If, like us, the word “clearance” gives you the warm fuzzies, don’t skip Michaels clearance. Yeah, sometimes those bins can get a bit light, but when they’re replenished with new markdowns the whole aisle comes alive. In fact, taking a gander at the clearance aisle is one of our favorite Michaels savings hacks. And it gives you a glimpse of what could eventually wind up in one of their infamous Michaels $10 grab bags.
Now you can’t use Michaels coupons on clearance (especially not that elusive 40% off coupon), but typically the prices are still great without them. I still get misty-eyed whenever I think about that time I found containers of fancy Sweet Tooth Fairy sprinkle mixes, originally priced at $9.99, for just $1.50 each. That was a great day.
We’re getting into everything you should know about Michaels clearance for maximum savings. But before we do, text HACKS to 57299 for smart shopping tips and download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for up-to-the-minute info on sales and deals.
Michaels Holiday Clearance Schedule
If you're the type who likes to stock up on next year's decorations at the lowest prices possible, you're our kind of people.
The Michaels clearance schedule is pretty predictable when it comes to holiday and seasonal markdowns — think of it like a clearance life cycle. It goes something like this:
Items get stocked well ahead of a holiday and start to get minor markdowns shortly after that.
Markdowns increase through Michaels sales until the holiday passes, and then they explode.
Once inventory is very low — it can be weeks, but more likely months — items go into a Michaels Grab Bag (more on those in a second).
Let's look at Christmas as an example.
On Dec. 26., Michaels Christmas clearance, both in stores and online, drops to 60% – 80% off. But by mid-February, Michaels' in-store Christmas clearance hits 90% off, and that's where the best deals are. Look for gift wrap, ornaments, and more for under $1 at Michaels stores.
Here's when to expect seasonal and holiday clearance to start getting its biggest markdowns.
Valentine's Day
Day after Valentine's Day (Feb. 15): 50% off
Mid-March: 70% off
Easter
Day after Easter: 60% off
Early June: 90% off
Spring
Early July: 60% off
End of August: 80% off
Summer
Early July: 60% off
End of August: 80% off
Halloween
Day after Halloween (Nov. 1): 70% off
End of November: 80% off
Christmas
Day after Christmas (Dec. 26): 70% off
End of January: 80% off
Mid-February: 90% off
Is Michaels clearance final sale?
Yes, Michaels clearance is final sale. And, according to their return policy, final sale is just that — non-returnable. So even if it's a super cheap price, make sure you're good with a clearance item before you purchase it.
Do Michaels coupons work on clearance?
Nope, you can't use your Michaels coupons on their clearance items, unfortunately. In fact, most of the time you can't use coupons on their sale items either, unless otherwise noted.
Can I use my Michaels senior discount on clearance items?
Seniors can get a 10% discount every day at Michaels, but they cannot use it on clearance. The same goes for the teacher discount — it cannot be applied to Michaels clearance either.
Can Michaels employees buy clearance?
They sure can, but they aren't allowed to use their 30% off employee discount on it. Same rules apply as the other available Michaels discounts.
What do yellow stickers mean at Michaels?
You'll see many different colors of Michaels price stickers — pink, yellow, green, blue, etc. — and the sticker's purpose is to help employees keep track of how long items have been on the floor. Depending on the rotation, when it's time to fill Grab Bags (which we'll get to in a moment), employees will round up all the yellow-stickered items, for example, and put them into that season's Grab Bags.
Some clearance items have two different colors of stickers, one stuck on top of the other. This happens when employees decide to give certain items another markdown instead of putting them into Grab Bags for that round.
Use the in-store price checker to scan Michaels clearance.
As a general rule, always use the in-store price checker to scan Michaels clearance items. This will tell you if they're actually cheaper than the price you see on the tag.
This is how I've stumbled on clearance toys for up to 90% off every January. The store was trying to offload their leftover Christmas items. These savings make toys one of the best things to buy at Michaels on sale!
Sealed Michaels Grab Bags for $10 appear three times a year and are filled with clearance seasonal merchandise and home decor.
At the end of each season, watch for Grab Bags — or sealed boxes filled with seasonal items the store is hoping to unload. We've seen Grab Bags in February full of Christmas decor, ornaments, frosting, and more. In the fall, look for Grab Bags stuffed with summer toys like bubbles and sidewalk chalk.
These Grab Bags are not guaranteed at the end of every season, but if your store has them, they'll probably be in the front of the store. It's a great deal when you compare the retail price of each item with the $10 you paid for the box!
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