Mission: to Save

Helping You Save, Give and Live!

  • Home
  • About
    • The Mission to Save Mission
    • Mission to Save is PR Friendly!
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
  • Coupons 101
    • Coupon Newbie? Start Here to Learn How to Save Money With Coupons
    • Columbus Dispatch Subscription Deal
    • Couponers Dictionary
    • eCoupons
      • Printable Coupons & eCoupons 101
      • Ibotta App
    • Newspaper Inserts
    • Mission: to Save Coupon Database
    • Printable Coupons
      • Printable Coupons & eCoupons 101
  • Grocery Stores
  • Online Shopping
    • Amazon
    • Daily Deal Sites
    • Flash Sale Sites
    • Promo Codes
  • Ways to Save
    • Entertainment
    • Holiday Shopping
    • Back to School Shopping Headquarters on Mission to Save!
    • FREE
      • Birthday Freebies
      • Free eBooks
      • Free Printables
      • Free Samples
    • Gifts and Holidays
    • Restaurant Deals
      • National and Columbus Kids Eat Free Deals
        • More Kids Eat Free
    • Retail Deals
      • Photo Deals
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • Saver Tips
    • Financial Tips
    • Giving
    • Repurposing
  • Central OH

6 Must Buy Christmas Clearance Items (and I’m Not Just Talking About Lights)

This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Disclosure Policy

December 27, 2017 by Mary Hoover 13 Comments

Sure you know that buying after season Christmas clearance items is a thrifty thing to do.  I’m sure your mind first goes to things like replacing strands of lights and getting a few new ornaments.  But decorations aren’t the only deals you should snag on those clearance shelves.  With a little creative (and thrifty) thinking, you can pick up items to use for months to come.

6 Must Buy Items on Christmas Clearance

Clearance Christmas Wrapping Paper now to use for year long gifting!

1. Wrapping Paper – You can be sure that there is always wrapping paper and supplies in the Christmas clearance section and often makes it as low as 90% off! Sure it’s a good idea to pick up a roll of Santa or Christmas tree themed paper to have for next year.  Now you will have one less thing to have to remember while you are Christmas gift shopping next year. But beyond that, I love hunting for more “generic” prints on the wrapping paper along with bows, tissue paper and bags.  I use this clearance wrapping paper for year-long gifting!  No one will know that the plain red wrapping (with an event appropriate bow to add some flair) was meant for under the Christmas Tree.

Christmas clearance baking items can be used all year long!

2. Food and Baking Items – Often times sugar cookie mixes, colored sugar and candy coating (aka- almond bark) find their way onto the Christmas Clearance shelves.  Again, try to look beyond the holiday marketed packaging and think ahead to your next celebration.  I always pick up a container of red colored sugar with those beautiful manager special stickers.  You can use this on Valentine’s Day goodies and even on Patriotic food.  It’s s a perfect topping for my Celebration Crunch Popcorn too. And don’t forget to look for coupons to use on top of the clearance price for even more savings!

Christmas Clearance Candy can be used for future holidays!

3. Stocking Stuffer Toys and Candy– These items always seem to be left over in abundance. Little trinkets with popular characters on them, Hot Wheels Cars, lip balm and lotion, and balls can be perfect to use as Birthday goodie bag items or even for filling in the Easter Basket (obviously not the Santa/Snow themed items).  And if you really think ahead, these little toy items are perfect for next year’s Operation Christmas Child Shoebox too. Also that  Clearance Christmas candy can be used for future holiday’s.  Look how perfect the colors line up with the next two holidays on the calendar-Valentine’s Day and St. Patty’s Day! Be on the lookout for the mini candy canes to make sweet Candy Cane lollipops for Valentine’s day too.

Check out how to make this easy DIY Ornament Wreath- and there's no hot glue gun required!

4. Christmas Decorations –  So I had to mention these too, for obvious reasons.  Now that Christmas Day has come and gone, it’s time to replace those broken/outdated items. Also, now that you’ve seen all those Pinterest ideas, you know what items you want to (make) add to your decor for next year.  Instead of paying full price in November next year, buy them now.  Nice thing is you can pack them right up when you put things away this year, and you will get a little surprise next year. 😉 For instance, my fave new holiday decor item this year is my DIY Ornament Wreath.  I bought those ornaments for 60% off after the season last year.  It makes it that much more fab to know it was a thrifty piece too!


 

Hubs says if you can find this… Buy it!! #lifesaver #lightkeeperpro #christmas #clearance

A photo posted by Mary Hoover (@amissiontosave) on Dec 12, 2013 at 9:27am PST

5. Light Keeper Pro – This handy tool is one of those “why didn’t I create that” items.  When I first brought the Light Keeper Pro home, hubs thought it was going to be another flop.  Not so.  It is now his favorite tool at Christmas time.  Basically it helps you check strings of lights for burnt out bulbs (instead of just pitching the strand.)  Hubs wants me to keep an eye out for another one in after season clearance this year- just so he can have a backup.

Target toy clearance- perfect time to stock up the gift closet!

