Best Things to Buy in December 2022 ­– and 5 Things to Skip

Black Friday is over, but the sales march on! In fact, many retailers offer holiday discounts all the way through Christmas. This December, 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.

Explore our holiday gift guides for more ways to save:

• 30 Holiday Deals You Don’t Want to Miss
• 54 Best Designer Deals at Macy’s Happening Now
• Home Depot’s Holiday Sale: Save Up to 40% Off Furniture and Mattresses
• Shop Holiday Dresses Under $70 at Princess Polly’s Secret Sale

Toys

With Christmas and Hanukkah just weeks away, you may be asking yourself: Are toys really a value buy in December? The answer is yes. Despite the increase in toy demand during the holiday season, many retailers like Walmart and Target offer eye-catching toy discounts to lure you to their stores. There’s another factor at play: high inflation. Turns out major toy brands — including Hasbro — are concerned that shoppers are becoming resistant to the rise in toy prices. As a result, expect discounts and promotions to be an even larger focus this holiday season.

>> Related to inflation: Inflation and Impact of Living Calculator

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 prices down, and retailers will be doing everything they can to make room for winter and spring lineups. This means generous clothing markdowns on popular styles like long sleeve shirts, sweaters, boots, dresses, jeans, and more.

Apparel Deals

• Up to 50% off select designer apparel at Macy’s
• Up to 60% off jackets, dresses, and more at Michael Kors
• Up to 79% off fall styles at J. Crew
• Up to 30% off Levi’s clothing 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 $700 off select smart TVs at Best Buy
• Get a free iPhone 14 Pro with select trade-in at Verizon
• Up to 45% 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 like 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 like Goldbelly and D'Artagnan as we get closer to Christmas.

Specialty Food Deals

• Get 50% off sitewide 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 on 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 30% 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. Of course, we’d never discourage someone from prioritizing their health. If budget is not a concern, shop away!

2. Winter Clothing

Demand for the latest warm and fuzzy duds is at its highest. While you may find some discounts on winter apparel — especially holiday-specific pajamas and sweaters — you’ll land a better deal if you wait until the end of the season. That’s 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. Jewelers like Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Blue Nile will go all out to compete for your services. In fact, it may be better to wait until the 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 across the country hold annual sales on bedding and linen. Expect major markdowns from retailers like 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 the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Memorial Day is another great time to score deals on larger items like couches or dining tables.