What Goes on Sale and What to Buy on Clearance in December

What goes on sale in December? I’m tempted to wrap this monthly series by saying everything and calling it a day.  But the truth is just like every month of sales cycles I’ve researched for you this year there are some things you should buy in December and some things you should not buy in December if you want to get the best return on your investment.

For example, you won’t see many sales or deals on the general day to day type of groceries but if you like to add flavor to your meals with spices, December is one of the few times of the year they go on sale. The December grocery sale cycle focuses more on party and entertaining food and drinks.
Household and Hanukah, Christmas  and New Year’s Eve items will be on sale in December although the best deals will be either the week of or the day after the holiday.

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You will mind many of these deals offered from on line retailers like Amazon.com  as well in brick and mortar stores. And if, like me, you like avoid the mad crush of people and do your Christmas shopping on line as much as possible I’d appreciate it if you shop through my Amazon affiliate link. I receive a small commission for each sale at no additional cost to you. I use this money to run my blogs. Don’t worry I can’t tell what you are buying so your Santa Secrets are safe! Thank you in advance for supporting Lazy Budget Chef!


For extra savings, pair the sale with a coupon from my printable online coupon database (affiliate link) because money saving coupons often follow national sales cycles too!

December Fresh Fruit and Vegetables on Sale

 

Seasonal December Fruit

Pears
Apples
Oranges
Grapefruit
Lemons
Kiwi
Dates
Kumquats

Seasonal December Produce

Avocados
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbages
Carrots
Celery
Cauliflower
Kale
Winter squash
White potato
Sweet potato
Yams
Turnips
Rutabaga
Spinach

December Grocery Sales

For the most part, the December grocery sales cycle is all about holiday party and entertaining foods rather than on everyday grocery staples. However, there are items that only tend to go on sale during the last few months of the year such as baking supplies, dried fruit, and nuts and it wouldn’t hurt to buy an extra if you know you will use it in the new year.
For extra savings, check the Lazy Budget Chef printable coupon database for coupons on the December  sale list to pair with a sale and make those items an even better deal than before!

Ham
Turkey – Maybe. Turkey prices are at their lowest in November for Thanksgiving and usually go up a bit in December. There still may be deals if you look for them.
Cold cuts/deli meat
Stuffing and stuffing mix
Cornbread mix
Frozen vegetables
Dinner rolls
Bisquick and baking mixes
Gravy and gravy mixes
Broth
Dried onions
Canned cranberry and pumpkin
Party and deli trays
Cheese
Crackers
Dips
Sour Cream
Cookies and cookie dough
Frozen pies and desserts
Soft drinks
Champagne and Sparkling Wine – Fun Fact: Champagne actually gets cheaper in December because the high demand means companies are trying to undercut their competitors to sell more during their peak time.

Baking and Candy Making Supplies:

• Butter
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Cornmeal
• Flour – both wheat and white
• White Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Powdered Sugar
• Chocolate and flavored baking chips
• Sprinkles
• Vanilla beans and extract
• Corn syrup
• Nuts
• Dried fruit
• Oatmeal
• Evaporated milk
• Marshmallows
• Prepared frosting
• Pie crusts and ready made dough
• Pie filling
• Spices – now is the time to stock up!

Household, Home, Toy, and Seasonal Sale Items to Buy in December

 

Thanksgiving clearance – including merchandise, decorations, themed food, and drinks.
 
Toys and Games

Electronic games and game systems

Books 
 
Tablets and e-readers
 
Televisions, home theaters and electronics (GPS devices, digital cameras, etc.) - If you can wait, February and June are probably a better time than now to buy a new TV or home theater system but there are bargains if you looking for a nice family holiday gift.

Tools
 
Cookware, kitchen accessories, and small appliances  
 
Pajamas and slippers
 
Wedding Dresses and Wedding Supplies– Not as many people get married in the fall and winter and bridal stores usually get more stock in November to be ready for the rush after Christmas and New Year’s Eve engagements.  My friend saved big by using a Black Friday sale to her advantage on her wedding invitations for her spring wedding.

Golf clubs 
 
Swimming pools - Winter is the best time to buy a pool because pool companies need to keep their prices down in order to keep up work during the slow winter season.

Gift Card and Gift Card Freebies – many companies give gift card incentives such as a free gift card if you spend a certain amount of money in their store, discount gift card purchases if you make an additional purchase, or give you a free gift with purchase.

Christmas decorations – The week of and after Christmas. The selection may be sparse but the savings are big. 

Holiday greeting cards – looks for these the week of and after the holiday and at the end of December for saving of 50% off or more.  

Houses – Sellers are motivated because the December housing market is slow. They want to sell their house for the tax benefit and guess what? By buying in December you can take the tax credit for owning a home for the entire year on your taxes. We found that out when we bought our condo in December. Woohoo!

Cars

Diamonds and jewelry – Not all diamonds will go on sale. However December is the biggest month for diamond and jewelry sales and since it is such a competitive time, stores are doing what they can to get your business.

Caribbean vacations – You can find deals in some cases up to 50% off if you travel from the end of Thanksgiving to around December 20th because no one is really traveling during this time.

Shrubs, bushes, and flower bulbs 
 
Football tickets and gear – Chances are if your team is not a contender for the playoffs their tickets and gear is likely to go sale.

Clothing – The best deals will be after December 26th.

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