If you've been watching for the Dollar General 25 Cent Sale to start, I have some news: It's not happening in 2026. After the Target Christmas Clearance and Hobby Lobby Christmas Clearance sales have wrapped up, Dollar General's highly anticipated post-holiday sale is usually the final stop. But this year, the retailer is doing things completely differently.
Instead of following the usual markdown schedule — where items go to $0.25, then $0.10, and eventually $0.01 — we've learned from sources that Dollar General is skipping the usual 25 Cent Sale and going straight to the Dollar General Penny List. That means you won't see a 25 Cent Sale next week (on Tuesday, Feb. 3, when the next round of markdowns would typically happen).
Dollar General is skipping the $0.25 markdown and pulling items from shelves instead.
Rather than marking remaining holiday inventory down to $0.25, we've heard that Dollar General plans to pull items from shelves entirely and mark them as a penny in the system. This is a major change from years past, when Dollar General would do massive in-store markdowns on the majority of their remaining holiday inventory, with most everything Christmas-related going to $0.25, then $0.10 a week later, before appearing on the Dollar General Penny List.
But employees might miss some holiday items during the pull — which could mean $0.01 finds.
Here's where it gets interesting: Employees may miss some items during the pull (especially if you have a messy or chaotic Dollar General store near you). So if you're a penny list hunter, you may still be able to find holiday items on shelves that ring up for just $0.01.
Look for these holiday items that could ring up for just $0.01.
Based on Dollar General's current markdown list (shared on Jan. 20, 2026), here's what could potentially ring up for just a penny if employees miss them during the pull:
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Christmas Apparel and Socks — slippers, leggings, socks
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Christmas Home and Seasonal — pillows, mugs, tumblers, decor, throws
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Christmas Stationery and Party — paper plates, paper cups, napkins
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Christmas Candy — Pirouline wafers, limited-edition holiday Oreos, Mascot peanut brittle, popcorn tins
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Holiday Air Care — holiday scents from Febreze, Air Wick, and Glade
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Holiday Baking — Betty Crocker baking items, Clover Valley products, Stove Top stuffing, select Jell-O mixes, Toll House white morsels, Baker's Sweetened Coconut
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Holiday Picnic — holiday-themed Dixie paper plates and bowls
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Select Bath and Beauty Gift Sets — holiday-scented Dove body wash and body scrub
KCL TIP: To confirm prices, use the DG app (download for iOS/Android) while you're shopping in-store. Just scan the item's barcode with the scanner tool to see if it rings up as a penny before you head to checkout.
The traditional $0.25 sale included candy, decor, apparel, and gift sets.
The $0.25 Sale was an annual in-store event where most Christmas items would get marked down to $0.25, then $0.10 after about a week, before eventually appearing on the Dollar General Penny List for $0.01.
The sale typically included seasonal items like holiday-themed candy, air fresheners, home decor, baking sets, apparel, party supplies, and even bath and beauty gift sets.
Shop the 90% off clearance now before items disappear.
If you're looking for deep discounts on holiday items, your best bet is to shop the current 90% off clearance at Dollar General stores (happening Jan. 27 - Feb. 2), before items get pulled from shelves. And if you're a penny list enthusiast, keep your eyes peeled starting Feb. 3 for any holiday stragglers that might have been missed during the pull.
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