While you can find some deals in December on furniture and linens, on the whole you'll do better in January, says Teri Gault, co-author of "Shop Smart, Save More" and CEO of TheGroceryGame.com.
Expect better deals: On furniture, January sales often bring cuts of "30 percent over what you'd see in December," Gault says.
And on linens, you can find 50 percent-off deals if you can wait for those January white sales, she says.
What is on sale: Bridal dresses. Whether you're planning a wedding or just want to scare the stuffing out of your significant other, December is a great time to get a buy on a wedding gown.
Because it's a slow month for sales, if you buy, you can score deals of 20 percent to 30 percent off, says Hillary Mendelsohn, author of "thepurplebook" online shopping series and founder of ThePurpleBook.com. "They're so happy to see you walk through the door, (so) you can wheel and deal."