Best Things to Buy in December 2025

You still have time before the holidays to score great deals on apparel, electronics, gift cards and more

Cameron Huddleston,

AARP

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Published December 01, 2025

things on sale in december, including holiday decorations, toys, clothes, luggage and shoes

AARP (Getty Images, 4; Alamy)

If you missed the Black Friday sales in November or still have holiday shopping to do, don’t despair. You can find deals on a range of items in December.

“We always remind shoppers that December isn’t a cooldown month,” says Stephanie Carls, a retail analyst at coupon and cash-back offers website RetailMeNot. “It’s the last big push of the retail year, and there are still plenty of chances to save if you know where to look.”

Starting Dec. 1, many online retailers will offer deep discounts for Cyber Monday, with some sales running through the entire week. Then retailers shift to year-end savings events and after-Christmas sales. “Once the gifting rush ends, stores need to clear shelf space fast,” Carls says.

Don’t overlook opportunities to stack deals. “Combining store coupons, cash-back offers and clearance pricing can turn a good deal into a great one,” she says.

As you make your shopping list and check it twice, keep an eye out for deals on these types of products this month.

Apparel

Some of the best Cyber Monday deals will be on clothing. Prices could be even lower than on Black Friday “thanks to the extra promo codes retailers tend to tack on to their Cyber Monday online sales,” says Courtney Omell, an editor at the Krazy Coupon Lady, a website dedicated to finding coupons and deals.

You’ll find more than just winter clothes on sale, she says. Athletic clothing, sleepwear and accessories will be marked down, too.

Where to look for deals: Gap, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Old Navy

Potential savings: up to 60 percent off

Appliances

Year-end clearance sales at big-box retailers will include price cuts on major appliances, Carls says. In addition, small home appliances from brands such as Cuisinart, Keurig, KitchenAid and Ninja will be on sale, she says.

You can also score savings on cookware and home essentials, like vacuums and storage solutions, during end-of-year clearance events. “Many retailers push to move older models to make room for new releases in January,” Carls explains.

Where to look for deals: Best Buy, Lowe’s, The Home Depot

Potential savings: 30 to 50 percent off

Beauty and fragrance bundles

Around the holidays, retailers sell discounted sets of makeup, perfume, hair and skincare products. You can use this as an opportunity to buy gifts for loved ones or to stock up on your favorite beauty and fragrance brands at a discount, Omell says.

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She recommends checking Target and Walmart, in particular, for beauty and personal care bundles with holiday-themed packaging. Prices on many of these sets will drop significantly on Dec. 26, she says.

Where to look for deals: Macy’s, Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta

Potential savings: 30 percent off up to Dec. 25; 50 to 70 percent off Dec. 26 through mid-January

Electronics

Cyber Monday and the first week of December are great times to snap up deals on tech products, especially if you’re flexible on the brand, says Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping, a frugal-living website. Expect big discounts on televisions, headphones and cameras.

You’ll also find sales on gaming gear, Carls says, as stores compete to clear inventory. Look for low-priced bundles of gaming consoles and accessories, as well as discounted open-box devices and display models.

Where to look for deals: Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart

Potential savings: 20 to 40 percent off

Gift cards

Whether you want to treat yourself to a dinner out while doing your holiday shopping or need to pick up a last-minute gift, many restaurants and retailers offer deals on gift cards in December. National and regional restaurant chains such as Applebee’s, Lou Malnati’s and Miller’s Ale House will throw in a free $10 gift card when you buy $50 worth of gift cards, James says.

Some restaurants even offer a bonus $25 gift card when you purchase gift cards worth $100 or more.

Where to look for deals: Amazon, Costco, Dollar General

Potential savings: 15 to 25 percent off

Holiday decor

If you have yet to deck your halls, the fact that you waited until December to get into the holiday spirit will pay off. By mid-month, many retailers will be offering attractive discounts on artificial Christmas trees, lights and other festive decor, James says.

Post-Christmas day is also a good time to stock up on discounted holiday decor for next year.

Where to look for deals: Michaels, Target, Walmart

Potential savings: 40 to 60 percent off; up to 70 percent off after Dec. 25

Luggage and travel accessories

Travel companies get in on the discount action on Dec. 2 with a sales event called Travel Tuesday, which features flight and vacation deals that can rival summer prices, Carls says.

Travel Tuesday is also a good time to upgrade your luggage for less. “Many brands discount older styles before spring travel season hits,” Carls says. In addition to markdowns on suitcases, carry-ons and weekend bags, look for deals on packing cubes, toiletry bags and other small travel essentials.

Where to look for deals: Amazon, Macy’s, Samsonite

Potential savings: 20 to 40 percent off

Shoes

Many retailers and brands, such as Keds, Nike and Toms, offer online deals on footwear for Cyber Monday. Boots, in particular, will be marked down significantly, Omell says.

Where to look for deals: Kohl’s, Macy’s, Target

Potential savings: 60 to 70 percent off

Toys and games

The most popular toys could sell out well before Christmas, Omell says. But if you need last-minute stocking stuffers or holiday gifts for your grandkids, check out the clearance racks as Dec. 25 approaches. “It’s a smart time to get toys, games, puzzles and holiday gift sets for half off,” she says, though selection will likely be limited.

“Starting Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, hit the stores for the big toy clearance deals to stock your gift closet for birthdays,” Omell recommends. Some retailers will offer rock-bottom prices on leftover holiday inventory.

Where to look for deals: Amazon, Target, Walmart

Potential savings: 40 to 50 percent off up to Dec. 25; up to 90 percent off Dec. 26 through mid-January

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Cameron Huddleston is an award-winning personal finance journalist and author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. Her work has appeared in Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Forbes Advisor, Chicago Tribune, Business Insider and many more online and print publications.

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