12 Things to Buy AFTER Christmas
My favorite week for shopping in the whole year is the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I usually ask for gift cards instead of actual gifts just so I can stretch my dollar even further by shopping this week instead of before Christmas.
Why, you might ask? Aren’t the sales better around Black Friday?
I guess you can get some pretty great deals on Black Friday. But I don’t feel like getting up at 3am to go shopping with a million other people who are willing to kill each other over Tickle Me Elmo.
Why are the sales after Christmas so great?
The week between Christmas and New Year’s is important for businesses. Companies need to make sure that their yearly profits are as remarkable as possible, so in a last ditch effort, they try to sell as much as they can in the last week of the year.
And not just from a profit standpoint, but it’s also important for the inventory as well. Stores need to get rid of Christmas items that didn’t sell so that they have room for the rest of their stock. And they need them gone fast.
I make a list each year of decorations I wish I had for Christmas and then, the day or two after Christmas, I head to the stores to see what I can nab in the 50-75% off (or more!) price range.
Here are my top 12 things to
buy AFTER Christmas:
1. Wrapping paper
All of the Christmas themed wrapping paper is on sale, but it’s also a great time to keep your eye out for non-Christmas themed paper that can be used all year. I got a 4 roll pack for $1 and 2 of the rolls said “Merry Christmas,” but the other 2 rolls were just plain stripped that could be used for more than just Christmas.
2. Ornaments
Those awesome ornament wreaths? You need like 400 ornaments to make them! Maybe you just had a baby and realized that all of your beautiful heirloom glass ornaments won’t make it with a toddler in the house. The best time to get ornaments is AFTER Christmas. Instead of $20 for a big pack of 50 ornaments, you can get them for around $5. Much easier to stock up at that price.
3. Artificial trees
I’ve never gotten an artificial tree, but for after-Christmas prices, I might! We saw a 9 foot pre-lit tree for $15 last year! That’s a stock-up price, right there. Christmas trees for all occasions!
4. Stockings
I really love super cute knitted stockings. But they’re $30 at some places! Unless, of course, you wait for the 75% off sale! Super cute, rustic stockings for the whole family for the same thing I would have paid for 1 stocking!
5. Tree skirts
Cute tree skirts are really expensive! Especially if you want to get the cute one to match the stockings. See a few that you might like? Get a few of them! For around $5 each, that’s worth a few different options.
6. General Christmas decorations
I found some big plush throws at Walmart last year for $1 each! Even more than that, if you’re looking for some amazing advent calendars or Christmas themed wall hanging art, this is the time to get them! I’ve gotten some really cute door mats also. Thankfully “V” isn’t a highly sought after initial for decor items, so we usually have our pick as far as anything with a monogram.
7. Christmas crafts
Who doesn’t love Christmas crafts? They’re perfect for kids. But I hate the price tags on them! There’s usually a lot of these left after Christmas, so it’s easy to stock up for your kids and maybe some for the nieces and nephews for next year.
8. Christmas baking supplies
I’m just not going to pay $25 for a Christmas tree shaped cake pan. But I WILL get one 90% off on sale! Cupcake liners, cookie cutters, cupcake towers shaped like Christmas trees, ice cube trays shaped like snowflakes… all really great things to keep on hand for next year’s Christmas party!
9. Christmas cards
I love getting the cards that have the place for a photo. And at around $1 for a 25 pack of cards when they’re on sale, it’s much cheaper than having them printed.
10. Christmas lights
I can’t stress this one enough! We had been using half-broken lights that I had in my college dorm for 5 years; they worked, but barely. I just couldn’t justify spending a ton of money on lights, so we never replaced them. Last year we got 3 huge 400 light rolls of indoor/ outdoor white lights for $5 each! We got a few outdoor specific lights too for $5 per roll from Walmart.
11. Christmas clothes
Cute Christmas clothes and matching family Christmas PJs are on sale! Get 1-2 sizes UP for next year for the kids! Same price as second hand stores.
12. Toys
Ok, so they’re not always Christmas-specific, but they’re still on sale! My kids need more toys like they need a hole in the head. But for birthdays or for nieces and nephews, this is the time to stock up!
This is also a perfect time to stock up on those free gift cards to Walmart and Target when you use Swagbucks. That $25 gift card will go a lot further after Christmas than it did a week earlier!
What do you buy after Christmas?
Great list! I try to take note of what I need to replace when I get out my decorations. Sometimes I go ahead and buy before Christmas at 50% at Hobby Lobby if I just can’t wait, but I love to check out the after Christmas sales, especially at Wal-Mart. I love the shatterproof ornaments in different colors and sizes that can be used as filler on our tree after I put on the themed ornaments, and they can also be used in glass containers, tied to wreaths and garlands, etc. I do Christmas card letters each year and have purchased Christmas themed computer paper for those on sale. Definitely wrapping paper, and I also like to find patterns that can be used for other occasions, like stripes, solids, polka dots and plaids, I like the Christmas themed vinyl tablecloths, which I have used to wrap boxes with to make faux presents for outdoors on my porch, since the vinyl is more weather resistant (I put a brick or other heavy item inside the box first so they don’t blow away, and use colored duct tape as ribbon). This year, it was a pleasant surprise to find the lighted star tree topper I had purchased last year after Christmas and forgotten about!
Those are amazing finds, Vicki!! I love your idea about making a list of things that you need to replace that year! 🙂
Crackers are a good buy after Christmas too and you can get the really nice ones for very little. 🙂