It's one of my favorite times of year - the after Christmas sales!!
For many many years I would get up early on the 26th and head out to reap the rewards of after Christmas clearance deals. Of course this has changed a little over the years. In my single years and b.k. (before kids) I would go to the local mall after scoping all the ads and websites to spend my gift cards and shop until I would drop at Macy's, Hollister, Abercrombie, Pottery Barn, Gap, etc.
Now that I live in the burbs and have a toddler, I stay closer to home. This year I am like 10 months pregnant and not really feeling like myself so I scaled back. Not to mention I am not exactly into looking at clothes this year. I tackled Target, Bath & Body Works on the 26th and TJ Maxx and Ulta Beauty on the 27th. Below is some of my advice and finds.
Target
It is no secret Target is my sanctuary - I actually did my college internship there so I am super comfortable with the layout, the sale schedule, everything about Target (all to my husband's dismay). Maybe I will work at Target part-time some day once my kids are in school. Target is doing an additional 20% off all clearance clothing, shoes and accessories this week. (Use your cartwheel app or download coupon from the website, cashier will scan your barcode at the register) We took advantage of this yesterday and got some great deals coupled with using our Target Redcard and saving the additional 5%. I was able to get my 2 year old two pair of shoes for $17. I don't know about you, but this is a small victory for me. I dread looking for shoes for a child that outgrows them in a blink of an eye. Plus I like him to have a couple pairs each season so we aren't stuck just wearing tennis shoes all the time. (Mama likes fashion). We got a pair of Cat & Jack boots for $12.21 and a pair of Cherokee tennis shoes for $5.23.
I mean you can't even buy used shoes at a consignment store for $5. Yes they are a little big at the moment, but as any mom can tell you, you will wake up one morning and your kid will exclaim "too tight!" and you will be running all over town, overpaying and settling for some shoe you aren't jazzed about.
My local store had a ton of clearance clothing items 70% off. Like I said earlier if I wasn't hugely pregnant I would have been cleaning up. I did get this adorable shirt for $2.95 - will be one of my work out/wear with yoga pants mom shirts and these cute plaid flats for $5.23 (I am all about flats with little ones).
So if you are keeping track 3 pair of shoes and a top for roughly $25.
Onto Target holiday merchandise. If you have place to store things you need to shop the holiday merchandise. Why overpay next year? Items we typically buy for the next year: bows, gift wrap, gift tags, boxes, tissue, cute ornaments for gift toppers and gifts, small boxes of Christmas cards for co-workers and neighbors, holiday home décor, graphic tees and accessories for the kids to wear next year and any small gift items that can be used for impromptu gifts or stocking stuffers. We actually have a good stockpile of gift wrapping stuff so this year we got a new door mat, a cute sign for the porch, gift wrap, new tags and party plates/cups. I read advice to wait until the items go to 70% off, but my local store won't have anything left at that price point. So I bought what I know I will need next year at 50% off. But, honestly Christmas items are something I will look at all year. I love when I stumble into a 90% off Christmas section in a Hallmark in July and buy up great stuff for next to nothing.
Be on the lookout for solid white tissue paper, bows and wrapping paper that aren't limited to holiday. I saw cute chevron prints and patterns that will work for birthdays, etc. One last Target tip - sometimes you can buy the after Christmas clearance online. I did this last year on dishtowels and toddler dinnerware my local store was out of. So much fun to pull this stuff out the next year and be surprised by your cool stuff you found the year prior at a good price. :)
Bath and Body Works
Semi Annual Sale time. I don't know about you, but I never pay full price at BBW and it makes me a little sick to see stuff 75% off just 2 days later. Do NOT get caught up in the BBW madness and overspend. I was behind a lady today that spent over $75 on stuff. There is no way people need that much body care lol I see BBW stuff at yard sales all summer, people selling their stockpiles on buy/sell sites. Sure you can treat yourself to a couple items, but this stuff HAS a shelf life. I threw out some body spray recently from my linen closet because it was old and smelled way too strong. Good deals - small travel size lotions and sprays at 1.25 and 1.50, Body wash for $3.12 and the best in our family; the spray hand sanitizer for $3. Just learned recently from an associate that they only carry the spray hand sanitizers during Semi Annual Sale. (I have no idea why) My son doesn't like the regular hand sanitizer and frankly it is so much easier to spray a toddler's hands on the go and ask him to rub them together. Picked up another one for my diaper bag. 3 wick candles are a good deal at $10, again if you need or want for a gift. They didn't have a scent I was interested in and this year I actually was able to get 1 for $5 in November with a coupon they sent out to email subscribers. I also skipped out on the lotions and soaps. I will purchase when I need at the Bath and Body Works outlet, with a coupon and get for the same deal or even better.
Ulta Beauty
I love Ulta. I love Ulta Rewards points and I have an Ulta Rewards MasterCard so I can stockpile points quicker for free stuff (Free my other favorite F word). Again my local store is pretty sparse on merchandise. They need a truck delivery to restock, but this is a great time to scoop up nail polish, small candles, lotions and holiday gift sets for next year. They have most of it pulled near the check out counter and check the typical Clearance sections.
TJ Maxx
We made the TJ Maxx trip a day late honestly. Most years I purchase cute ornaments, sometimes food items (didn't need this year as we received a lot of cookies and candies from people) and crafting kits. I love to get paper kits to make your own banners, wreaths and centerpieces from TJ Maxx. So much cheaper than Michael's and I have found some great ones in past years. Everything was 50% off, but didn't buy a thing today since we already purchased gift wrapping supplies for next year. I am sure there were great items the day after Christmas.
