After the eggnog is finished and the stockings hang emptied, you’ll probably find yourself wishing for a last bit of holiday cheer.
Thankfully, there are the after Christmas sales. After Christmas is a great time to head over to the mall or your favorite retail store for some bargain holiday shopping. Take in the wintery decorations and spruced up store fronts one last time before they disappear!
Here are our top 7 tips to help you avoid any sales pitfalls and nab the best after Christmas deals this year.
1. Plan ahead
Make sure you go in with a plan and stick to it as much as you can. Do your research ahead of time to see what kind of items are on sale, and which ones may not be the best deals of the year. Clothes, accessories, and seasonal products will most likely be on huge sale, while electronic gadgets and products won’t be. After Christmas sales are a great way to stock up on holiday-related things you can use next year, since these items tend to be the most heavily discounted.
2. Don’t assume you’re getting a deal
End of the year sales are a way for stores to push out old inventory and make way for new things. But just because it’s Christmas, don’t assume retailers are giving you the best price. Sometimes it’s a good idea to compare items selling at similar stores to see which retailer is offering the best price. Luckily, the Internet makes this super easy to do.
3. Watch the Return Policy
Since stores use Christmas sales as a way to push out large amounts of their products, they won’t want to see a lot of it being returned. Many retailers will institute special return policies to discourage you from bringing anything back. Watch out for sale items that are non-returnable, and make sure that whatever you buy is something you truly want to keep.
4. Shop Online
If just thinking about the lines and parking at the mall gives you a headache, you can generally get the same bargain shopping done on your computer, from the comfort of your home! Online retailers have customer service lines you can call if you ever need help, so any questions or concerns that come up can be quickly addressed.
Sometimes you’ll have to pay for this convenience with added shipping costs, but many sites offer special promotions that will let you ship for free during this special week of savings. Check out air-n-water.com to see what we’re offering this year.
5. Look for early bird specials
Hitting the stores early in the morning will not only help you beat the crowds, it may score you some additional savings. Many stores have early bird specials and will offer freebies, huge discounts, or limited stocks of products for the first few buyers of the day. If you can, go shopping on Dec. 26th, since by the end of the week everything will be picked over, and some of the better items may already be sold out. Always check and plan your shopping time ahead – the earlier you shop, the better.
6. Don’t get too spend-happy
After Christmas Sales can offer amazing deals you should take advantage of, but don’t drop serious cash just because you’ll be saving so much more. Though that sweater may be tempting at 40% off, if you already have one in another color, there may not be a reason to buy another. The rule of thumb is to only buy things on sale you would still buy at normal price.
7. Use coupons and gift cards
Coupons are everywhere. There are tons of online sites dedicated to collecting printable coupons for almost every retailer out there, so check them out. Now would also be a great time to use your Christmas gift card, before you have the chance to misplace it (hey, we’ve all done it before).
Now that you’re armed with knowledge, cash and hopefully a small stash of gift cards, it’s time to go forth and fight the crowds for some glorious After Christmas Sales!
What stores are you hitting up this year?
