Leah Berenson

Leah Berenson

January 4, 2025

Top Hobby Lobby Shopping Tips Every Bargain Hunter Needs

The holiday season is when many people start their holiday shopping but at Hobby Lobby you can start stockpiling all year. Here are shopping tips to find bargains and deals on last minute gifts and decor, all year long. 

Hobby Lobby Shopping Hints

Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA July 26, 2015 The exterior of a new Hobby lobby store.
Source: Shutterstock

With 1,000 stores and over 40,000 employees, Hobby Lobby is one of the largest retail craft stores in the U.S. Moreover, they sell everything from fun and festive decor or projects for a rainy afternoon indoors or DIY renovation ideas to spruce up your home. However, shopping, particularly around the holidays, becomes costly and overwhelming. Luckily, some secret shopping hints might help you stay on budget this year, and hopefully, the years to come. 

1. Wait and Watch

Foxborough, Massachusetts - August 31, 2024: A customer walks past the entrance of Hobby Lobby.
Source: Shutterstock

One great way to save money at Hobby Lobby is to wait and watch the items that you want. Apparently, the chain offers weekly sales that alternate so everything is guaranteed to go on sale eventually. As such, one money saving tip is to monitor the things you want so you can buy them when they’re on sale. Interestingly, holiday themed items are actually put on a schedule to make it easier to track. 

2. Overlap Sales at Hobby Lobby 

An aerial view of a photographer sitting in the grass.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Purportedly, if you go to Hobby Lobby late on a Saturday night, you may be lucky and they’ll honor some sale items from their regular Sunday sales. 

3. Avoid Online Shopping at Hobby Lobby 

Christmas Inside Hobby Lobby in Casper's former & Wyoming's first Kmart (Casper, Wyoming, USA) - 09/12/2020
Source: Shutterstock

According to Becky for SimplifyDaily online prices for Hobby Lobby are higher than in-store. As such, she suggests not shopping online. Instead, you should shop  at Hobby Lobby unless you have a coupon for free shipping. 

Read More: 34 Secret Car-Buying Tips Your Dealer Won’t Tell You

4. Check out Clearance Items

Various paints and a paint brush. Wooden background.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Hobby Lobby has a large selection of crafts and gifts and they’re constantly cycling through new products. Therefore, they regularly have sales on many of their items to make room for new inventory. Moreover, some items can be listed with up to as much as 90% off. 

5. A 2-week Sale Option

Christmas Inside Hobby Lobby in Casper's former & Wyoming's first Kmart (Casper, Wyoming, USA) - 09/12/2020
Source: Shutterstock

Apparently, Hobby Lobby will honor their sale prices for up to 2 weeks. Essentially, if you buy something that isn’t on sale but you notice it goes on sale within 2 weeks from when you bought it, you can reach out to the store and they’ll likely be willing to honor the discount and give you a little money back. This doesn’t apply at every location, nor is it available for every item so you’ll have to do a little research to see if something will work for you. 

6. Track the Hobby Lobby App

Hobby Lobby store having a discount for yarn, great price to make homemade gifts for the holidays. Photos taken on November 25th, 2019 in Keller around North Texas
Source: Shutterstock

Often, Hobby Lobby and other retailers have a downloadable app that allows you to track sales and make online purchases that you can easily watch from the time the order is confirmed to when it ships to when it’s delivered. 

7. Price Matching

Longmont, CO USA - March 18, 2021: Hobby Lobby gift card surrounded by yellow, green and white spools of thread. Hobby Lobby is an American retailer of arts and crafts.
Source: Shutterstock

Another way to save money at Hobby Lobby is to be aware of their price match policy. Apparently, you can go into the store with an advertisement from a competitor who’s selling the item you want for less, and Hobby Lobby will match the competition’s prices, ensuring you get the best possible prices. 

8. A Rain Check at Hobby Lobby

A person doing pottery.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Moreover, the giant craft retailer has a “raincheck” policy meaning if you go in and find something you want on sale but they’re sold on, you can “preorder” it and get it on sale when they get more inventory. 

Other Budget Saving Tips

A woman sitting in a chair stitching. Wooden floor in the background.
Image Credit: Pixabay

Hobby Lobby has some great items and deals to make shopping for the holidays easier and more affordable. However, there are other ways to save money and stay on budget for the holidays.

CNBC and Bank of America have offered more money saving tips and the perks are seemingly endless. For example, you can sign up for a new credit card that has a large sign up incentive. That way, you’ll be able to do all your holiday shopping and earn rewards for you to enjoy throughout the year. Additionally, they recommend things like “taking advantage of card-linked offers” and “maximizing credit card bonus spending categories.” These allow you to find great holiday deals, specific to each special person in your life. 

Budget All Year

Close up young woman with calculator counting making notes at home, hand is writing in a notebook. Savings finances concept.
Source: Shutterstock

Lastly, staying organized is another great and easy way to stay on budget for the holidays. For instance, create a list of all the people you want to buy for and write an amount for each person. Furthermore, it might be helpful to write categories or items next to each person’s name so you’ll have a few gift ideas in advance. Alternately, gift exchanges are another great way to give on a budget. Each person will only have one or 2 people to shop for and it ensures everyone who participates gets at least one gift. Either way, you can visit Hobby Lobby all year long to track deals on the best gifts and festive decorations.

Read More: Tips On How to Arrange Your Pillows On Your Couch for a Cozy and Stylish Living Room