What to Buy in May for Christmas

This post contains affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here for full disclosure and privacy policy.

Want to save time and money this year? Buying the right things at the right time can help. These are the things you should buy in May.

This post was most recently updated on May 23rd, 2024 to make sure all the information is up-to-date.

Have you started buying things to have on hand for the holidays yet? Buying ahead is a great way to reduce stress, especially on your budget!

I recommend setting up a budget in a Christmas planner and keeping track of the things you buy in your planner as well. That helps prevent you from overbuying or forgetting about what you bought.

The best way to do this is by buying things that go on sale throughout the year. Each month has different common sales so it’s great to plan ahead.

With Mother’s Day sales and Memorial Day sales, May is full of great sales that can help you stock up and save for Christmas. These are some of my suggestions for good things to buy in May.

Produce- Do you like to can? Stock up on in-season produce like strawberries and peaches to can to eat later when they are no longer in season or even to give as gifts.
Gift Sets- After Mother’s Day gift sets and other great gifts will be on sale. It’s a great time to stock up on some gifts. Don’t forget to keep track of them in your Christmas planner.
Jewelry- Another great gift item to pick up at Mother’s Day sales is jewelry.
Other Gifts- Journals, candles, perfume, and more will be on sale around Mother’s Day.
Paper Products- Paper plates, napkins, and other paper products often go on sale around Memorial Day. Stock up on anything you may need during the holidays.
Sunscreen- Do you plan to travel somewhere warm around the holidays? Stock up on sunscreen now.

Garage sale season tends to get going in May so don’t forget to keep an eye out for good deals on Christmas decor people are cleaning out. A lot of people now post on Facebook sale sites as well.

May Sales to Check Out

These are some of the online sales I’ve found lately that could help stock up for the holiday season or in general to save money.

King of Christmas– Get a new Christmas tree and save up to 60% with coupon code MemorialDay
Balsam Hill– You can also get a new Christmas tree from Balsam Hill and save up to 40% plus get free shipping during their Memorial Day sale.
Home Depot– Have some home projects or DIYs to make before Christmas? Check out Home Depot’s Memorial Day sale for a lot of great deals.
Old Time Candy Company – Did you know you can freeze most candy? That means you can buy some now and save it for the holiday season. And right now you can save 12% with coupon code REMEMBER (Ends 5/28)
JoyJolt – Hosting parties this year? Get some new glassware at JoyJolt. You can get 10% off with coupon code AFF10 (Ends 9/1)
Craftsy – Craftsy is a great place to learn new crafts and right now you can get a premium membership for only $2.49 for the whole year! It’s usually $97. (Limited Time Offer)
Grove Collaborative– Stock up on household supplies at Grove Collorative during their Memorial Day sale. Save up to 40% site wide. (Ends 5/28)

Get Cashback While Shopping in May

Another way to save money in May is by using cashback apps and websites. This will help you save more on the items that are on sale as well as your everyday purchases.

There are many options you can try. You don’t need to use all of these just pick the ones you think will work best for you and remember to use them.

ShopKick– You can earn points, called kicks, by going to stores, scanning items, buying items, and more. It’s a great way to earn gift cards for holiday shopping.
Ibotta– This is an app you can use to scan receipts or use to shop online. It’s even available for Instacart, Uber Eats, Shipt, and Amazon.
Fetch Rewards– This is my favorite cashback app because it’s so easy to use. You don’t need to mark things to buy as you do with Ibotta and you get at least 25 points for every receipt, including many online receipts. I like to use this app to save up for Amazon gift cards to spend on Christmas gifts. If you use my referral code TN8EW you will get 2,000 points just for signing up!
Rakuten- You can use the app or website to earn cashback at tons of retailers. I use this to save money for Christmas and I use it while I shop for Christmas gifts to get money back after the holiday season. If you use my link you will get $10 just for signing up and making a qualified purchase!

There are other sites and apps out there as well but these are my favorites. If these don’t work for you look for other options that could work.