Input needed for article: Post-holiday clearance shopping.

[donnafreedman]

I'm doing a Money Talks News article about things to buy during the after-Christmas clearance.
****Specifically: Things to buy after Christmas that aren't gifts for next year.****
This could include (but is not limited to!) candles, small appliances (see below), sheets, dishes, decorative items, bakeware, cosmetics, cookie and cake mixes, storage bins, Ziploc bags and, of course, Christmas decorations and ornaments.
1. What do you look for each year, and why?
2. How much do you save on stuff you would be buying anyway, eventually? (Example: Ziploc bags printed with holly or candy canes work just as well as the clear ones -- except these are 50% off or more.)
3. What are your best finds ever? (My friend Meghan found small microwave ovens for $5 each at the ultimate get-it-out-of-here sale. She had several nieces and nephews going away to college the next year -- best grad gift ever, and just five bucks each! And I once found Carter's outfits for less than a buck at Target; I donated some to a charity for impoverished moms and made one part of a gift box I sent via the Swapmamas help-for-the-holidays page.)
Any help will be appreciated. The deadline to deliver the article is Dec. 20. Thanks!

[kadee79]

Fragrance & lotion gift sets that I can use for myself.

Paper goods such as paper plates & napkins...like the zip bags, they still work no matter the decorations on them.

My best ever deal was finding Hanes sweat shirts with a collar, front neck zipper(polo style) and side slit bottom (no elastic) at Walmart for $1 ea.  I bought 4 of them 5 yrs. ago and I am still wearing them every week working around the house & outside.  They go in the washer with no special treatment & in the dryer.

[busymom]

I'd estimate how much my kids might grow by the next winter, & buy clothing items like sweaters, turtlenecks, boots, etc.

I buy holiday cookie & cake mixes because my kids will eat them anytime. Doesn't need to be "in season" for them to enjoy.

For food, I'm looking for 1/2 off.  For clothing, I'll hold off until it's at least 60-70% off.  I have done better than that, 'tho. 

My best deal ever was brand new baby sleepers for 80 cents apiece.  Second best deal was a name brand carpet cleaner for under $25.

[naturallyfrugal]

I like the paper products and storage items on clearance - particularly tissues.  Since I use tissue box covers, the pattern is never seen.   I also like non-descript home decor - I got the cutest silver owl last year at Target for 75% off (I think it was $5 or less) and its in my office now and no one would think it was a Christmas decoration.  

You mentioned not including gift items, but my son's birthday is in March so I always look for gifts for his birthday - things he may have wanted but didnt receive.   With Target's return policy, I have time to return the toys if he changes his mind before his birthday.   

[Peace77]

I buy on sale grocery store items such as the imported cookies at Aldi's, sugar sprinkles, and decorated paper towels.  I'll also buy reduced wrapping paper and ribbon, especially the kinds that don't look too Christmassy that I can use for other occasions.

[saveinla]

The drug stores - CVS, RA etc clearance a lot of their makeup and lotions during December - up to 75% off. It's the best time to stock up for the year or buy gifts for the teens in your family. 

[Waffle]

The only thing I regularly look for on the after Christmas sales is Tissue paper.  I use a lot of it - to  fill in the voids of little boxes with jewelry in them and it's the first layer of wrapping for textile items - hats, hankys, tablecloths, etc.  - all things that I sell on eBay.  I can always find it for 50% off after Christmas - sometimes I hit it at 75% off.


Years ago, I went to the local expensive floral shop the day after Christmas and bought some Christmas decor items - they were at least 50% off and can be brought out year after year.

[marvholly]

I NEED to get gift bags. I will look for general purpose wrap-have plenty of holiday wrap and gift tags from previous years. I will be looking for CHEAP/clearance velour and/or sweat 2 pc pants outfits for myself-these tend to go on sale several weeks after the holiday so mid-late Jan. Also discovered I need black dress flats (same timing ad clothes)-mine will cost too much to fix. Also, need to replace my walking shoes.

I know my optical place runs a BIG sale in jan/Feb so will prob do that too. I would LOVE to find a deal on a microwave like your friend-I’ll even spend $50-60. My power can open is getting difficult about opening cans so will watch for that too.

I will check various grocers for deals on cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, soup, meats (ham, turkey), brown sugar, French onions…………

I have already bought 4 of 5 grand kids bday gifts so pretty set there.

