How to Save Money by Buying Christmas Bargains After Christmas

When the relatives have left, the last ornament has been been put away, and the tree has finally been dragged to the curb, the last thing you probably want to think about is Christmas. However, if you can stand to stay in the spirit of the season for just a little while longer, you stand to save a lot of money in the long run. Starting December 26th, many stores offer drastic discounts on leftover Christmas merchandise. Take advantage of these fire sales and save!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Your Shopping List

1
Plan to buy up Christmas supplies on the cheap. The day after Christmas, most stores have no use for their holiday supplies, so they'll offer major price discounts to get rid of them. Buying next year's Christmas supplies early will cost money now, but you'll save loads of cash compared to what you'd pay in November or December of next year. Below are a few seasonal goods you may want to look for deals on:
- Christmas lights: Normally, it can cost over $100 to light a good-sized tree, but after Christmas, the price for these lights plummets. To save even more money on your utility bill, try to find energy-efficient LED lights, which are normally more expensive.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Ornaments: If you end up not liking them, you can always save them to give as gifts next year.
- Holiday cards: Before you buy these, make sure they aren't dated!
- Wrapping supplies: If you see any, try to buy plenty of discounted wrapping paper, ribbons, boxes, and so on with non-Christmas patterns. This way, you can use these things throughout the year.^{[2]XResearch source}
2
Look for good deals on high-demand presents. Every year, a few popular products top the list of sought-after Christmas presents. After Christmas, the demand for these products plummets, so you can often find incredible deals on them. A few items that tend to get discounted every year include:^{[3]XResearch source}
- Laptops and electronic gadgets: Keep in mind that the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) typically falls in January. If a new product unveiled at this trade show makes another product obsolete, you'll be able get an even better deal on it, so you may want to wait until February for these goods.
- Clothing: Many clothing outlets (like, for example, The Gap) hold their biggest sales of the year the day after Christmas. Seasonal clothing will be especially cheap.
- Fitness equipment: Deals tend to get best after mid-January when people start to give up on their New Year's resolutions.
- Furniture: Not an obvious choice, but since most new collections debut in January or February, it's usually possible to find discounts on last year's.
Advertisement
3
Plan to buy next year's Christmas tree. If you use an artificial tree, you can sometimes save hundreds on your purchase by waiting until after Christmas. High-end artificial trees can easily retail for over $600, making post-Christmas price cuts on this item especially attractive.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Over time, the savings from an artificial tree can add up, especially if you originally bought it on discount. Compared to "real" trees, artificial trees are generally more expensive. Use an artificial tree year after year, however, and it will eventually pay for itself. On average, this takes about 2 1/2 years.^{[5]XResearch source}
4
Be ready to buy non-specific holiday goods for New Year's. After the month-long hullabaloo of the Christmas season, it's easy to forget that there's another big holiday right around the corner. Get a leg up on other party-throwers by keeping this simple fact in mind as you make your shopping list. Many discounted seasonal goods and decorations are appropriate for a New Year's party. This is especially true if they don't have Christmas symbols or markings on them.
- Don't worry too much about finding holiday goods that don't have Christmas trees, stars, or other obvious symbols on them. For most casual parties, your guests will probably be comfortable using Christmas versions of cups, plates, napkins and so on.
5
Look for Christmas goods you don't mind using out-of-season. When something works well, does it really matter if it has a Christmas tree on it? If you answered "no," you're in luck! All sorts of leftover Christmas goods can be used throughout the year as long as you aren't picky about what they look like. A few ideas include:^{[6]XResearch source}
- Kitchenware: Plates, china, aprons, baking sheets and so on work perfectly whether or not they're red and green.
- Strings of lights: These are a cheap way to add ambiance to a bedroom or dormitory.
- Decorative baskets: Good for storage, room accents.
- Pillows and Linens: Many Christmas symbols (like lambs, stars, doves, etc.) look fine outside of the season. Solid-color fabrics are even more versatile.
- Bath Items: Soaps, lotions, shampoos, and so on are great as gifts or for personal use.
- Candles: These add atmosphere and smell great any time of year.
6
Check for deals on non-perishable food. Most seasonal food products will be discounted after the holidays. Since non-perishable items last the longest, these products can be the smartest buys. For example, buying price-cut treats like candy canes in bulk can give you a taste of the holiday spirit all year round.
- Perishables will have the biggest discounts of all because stores will want to get them off the shelves before they spoil. However, if you buy these, you'll need to be prepared to use them right away. Stores won't usually stock seasonal perishables after they stop being in demand, so the things you buy may have been sitting on the shelf for a while.
7
Buy everything needed to store your purchases. Many of the goods above aren't the sorts of things you'll use right away. Some, like Christmas decorations, probably won't be used until next year. As long as you're out shopping for these things, take the time to invest in quality storage materials. You'll get the most value for your money if you can prevent the things you buy from breaking or going bad before you use them. Luckily, things like plastic storage containers are usually cheap year-round.
- Artificial Christmas trees require special mention. If you store an artificial tree in the open, it will gather dust, cobwebs, and other unappealing debris. Buy a tree storage bag (usually sold in the same place as the tree itself) to save yourself a time-consuming cleaning session. Be sure to choose a bag that's the proper size for your tree.^{[7]XResearch source}
Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Finding the Best Deals

