dress

Some big-ticket items are better buys than others in December. With the wedding season at a near standstill this month, dress vendors are looking to make a sale — any sale — so discounts abound.

A Home

If you're in the market for a new home, try to buy in December. Many sellers take properties off the market for the holidays, and those who don't are truly motivated, which means more negotiating leverage for buyers.

Another Car (Loan) Wreck — jetcityimage/istockphoto

Cars

December is also a good time to negotiate a deal on a car. With the year coming to an end, dealerships are ready to cut prices, and many offer exceptionally good deals on New Year's Eve.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_12_fs — Ollinka/shutterstock

Seasonal Produce

When it comes to stocking the refrigerator or freezer, don't be fooled by the cold temperatures. Many fruits and vegetables are in season and cheap. Try incorporating beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, kale, leeks, onions, potatoes, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash into holiday dishes. Seasonal fruits include clementines, grapefruit, kiwi, lemons, limes, mandarins, oranges, pears, and tangerines.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_13_fs — Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Holiday Food

National Pie Day, Eggnog Day, Candy Cane Day, Champagne Day, and Cookie Day all fall in December. Look for sales and treat yourself or pick up these seasonal favorites for cheap to share with the family.

Wait: Pricier Electronics

Digital cameras, tablets, laptops, and the like are big holiday purchases for many folks but unfortunately not the best deals in December. The biggest discounts historically appear in November for Black Friday and again in January, when new models will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the previous year's models are marked down.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_14_fs — Serghei Starus/shutterstock

Wait: Gym Membership

With many people making New Year's resolutions to lose weight, gyms have no incentive to discount memberships. The coronavirus is another big reason to hold off on buying a gym membership. Better to wait until the weather gets nice again and people take their workouts outside.

Related: 10 Ways to Work Out at Home and Stay Motivated

Wait: Winter Gear

As a general rule of thumb, most products are discounted when they go out of season. Items such as skis and snow blowers are still very much in demand in December, so hold off on those.

112816_best_december_deals_slide_16_fs — Hadrian/shutterstock

Wait: Jewelry

Put off purchases of jewelry and watches in December. They're popular holiday gifts, so jewelers aren't hurting for business and are therefore less likely to feature deals or discounts.

Wait: Winter Apparel

Most winter clothing is still tagged at close to full price in December. Sure, prices may start to dip the day after Christmas, but that still isn't the best time to buy. Consider waiting until January or even February, when demand is down and retailers are eager to unload inventory, although the selection is more limited.

Wait: Linens

Linens aren't high on many gift-shopping lists, so they aren't typically on sale as the holidays approach. Many department stores host their annual white sales in January, so don't shop for linens and towels just yet.

Wait: Furniture

Furniture is also a no-no in December. It's not until January that retailers get eager to clear the showroom for new products released in February.

Wait: Calendars

Retailers are well aware that most people want a calendar for next year before Jan. 1, so discounts are few and far between. For people who can briefly manage to stay organized without one, there are better deals in January.