6. Target Toy Clearance– Ok so technically this one is not really Christmas Clearance, but it’s a good time to start thinking about this popular end of season sale.  Generally mid to late January, Target clears out their toy department with 50%, 70% and even up to 90% off Toy clearance prices.  Once again, this is a perfect opportunity to stock up your “gift closet” (and for you extreme type-As, even buy gifts for next Christmas)


Now you know what to look for.  But when should you start stocking up on these items?  As a general rule of thumb, here is when you can expect Holiday (not just Christmas) discounts to drop:

  • 2-3 days after holiday: 50% off
  • 5-6 days after holiday: 70-75% off
  • 8 days after holiday: 90% off (if anything is left)

This is really just a rule of thumb, you may even start to see some of those discounts starting the day before the holiday or even 30%-50% off  a week before the holiday hits.  So keep your eye out for those sale signs to go up!

So what items would you add to the “must buy” list?

About Mary Hoover


Comments

  1. Kelly in MA says

    December 18, 2014 at 11:45 am

    I love the after Christmas toy sales! My daughter is a February baby and last year she went to almost 10 birthday parties between the last weekend in January and the last weekend in March. I shopped the toy clearance sales and scored gifts for every birthday party for the total cost of what just 2 of those toys would have cost at full price.

    Reply
    • Mary Hoover says

      December 19, 2014 at 10:35 pm

      So true about the toys Kelly. I can’t tell you how many times my “gift closet” (of discounted/clearance items) has been a life saver.

      Reply
  2. Kamie says

    December 21, 2014 at 12:24 am

    I LOVE the toy clearance too! And this might be a given under #1, but I stock up on all wrapping essentials, not just paper. Bags, gift tags, bows, tissue paper (I use the last 2 all year). I’ve even found big packs of Scotch tape on clearance because they were special packs for the Christmas section. And I also love searching for generic prints that can be used for other occasions!

    Reply
    • Mary Hoover says

      December 21, 2014 at 8:43 am

      For sure Kamie! I have even found nice scissors on Christmas clearance in the wrapping section.

      Reply
  3. Erica says

    December 30, 2014 at 7:30 am

    Hello Mary. Would target have these discounted toys now or do they wait until January? I am newer, this year to these savings opportunities.Thanks

    Reply
    • Mary Hoover says

      December 30, 2014 at 7:43 am

      Erica- they might have a few toys marked down around 15%. But the big sale (50 to sometimes 90% off) doesn’t start until early to mid Jan. I start checking around the second week in Jan. HTH!

      Reply
  4. Erica says

    December 30, 2014 at 8:36 am

    Thank you Mary

    Reply
    • Mary Hoover says

      December 30, 2014 at 9:22 am

      as always… my pleasure! 🙂

      Reply
      • Erica says

        January 7, 2015 at 12:06 pm

        Mary I just visited target to check on the toy sale. As there was not much on sale yet, I did score big on the christmas glade smell goods. All are on clearance and while using coupons I purchased candles for 0.46 cents, wax melts for 0.18 cents. Also at kroger, barbies for $3.00 and board games for my little ones which were originally $17.00, $4.70. I am loving these after season picks. Thanks, Erica

        Reply
  5. Deborah says

    December 31, 2014 at 11:06 am

    GREAT JOB! I loooooooooove after Christmas sales.

    Reply
  6. Anne Gourley says

    January 11, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Please help me find your link about debt reduction and getting a second job…including teaching online. Help! My college has quit hiring adjunct profs and I don’t have a doctorate.
    Love yr site and am a new subscriber. I’m “in” for the long haul! Now using your tips.Thanks.

    Reply
  7. Brenda Christmas says

    December 28, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    I always look for Christmas cards on clearance (also in thrift stores–last year I found a box of cards that had 10 “forever” Christmas stamps inside, so it was like they paid me to take that box off their hands).

    Reply
    • Mary Hoover says

      December 29, 2016 at 12:38 am

      Oh wow! What a fun (and profitable) find! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

about header

Search Mission to Save!

Visit Mary 's profile on Pinterest.

See This Week's Thrifty and Free eBook Titles

Family Friendly Recipes on MissionToSave.com

About Mission: to Save

My name is Mary and I am on a mission to help you save! If you choose to accept and come on this journey with me, you will learn how to save more so you can do more living and give more freely.

Recent Comments

  • Disney Frozen Kids Party Ideas - Emma Owl on Olaf Cheese Sticks Frozen Themed Snack
  • Make Aldi Grocery Shopping Successful with These Tips - Lebensstil Monster on Make Aldi Grocery Shopping Successful with These Tips
  • Minnesota Gift Card Bonuses - Thrifty Minnesota on Tis the Season for Holiday Bonus Gift Card Offers 2019
  • 2019 Gift Card Bonus Offers - Restaurants and Retail - Thrifty Jinxy on Tis the Season for Holiday Bonus Gift Card Offers 2019
  • Mary Hoover on Nostalgic Ohio Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe

As Seen On

Copyright 2019, Mission: to Save. All Rights Reserved.
Custom design by Pixel Me Designs