I was able to hit a few after Christmas clearance sales to stock up on supplies for next year. In fact, I was at my favorite store, Target, early one morning as the employees were putting up those beautiful 75% off signs. For a few moments I had an entire aisle of Christmas merchandise all to myself. Anyone who has ever shopped Target clearance before can relate to my feeling. It did briefly cross my mind to stock up my cart with everything in sight but I forced myself to reign in my excitement and concentrate on looking for the specific items I knew I needed. I already had enough wrap and boxes and the only things I really “needed” were more lights for the house — and none of those were to be found. So I let myself have a few moments to just really browse the aisles and picked up a few items that I would consider “wants”. I placed them in my shopping cart so that I could scan them. I continued up the other aisles in the same fashion, picking up any item that caught my eye. When I had carefully finished exploring all Christmas merchandise, I headed over to the price scanner and began scanning each item. I did this as a way of keeping my financial sense. By watching what the actual price was going to be, I could determine if I really wanted to buy a particular item or if it was just the pure excitment of the “bargain find”. In the end, I put up more than half of what I had originally put in the basket. I kept a few Christmas related items that I will give next year as gifts and a beautiful little nativity set that I will display in my china cabinet year round.
I have learned from past clearance sale opportunities at Target that I really can be overwhelmed and give in to splurges quite easily. After all, the stuff is 75% off what it originally cost. But we are trying to really minimze stuff in our household and watch the budget at the same time. So if I didn’t need anything at full price, I most likely don’t need it at 75% off. I have found that over time the self discipline has become easier – the first year of Target clearance shopping had me over buying in a serious way. I think my over-the-top moment came a few years back when I purchased a set of Christmas dishes that contained place settings for 4, and we are a family of 6!
My system to approach Christmas clearance (or any other clearance time) is pretty much outlined above.
1. I try to get there on the day the clearance begins. I don’t even bother for the 50% off days anymore. I aim for the 75% off day.
2. I go by myself and never take the children. It has been too hard in the past to keep my focus when dealing with the kids. So if Mr. Not Made Of Money can’t watch them and I can’t find a sitter, then I just don’t go to the sale.
2. I allow myself the feeling of excitement over the bargain find but I reign it in with a dose of financial sense. I usually say to myself “Is there anything you really need or are these all wants?”
3. I let myself put items in my cart with the knowledge that every item will be checked at a scanner and analyzed before purchase. Many times even the 75% price seems ridiculous when it is something that is going to get broken quickly or stored away to collect dust (like those Christmas plate settings for 4).
To help with next year’s Christmas planning, it is my tradition to make a detailed inventory of what items I already have when I am packing up the Christmas decor. This year I am fully stocked up with gift wrap, gift tags, and gift boxes I will need for next year. I’ve also included on the inventory list what gift purchases I’ve already made and most importantly, where I’ve stored all this stuff. I mean what good is it to have gifts if I can’t find them next year? I attached this to my calendar on the month of August, so when I start my planning for Christmas 2010 I will already have a head start.
So how do you handle Christmas clearance purchases? Do you splurge or are you reserved?
Some Post Holiday Thoughts: Clearance Sales and Taking Inventory for Christmas 2010 was first posted on January 4, 2010 at 9:02 am.
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