Best Things to Buy in December 2024 ­— and 5 Things to Skip

Black Friday is over, but the sales march on! Many retailers offer holiday discounts all the way through Christmas, so look for fantastic deals on toys, electronics, premium food gifts, and fall clothing. It’s also a great time to stock up on holiday decor, assuming you wait until after the holidays are over. Here are our picks for the best things to buy — and skip — in December.

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What to Buy in December 2024

Toys

With Christmas and Hanukkah just days away, you may be asking yourself whether toys really are a value buy in December? The answer is yes. Despite the increase in toy demand during the holiday season, many retailers, such as Walmart and Target, are offering eye-catching toy discounts to lure you to their stores. As a result, expect discounts and promotions to be an even larger focus this holiday season.

Toy Coupons

• Up to 50% off hundreds of toys at Target 
• Up to 50% off big toys at Walmart
• Shop the Holiday Toy List at Amazon

Fall Apparel

If shopping for toy deals in December seems counterintuitive, shopping for fall apparel makes perfect sense. Lower demand will drive down prices, and retailers will be doing everything they can to make room for winter and spring lineups. That means generous clothing markdowns on popular styles such as long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, boots, dresses, jeans, and more.

Apparel Deals

• Up to 50% off select sweaters at Macy’s
• Up to 85% off jackets, dresses, and more at Michael Kors
• Up to 83% off fall styles at J.Crew
• Up to 50% off coats and jackets at Kohl's

Electronics

Don’t worry if you missed out on last month’s smartphone deals or killer laptop sales. Retailers will be offering similar deals this December to court the next wave of holiday shoppers. Other items to keep an eye on are tablets, smartwatches, headphones, printers, and even TVs.

Electronics Deals

• Up to $850 off select smart TVs at Best Buy
• Get a free iPhone 16 Pro with select trade-in at Verizon
• Up to 46% off printers at HP
• Discounts on Fire TV smart TVs at Amazon

Specialty Foods

Perishable foods are a popular gift choice during the holiday season, and many specialty retailers, including Harry & David, Dylan’s Candy Bar, and Omaha Steaks, offer tantalizing discounts to tempt your taste buds. Look for holiday specialty food promo codes from other gourmet delivery services, such as Goldbelly and D’Artagnan, as we get closer to Christmas.

Specialty Food Deals

• Get 50% off present bundles and free shipping at Omaha Steaks 
• Shop the Holiday Gift Guide at Harry & David
• Up to 50% off flash sales and holiday favorites at Jelly Belly
• Shop Christmas cakes, cookies, and feasts at Goldbelly

Holiday Decor

Shop the day-after-Christmas sales to find the best deals on seasonal decor — sometimes as much as 50% off artificial Christmas trees, menorahs, wreaths, and tinsel. If you still need decor for this year, try waiting as close as you can to Hanukkah and Christmas, when retailers begin dropping prices to attract last-minute shoppers.

Holiday Decor Deals

• Shop holiday Christmas decorations at Home Depot
• Shop Hanukkah decorations at Michaels
• Up to 40% off holiday decor at Bed Bath & Beyond

5 Things to Skip in December

1. Exercise Equipment

January is the month of New Year’s resolutions and a renewed commitment to health and fitness. To further encourage soon-to-be workout enthusiasts, many retailers will drop their prices on exercise equipment after New Year’s Eve. Until then, it’s probably best to wait on that new treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical machine. We’d never discourage someone from prioritizing their health, though, so shop away if budget is not a concern!

2. Winter Clothing

Demand for the latest warm and fuzzy duds is at its highest. You may find some discounts on winter apparel — especially holiday-specific pajamas and sweaters. However, you’ll land a better deal if you wait until the end of the season, when major stores anxiously begin clearing their racks for lighter spring options.

3. Jewelry

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, consider holding off on that special gift until February, when jewelers such as Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Blue Nile will go all out to compete for your business. It may be better to wait until spring, when the holiday season is over and demand is down.

4. Bedding

We recommend waiting until the New Year to upgrade your sheets, comforters, and even bath towels. In January, many department stores hold annual sales on bedding and linens. Expect major markdowns from retailers such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Macy’s, and Brooklinen.

5. Furniture

Practice patience this month when browsing furniture deals. The biggest discounts of the year typically occur during the late winter or summer months. Outdoor furniture, in particular, sees markdowns throughout the summer, especially during Fourth of July and Labor Day. Memorial Day is another great time to score deals on larger items such as couches and dining tables.