This post is copied, with permission, from Imaginative Homeschool.
I love after Christmas sales. They can offer some of the best prices of the year on a day where I rarely have any holiday plans, and I love that I don't have to get up at 5 am to take advantage of them. Here are some of my favorite things to get on December 26th.
1. Holiday Decor and Gift Wrap
I buy nearly all of our holiday decor on December 26th. Holiday items will be 50% off or MORE, so it's really the perfect time to shop for it. Since all of this year's decor is still up, its a great time to assess what you would like to change, replace, or improve on for next year, and get all that shopped for before you pack it away in January.
But don't just think of things for next Christmas. Consider other upcoming holidays too! Usually packs of plain red, white, and green Christmas tissue will be on sale with the rest of the Christmas wrap, which can be used for Valentines and St. Patrick's day too! I stock up on that stuff this time of year. Look also for sparkly wrap in gold or silver that could work for birthday wrapping paper, and if you have a little girl that loves Elsa, snatch up anything with silvery or sparkly blue snowflakes for future gift wrapping (as well as snowflake garlands and ornaments and even tinsel for Frozen party decor!)
2. Holiday Candy
Candy tastes as good no matter what it is wrapped in, so I sometimes buy a few "after Christmas" treats...as well as some candy for New Year's parties, where "Christmas Specific" designs are still acceptable. Last year I found several candy items that were easy to repurpose for other upcoming holidays too. Look for plain red and green candies (easy to repurpose for Valentines and St. Patrick's day), and bags of candy where the only holiday markings are on the outer bag. You can also find fun cartoon character and movie themed stocking stuffer candies on sale that don't have any holiday markings--which I save for Easter baskets and birthday party favors.
CANDY SHELF LIFE
How long a candy will last depends on the type. Below is a guide to the shelf life of various candies if unopened and stored properly. It's organized according to the holidays items will last til if bought the day after Christmas (click here for a printable version)
VALENTINES
Most Chocolate (2-4 months)
All of the Below...
ST PATRICKS & EASTER
M&M: Peanut, Peanut Butter, Almond (6 months)
Gum (6-9 months)
All of the Below...
SUMMER - 6 months
Caramels (9-12 months)
All of the Below...
HALLOWEEN & THANKSGIVING
M&M: Regular Variety (1 Year)
Gummy Candy (1 year)
Jelly Beans (1-2 years)
Individually wrapped hard candy (1-2 Years)
All of the Below...
NEXT CHRISTMAS
Candy Canes (2-3 Years)
Skittles (2-3 years)
Gobstoppers (Indefinitely)
Fireballs (Indefinitely)
(NOTE: Chocolate and M&Ms can be stored longer if refrigerated or frozen)
3. Gifts For Easter Baskets and Upcoming Birthdays
There are lots of stocking stuffers which are un-Christmassy enough to use as party favors or Easter basket filler. And while toys and gifts may be a little picked over you can still find some great buys on Dec 26th sales. Don't forget to shop online too--there's some amazing online sales this time of year.
4. Next Year's Holiday Outfits
It's a little risky trying to predict what size your kids will be next Christmas (especially with very small children), but things like Christmas sweaters tend to be a little more forgiving if you guess larger, and if you have a larger family buying a few extra sizes to hand down doesn't hurt.
5. Christmas Cards
I admit I haven't sent Christmas cards for several years now, but back when I did I ALWAYS bought them a year ahead for half off or more.
What are your favorite things to buy December 26th?
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