Holiday Shopping Hacks: The Cheapest Times to Buy Everything from Ornaments to Stuffing

Holiday expenses can add up fast, but with a little planning, you can save big; it’s even a trend being called “Christmas in July."

By using price trend data from AisleGopher, we’ve uncovered the cheapest times to buy everything from Halloween costumes to Christmas candy at Walmart. Here’s your holiday-by-holiday guide to smart seasonal shopping, so you don’t have to brawl in the aisles Jingle All the Way-style.

Valentine’s Day

Candy is a sweeter deal at basically any other time of the year. For example, HARIBO Berry Hearts Gummies dropped over 20% on February 16, and Dove Promises Dark Chocolate got marked down a few weeks later.

Unfortunately, necklaces and lingerie are stable goods at Walmart, impervious — it seems — to seasonal market trends. As you’d expect, the price of red roses will go up steeply for Valentine’s Day itself, but you really can’t buy those in advance … and especially not afterward.

Independence Day

“A penny saved is a penny earned," said our brilliant founder Benjamin Franklin. So, save a few bucks by purchasing patriotic yard decor and the classic sci-fi film Independence Day on Blu-ray at the end of July, not at the start.

Halloween

Like Valentine’s candy is cheapest in the days and weeks after we proclaim our love (or apologize for forgetting to do so), Halloween candy is usually cheapest immediately after trick-or-treaters descend upon our lawns.

Costumes like Spider-Man, Belle, and Ghostface see the deepest discounts in winter. If you’re in need of green hair dye for your witch costume — or the Halloween 3-Movie Collection for your Blu-ray player — try buying ‘em in June when everybody’s thinking about sunshine, not scares.

Thanksgiving

It pays to stock up on tabletop staples in the weeks leading up to the third Thursday of November. A can of Ocean Spray Whole Cranberry Sauce and Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix were cheapest on November 9 last year; Heinz HomeStyle Beef Gravy was cheapest on November 18, a week and a half before the actual celebration.

However, prices for canned pumpkin are trickier: Great Value 100% Pure Canned Pumpkin (Walmart’s store brand) appears to be cheapest in April — and most canned goods should last you until the next Turkey Day.

Christmas

The cost of preparing for Christmas can eat up your entire holiday bonus (and make you feel like the Grinch). But here’s a cup of cheer: it’s possible to save before and after December 25.

Candy canes tend to drop sharply in January (Brach’s even plummeted from $7.98 to $1.42) and could remain edible for years. A number of ornaments and yuletide decorations are cheapest in April. Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake and Cookie Mix is cheapest in September (it can be safe to use for up to 24 months).

Use the savings to buy presents for your loved ones … and something for yourself, too.

New Year’s Eve

Ring in the new year? More like spring in the new year, because confetti poppers are cheapest in March and silver fringe door curtains are cheapest in April. Don’t just count down the seconds — count down the months!