The Information Magazine

 

 

 

As I was reading the local papers this morning, I noticed countless advertisements on post-Christmas sales that were splashed all over the pages of the paper. Stores are offering 60-70% off retail prices of items ranging from linens to bags and cookware to winter ware. These sales commence on 26 Dec right up to the first week of January. This is when retailers slash up to 70% off the retail prices of products in order to clear stocks to make way for new inventory for the upcoming year.  Such sales are a great way to buy the items you really need or to stock up and save without having to pay full price. Many people are now choosing the sales that come after Christmas as a means to get merchandise they’ve wanted but couldn’t afford to buy at the regular price. 

 

Before you read on, check out this youtube on Post-Christmas Sales Mania.    

 

Check out the local papers as well as the internet to see which stores are having post-Christmas sales and for what duration of time. Then schedule a day or two to visit selected stores where you can find the things you need.

 

 

 

Here is a list of post-Christmas sales strategies I have come up with:

 

 

1.  Be prepared with a list of items you need. Write down what you really need so you can just look for these items instead of resorting to buying things that you won’t end up using just because they are marked down. Stick closely to your budget and don’t get lured by items not on your list.

 

 

2.   Know beforehand the cost of the items you intend to buy. A lot of people think that a clearance item is a bargain while this may not  

always be the case. Before Christmas, take note of what you’re looking for as well as the actual price for the item. Many stores increase the price and then put a discount to make it look like huge savings.

 

 

3.   If you want to get some great deals but you also want a lot of selection, you’ll want to show up in the store pretty early on December

26th. You can get deeper discounts if you wait several days or a week for the stores to mark items all the way down to 75% off. The

down side of waiting is that the item you want may be gone if you wait too long.

 

 

4.   You can often find good buys at supermarkets and drug stores a week or two after Christmas because there’s not as much demand for after Christmas items in those stores. For example, the chocolate boxes and fruit cake that comes nicely wrapped as Christmas gifts will not be in demand after Christmas, hence the slashed prices. The same goes for attractively packaged toiletries meant for Christmas. These are indeed good bargains!

 

 

5.   Buy new Christmas decorations for next year. This seems obvious to some of us, but if you’ve never thought about it, you can usually get lights, lawn decorations, indoor decorations and other holiday-specific items for 50-75% off right after Christmas.

 

 

6. Purchase gifts for birthdays that fall in the early part of the year, anniversaries, weddings or housewarming.  You can often find wonderful gift bath sets, cologne and perfume for men and women, toys, tableware, photo frames and albums.   

 

 

7.  If you need linen, towels, clothes and winter wear, the post-Christmas sales offer great deals on such items.  

 

 

 

8.  Find out about the store’s return policy and warranty before you make the purchase. You won’t be saving money if you buy something that cannot be used or returned and you’re stuck with it. Be sure to check with the store for any questions about the product before  buying the product.

 

Post-Christmas sales are a good way to buy what you really need for the following year and end up with great savings.  Planning and strategizing are important in order to make the most of the sales and avoid traffic congestion and the crowds.  Alternatively, try to shop online for your post Christmas sales. Your local stores and malls are not the only places that offer post-Christmas sales. You’ll find some great bargains online with many of them offering low or free shipping. With online shopping you do not have to worry about long lines and heavy traffic as you can make the purchase from your home. Online shopping is convenient, easy, fun and a great way to take advantage of the sales.

 

I’ve made a list of the things I need and will be catching the sale on Monday morning. My golden rule is to stick to my budget.