After Christmas sales: what to buy and what to skip

Verdict: Buy the holiday itself, skip the rest. Prices drop on things that lose their purpose on December 26.

After Christmas sales are real in one sense. Retailers must clear seasonal stock, so it gets marked down. The trick is to buy what is tied to the holiday and ignore the general "sale" banners on everything else.

Sale timing changes each year, so treat this as a pattern and check the retailer for current offers.

What is usually cheaper after Christmas?

In general:

• Decor and lights. The most dependable markdown. It is also the item you will not use for eleven months.
• Wrapping paper, bows and cards. Often cleared at a steep cut.
• Seasonal food and candy. Cheaper, but check dates.
• Winter clothing, coats and boots. Retailers start clearing winter stock in the new year.
• Fitness gear. New-year demand and clearance often overlap.
• Toys and games. Leftovers can drop, though popular items sell out.

What should you skip?

• Electronics bought only because they are marked. Check the price history. Some are not cheaper than in November.
• Decor you will not use. A bargain on a style you do not like is still wasted money.
• Gift cards with high fees or short expiry. Read the terms.
• Perishable items with short dates.

How do you shop smart in December and January?

Make a list of what you will need next year, then match it to the markdowns. Check the dates on any item that can expire. Use the price-history check for anything over a small amount.

A worked example

These numbers are round and made up. A box of string lights is $20 before the holiday and $10 after. Next year you will pay $20 again. Buying now saves $10, but only if you keep the lights safe for a year and test them. If your storage is poor, the saving may not survive. Your ruling: buy it if you will store it, skip it if the box will end up damp in a garage.

When is waiting until January better?

Winter coats and fitness gear often go lower in January than in late December. The first week after the holiday can see smaller cuts than the second or third. If you can wait, check again later. For a comparison with the November event, read Black Friday vs January sales.

What about returns and gift cards?

If you received a gift you cannot use, check the store's return policy and the window before the sale ends. Prices on returned items can be lower after the holiday, so a store credit may be worth less than expected. Read the store's own terms, since they vary.

How do you store what you buy?

• Use a sturdy, labeled bin.
• Keep it dry and off the floor.
• Test lights before putting them away so you do not find a dead strand next year.
• Photograph the box contents for the next season.

Common mistakes

• Buying decor in a style you will not like next year.
• Forgetting where you stored it.
• Treating every post-holiday banner as a good price.
• Using up a gift card without checking terms.

For gift timing in the other direction, see when to buy holiday gifts.

What should you buy now for next year, and what should you not?

Good candidates are items that do not go out of style and do not expire: wrapping paper, ribbon, cards, plain lights and storage bins. Poor candidates are trendy decor, items that need batteries to keep and anything with a short date. Keep a note on your phone of what you bought and where you stored it. In November, you will thank yourself.

A quick ruling

Buy what you know you will use in twelve months. Skip anything you would not buy at full price.