Guide To The Best After Christmas Sales

After the hustle and bustle has come to an end, I gear up for a second round of seasonal shopping.  If you haven't taken the time to hit the after Christmas sales, you may be missing out on some great finds and low prices.  Here are my favorite stores to peruse post Christmas, along with my tips and tricks for making the most of your post-holiday shopping experience.

Holiday Trees & Trimmings

If your tree has seen its last holiday season, after Christmas is the perfect time to pick up a new tree and get a great deal.  No one wants to be hunting a Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, or to pay full price, so save yourself the hassle and find your tree post, rather than pre, Christmas season.  If you are searching for the perfect tree, your top places to shop are Hobby Lobby and Garden Ridge.  Both stores carry a wide variety of shapes and sizes of trees.  And if you are looking for seasonal flair on the trendy side, Garden Ridge carries an assortment of colored trees like white, black and purple.  What TCU fan wouldn't love a purple tree!

All three stores also carry large quantities and styles of tree trimmings.  While the holidays are fresh in your mind, hit the after Christmas clearance aisles and pick up some new ornaments to give your tree a fresh new look for the following year.  Last year I found some great ornaments for $1 each at Garden Ridge.  They looked lovely on my tree this year!

For the best after Christmas selection, head to the Hobby Lobby in Arlington.  One of the biggest stores in the area, this location often carries more merchandise than other North Texas store.  There are several Garden Ridge locations throughout North Texas, so remember that if you don't find what you are looking for in one store, then check the next nearest location for your desired item.  You may have to do the legwork if you really want a new tree!       

Hobby Lobby - Multiple North Texas Locations

Garden Ridge - Multiple North Texas Locations

Holiday Tableware & Decorations

One of my favorite places to shop for home decorations and tableware is Home Goods.  With aisles filled with Christmas plates, platters and decorations, you could happily shop after Christmas for hours.  Home Goods is known for having fabulous decorations for each and every holiday.  After Christmas, they will already be stocking up for Valentine 's Day.  This is the perfect time for you to get some deep discounts on your Christmas tableware and décor.  In the past, I have even asked for additional discounts at Home Goods (be sure to see a manager) for off-season merchandise or items that are minimally damaged.  If you find the right manager, they may be willing to haggle with you.  A shopping warning: items at Home Goods go really fast, so consider making this your first after Christmas stop.  You will find me shopping at the Mansfield location where there is less shopping traffic and items are a bit less picked over.  But don't tell everyone…let's keep it our secret!

Home Goods - Multiple North Texas Locations

Holiday Kids' Clothing

After Christmas, Kids' clothing goes on super clearance as stores try to turn over the merchandise.  The best places to spend your time post-Christmas shopping, is for kids' seasonal clothing at Target and Kohl's.  If you have been saving up your Kohl's cash each time you purchased a holiday gift, you will get an even deeper discount at the register.  Kohl's cash is like free money!  Because Kohl's stays open late (often until 10 or 11pm), make it your last post-Christmas place to shop.  Once the crowds clear out around dinnertime, you will have the store all to yourself to make your seasonal shopping selections.

While shopping for kids' clothing at Target, don't forget to stock up on discounted holiday stationary, wrapping paper & gift boxes.  It's never too early to start working on your Christmas cards for 2012, and discounted gift boxes will come in handy all year long!  Check out the Target in Mansfield (while you are at Home Goods) for a less shopped-out selection.  Merchandise at Target stores in the inner DFW area is often depleted post-Christmas, so visiting the smaller, surrounding cities will make you a savvy shopper!

Kohl's - Multiple North Texas Locations

Target - Multiple North Texas Locations