The Best Holiday Gifts to Buy in December
Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, it's time to get your hands dirty and focus on checking off your holiday shopping list. In reality, the deals get better on certain items after those two well-known sales days.
Since retailers need to meet their projected quarterly and yearly sales, this translates into spectacular savings for consumers. For anyone that still has a long holiday shopping list to check off, there are more deals at your disposal than ever before.
If you are flexible in the gifts that you are giving, you can save a good amount of money and still make everyone happy. As a guide, I have specific items you should buy in December that will maximize your savings.
Kitchen goodies: With food blogs on the rise, kitchen gadgets, tools and cookware items as gifts are becoming increasingly popular. The best part is that they hit rock bottom prices in December. Sitewide deals, gift card incentives and cash rewards make the deals even more enticing.
Toys: If you didn't get to shop for toys during Black Friday, no need to fret, as you can still get incredible deals on toys up to a few days before Christmas. In order to maximize your savings, always price compare and if need be, price match. You should always check Amazon's prices before buying anything at your nearby big-box store, too.
Grills: You'll get the best prices on grills in December. It's one time of the year where grills are priced to sell quickly. While the chill and snow may steer you away from purchasing a grill, if you know someone who loves to grill, this is your chance to impress and save money.
Bikes: You can get a great deal on bikes in December. If you're in the market for a bike, buy it now and ride it later.
Apparel: Many consumers give clothing as holiday gifts. If clothing is on your shopping list, you should shop two weeks before Christmas up to the day of. From the sales and clearance to the additional percentage off coupons, you can save a whole lot of money on clothing for the entire family.
Tools and hardware: Whether you need to buy a drill or a screwdriver, this is the month to buy them. If you look through the December ads, you will start to see more tools go on sale. With sitewide coupons and in-store coupons, you should take advantage of the low prices.
Novelty items: You can get some great prices on novelty items close to the middle of December up to a few days before Christmas. Considering that novelty items make for unique gift items and even stocking stuffers, it makes sense that the prices are reduced for quick sales starting mid-December.
Christmas-themed items: Whether it's footed pajamas, sweaters or even a mug that's ornamented with a Christmas tree or any other holiday image, they get heavily discounted right before Christmas. I've previously purchased holiday-themed gifts the day before Christmas and have saved up to 80 percent off the retail price.
Car lease: If you want to impress someone with a gift of a car or car lease, December is the best time to take advantage of the best deals. You'll see lower monthly payments, which will make car riding more affordable.
Gift cards: Last but not least, gift cards will make the perfect gift during the holidays. Not only do people love receiving gift cards, but you'll love the incentives that come with buying them. Many places offer a free gift card in different amounts with a gift card purchase. From DSW to P.F. Chang's, you'll see anywhere from $5 to $50 in free gift card incentives. If you shop anywhere consistently, you can buy some for yourself to spend later.
While the above items have the most savings in December, some other notable items to check out are small appliances, GPS devices, HDTVs and more. You may want to wait after Christmas to get the best deals on Christmas decorations, jewelry and books.
Susan Yoo-Lee is a mother of two and will be launching her new money-savings blog, Minus the Price, later this year. She founded Mommas in the House in 2009.
