Getting the Best AFTER Christmas Sales Might Just Be the Kickstarter You Need for Your New Year’s Budget
If you think Christmas sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday are amazing, just wait until you score the After Christmas sales. From Christmas decorations to clothing, toys, and more, you can expect to save big (like 75-90% off big). Year-End Deals are a great way to stock up on hugely discounted items for next year or to find that last-minute gift on your Christmas list.
Take advantage of after-Christmas sales to get your stash of presents ready for a year-long of gift-giving and never scramble for a birthday present again. With savings this big, you can expect to start off your New Year’s budget on the right foot.
Speaking of budgets…
Starting a budget is one of the single most important things you can do to achieve any financial goal. Creating a budget was the biggest reason I was able to pay off over $26K in just 2 years on ONE income.
Read: How to Furiously Pay Off Debt with the Snowball Method
The Very Best After Christmas Sales
I’ve put a list together of what I have seen as the very best after Christmas and year-end sales. So grab a pen and paper and let’s get started.
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1. Christmas Gift Wrap
This is ALWAYS on the top of the list. Go to the stores really early to grab your favorite gift wrap for a steal of a price, you know, the fancy one you have always wanted but couldn’t get.
Also, be sure to be on the look out for neutral colors so that you can use them for birthday presents throughout the year. I have scored some high quality Disney wrap for less than $1 before.
I spent $5 last year on wrap alone and I have enough to last me another year.
2. Christmas Ornaments
If you have kids, toddlers, or even crawling babies, your ornaments probably don’t last long. Let’s admit it, our kids drop them when they help place ornaments on the tree. Our toddlers break them when they try to move the decorations and our babies toss them as soon as they get a hold of them.
You are left with your tree with a bare bottom, nothing decorated 2 ft from the bottom.
Do yourself a favor and get a second set during the after-Christmas sales. You will see markdown for ornament sets for at least 50%.
3. Christmas Trees
When I first bought my tree, I was living in an apartment. I got a cheap 5-ft tree for like $60. I didn’t think anything of it. When I moved into my new home with 9-ft celings, my tree looked really small. I looked around for 7-ft pre-lit Christmas trees and I was shocked at how they started out at over $100, some as high as $300!
We ended up just using our 5-ft tree that year. As soon as Christmas was over, those trees were flying off the shelf at 25-50% off.
If you are looking for a NEW Christmas tree, hold off until the after Christmas sales. But also keep an eye out for closer to Christmas. Some stores will start to mark down just a few days before the holiday.
4. Christmas Cards
If you love to give out Christmas cards, many of these will go on sale for as little as .25 per card. But, look for these in stores like CVS and Walgreens. Many times, they will pair the sale with another coupon and you might walk away with Christmas cards for FREE next year!
I have my eye on these Chalkboard Christmas Cards for next year!
Read: 16 Ways to Save Money on Christmas Shopping
5. Winter Coats
Winter coats tend to go on sale at the year’s end. Buy the next size up for the following winter and you won’t be forced to buy a full priced jacket next year.
Not only do winter coats go on sale, winter clothes like leggings, socks, and boots get significant markdowns as well. Not many stores will advertise them because they generally want to make their money before Christmas so you’ll have to do some scouting.
If you put in the work, you will save big in the end.
6. Holiday Ribbon
Along with gift wrap, the holiday ribbon will also be significantly marked down. I like to wait a week and can typically score 90% off most times.
Make a running list of what ribbon you would like to see marked down before Christmas, then come back the day after to see if it is clearanced enough to buy.
7. Tape
Yes, tape will be discounted. The plus side to this is that you can use tape year round. Think birthday presents, DIY crafts, school projects, ect.
These go fast so make sure you head to the store early.
8. Batteries
Just like tape, batteries generally go really fast. Look for discounted batteries at off stores like Big Lots, Ace Hardware and you can skip the crowd to score big. I used a coupon paired with a sale two years ago and I still have batteries!
Stock up on these bad boys if you have the funds. Don’t buy unless it’s less than 50% off.
Read: 65 + Ways to Make Money Fast for the Holidays
9. Holiday Dishware
Think, Christmas themed plates, bowls, serving dishes, forks, cutlery. These after Christmas sales on these items go quickly, but there are some still lying around a few weeks into the new year.
If you don’t mind a red serving bowl with mistletoe serving your Superbowl stuffed jalepenos, then get out there and grab them fast. You can typically see these at 50% off.
10. Christmas lights
Christmas lights, especially the trending ones, are generally marked down 40% off. If you know you’ll need more lights or if you just want to up your Christmas decoration game, then wait until the after Christmas sales.
11. Christmas Inflatables
This is on my list this year. I have been waiting to get one of these until my kids were older. Next year, I will have an inflatable. These are usually 25-40% off, I have rarely seen them discounted for more than 50% off.
Either way, make sure to go early to get the best choices.
12. Video Games
Video games, particularly for Xbox and Playstation tend to be marked down as high as 70% at big box locations. Even stores like Gamestop will have significant savings. Make not of what you might want for a birthday next year, and see if you can get a huge discount.
13. Stocking stuffers and Candy
Use these markdowns to use for your Easter Baskets in April. You’ll most likely find these for pennies.
Tips for How to Get the Best After Christmas Sales
Scout your items
During Christmas shopping, if you find something you would like to get at a discounted price. Take note of it.
Write down the price before Christmas
Take a picture or screen shot for the UPC or model number so you can look it up later
Write down the location
Write down where you saw the item. Chances are, it might not be at another store.
Go Early
Go early to get the high quality stuff at anywhere from 25-50% off. Once those items are gone, the next 2 to 3 days, you’ll start to enjoy the bigger savings but less to choose from.
Wait 3 days to 1 week after Christmas for best mark downs, however, limited supply
This is when you’ll see the 70-90% off mark downs. But the supply will be limited as everyone has already snatched them up at 50% off.
Try out Brickseek
Brickseek is a data base of UPCs and SKU where you can see inventory at certain locations. It is not always accurate so you’ll have to go to the actual store to find out.
I hope you’ll use this guide and tips to help you save so you’ll have a good start for next year. The biggest takeaway here is that you make a plan and go early. If you are not picky, you can wait up to 2 weeks for the biggest discounts.
Thanks for narrowing down the best items to buy. It is so overwhelming when the stores are so full of savings. One thing I do not advise getting for the next year is a Gingerbread house. I made a big mistake buying several and not using them for 2 years. The icing was hard but we could run hot water to soften it. The worst was the odor! It took a day for them to air out. Anyway, thanks.