9 Holiday Items To Splurge On, Settle For or Skip at Target

When you’re on a Target shopping run, you’re bound to spot things that aren’t necessarily on your shopping list you want to buy. This is especially true during the holidays when the shelves are filled with items — like Christmas candy, indoor decorations and candles — all vying for a spot in your shopping cart.

What’s worth spending the money on and what should stay behind? GOBankingRates reviewed some of the top holiday items for sale at Target and broke them down into three categories: what to splurge on, settle for and skip. 

Do you agree that these are the holiday items worth buying (or not) at Target?

• Price: $20

Wondershop’s LED starburst sculptures come in a two-pack of novelty lights and are an affordable way to decorate your space for the holidays. 

However, three AA alkaline batteries are required for each starburst to work and these sculptures don’t include batteries. If you don’t already have these batteries handy, you’ll need to buy some before heading to check out. This means your total spend will be more than $20.

• Price: $20

Shoppers buying Da Bomb bath fizzer Advent calendar need to remember the golden rule associated with shopping for Advent calendars. You might like some of the mini bath bomb scents packaged behind each door and you might not. 

If you’re comfortable with spending this money knowing there’s a 50/50 chance you’ll like most of its 12 scents, it’s an Advent calendar worth buying.

• Price: $10

The only caveat for buying Wondershop’s peppermint swirl bath rug is knowing it’s not going to be as big as a traditional bath rug or mat. Measuring at 22 inches, this round rug is festive but on the smaller side.

• Price: $12.99

Shoppers looking for holiday jewelry might want to skip buying this pair of SUGARFix by BaubleBar pine tree earrings. 

“I didn’t even get them home and the tree part snapped off,” wrote Alyshia in a one-star review.

• Price: $3.99

We know why you want to buy Ritz crackers in Christmas shapes. It’s because the packaging indicates these crackers, shaped like trees, bells and snowmen, are really cute. 

Several one-star reviews from Target shoppers, however, said the crackers are in a loose bag rather than their usual sleeves. Because of this, most of these festive crackers are broken up.

• Price: $50

With a 2.9 rating on the Target website, the Wondershop LED silver twig tree has several complaints from shoppers about how this holiday décor isn’t worth the cost.

“This tree is cheaply made. It looks like it is wrapped in aluminum foil,” wrote KayVern in a one-star review. “The lights are daylight bright, so it doesn’t put out a light you would want on to read next to or relax.”

• Price: $28

Regular GOBankingRates readers have seen the Dearfoams brand referenced in previous shopping roundups, so they know it’s a trusted brand worth buying. 

The Dearfoams women’s knit slipper and eyemask set is also on sale. Regularly $40, shoppers save 33% at the new sale price. Shop women’s slipper sizes S through XL in gray, peacoat and red colors while they’re still in stock.

• Price: $30

We often recommend buying stockings during the holidays, but how do you plan to hang them up? If you have an extra $30 to spend, it’s worth it to splurge on Threshold’s Merry Christmas stocking holder, which can be reused for many Christmases to come.

• Price: $21

Much like the recommended Dearfoams slippers, the Spode Christmas tree latte mug is on sale at nearly 50% off its regular retail price of $40. 

We’re recommending it as a splurge since at 22 ounces, it’s designed to hold more of your favorite holiday coffee and tea than a typical mug. Plus, there’s a clever amount of reuse shoppers can get out of this mug throughout the year. Anyone else on board to celebrate Christmas in July next year?

Editor’s note: Pricing and availability may vary depending on location.