I Expect to pay NO more than 50% of shelf price/ticket for ANYTHING; preferably less.

[Tiny]

Don't forget your pets! I've scored some great deals (on Christmas Eve or the Day After Christmas) on holiday themed things for my Cats. About 5 years ago I paid $2.50 each for pet beds that were $12.99 before Christmas. I bought 4 - they were red or green. One is still in use. The cats don't seem to care that the bed is green with a design of little ornaments on it.

I've also gotten cat toys and holiday themed dog treats (for the dog next door and for relatives visiting dog) 75% off. My cats don't care if their crinkle balls are green and red... and the dogs don't care if their treat is in the shape of christmas tree or is green or red - either.     I give the dog next door a treat when I'm out in the yard (he LOVES me!) and the relatives dogs get a treat when they visit (they LOVE me!) so the treats get used up before they 'go bad' or get stale.

So, don't forget to stop in the big box pet supply stores!

I usually hit the local Starbucks starting a couple days before Christmas to see what the deal is on coffee beans. I love their Christmas blend and often get it 50% off (or by 1 get 1) on Christmas Eve or the Day After. It freezes well.

[donnafreedman]

These are great! Is there any chance I can quote you guys with at least a first name? If so, please e-mail me at Donna (underscore) Freedman (at) hotmail (dot) com, telling me which tips are yours and which name I could use. That way you could get credit for your input.

[kittensaver]

Last year I went clothing shopping for me at a post-Christmas Kohl's sale. It had been a VERY long time (about 3 years) since I'd bought anything for myself. Because of their sale, I picked up new office/work clothes - pants (3), shirts (2), tops (5) and sweaters (4 or 5?) for $220 (full retail price about $700).

I think post-Christmas clothings sales are great if you know the store, like the merchandise AND have the patience to wade through racks and racks (and racks and racks and racks . . . . ) of random stuff and random sizes. I plan to do this again this year.
 
I also regularly look post-Christmas for items that will make good birthday gifts. I really don't bother to think about presents for next Christmas because it is a long ways away, and chances are the person will probably receive as a birthday gift (or pick up for themselves) anything they really wanted that they didn't get from Santa . 

ETA: I also pick up stuff for the homeless shelter clothing closet or the local food bank if I happen to see a good deal. A few years back one of the big-box stores was blowing out the last of their summer and fall merchandise, and were selling flip-flops for $1 each. I picked up 25 and gave them to the shelter. That one felt really good!

[pepperdoo]

Last year I found 10 bags of Eight O' Clock coffee for 98 cents a piece at Grocery Outlet.

I buy all of my skin care products from Yves Rocher, who has very good year end sales. I bought clearance Holiday lotions and soaps, 10 each at $2.00 a piece, 8 Christmas clearance decorations which I am using this year, at $2.00 each, a travel kit of my favorite skin care for $8.00 which is enough for at least 5 trips and got 2 fleece blankets, a fashion watch, and a full size travel tote bag for free, and free shipping because I ordered over $40.00. 

I also forgot to mention the cash back rewards that I earned as a base for a nest egg for this year's Christmas season. That's the reason my budget is under $300, because most of what I am buying this year is free, or nearly free 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Wrapping paper, bows, cards, or anythign else "holiday" related are usually slashed and marked down to clear them out.

Clothing and sports equipment sales are usually good too.


The biggest sales here post-Christmas are on Electronics!! We get tons of flyers in the paper right after (and sometimes just preceding) Christmas).

I got my Samsung 42" Flat Screen HD TV as well as a DVR last year for less than 50% the regular retail price. They were a steal!

You can usually find TV's, I-Phones, I-Pads, Cells, computers, laptops, etc all at ridiculously low prices post-Christmas (what we call Boxing Day/Boxing Week sales here in Canada). Best Buy usually has some great savings on electronics - also Future Shop if you have them.

[MonicaLee5186]

Last year at Target I scored tissue paper in white, teal, and lime green colors for .10/package.  I used it all year long to wrap gifts or fill gift bags with and no one knows the difference!  The Christmas before I moved back to PA I went out Dec. 26th with my sister and we bought all of our ornaments, wrapping papers, stockings, décor, etc. to start out our first holiday in our new homes.  I'm still using that stuff today!  I also buy the name tags, gift bags, wrapping paper, etc. only every 2-3 years because I don't need a ton of it every year.

