Cold or dreary weather, holiday pounds to lose, post-Christmas doldrums…what is there to like about January? The savings. Smart Mr. Cheap Stuff readers know this month is an excellent time for finding bargains. If you’ve been following our previous advice then you’ve held off on your post-holiday shopping because there weren’t as many markdowns in late December. So bundle up and get ready to shop now! Try these seven strategies for January savings:
-Don’t re-gift it, re-sell it. If you received unwanted items for Christmas and you couldn’t return them, unload them on eBay or Craigslist and pocket some cash. Or donate the cash to a worthy charity and keep records for next year’s taxes.
-Try Target this month. They started a new sales promotion called The Great Save. It’s primarily an in-store event (although some items are also available online) and the idea is to feature various products priced as low as you would pay in a warehouse club such as Costco or BJ’s, but without membership fees or ID cards. The Great Save runs through February 21st at about 1,000 of Target’s 1,740 stores. All of the featured items are located in one central area of the store so they will be easy to find. Items range from bulk-packaged stuff such as paper towels, to designer brand fashion and accessories.
-Get crafty. All those holiday craft and decorating supplies are on clearance now at your favorite hobby and fabric stores. Stock up on fabrics, ribbon, silk flowers, baskets and more, plus wrapping supplies as well. Score big savings and store them away for next time. Or start some new craft projects to keep you busy during the winter.
-Snack up. Give yourself (or others) a gift of a delicious holiday basket or gourmet candy and other treats, marked down cheap. Try stores such as Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, or Amazon.
-Fix it. With the holidays over you may have more time on your hands, especially if you live in a climate where it’s too cold to do much outside. Look for tools on clearance this month; try our online coupons for Tool King and Ace Hardware or visit your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, and catch up on all your home projects this winter.
-Scoop up holiday-packaged items. Things like body lotion, soap and candy are specially packaged in Christmas-themed boxes and wrappers; in January the prices are slashed just because of the holiday packaging even though they are the same products on the inside.
-Scent it. Prices are slashed at stores such as Bath and Body Works and Yankee Candle, so now is a great time to stock up on your favorite scents. Prices likely will be cheapest for holiday and winter scents such as bayberry.
Photo courtesy of Flickr