Christmas in JANUARY??
Hey, it’s nice to see you again! I just made a fresh pot of coffee - why don’t we sit down and have some? Want some chocolate-mint truffle flavored creamer? I found it on sale at the store - love those after-holiday sales! Even the grocery stores get in on it! I bought the last two bottles of this creamer they had on the shelf - $0.50 down from $2.19 - and all because it’s a “seasonal item”!
And, come to think of it, that’s what this week’s blog entry is all about - savings on Christmas items! It seems like we just started winding down from Christmas, but, believe it or not, now is the best time to start planning for next year’s holidays. Come December of this year, when someone asks that age-old question - “got your shopping done yet?” - you can smugly say - “yep - months ago!”
I’m sure you’ve been to some of the after-Christmas sales and found some good deals on gift wrap and bows and decor and the like…but there’s a good way to do it and a not-so-good way.
Of course, you should hit the after-Christmas sales - provided you can afford to. The rule of thumb here is this: It’s not a bargain if you can’t afford it! Let’s put it another way…if you have paid your bills for the week, purchased groceries, put gas in the car, socked a little away into savings and have $30 left over, then purchasing a $10 gift, or $10 worth of stocking stuffers for next Christmas is not a bad idea. However, if you rush out to those after-Christmas sales, spend $200 on lights, wreaths, ribbons, bows, wrap and gifts - all 50% off - and then don’t have money for the electric bill - it’s not a bargain at all.
plus… 
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Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s see how we can find a way for you to start socking away some Christmas gifts & winter necessities for next Christmas, without breaking the bank!
Sales - those marvelous sales! Even after Christmas is long gone, you can find some great deals on the clearance racks! Things to watch for throughout the year, for use as Christmas gifts:
Stocking Stuffers - bubbles, small toy cars, small electronic handheld games, miniature dolls and playsets, decorative pens and pencils, mini stationery sets, small calculators, cologne miniatures, lip balm or lip gloss sets, jewelry (for kids & adults), hair accessories, battery-op toothbrushes, mini art sets, crayons, word search books or crossword puzzle books, and my all time favorite - silly soap for the bathtub! Remember that stuff in the can? :-) Buy small toy items on clearance when you can, and you’ll be set for Christmas when the time comes!
Clothing - buy for the season that is just ending - buy winter clothing in spring, summer clothing in fall, and fall clothing in the winter! For example, long-sleeved men’s shirts can be found at $5 or less in January and February, when stores are starting to look at placing their spring clothing lines. There’s next year’s clothing gifts on the clearance rack! And don’t just think gifts - this is the time to stock up on gloves, hats and scarves as well - those things that come up missing all winter long. Those 2-packs of knitted gloves are often less than $1 after mid-January.
Gift Sets - cologne gift sets are discounted immediately after Christmas, as are makeup gift sets and food gift sets. Now, the food gift sets won’t keep a whole year without spoiling, so don’t buy those unless you plan on eating them yourself! But the sets of bubble bath & shower gels will be great bargains for holiday gifts. Makeup sets, lip balm or gloss, grooming sets, even shoeshine sets - all of these will be on sale right after the holidays, and you can usually get them for at least 50% off.
Toys - the biggest sellers of the year, the ones everyone was desperate to find and paying top dollar for, will be on the shelves and deep-discounted in the months after Christmas. But don’t limit your visits to the toy aisle to just after the holidays. Spring and summer clearance is a great time to pick up future Christmas gifts, too! How surprised would your child be to see a KITE in their Christmas stocking? Or an inflatable pool toy you said you couldn’t afford to buy last summer? (But you found on clearance in August!) Just because they can’t use it on Christmas Day doesn’t mean they won’t love it later!
“Lots” Stores - I’m sure I don’t need to say much more than that to make it clear! Deep discount stores, specializing in odd lot, discontinued, or returned merchandise can be a great resource for holiday shopping all year around. Computer software, electronics, cd’s, and books are all great buys to be found there. Children’s educational software can be found for less than $10 each - often around $5 - $6! Toys are not always a great bargain here, but small appliances, housewares and the like can be pretty good deals every day. The same thing goes for those wonderful “dollar” stores - where everything is a dollar. I’ve found wonderful stocking stuffers and small gift items throughout the year that I was able to save for Christmas, or keep on hand for a forgotten birthday that you need a gift for!
DIY….
Not everyone is creative enough to “do it yourself” when it comes to holiday decor or homemade gifts. However, there are many ways to give of yourself during the holidays without a huge layout of cash! Stop and think of your family and friends for a moment. Most of us have elderly family members or friends that could use an extra hand in the wintertime with snow removal, baking, housework, shopping or decorating for Christmas, gift wrapping, etc. Get on the computer (now, not in December!) and make up some cute “gift certificates” offering your services for free during one winter month.
Start thinking about family members that particularly enjoy a baked item you make - plan a baking day in late November or early December to do some baking and make up a gift basket of baked goods to give. Again, those after-Christmas sales will provide great bargains for containers to hold baked goods! The local “dollar store” will have tins and baskets in holiday colors and designs for half price just after Christmas, and you can pick up several for close to nothing!
Where to put it all!?!
As you shop, you’re going to find you’re accumulating a pile of presents! Buy a couple of large storage totes, or simply find a couple of large boxes to store the stuff in until Christmas. I have two or three totes that I use every year to store stuff.
Wow - lots of info to digest, I know! That will get you started on next Christmas. The long and short of it is this: start shopping now - and continue all year around - by purchasing small things here and there, and storing them until Christmas. Come November, your shopping will be done!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Just leave your coffee cup in the sink on the way out - and be sure to come back next week sometime - I’m looking into ways to save on groceries and everyday purchases - aside from coupons!