Ah Christmas. That holiday that brings out the consumer in all of us. Budgets are blown, gifts are given, and all around, money is thrown around everywhere.
If you’re reeling at how much money you’ve spent in the month of December, and your budget is crying out for help, here are xx items that you should buy the week after Christmas that will save you money in the future.
Buy Discounted Christmas Wrapping Paper
This is my best trick, and probably the one that gets me called brilliant the most, so I’m starting with it.
Go to any store after Christmas (my favorite is Michaels), and buy their wrapping paper. Instead of spending $1.99+ a roll, you’ll be grabbing rolls of wrapping paper.
Wrapping paper doesn’t get outdated, and it doesn’t spoil – but stores don’t have warehouses to store hollow tubes in for a year! They don’t need – or want – to have to deal with that!
So of course, they lower those prices cheaper and cheaper until it’s gone.
If you’re really strapped for cash, and don’t mind waiting it out, it gets cheaper even after January 1st. You may not get to choose your absolute favorite pattern, but let’s be real: does it REALLY matter what paper you use? It’s just going to get torn up!
And best part is, wrapping paper doesn’t tend to be overly trendy – in fact, if it looks a little “vintage” when I eventually use it, that’s even trendy in and of itself. This tip is ONLY a win.
I always have multiple rolls of Christmas wrapping paper saved up – they are stashed in the corner of our living room, ready for whenever they are needed.
BONUS TIP: try to find wrapping paper that is a little “less Christmassy” and you can use it year round! I found this amazing blue marbled paper last year, and a roll of holographic paper that I have used for every single birthday gift that I have given this year.
No one knows I used clearance Christmas paper for their gifts that I bought from after Christmas sales. I’m going to call that a win.
Buy Christmas Gifts (a Year in Advance)
Do you ever walk through Walmart and look at the gift sets? I’ve got a secret for you: those bad boys don’t get stale as the year goes by (unless it’s food, of course – please don’t get those food sets).
That foot bath? It’s still going to be good the next year. The heated blanket will still be good, as will the back massager.
Take advantage of those after Christmas sales to get a head start. I bought Christmas dog toys that we’re giving to all the dogs this Christmas straight from the clearance rack last year! They’ve been on the shelf for a whole year, waiting for just this occasion.
Even better idea? Go ahead and buy birthday gifts! If you have people that you’ll need to shop for throughout the year, this is the perfect time to get the perfect birthday gift for them too.
Buy Discounted Christmas Decorations
If you just walk through Hobby Lobby or Michaels, you’re going to find prices slashed the week after Christmas. Walmart’s clearance aisle is filled with deeply discounted decorations. Those after Christmas sales are GOOD!
Did you see decor that you liked this past Christmas?
Grab it the week after Christmas!
Many holidays tend towards a trendy look, and yes, there will definitely be Pinterest trends for Christmas. But for most of us, Christmas tends to look the same year after year. We don’t stray too far from our red, green, white, and icy blue palettes.
If you’re in the market for a new artificial Christmas tree, boy is this the time to grab one.
Buy Premier Gift Sets
I love gift sets. The older that I am, the pickier I am about the products that I use. Free (or discounted) items are my favorites.
After Christmas sales on Holiday gift sets are my JAM. My favorite places to look for these are after Christmas, at places like Ulta, or Sephora. You can also check individual companies to see if they offer any after Christmas sales.
See, these gifts are typically packed full of multiple products, and are marked as not being able to be sold separately! They’re in Christmas packaging, so they’re not sets that can be left up all year round.
That means after Christmas is over, and even before the tinsel is all put away, these gift sets are going on clearance.
Here’s just a few things I’ve scored because they were part of holiday gift sets:
- Not one, but TWO Urban Decay eyeshadow primers (for less than the price of 1)
- My favorite Glamglow moisturizer (which retails for $52) for $25, PLUS cleanser, moisturizer, and a mask (I really should have bought several of these).
Christmastime is definitely the time to buy any higher end makeup sets (don’t fall for the store brand sets, unless you’re shopping for a makeup absolutely beginner – most of these sets just have the basics, and most people who are truly experienced with makeup don’t NEED all of these items).
Anything you prefer to buy the week after Christmas? What are some of your best money-saving hacks the week after Christmas?
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