Need some new things for Christmas next year? Many stores have after Christmas clearance sales to clear their shelves of holiday items. The deals and steals can be amazing! Items can be up to 70, 80, or 90 percent off which means getting things for super cheap!
Many stores can be hit and miss with after Christmas clearance sales. One year you may find many items or a particular store will have a lot, but the next year not much selection. With stores having limited inventory this year with the pandemic, the after Christmas clearance sales may not have much selection.
What Stores Have After Christmas Sales
Almost every store that sells any holiday related products will have an after Christmas clearance sale. The best Christmas sales can be found at department stores like Kohl’s, Macy’s, and JcPenney and mega superstores like Target and Walmart. Home improvement stores like Menards, Home Depot, and Lowes will have Christmas merchandise on sales. Also, other stores that sell holiday items like drug stores (Walgreens and CVS) typically have great after holiday clearance sales.
Online After Christmas Clearance Sales
In addition to in-store clearance sales, you can find good after Christmas sales online as well. Sometimes shopping online is better because you save time with not running from store to store to check their available merchandise. You can simply check online and make purchases from the comfort of your own home.
However, there are several downsides to shopping online for after holiday clearance sales. First, not all stores have their online stock completely updated. You can find things at the store that you cannot find online. Second, you may find the prices at the stores are cheaper than they are online. Stores may be trying harder to sell their holiday merchandise to make space at their store. Lastly, sometimes it is better to actually see the item when you are bargain shopping. Select items may be damaged, smaller, or pictured differently.
When to Shop For Christmas Clearance Sales
Bright and early on December 26 is when the clearance sales typically begin. So if you are looking for something specific or want to shop with the largest selection, it is best to start early on December 26th. Stores typically open early and will be busy on December 26th with clearance hunting shoppers.
Some stores will drop their prices even lower than on the 26th several days after Christmas or into the new year. I like to browse after Christmas clearance sales again around New Year’s Day to see if there is anything I can get super cheap. For example, I sometimes can find wrapping paper and gift supplies for pennies by waiting until a week after Christmas. By that point I may not have much of a selection, or it may not be the prettiest paper, but the price is right.
10 Best Items to Buy at After Christmas Sales
Here are the 10 best items to buy after Christmas:
Candy
After Christmas, you can find Christmas colored and themed candy on clearance everywhere because people do not want to give Christmas candy to others anymore. Now is the perfect time to buy candy that you may use in baking or cooking.
If there is a specific kind of candy you buy for yourself or someone in your household, get it for cheap now because if you are eating it who cares what the wrapping looks like. Candy typically lasts for 3-6 months, but make sure to check the expiration date so you don’t buy too much that you won’t use before it expires.
Christmas Lights
Christmas lights are a popular item to purchase at after Christmas clearance events. Typically strands of Christmas lights do not last that many years. In fact, each year there always seems to be at least one or two strands that do not work, where you need a couple of new strands. So buy holiday lights for cheap after Christmas and be stocked for next year when you need new strands of lights. If you are looking for specific lights, make sure you shop early on December 26th as lights sell out fast.
Holiday Decorations and Cards
After Christmas sales are the perfect time to pick up a couple of holiday decorations. Maybe something broke this year, or you have a new theme or spot you want to decorate next year. After Christmas is a great time to make these purchases. If you are thinking of getting a new artificial tree, check those out at Christmas clearance sales. Check your holiday decorations list or Christmas notes if there is anything else you should look and purchase after Christmas.
Christmas cards are the perfect item to purchase for cheap after Christmas. Stores and suppliers do not want to hold on to cards until the following holiday season, so you can often find cards for half price or more. If you give out holiday greeting cards, get yours for the following year on clearance after Christmas.
Wrapping Supplies
One of my favorite things to purchase after Christmas is gift wrapping supplies. I have found there is no cheaper time to get wrapping paper, bows, gift tags, and ribbon. These are items I may wait a couple days to purchase, as prices can go lower than what they are on the 26th.
After Christmas I don’t just get wrapping supplies for next Christmas, I get bows, ribbons, and wrapping paper for birthdays and other events throughout the year. Some wrapping paper on clearance doesn’t look “christmasy” and I can use it for other events. For example, I use paper from after Christmas clearance sales to wrap my kids’ birthday gifts each year.
Holiday Attire
If you want a new Christmas outfit for next year or if your kids will outgrow their outfit, after Christmas is the time to get it for a good price. Christmas accessories like scarves, earrings, jewelry, and hair bows will all be marked down on clearance. If you or anyone in your family wear Christmas pajamas, leggings, tights or socks you can find them for cheap after Christmas as well.
Red and Green Things
Since everything is either red or green around Christmas time, after Christmas stores want to get back to all colors so they put all their red and green items out on clearance. Now is the time to purchase these red and green items that you may need or for upcoming events. Get the red items you use for Valentine’s Day or the green items you need for St. Patrick’s Day or Easter coming up. If your school colors have red or green in them, after Christmas clearance sales are the perfect time to scoop anything up you may need for school spirit.
Toys
Some stores will put certain toys on clearance to make room for new stock coming in. Certain toys maybe holiday themed, so if you need a new Elf on the Shelf or other Christmas toy get it on sale after Christmas. Also, if you have a child with an upcoming birthday, or need a toy for Valentine’s Day or Easter, you may find a good deal after Christmas.
Seasonal Foods
Seasonal foods or red and green foods are often on a good sale after Christmas. Holiday edition cereal like red and green Rice Krispy’s or Cap’n Crunch red and green crunch berries can be on a good sale. Red and green baking supplies like frostings, baking chips, and sprinkles are a good buy right now. Other holiday themed treats, cookies, cupcakes, etc will all be on sale. Holiday beverages like eggnog, Christmas themed coffee & creamer, or hot chocolate may be a good buy as well.
Christmas Tableware & Serving Ware
Holiday plates, napkins, cups, table clothes, and other tableware will be on clearance after Christmas. In addition to tableware, you can find good deals on holiday themed serving ware like platters, dishes, and bowls. Holiday themed kitchen towels and dish clothes may also be cheap after Christmas. Get what you know you will need and use the following year or for a couple years as these items stay good and don’t expire.
Alcohol
In between Christmas and New Years you can find some good deals on alcohol. Bottles of various kinds, different flavors of wine and champagne and beers all tend to be on a decent sale.
Similar to Black Friday or Cyber Monday shopping, make a plan of what you want to get and at which stores. Make a list of each store you want to go to in the order you will go and list each items you want to look for. For more shopping tips and tricks click here.
Final Thoughts on After Christmas Clearance Sales
If you want to find some great deals on Christmas items or random items that you may use, shop the sales after the holidays. Although, be careful as sometimes stores will put items on their clearance racks, but not really have that great of sale or have items excluded from the clearance sale. So watch as your items are rung up and check your receipts to make sure you got the correct price.
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