Shopping Tips: After Christmas Sales
There's nothing like a great clearance sale right after Christmas. Oh, the bargains! But be careful not to get carried away. Here are a few tips on how to take advantage of these sales:
--Shop the sales at the very beginning of the sale when the choices are the best. But if you can wait around a bit until the end of the clearance sale, you will find the absolute lowest prices then.
--If you are buying food items, or anything that has an expiration date on it, be sure the date extends far enough into the future to cover the date you when you intend to use it or give as a gift. Be sure any holiday wrapping can be removed without damaging the packaging or spoiling the freshness of the food.
--If you're a careful planner, you can buy, label, and store everybody's birthday or anniversary gifts for the whole coming year. Now is the best time to buy toys and novelty items. You may have to clear out space in your closet or under the beds, but it will be worth it.
--You will find the best buys on holiday items for next year - up to 75 percent and more - on stuff like wrapping paper, decorations, cards, and craft items. You could get solid color paper and fabrics that would be good to use for parties, gifts, and projects all year long.
--Be careful not to buy damaged items, as most of the time after Christmas sales are final. Many items have been handled a lot during the buying season and may show some wear and tear.
It might be a good idea to find out the store's return policy is if you should later find anything broken or defective.
--The most important thing to remember: Never buy what you can't use for yourself or as a gift. You may have to exercise a little discipline to pass up a sale, but in the end you will not be wasting any money.
