We’re all on some kind of budget, so even if everything you want to buy over Black Friday is going to be way cheaper than usual, you might need to space out your purchases. That doesn’t mean you need to wait a full year though — if you can hold off until after Christmas, sometimes you can get even better savings. Here we’re going to share some items you should wait for after Christmas to buy. But wait, when do after Christmas sales start? The short answer is that it depends, but we’ll get into more of that below.
Stick with us throughout the 2022 holiday shopping season to save serious cash. Don’t forget to download the free KCL app and set up Christmas clearance alerts — we’ll notify you as soon as the hottest deals drop.
Here are the best items to wait for after Christmas to buy, which is when you’ll see even deeper discounts.
1. Get a name-brand TV in January before the Super Bowl.
Black Friday isn’t the only time of year to score deals on a TV. You can often get them for Black Friday prices (or better) if you wait for the after-Christmas sales.
Right before the Super Bowl, brands offer steep discounts on high quality TVs. Some examples we saw last year included nearly 50% off a TCL 55″ 4K Roku Smart TV and a TCL 65″ 4K Smart TV for $449.96 at Walmart.
2. Wait until the end of January through February for deals on winter apparel.
Assuming you don’t need a coat right away, wait until late in the winter season when you’ll be sure to find better sales, especially in January and February.
Winter coats, sweaters, hats, and gloves will be discounted the most during this time. We’ve seen Nordstrom Rack feature clearance winter outdoor items for an additional 25% off from late December through early January.
3. Wait until January to buy toys during Target’s 70% off toy clearance.
Wait until the toy sale at Target in January to purchase action figures, dolls, and play sets for up to 70% off. My tip — buy toys during this time and save them until next Christmas.
In fact, I’ve built a gift stockpile for birthdays and weddings based on the best time of year to buy everything.
4. Buy holiday decorations in after Christmas sales.
Holiday decor, nutcrackers, stockings, ornaments, and fake Christmas trees all go on sale up to 90% off after Christmas (looking at you, Hobby Lobby!). It’s a great time to gear up for next year’s festivities without going over budget.
Lowe’s, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, and even Pottery Barn also have great deals.
5. Buy gift cards in January to get the largest selection.
You know those gift cards you get for Christmas from Aunt Mary? You know how they’re always for stores you don’t shop very often?
Now think about the rest of America in basically the same position — receiving gift cards for stores we don’t shop at. This equates to lots and lots of gift cards being sold to sites like Gift Card Granny and Raise.
So sell your Hickory Farms gift card to Gift Card Granny, and buy a Target gift card in January to use on all the after-Christmas sales.
Don’t be seduced by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift cards, though, because you’ll pay between $3.95 and $6.95 extra to activate them. Stick to store discounted gift cards for the most savings.
6. Score after Christmas sales on cosmetic and fragrance gift sets.
Right after Halloween, stores start stocking their shelves with holiday fragrance and cosmetic gift sets. Wait for the after-Christmas sales, and you can grab these gift sets for up to 50% off.
You can always open the gift sets and create your own non-Christmas themed gifts to give during the year.
Look for deals on cosmetic and fragrance gifts sets at Sephora, Ulta, and Macy’s.
7. Buy jewelry during the summer, and you might be able to negotiate prices.
The best time to buy jewelry is in the summer because it’s a slow time for the jewelry industry. Christmas and Valentine’s Day are busy seasons for jewelry stores because of gift giving and engagements, so they mark up their prices more than normal.
So wait until July and August when customers are few, sale prices hit around 50%, and you’re more likely to be able to negotiate prices.
8. Buy wrapping paper, bows, and gift bags the day after Christmas.
I always go in stores the day after to stock up on gift supplies — then I set them aside for the following year.
Look up by registers for clearance deals too. Last year I got thick, high-quality wrapping paper for more than half off.
9. Buy seasonal foods and seasonings on clearance after the holidays.
Food preferences change after the holidays. You won’t see as many baking ingredients in shoppers’ carts and wine, cheese, boxes of chocolates, and peppermint and pumpkin spice are on their way out. Score clearance deals on seasonal foods and flavors in after-Christmas sales.
You’ll usually find these food sales and clearance offers on aisle end caps or up near the checkout lanes.
10. Stock up on storage bins during post-holiday sales.
Yes, the storage bins you snag in after-Christmas sales will be red and green. But nobody sees them in your basement 11 months out of the year anyway. Post-holiday sales are a good time to buy storage bins for all the after-Christmas decor you snagged on sale. Shop in late December for the best prices.
Another good time to shop deals on storage bins is during college dorm sales in August. If you miss out on the December sales this year, you’ll have another chance in the early fall.
11. Get Christmas cards for next year at a fraction of the price.
If you send Christmas cards to your family and friends each year, the cost can add up. Shop for Christmas and holiday cards in after-Christmas sales to save up to 75%.
You could also look for some winter-themed cards to use as thank you notes or other stationery if you find a great deal.
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