What are your plans after holiday festivities are over, the eggnog carton is licked clean, and the presents are all unwrapped? Heading back out shopping? Some of you would say “no way” but others have their plans already set.
Diehard deal shoppers like Mindi Cherry of MomsNeedToKnow.com head to AC Moore, Michaels and JoAnn’s Fabrics the first few days after any holiday to get new decor for the next year. There, she finds decorations, wall hangings, etc. at 75% off. As Mindi puts it, “The selection may not be as good as before Christmas, but considering that you are buying something that is going to be ripped off in five seconds, does it really matter if it is the “perfect” wrapping paper?”
Other post-holiday shoppers told me that they never miss stores like Target, Kohls, and Pottery Barn. Target apparently marks down their holiday fare as low as 90% to clear it out. Pottery Barn’s gorgeous holiday trimmings are significantly slashed and Kohl’s starts marking down its winter clothing. Some look for gift sets that can be broken apart for teacher gifts but that can also be stored for a couple months to a year. Smaller local retailers have great sales too. Keep your eyes peeled as you drive through town. Think about those specialty items that seemed just out price range before. Check back to see if they are being marked down.
Don’t forget candy. You may not be able to store it for a year like other gifts but the kids enjoy it and they don’t care about the wrapping when they find red and green delights in their lunches for weeks to come.
Also, if you always wanted that fake tree for the front room or paper goods for the next year, the trip out is worth the savings. You may feel the pinch this year, adding this additional cost to your holiday spending, but it will be worth not having to spend next year. Once you get into the savings routine by planning ahead, you will start seeing a big difference on the bottom line.
Mindi shared with me another great deal, “We have a great set of everyday Christmas china that we picked up at Macy’s in mid-January. Prior to Christmas, it had been on sale at $35 for four place settings. We ended up buying service for twelve and more coordinating serving pieces than we can ever use for just $80.” When you want to save money, you either don’t spend or you postpone what you can. As Mindi found, the wait was worth the prize. Hold those instant gratification needs for a week or two. Your smile and your wallet will be much larger.
To strategize before going out, you will want to do a couple of things:
· Make a list of items you actually used this last year like paper goods and wrapping paper.
· Make another list of wishful thinking items, like Christmas china and red table clothes, to consider if the sale is too good to pass.
· Keep your list of recipients with whom you exchanged gifts in case you see something seriously slashed that can wait until a birthday or even next year.
· Take an extra blank piece of paper for comparison shopping to write ideas you aren’t ready to purchase but may want to return to buy before they are gone.
Make sure to buy some large plastics bins, often on sale at Lowes and Home Depot, so that when next year rolls around, you know where to find your stash. Finally, return, return, return: what you don’t need, what you won’t wear, what will never be opened, what you overspent on that will be outdated next year. You may get less for your item since some things will be marked down but it is better than it sitting on your shelf or hanging in your closet collecting dust where no one else can use it.
