If you missed (or deliberately avoided) the bargain bonanza that is Black Friday weekend, don’t fret. There are plenty of opportunities in December to find discounts, whether you’re shopping online or in store. As you work your way down your gift list, follow this guide for the best things to buy during the top shopping events in December.
[See: 10 Ways to End 2016 on a Financial High Note.]
Monday, Dec. 12: Green Monday. Talk to your friends about Green Monday, and you’ll be met with inquisitive expressions. However, this holiday is a top-grossing online shopping event, pulling in $1.89 billion in sales last year, third only to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Coined by eBay in 2007 to describe a particularly strong sales day for the auction site, national retailers grabbed a hold of the moniker and started promoting their own offers on the second Monday in December. Green Monday has also been referred to as “Cyber Monday Part Two,” referencing the online-only nature of the event.
Though deals have yet to be announced, Wal-Mart and Best Buy already have pages dedicated to Green Monday offers.
Buy: Clothing, gadgets and home goods. Similar to Cyber Monday, Green Monday sees extra discounts on clothing from stores like Eddie Bauer, Levi’s, Lands’ End and Tommy Hilfiger, with savings of 40 percent to 50 percent off sitewide. Home goods are another good buy on Green Monday, with Macy’s and JCPenney offering an extra 20 percent to 30 percent off purchases last year. Tech enthusiasts can also find great deals on Green Monday. In 2015, Amazon offered up to $50 off Fire tablets, and Best Buy promoted up to $125 off Apple iPads.
In some cases, Green Monday pricing can beat Black Friday prices. Last year, Wal-Mart promoted discounts on an ESPN air hockey table and Paw Patrol stuffed animal that were deeper than those advertised during their Black Friday sale.
[See: Prepare Your Finances for the Holidays.]
Friday, Dec. 16: Free Shipping Day. Marketed as the procrastinator’s shopping holiday, Free Shipping Day is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16 this year. Hundreds of stores are currently signed up to participate, including Target, T.J. Maxx, Tommy Hilfiger, Harry & David and Bass Pro Shops. Shoppers can expect to receive free shipping on all orders, plus delivery by Christmas Eve, on a range of products when they visit FreeShippingDay.com starting at 12:01 a.m. EST on Dec. 16.
Today, many shoppers expect to receive free shipping, especially during the holiday season. However, minimum order thresholds often encourage more spending than shoppers bargain for, and Free Shipping Day requires participating merchants to waive minimum shipping thresholds in order to participate.
Buy: Clothes, shoes, kitchen items and food gifts. Free Shipping Day “is the single best day of the year to shop online for apparel and shoes,” says Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com, in an email. Clothing and shoe sites often provide extra discounts of up to 40 percent in addition to their free shipping offer, making both products a good buy on Dec. 16, James says.
“Also, don’t neglect Free Shipping Day deals on things like cookware, dining sets, silverware, small kitchen appliances and kitchen gadgets/decor,” James says. “Online stores like Pfaltzgraff, Belk, Mikasa, Brookstone, Lenox and Chef’s Corner Store always have some screaming deals happening on top of their free shipping offer.”
Perishable gifts, including flowers and gourmet food, are also a good purchase on Free Shipping Day, since these items typically come with expedited delivery fees to maintain freshness.
[See: Your Ultimate Holiday Tipping Guide.]
Saturday, Dec. 24: Super Saturday and Christmas Eve. Super Saturday typically occurs on the last Saturday before Christmas, though many retailers start sales as early as a week prior. This year, Super Saturday falls on Christmas Eve, making it the shopping event when consumers scramble to finish (or start) their gift lists and retailers try to push slow-selling merchandise.
Like in previous years, most stores will offer extended hours leading up to Dec. 24, with some staying open continuously for days at a time. In 2015, for example, Kohl’s was open 24/7 between Dec. 17 and Dec. 24. Toys R Us offered extended hours — 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. — starting on Dec. 19, with stores remaining open for 39 hours between Dec. 23 and Dec. 24. Macy’s, Old Navy, Sears and JCPenney all stayed open until midnight on the days leading up to Dec. 24.
Buy: Toys, electronics. Parents shopping at the last minute will appreciate Super Saturday deals on toys. Top offers last year included buy-one-get-one-half-off Barbie dolls and accessories from Toys R Us, $40 off Lego Dimensions Starter Packs from Meijer and “hundreds of deals” on Star Wars toys, apparel and other products from Target. Those still shopping for tech gifts will also see discounts on tablets, gaming consoles and even HDTVs. Last year, Best Buy offered up to 25 percent off select HDTVs including a Samsung 58-inch LED 1080p HDTV for $599.99 ($300 savings), while Wal-Mart offered deals on select laptops, including $124 off an Asus 15.6-inch Intel Core i3 laptop. Apple even promoted deals on the Apple Watch, iPad Air and iPad mini devices, with savings ranging from $100 to $150.
Monday, Dec. 26: Post-Christmas Sales. The holidays might be over on Dec. 26, but the deals certainly don’t stop. Retailers try to capitalize on consumers’ desires to spend gift cards and return gifts that missed the mark by offering discounts on remaining holiday inventory, gifts, toys and electronics. Many stores take a Black Friday-like approach to store hours, with some opening doors as early as 6 a.m. on the day after Christmas.
Buy: Clothing, gift sets, holiday-themed products, decor and wrapping supplies. Anything holiday-related will see discounts of 50 percent or more on Dec. 26. Consumers who want to save on decor, gift wrap and holiday-themed items like pajamas and accessories should shop post-Christmas sales. Gift sets, like those provided by beauty and fragrance brands, are also good buys from department stores and specialty retailers since they’re packaged specifically for holiday giving. Clothing is another top seller after the holidays since retailers are looking ahead to the new year and the rollout of spring styles in February.
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The Best Days for Holiday Shopping in December originally appeared on usnews.com
