Every month of the year, certain items are discounted due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next. Here are the shopping highlights for December in Seattle stores.
December Holidays & Special Events
- Hanukkah aka Chanukah (November 28 – December 6, 2021)
- Pearl Harbor Day (always December 7)
- Winter solstice (December 21, 2021 at 7:59 am)
- Christmas (always December 25)
- Kwanzaa (always December 26-Jan 1)
- New Year’s Eve (always December 31)
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Christmas Tree Lot – DepositPhotos.com
Discounted seasonal items to buy in December
Fresh cut Christmas trees
The best time to save on a fresh cut Christmas tree is December 20 or later. If you want to cut a tree, get your permit early as they are limited. At Christmas tree lots, the selection dwindles, and some sell out of trees. But we’ve got plenty of options for you. Here’s where to buy u-cut, fresh cut Christmas trees around the Sound.
Holiday décor
After Thanksgiving, keep an eye out for Thanksgiving and autumn-themed décor at steep discounts and stock up for next year. Sales of leftover Christmas begin a few days before Christmas. But popular items are typically gone. In any case, find discounts on everything from lights and ornaments to artificial trees and Christmas greeting cards, gift wrap and bows, and other holiday home décor. Prices are slashed further the day after Christmas and again about a week later, though selection greatly diminishes the farther away you get from December 26. Here’s our list of the best retailers for gift ideas, party supplies, holiday décor.
Baking ingredients
Baking ingredients including butter, sugar, flour, nuts, chocolate tend to be plentiful and there are some deals to be had. If you have some freezer space, stock up on baking supplies you might need through spring for your family, school bake sales, or entertaining. One item that’s often not on sale is eggs, because supplies tend to be lower in winter months–so wait until spring to stock up on eggs.
Meat roasts, whole turkeys, and hams
Meats, especially big-ticket roasts such as beef rib roast, whole turkeys, and whole ham are plentiful. So keep an eye on prices and put some away in a free-standing freezer, if you have one–it’s cold enough (<0F) for longer storage of a few months. The one in your refrigerator (10-32F) is only good for one-month storage. Keep in mind you can cut large roasts into smaller portions to use for family meals at substantial savings: cut rib roasts into steaks, cut turkeys into quarters, and cut large hams into smaller roasts or slices. Prices especially drop right after Christmas as retailers start to clear out excess stock.
Champagne
If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party or want to stock up on some bubbly for a holiday dinner or a few hostess gifts for events throughout the year, December is a great time to buy champagne and sparkling wine. You can find bottles from $10-$30 and of course a lot more. Check our list of wine shops with a great selection of sparkling wine offering good value and quality at very affordable prices.
Team Football Gear
As the NFL football season comes to an end, retailers start discounting logo gear for your favorite team, including shirts, scarves, socks, and more.
Gift cards
You can save by buying gift cards at a discount. Find a big list of gift card discounts at our “mother” site, LivingontheCheap.com:
New products to buy in December
PJs, Slippers, and Bath Robes
A classic family gift, pajamas and other bedtime clothes such as slippers and bath robes are gifts under many Christmas trees. There’s lots of selection and prices are generally good. However, if you aren’t in need of a gift, you’ll find steep discounts on these items after Christmas, though the selection dwindles.
Jewelry
December is one of the best months of the year to buy jewelry (the other is early April). So, it’s a good time to buy gifts for the holiday as well as a gift for Valentine’s Day.
Toys
December is one of the best months to buy toys for both selection and price, though leftovers will be discounted in January. And summer toys are usually best purchased either ahead of summer (April-June) or during summer closeouts. In December, you might want to think ahead to birthday presents and stock up now on toys you know your kids will want.
Electronics (aka big people toys)
New models hit the market in January after the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This gargantuan tech industry event makes December a good month to buy many types of electronics in stores and online. Look for steep discounts on new, but outgoing models on TVs, phones, cameras, and video games. There should be another sale in February on closeouts for outgoing models, but the selection is generally lower.
Fresh produce in season in December
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon, orange, pomelo, tangerine, clementine, kumquat, etc.) are in season during winter from November to April, and come from farms in California and Florida. Here are some things to know about buying citrus fruits:
- Specific types of citrus fruit ripen at different times. For example, grapefruit tend to ripen all season long, navel oranges ripen before Valencia oranges, and Meyer lemons ripen mid-season.
- Fresh citrus fruit lasts longest when stored in cool (40°F to 50°F), dry (60 to 70 percent RH) conditions. For optimal storage, place citrus in a basket to allow for good air circulation and to prevent mold growth. In the refrigerator (<40°F), store citrus loose in the vegetable bin or in the large compartment a plastic bag with vent holes.
- Buy citrus by the case if you have room to store it in the refrigerator. Citrus will keep one to four weeks, depending on variety (firmer varieties such as oranges and grapefruits keep longer than squishier varieties such as tangerines).
- Check citrus fruits every couple of days and feel for soft spots on the rind—a sign the citrus is starting to spoil, so separate from other fruit and consume within a day or two.
- Discard any fruit that becomes moldy.
Other fresh winter fruits
Other fresh fruits in season in December include cranberries, persimmon, and pomegranates.
Japanese-style dried persimmon known as hoshigaki is available in winter. Find it at Uwajimaya and other Asian grocers. Photo copyright by Carole Cancler.
Dried persimmon (hoshigaki)
Japanese-style dried persimmon known as hoshigaki is available in winter through spring at Uwajimaya Asian Grocery. Look for hoshigaki in the produce department. At first glance, you might think the dried fruit has gotten moldy. Au contraire! These dried fruits are naturally coated with their own fruit sugar. Inside the fruit is dense and chewy, like a dried date or dried apricot. Hoshigaki is moist and satisfyingly sweet without being cloying. It’s really yummy enjoyed with hot tea or coffee.
Fresh vegetables
Fresh vegetables in plentiful supply include sweet potatoes, potatoes, winter squashes, root vegetables (carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets, rutabagas), wild mushrooms, and winter greens (broccoli raab, escarole, kale, radicchio). These are all great buys for side dishes and hearty soups all winter long.
Fresh persimmon fruits on the tree – Depositphotos.com
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Upcoming Used Goods & Recycling Events
Here are the upcoming used goods sales and recycling events that might interest bargain shoppers.
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