9 Things To Buy The Day After Christmas

Lots of people are out trying to find deep discounts on the day after Christmas. So stores are crowded, registers are filled with shoppers checking out, and it looks like stores when Black Friday sales start.

​If you want to avoid the crowds, you should start your Christmas shopping in July.

9 Things To Buy The Day After Christmas

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Wrapping Paper

I always buy wrapping paper the day after Christmas.

But, I’ll let you in on a secret. I don’t always buy Christmas wrapping paper.

If you look, some of the wrapping paper is just shiny silver or (like I got last year) just dinosaurs. Not Christmas dinosaurs. Just plain dinosaurs. So, what I do is buy the not-so-Christmas-y paper and I use it to wrap birthday gifts during the year.

And then, of course, I use the Christmas paper to wrap next year’s Christmas presents. Because there’s nothing like running out of wrapping paper on Christmas Eve and having to run out into the crowds to pay full price for some paper.

Christmas Cards

I know there are a lot of people who don’t send Christmas cards and just post holiday greetings over social media. And that works for some people. But for me, I really love writing, sending, and receiving cards.

What I don’t like is overpaying for them. Especially because we send out between 50 and 60 cards every year. And I know people just throw them away after Christmas. Oh sure, people can and should donate old Christmas cards or turn them into next year’s gift tags, but it’s just easier to toss them in the trash.

So, I always make sure to head out the day after Christmas for my cards. I can pick the prettiest ones and only pay half of what they usually cost.

I usually try to look for a mixed box with some generic holiday cards in them to send to our friends who don’t celebrate Christmas religiously and would rather a generic festive greeting. 

Hand Soap

There are a few things that I love changing with the season, like towels, photos, and hand soap.

Technically, hand soap expires. So, short explanation: The efficacy of the antibacterial properties in hand soap can diminish, so it has an expiration date. Expiration for hand soap is three years, so you’ll probably finish the bottle before that date.

Which is why the day after Christmas is a great time to buy hand soap. Look for the ones with pictures of snowmen and reindeer on them because those will be marked down.

First of all, you can use the hand soap that’s actually in there to wash your hands. Second, you can save that bottle, refill it, and decorate your sinks next Christmas.

Christmas Ornaments

I have a Christmas ornament tradition and buy us a new ornament every year. When my godson was born, I started buying him an ornament from me every Christmas. My mom used to buy us a new one every year, so this is something special for me to carry on.

I also carry on her tradition of buying them after Christmas every year.

As long as you check the boxes they’re in to make sure they’re not dated, you can absolutely get away with buying them a year before. And, if you find a couple you like, you can stash them away for a couple years.

Toys

Not all toys are discounted, so you’re going to have to be a little careful with this one.

In big box stores, like Walmart, that sell a bunch of toys year round, the toys that are in holiday packaging or are branded as Christmas will have the best prices because there’s no regular shelf space for them. But, the toys that are sold year round and were pushed as Christmas gifts can and will go back on the shelf, so those won’t be marked down.

In drugstores or department stores, like Walgreens or JCPenney, that don’t stock a significant amount of toys year round, toys that were purchased for the holiday season will be marked down.

So, as long as you have the storage space, after Christmas the perfect time to purchase those toys. Then, you can use them as birthday and Easter gifts — or even Christmas gifts for next year.

Gift Sets

I have a gift closet filled with gifts for birthdays and holidays. I’ll shop during the year, pick up things when there are good deals, then shop in my own closet when we need gifts.

Sometimes, we get invited somewhere last minute and need to grab something quick. And that’s when gift sets come in handy.

If you’re looking at Christmas clearance, you’ll see a ton of gift sets, some with tools, some with lotions, and some with snacks. I wouldn’t pick up the edible ones unless you’re planning on giving them away soon. But the tools and lotions are great to keep around for the next year.

And, cash back apps like Ibotta very often have rebates on holiday-exclusive gift sets, so you can get them for even cheaper.

Christmas Decorations

Little by little, we’re putting together our outdoor holiday decor. Our goal is to put Christmas lights in every window, but buying them all at once can be expensive. Last year, I bought a bunch of sets of lights, so now we’re just short one set for a bedroom upstairs.

The Christmas clearance sales are a good time to replace any lights that went out, any holiday decorations that broke, or (if you’re my mom) pick up a discounted artificial Christmas trees.

Plastic Containers

If you cook dinner at home, you know how many plastic containers you need for leftovers. And then they get lost along the way, accidentally thrown out, brought to a party and never returned, etc.

Now is the time to stock up on containers.

Many of the containers are packaged in paper with snowflakes and Christmas cookies on them. Stores can’t sell those in the middle of summer, so the stock has to move.

But, the containers don’t actually have any holiday décor on them. They’re usually just plain clear bottoms and red or green tops. They look fine during the year, so grab them now and use them until they get lost at a potluck.

Candy

Candy doesn’t last forever. And candy doesn’t last forever in this house, if I’m being honest.

It also doesn’t last very long on the shelf when it’s on clearance. Bags of chocolate are one of the first things to go because Snickers in the shape of a tree tastes just as good as Snickers in its regular form.

So, if you stumble over candy or chocolate in your travels today, pick it up and indulge. You made it through the Christmas season. You deserve a treat. Just don’t hang on to that candy to gift it next year. It’ll probably expire by then.

But — BUT — it will probably last until at least Valentine’s Day. So, if you can find bags of candy that doesn’t look like it’s holiday themed, you might be able to get away with buying it now and giving it away then.

Shop Christmas Clearance Online:

Your best bet is to go instore to grab Christmas clearance, but a ton of major retailers will actually list their Christmas items — with the clearance prices — online. To help you search, you can visit the Christmas sections on the websites below:

• CVS
• Hallmark
• Hobby Lobby
• Target
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Don’t forget to check a store’s minimum cart total to qualify for free shipping. Also, consider instore or curbside pickup to avoid shipping charges.