1
Check online business publications for sales at big-name-brands. Huge multinational brands plan their after-Christmas sales well in advance. To maximize their sales, they will publish this information in business publications, magazines, and so on. Usually, this information will be run online on Christmas day or slightly before it, making this a convenient way to look for bargains.
- One good place to start is the International Business Times, which runs a yearly online article on after-Christmas sales at well-known retailers. For example, here is IBT's article for 2014.^{[8]XResearch source}
2
Check local publications for sales at small businesses near you. Local mom-and-pop stores usually run after-Christmas sales just like bigger brands. However, you won't often be able to find information about these sales online as easily. Try looking in the ads section of your local newspaper or visiting a community bulletin board for information on after-Christmas deals in your local area.
- If you have the time, you can also try looking on individual stores' websites or social media pages for information. As a last resort, you can call stores one by one — this is somewhat more time-consuming, but it works just as well as the methods above.
3
Check your favorite online retailers for sales in advance. You don't necessarily have to leave your house to get great savings after Christmas. Large online sellers (like Amazon.com, etc.) usually have drastic after-Christmas sales just like their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Best of all, it only takes a few clicks to check these sites for deals, so you can do it the day after Christmas in a matter of minutes.
- See our guide to smart online shopping for more info.
4
Try using coupons for added savings. Not all retailers will allow you to "stack" coupon savings on top of after-Christmas discounts, but if you do get this chance, you can save even more than you normally would. Always be on the lookout for a good deal.
- Traditional paper coupons can be easily found in your local newspaper. However, today, electronic coupons are even more convenient. Try searching your retailer's site for deals you can print or download to your mobile device and redeem at the store.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Also be aware that sites like Coupons.com, Groupon.com, and Thekrazycouponlady.com offer numerous coupons year-round.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Soft toys/baby-sets are useful if some of your family/friends are expecting a baby soon - but avoid the obviously Christmas-themed ones.
Thanks
Helpful3 Not Helpful0
You can stock up on a few extra birthday presents for your children's age-groups - they will be invited to some of their classmates' birthday parties in the coming year.
Thanks
Helpful3 Not Helpful0
If possible, pay cash. If your credit card has taken a beating during holiday shopping, pay for your post-holiday purchases with cash to give your plastic a break. And don't be afraid to ask for an extra discount for cash purchases.
Thanks
Helpful3 Not Helpful0

Show More Tips

Warnings

Avoid any item that has the year stamped on it unless you're a collector. The year isn't often something you can hide on ornaments, clothing, decor, or other items.
Thanks
Helpful5 Not Helpful0
Try to have a real reason for purchasing each item. If you truly have no one to give a snowman cookie jar to, don’t buy it, no matter how low the price. Remember — nothing's as cheap as not buying the product in the first place.
Thanks
Helpful3 Not Helpful0