Black Friday may be behind us, but December is still one of the best months of the year to score major savings. From Cyber Monday deals to after-Christmas clearance events, this month is packed with giftable beauty sets, candles, gift cards, and some of the biggest markdowns you’ll see on holiday decor all year. If you shop smart, you can save 15% - 90% on storage, gifts, and more.
Below, we break down the things to buy in December, the price points worth your time, and exactly when you should be shopping. And if you want to make it even easier, set alerts in the free Krazy Coupon Lady app so we notify you the moment December deals go live.
1. Cyber Monday Deals
Cyber Monday falls on Dec. 1 this year (and some Cyber Week sales run through Tuesday). While many of us may have already maxed out our carts on Black Friday, certain categories are actually cheaper during Cyber Monday.
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Apparel and Accessories: Check online deals at Kohl’s, Target, and Old Navy. Plus, JCPenney has a 40% off code for Cyber Monday.
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Shoes: We see online deals at stores like Crocs, Reebok, and Hey Dude. Plus, the Dick's Sporting Goods Black Friday sale (which runs through Dec. 1) has up to 50% off Nike, Adidas, and more.
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Smaller Tech Gadgets: Look for deals on keyboards, mice, and cables at Amazon and Best Buy.
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Small Home Appliances: Watch for generic-brand stick vacuums under $100, air fryers, Keurig brewers, and Ninja appliances.
2. Christmas Clearance
This is the time to stock up for next year — decor, wrapping supplies, and even small giftable items are 50% - 90% off depending on the store throughout December. Start looking in the days before Dec. 25 for up to 50% off, and find over 50% off after Christmas. We see some of the best clearance deals at Target and Walmart.
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Wrapping Paper: Aim to spend no more than $0.25 per roll, or $0.01 per square foot.
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Bows: Look for $0.04 or less per bow.
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Gift Bags: You'll find gift bags under $0.50 each.
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Home Decor: 50% - 90% off indoor and outdoor holiday decor.
Holiday Clearance Schedule
Here’s when to shop the top stores for Christmas clearance deals:
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Walmart: Dec. 26 (50% off)
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Target: Dec. 26 (50% - 70% off)
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Hobby Lobby: Dec. 29 (70% off)
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Kohl’s: Dec. 26 (30% - 70% off)
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Home Depot: Dec. 20 (50% off)
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Lowe's: Dec. 19 (75% off)
3. Gift Cards
Shop discounted gift cards and deals where you get bonus cards with a gift card purchase throughout December, and save on stores and restaurants you visit regularly.
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Target Gift Card Sale: Predicted for Dec. 6 - 7, 2025, this sale gets you 10% off all Target gift cards, both physical and digital.
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Amazon Gift Card Deals: Save with deals like a $50 gift card for $40 from retailers like Bath & Body Works, H&M, or Netflix.
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Gift Card Bonus Deals: Buy $25 - $50 in gift cards and get $5 - $15 back with gift card bonus deals from restaurants.
KCL TIP: Use these discounted cards on big-ticket items that rarely go on sale, like game consoles. Buy a $350 gift card for $315, then use it on a $349.99 Xbox. Instant deal.
4. Candles
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Bath & Body Works Candle Day: It's expected to return Dec. 6 - 7 (Dec. 5 for Rewards members). This sale offers $9.95 candles, which is 63% off the $26.95 regular price.
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Yankee Candle Semi-Annual Sale: Predicted for Dec. 26, 2025, you'll find 50% - 75% off votives, jar candles, car vent clips, and more.
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Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale: Watch for candles up to 75% off the original price starting Dec. 26. That's around $8 and $2 less than Candle Day prices (although fewer scents will be on sale, compared to Candle Day).
KCL TIP: When shopping Bath & Body Works, Candle Day is the best time for scent selection as most are still in stock. But for the best prices, wait until the Semi-Annual Sale.
5. Beauty and Personal Care Gift Sets
December is the perfect time to buy beauty gift sets. Value sets from Ulta, Sephora, and department stores typically save you 15% - 35% automatically.
Here are some examples I found this year:
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Summer Fridays Holiday Trio: $48 vs. $74 sold separately — 35% off (like getting a FREE Butter Balm)
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Amika Revive and Shine Duo: $35 vs. $51 sold separately — 31% off
6. Plastic Storage Bins
After Christmas is when you’ll consistently find the lowest prices on storage totes from Target, Walmart, and Home Depot, perfect for storing holiday decor (and retiring those old Amazon boxes you’ve kept since college).
These should be your stock-up price goals:
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16-Gallon — Under $6
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18-Gallon — Under $8
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27-Gallon — Under $10
7. Custom Photo and Personalized Gifts
December always brings strong discounts on photo books, mugs, calendars, ornaments, and personalized gifts. These make great last-minute gifts, but there's usually some lead time with custom photo gifts — and extra charges for rush delivery. If you miss the shipping cutoff for the holidays, consider this your chance to grab custom pieces for your home. You can still take advantage of the holiday promo codes, but it won't matter if your delivery arrives after Dec. 25.
More Deals and Food Freebies in December
Travel Tuesday: Dec. 2
Travel Tuesday happens annually the day after Cyber Monday. But, tbh, we see travel deals all throughout Black Friday weekend. The deals aren’t always jaw-dropping, but they're worth checking out if you have travel plans in early 2026. You’ll typically see one-way fares under $100, bonus point offers, or vacation package discounts in these sales.
National Cookie Day: Dec. 4
On National Cookie Day, restaurants and cookie shops offer deals and freebies. This year, we'll see a free Snowball Cookie from Insomnia Cookies and a free Classic Chocolate Chip or Sugar Cookie from Great American Cookies, among others.
Green Monday: Dec. 8
The second hottest Monday to shop in December, Green Monday was coined by eBay in 2007 as one of their highest grossing sales days of the year. Many retailers have joined in since, and offer Cyber Monday-style pricing on one of the last few shopping days with guaranteed holiday delivery.
Krispy Kreme Day of the Dozens: Dec. 12
Add doughnuts to your list of things to buy in December. You'll see Krispy Kreme Day of the Dozens return on Dec. 12, where you can get a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for just $1 with the purchase of any other dozen doughnuts.
Super Saturday: Dec. 20
Grab last minute in-store gifts from Kohl's, Macy's, and others on this last Saturday before Christmas. Retailers drop prices on gifts, seasonal items, and last-minute necessities, giving you near–Black Friday value without the Black Friday chaos. Because this day falls at the last minute, you may need to shop in-store or use in-store pickup.
National Bacon Day: Dec. 30
Celebrate National Bacon Day with predicted annual restaurant deals from Buffalo Wild Wings, Burger King, and Wendy's.
Wait Until Later For ...
Bedding
The entire month of January is one of the best times to buy bedding and linens. If you missed the bedding deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, wait for the White Sales, which happen early in the new year.
TVs
If you missed out on Black Friday TV deals or didn't see the model you wanted, we see comparable TV prices in January as the Super Bowl approaches.
Fitness Equipment
Fitness gear goes on sale in late December to entice shoppers to start on their New Year’s resolutions, but you’ll get even better deals if you wait for that gear to drop even further in price. January and February are when you'll start to see some of the bigger discounts on fitness equipment and workout apparel.
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