Making the Most of After Christmas Sales

In a burgeoning American tradition, shoppers line up on December 26 to find bargains in after Christmas sales as merchants try to unload the surplus items that have accumulated during the year. In recent years, the sales have extended to the New Year and beyond, and they offer a tremendous opportunity to save money on items for which you would normally pay full price. The sales also pose some danger to your pocketbook as the deep discounts are meant to encourage impulse buying. Here are some tips to help you make the most of after Christmas savings.

Have a plan and stick to it
The overarching principle, and the point of this list. Make a solid plan before you head out, and write it down for good measure.

Buy Christmas decorations and supplies
Tree ornaments, wreaths, wrapping paper, and other Christmas ware fall to the bottom of merchants' priority heap on December 26, so they're eager to move these products off their shelves. Set a budget for how much you want to spend on yuletide gear, and then rake in the savings to fit your tastes.

Buy "evergreen" gifts
Lots of toys, novelty items, and even durable food stuffs like chocolates will be strongly discounted after the gift-giving season and can set you up well for gifts that you want to give next year. Avoid items that will be dated in a year, such as calendars and fad toys, but otherwise, be creative here. Also, matching a person or event (Uncle John's birthday) to each gift will help you avoid unnecessary purchases.

Buy discounted food items
Many grocery and department stores will have special deals on Christmas cookies, cereal, egg nog, fruit baskets, and other items that have varying shelf lives. Take advantage and eat on the cheap until the New Year.

Plan large purchases for after Christmas
This tip takes more advance work than the other, but can be well worth it. If you're approaching the end of the year with your eye on a new computer, television, or leather coat, try to hold off until the after Christmas sales go into effect. You can often score the object of your desire while saving significant coinage in the process.

Wait a while
This one requires some patience and self-discipline, and it carries the risk of missing out on your deal, but waiting past the day after Christmas can increase your discount at checkout time. Many stores start their clearance items at, say, a 30% discount on December 26 and then lower the price every day or two until everything is gone or they can't give the stuff away. Patience is a virtue!

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Use these tips to help get the most bang for your buck at after Christmas sales this year and enjoy the hunt. Just make sure to stick to your plan!