I always go through the men's department at Kohls -- they have fabulous clearance.  My DH can wear dress/casual pants and a flannel to work and he's set.  They always have their flannels on clearance from $10 and under.  This year we will probably be replacing some, he's had them for 5+ years now.  This is also how I outfitted him for the move from sunny FL to snowy PA.  All of his winter wardrobe was bought in FL on the clearance racks after the holidays!  I'll wait until they send me a 30% off coupon in the mail and then my girlfriend and I go.  She buys her daughter's winter clothes for the next year and I buy my DH's!

[Ombud]

I just bought sz 14 beige suit pants and a white dressy T @ Macy's for $5.14 for both items inc tax (on hangers) for a Wardrobe for Opportunity Charity Luncheon in February. Will add a chunky necklace bought New Years Day once that sale day hits (50% off 75% off so $20 becomes $2.50) and the outfit is complete!! Too big for me but I need a complete work outfit for the charity luncheon and I feel so generous when I bring them in with the original tags still attached

[Colleenz]

I am a marketers dream. I buy all of the holiday stuff on sale and store it in the pantry.

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About ten months later, the stores decorate and play festive music.   As I search for the paper towel aisle I can't help but get sucked in by the end cap.  Come on, how cute is that?  Little dancing penguins wearing antlers!  And since they are on napkins, they won't be some annoying decoration I need to put away later.  I will use them then throw them away.

Most Practical Impulse Buy Ever!

Proud of myself, I load then purchases into the Subaru and drive home.  I unload my haul, and start to put it away.  I get to the new napkins.  I smile, congratulating myself again as I open the pantry door...

*%$#*&^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every Flipping Year! I have nine packs of Christmas napkins alone!

[Ombud]

LOL! 

[kadee79]

Dec 17, 2013 20:06:52 GMT -5 Colleenz said:

I am a marketers dream. I buy all of the holiday stuff on sale and store it in the pantry.

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About ten months later, the stores decorate and play festive music.   As I search for the paper towel aisle I can't help but get sucked in by the end cap.  Come on, how cute is that?  Little dancing penguins wearing antlers!  And since they are on napkins, they won't be some annoying decoration I need to put away later.  I will use them then throw them away.

Most Practical Impulse Buy Ever!

Proud of myself, I load then purchases into the Subaru and drive home.  I unload my haul, and start to put it away.  I get to the new napkins.  I smile, congratulating myself again as I open the pantry door...

*%$#*&^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every Flipping Year! I have nine packs of Christmas napkins alone!

You need to do an inventory of your pantry and look in it more often!

Post a list on the door (inside or out) and you will KNOW what you have!

[Colleenz]

The list won't matter when I am in the happy place store though.  Marketers count on people like me to be disorganized and get sucked in by the store atmosphere.

[Wisconsin Beth]

The past couple of years, I've hit up Target clearance stuff for small toys for the kids - for the "poop in the potty prize bag"   Best find was a Jake and the Pirates toy camera, original price was $5.  I don't remember what I paid for it.  And the next day DH picked one up for $0.50 as the first one landed in the toilet...

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Christmas Hershey's Kisses
Christmas M and Ms

[grits]

I buy clothes, blankets, flannel sheets, pj's, shoes, cookware/kitchen essentials, and food.

[Tiny]

There wasn't much of anything left for the After Christmas sale... and stuff was 30-50% off... which were the SAME discounts on the stuff starting back before Thanksgiving

I was out shopping on the 23rd and the sales were better - 60% or more off.

Maybe the After Christmas deep discount has died? It also looks like Christmas is completely gone from my local stores - I suspect all the retail workers who worked Christmas day and night spent alot of time removing anything Christmas from the store(s).

Maybe any looking for deals should happen the day or two before Christmas? Or the Week before Thanksgiving?

[Ombud]

thankfully Hanukkah goes from the 16th to the 24th next year!♥♥

oh and the after Hannukah sales were really weird. They didn't start until the day before Christmas and everything was pulled the day after Christmas. No idea where it went

[Timberwolf]

It's too late for the article but Aldi's has their spiral sliced ham on sale right now for 1/2 price, which in my region works out to 75 cents per pounds.