Get Ahead on Your Holiday Shopping with December’s Best Buys

It’s crunch time for holiday shopping! Hopefully you scored some great deals over Black Friday and Cyber Monday—but if not, don’t despair. Even though those big shopping days are in the rearview mirror, December can be a great time to shop, particularly for tools, games, electronics, and cozy clothes for the cold weather.

Tools and Hardware

For the DIY person on your list, tools and hardware are hot items to purchase this month.

Current Deals

Acme Tools: Save $20 on Milwaukee tool orders over $100 with code MILW2017. Expires 12/5.

ToolsChest.com: Get 10% off orders over $50 with code KITSALE. Expires 12/13.

Sears: Get $10 cash back when you spend $50 with code CASH, through 12/17.

Jet.com: Get $25 off select DeWalt tool orders of $100 or more with code DEWALT25, through 12/24.

Home Depot: Save up to 20% on overstock items.

Lowe’s: Get up to 50% off select tools.

Games

You’ll likely be spending lots of time with the family in the next few weeks, so sales on board games, video games, and other activities are timed perfectly.

Current Deals

Melissa & Doug: Get up to 15% off with code HOLIDAY17, through 12/10.

GameStop: Get a $5 Xbox gift card when you pre-order PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Game Preview Edition for Xbox for $29.99, through 12/12.

GameStop: Get four pre-owned games priced at $9.99 or less for just $20, 12/4 through 12/24.

Barnes & Noble: Free $10 reward with $50 gift certificate order, 12/26 through 2/28.

Amazon: Prime members get 20% off video game pre-orders and 10% off pre-owned video games.

Target: Save $2–5 on select board games.

Walmart: Get the Pie Face game for only $5.88 (was $19.82).

Hasbro: Get up to 50% off clearance.

Electronics

It’s common for November’s electronics sales to extend into December, which is good news if you missed out on Cyber Week deals.

Current Deals

Target: Get a $20 gift card with the purchase of Beats Solo or Powerbeats headphones, through 12/2.

Vizio: Save up to $650 during the Big Screen Sale, through 12/6.

HP: Get $10 off select items over $65 and free shipping with code PEAK42, through 12/7.

Walmart: Get $25 off your order when you buy any Google Home product, through 1/31.

Amazon: Get 40% off select smart home devices.

Apparel

Cyber Monday-like deals on fall and winter apparel will ramp up as retailers try to clear inventory to make room for the new season.

Current Deals

The North Face: Get 25% off select hoodies and vests, through 12/4.

Kohl’s: Get 25% off with offer code YES2DEAL, 12/7 through 12/9.

Coats Direct: Get 25% off designer outerwear with code BEWARM25, through 12/10.

Lands’ End: Get free shipping with orders over $50, through 12/31.

Nordstrom: Get up to 50% off at the Half-Yearly Sale, 12/26 through 1/2.

Holiday Décor

If you are still in need of some holiday cheer around the house, December is the best time to stock up on (artificial) Christmas trees, wreaths, paper products, and ornaments. Discounts will deepen as the month progresses.

Current Deals

Target: Save $25 on holiday decorations of $75 or more, while supplies last.

Christmas Tree Shops: Get $10 off any purchase of $50 or more with code WELCOME1173, through 12/6.

Christmas Tree Market: Save up to 70% on artificial trees.

Christmas Central: Save up to 50% on Christmas trees, through March 2018.

**What Not to Buy in December**

Fitness, Beauty, and Wellness

Gym memberships, workout DVDs, fitness equipment, and leftover holiday gift sets are all more favorably priced in January. Last January, sports retailers like Dick’s, 24 Hour Fitness, and Footlocker had sales and there were also deals from beauty retailers like Bath & Body Works, e.l.f., Ulta, and Soap.com.

Linens

Ever since the first “white sale” in 1878, January has been a great month to buy bedding and linens. Many stores, like West Elm, Pottery Barn, and J.C. Penney, slash prices on sheets and bedding to make way for new spring merchandise.

Jewelry

While jewelry can make the perfect holiday gift, we don’t often see deep discounts in this category until after Valentine’s Day. Mother’s Day is also a good time for jewelry sales.

If you need a quick guide to holiday shopping, you can find one at Credit.com—and don’t forget to protect yourself financially as you shop for the holidays!

Image: istock