Best things to buy in December

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.

• Special events with shopping discounts and deals in December include the week before Christmas Day and the day after Christmas.

Christmas Tree Lot – Image via DepositPhotos.com

Discounted seasonal items to buy in December

Fresh cut Christmas trees

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. If lots still have trees, the best time to save on a fresh cut Christmas tree is December 20 or later. More info: U-cut, pre-cut fresh Christmas trees around the Sound (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

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 items begin a few days before Christmas. Popular items typically sell out. In any case, find discounts on everything from lights and ornaments to artificial trees and Christmas greeting cards, gift wrap and bows, and holiday home décor. Prices are slashed further the day after Christmas and again about a week later, though selection continues to diminish greatly the farther away you get from December 26. More info: Best retailers for gifts, party supplies & holiday decor (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

Groceries

• Baking ingredients including butter, sugar, flour, nuts, and 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 for 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. 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, which is cold enough (<0F) for longer storage of several months. The one in your refrigerator (10-32F) is only good for about 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 will drop right after Christmas as retailers start to clear out excess stock—so think ahead to Easter and even summer grilling season.
• More info: Best discount grocery stores and bakery outlets (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

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. More info: Affordable holiday champagne and sparkling wine (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

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. More info: Seattle-Tacoma metro area sports teams (pro & college) (greaterseattleonthecheap.com)

Gift cards

You can save by buying gift cards at a discount, which are prevalent this time of year. More info: How to use gift cards to save money – Living On The Cheap

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 of course 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. Think ahead for Valentine’s Day, when prices typically rise.

Toys

December is one of the best months to buy toys for both selection and price, though leftovers will be discounted in January. The exception is summer toys, which 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 for electronics of all kinds hit the market in January right 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 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, or better yet a netted cloth bag (available in grocery produce departments and kitchen supply stores). 
• Buy citrus by the case if you have room to store it in the refrigerator, preferably in a single layer. 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). Don’t keep citrus in a carboard box, since the cardboard tends to hold moisture that will make the fruit mold and spoil more quickly.
• 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 these from other fruit and consume within a day or two.
• Discard any fruit that becomes moldy. Mold tends to send invisible tendrils throughout food that can make susceptible people sick, even if the visible mold is trimmed away.

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. Look for hoshigaki in the produce department at Uwajimaya Asian Grocery and other Asian stores. 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, which navigates to the surface during the drying process. 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

Event calendar of free and affordable things to do

Listed below are all types of free and affordable things to do in the next 30 days.

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Find more events and ideas for affordable living at Greater Seattle on the Cheap – Free things to do, cheap fun, discounts and deals in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area