Here are some tips for hitting after Christmas sales. We were in the middle of moving last year, so I didn’t post much about it, but I may be able to give better heads up this year.
*try to think ahead. Make a list now of things you were wishing you had as you were decking the halls this year: timers for lights, extension cords, miniature light sets, lighted trees for your front porch, address labels, how many Christmas cards, a storage bag for your tree, wreaths, bows, etc. so you know what to be on the lookout for and you will kiss yourself next year when you don’t have to go buy it at full price!
* Lowes begins their holiday clearance early…like now. My store is 40% off all holiday right now, and may go 50% right before Christmas. They have always gone 75% the day after Christmas. We got an awesome artificial tree at 6 a.m. the day after Christmas in 2007. It is my favorite store to hit early on December 26.
*If there is something you really want, buy it when it first starts going on clearance, save the receipt and if it is still around when it gets more deeply discounted, you can buy another, and then return it right away with your first receipt. Then you won’t be kicking yourself for not getting it if they are snatched up right away.
* Target goes 50% off the day after Christmas, then 75% off right about a week after that, and then around 6-8 days after that it goes to 90% if there is anything left. Every store is different. You can call every morning and ask to be connected with seasonal or find a teenage worker who doesn’t care and see what he can tell you about what the markdown schedule might be that week. :) Let’s be honest, there isn’t anything I really *need* in terms of holiday decor, but I like to see what I can do with items left at 75-90% off.
These trees were left at Target 2 years ago at 90% off. They were sad and chipped, no wonder they were left.
So, I bought a total of 3 of them: 2 for the real trees I will use, and a little tree to be used “for parts” to fix the larger ones. I just keep it on hand if the others lose some more chips.
Good as new! 
* I have also discovered that if there are a bunch of mismatched, ugly stocking holders left, you can usually unscrew the ornament on them and you could glue a dollar store frame to make your own personalized holders, or just use the hook part.
* I have also discovered that if there are a bunch of mismatched, ugly stocking holders left, you can usually unscrew the ornament on them and you could glue a dollar store frame to make your own personalized holders, or just use the hook part.
Last year, they had a bunch of containers of ornament hooks for 25 cents at Target. I’m not in need of ornament hooks, but the containers were perfect to hold honey butter to give to our neighbors with easy homemade bread. I may use the extras for some for a spice organization project in my kitchen…we’ll see. Try to think of how things could be re-purposed.
We just put the bread and honey butter in big brown lunch sacks, tied them with a ribbon, and gave them with clearance Christmas cards from last year:
You can also stock up on wrapping paper! We’ve given this to neighbors, like this idea from UCreate.
Super easy, no baking involved. I bought a bunch of cute paper at 40 cents a roll and we gave them to our neighbors the next year for painless holiday cheer. We attached a similar message ^
I hope this gets your wheels turning for your after holiday shopping…you can see a few more ideas here.
Do you have a favorite store you stalk for after-Christmas clearance? What are your best tips?
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