When is the best time to buy Christmas items? Opinions vary–some are still big believers in Black Friday, the first shopping day after the day of Thanksgiving, as THE day to scoop up bargains where holiday presents and gifts for yourself are concerned.
But Black Friday has given way to a host of other sales including Cyber Monday–the all-online discount day, and alternatives to Black Friday rolled out by Target, Wal-Mart, and other big-box retailers. You can get similar deals without the crowds, the crush of people, and (let’s be honest here) the danger of those crowds getting unruly, excessively grabby, and greedy…generally unpleasant all the way around.
Where And When To Buy Christmas Items Cheap
But what about Christmas-themed items themselves? When is the best time to buy Christmas items? Hands down the best time to buy these is when you’re likely totally OVER Christmas completely–the day after.
That’s right, the biggest discounts on Christmas wrapping, Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations, and even holiday-themed paper plates and napkin sets come the day after Christmas on December 26th. Some observers note that there are great sales beginning in December and run throughout the month, but the most price slashing on holiday times usually happens when the holiday demand has dried up.
Look In Unexpected Places
One place to search for Christmas items at a steep discount? Goodwill and other thrift stores. Select Goodwill locations have Halloween and Christmas decorations offered at big price cuts and these items may be brand new, donated by big-box retailers in the local area or even area merchants. Don’t turn your nose up at Goodwill as a source for incredible deals on new and barely-used items including Halloween and Christmas staples including trees, lights, garlands, etc.
The Month Of December
In general, the entire month of December seems to be the best time to buy Christmas items and the 26th might be a great time to bargain hunt if you can manage to brave the shops the day after the holiday. You should also check local sales resources such as Facebook (there are plenty of local buying and selling groups on FB) to see who might be getting rid of artificial trees, lights, etc. If you know people who are preparing to move to a new home, these folks may also be a good source of Christmas items. Being creative and comprehensive in your search is the key to getting the best deals.
Joe Wallace is a writer and editor from Illinois. He was an editor and producer for Air Force Television News for 13 years, and has served as Managing Editor for publications including Gearwire.com, and Associate Editor for FHANewsBlog.com. He is also an experienced book and script editor specializing in non-fiction and documentary filmmaking.