What are some of your great finds this year? Where is your favorite place to shop for deals and steals? Please share below!
For many many years I would get up early on the 26th and head out to reap the rewards of after Christmas clearance deals. Of course this has changed a little over the years. In my single years and b.k. (before kids) I would go to the local mall after scoping all the ads and websites to spend my gift cards and shop until I would drop at Macy's, Hollister, Abercrombie, Pottery Barn, Gap, etc.
Now that I live in the burbs and have a toddler, I stay closer to home. This year I am like 10 months pregnant and not really feeling like myself so I scaled back. Not to mention I am not exactly into looking at clothes this year. I tackled Target, Bath & Body Works on the 26th and TJ Maxx and Ulta Beauty on the 27th. Below is some of my advice and finds.
Target
It is no secret Target is my sanctuary - I actually did my college internship there so I am super comfortable with the layout, the sale schedule, everything about Target (all to my husband's dismay). Maybe I will work at Target part-time some day once my kids are in school. Target is doing an additional 20% off all clearance clothing, shoes and accessories this week. (Use your cartwheel app or download coupon from the website, cashier will scan your barcode at the register) We took advantage of this yesterday and got some great deals coupled with using our Target Redcard and saving the additional 5%. I was able to get my 2 year old two pair of shoes for $17. I don't know about you, but this is a small victory for me. I dread looking for shoes for a child that outgrows them in a blink of an eye. Plus I like him to have a couple pairs each season so we aren't stuck just wearing tennis shoes all the time. (Mama likes fashion). We got a pair of Cat & Jack boots for $12.21 and a pair of Cherokee tennis shoes for $5.23. 
My local store had a ton of clearance clothing items 70% off. Like I said earlier if I wasn't hugely pregnant I would have been cleaning up. I did get this adorable shirt for $2.95 - will be one of my work out/wear with yoga pants mom shirts and these cute plaid flats for $5.23 (I am all about flats with little ones).
So if you are keeping track 3 pair of shoes and a top for roughly $25.
Onto Target holiday merchandise. If you have place to store things you need to shop the holiday merchandise. Why overpay next year? Items we typically buy for the next year: bows, gift wrap, gift tags, boxes, tissue, cute ornaments for gift toppers and gifts, small boxes of Christmas cards for co-workers and neighbors, holiday home décor, graphic tees and accessories for the kids to wear next year and any small gift items that can be used for impromptu gifts or stocking stuffers. We actually have a good stockpile of gift wrapping stuff so this year we got a new door mat, a cute sign for the porch, gift wrap, new tags and party plates/cups. I read advice to wait until the items go to 70% off, but my local store won't have anything left at that price point. So I bought what I know I will need next year at 50% off. But, honestly Christmas items are something I will look at all year. I love when I stumble into a 90% off Christmas section in a Hallmark in July and buy up great stuff for next to nothing.
Be on the lookout for solid white tissue paper, bows and wrapping paper that aren't limited to holiday. I saw cute chevron prints and patterns that will work for birthdays, etc. One last Target tip - sometimes you can buy the after Christmas clearance online. I did this last year on dishtowels and toddler dinnerware my local store was out of. So much fun to pull this stuff out the next year and be surprised by your cool stuff you found the year prior at a good price. :)
Bath and Body Works
Semi Annual Sale time. I don't know about you, but I never pay full price at BBW and it makes me a little sick to see stuff 75% off just 2 days later. Do NOT get caught up in the BBW madness and overspend. I was behind a lady today that spent over $75 on stuff. There is no way people need that much body care lol I see BBW stuff at yard sales all summer, people selling their stockpiles on buy/sell sites. Sure you can treat yourself to a couple items, but this stuff HAS a shelf life. I threw out some body spray recently from my linen closet because it was old and smelled way too strong. Good deals - small travel size lotions and sprays at 1.25 and 1.50, Body wash for $3.12 and the best in our family; the spray hand sanitizer for $3. Just learned recently from an associate that they only carry the spray hand sanitizers during Semi Annual Sale. (I have no idea why) My son doesn't like the regular hand sanitizer and frankly it is so much easier to spray a toddler's hands on the go and ask him to rub them together. Picked up another one for my diaper bag. 3 wick candles are a good deal at $10, again if you need or want for a gift. They didn't have a scent I was interested in and this year I actually was able to get 1 for $5 in November with a coupon they sent out to email subscribers. I also skipped out on the lotions and soaps. I will purchase when I need at the Bath and Body Works outlet, with a coupon and get for the same deal or even better.
Ulta Beauty
I love Ulta. I love Ulta Rewards points and I have an Ulta Rewards MasterCard so I can stockpile points quicker for free stuff (Free my other favorite F word). Again my local store is pretty sparse on merchandise. They need a truck delivery to restock, but this is a great time to scoop up nail polish, small candles, lotions and holiday gift sets for next year. They have most of it pulled near the check out counter and check the typical Clearance sections.
TJ Maxx
We made the TJ Maxx trip a day late honestly. Most years I purchase cute ornaments, sometimes food items (didn't need this year as we received a lot of cookies and candies from people) and crafting kits. I love to get paper kits to make your own banners, wreaths and centerpieces from TJ Maxx. So much cheaper than Michael's and I have found some great ones in past years. Everything was 50% off, but didn't buy a thing today since we already purchased gift wrapping supplies for next year. I am sure there were great items the day after Christmas.
What are some of your great finds this year? Where is your favorite place to shop for deals and steals? Please share below!
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