It is great to shop the seasonal clearance items. You can get the best deals on many items by shopping for deep discounts on seasonal clearance end caps, tables and even in the main aisles. Seasonal clearances occur at least four times a year and are in every section of the store. Even items that are not really seasonal are sold off at deep discounts to make way for the short season holiday items. One large retailer I worked at sold off much of the regular furniture it carried (beds,desks,chairs etc), when it was time to set up displays of patio furniture. Space in a retail store is not cheap so they will sacrifice carrying a full line in order to make a fast buck.
Seasonal items are often clearanced at 30% off or more. Clothing and live nursery plants are often clearanced at 50% or more off. Don't be afraid to ask for a further discount particularly if the box is a Little shop worn (faded, scratched or,taped). You can also get a better deal if there are limited items left. A manager might just want to get the items out of the way rather than store them until the next season and by then, the items may be damaged by accidents in the backroom or, the item might be discontinued in favor of a newer item or different brand. In any case, don't be afraid to ask for a further discount then what is being advertised on the sign or in the paper. Make sure you ask a manager since most clerks don't have the authority to give discounts. The floor clerk is usually instructed to not give further discounts.
The garden center is a great place to get fall discounts. Most trees and shrubs do well if you plant them in the fall. And, most garden centers shut completely down all winter and have to get rid of all their shrubs,trees and perennials. Always ask for a further discount on seasonally clearanced trees and shrubs. If you are willing wait for the item and take a chance on it being sold, keep checking back with the garden center manager to see what kind of further discount you can get. On the last few days the garden center is open the manager just might ask you to make an offer for any live plants he has left.
The clothing section of the store is usually where seasonal discounts occur first since they must be set up for the next season up to six weeks in advance. Areas like housewares, toys and sporting goods often have a few aisles or least end caps that change over from season to season. Most departments have holiday items that will be discounted before and after the holiday is over.
Groceries change over less than other areas but, items like candy, produce and even deli may have some seasonal discount. Many wines may also be cleareanced to make way for the latest vintage. If you collect local wines than seasonal change over times are heaven sent. You can really build up your wine cellar at up to 50% off of the sticker prices.
Overall, don't be afraid of shopping for seasonal bargains. Of course, don't be afraid of asking for even greater discounts from the store or department manager. When you buy seasonal clearance items you win but, the merchant also wins. They get the cash back on the item and some space freed up for the latest items for the current season.
Monday, December 14, 2020
Monday, October 2, 2017
BUDGET FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND SAVE A FORTUNE
Now it is time for some specific ideas to help you save lots of money over the holidays. I will start by talking about shopping. The first thing you need to do is to draw up a complete list of the people you will need and might need to buy for over the holidays and, place by each name a dollar amount of what you will spend on this person. Also, jot down some ideas as to what this person might want for a gift. After you have your list of potential persons to buy for separate the people into two lists. One will be those you have to buy for (relatives) and the other are those you may have to buy for (co-workers, friends, and neighbors).
To be specific, people you might have to buy for are those that show up with gift either at work or at your doorstep. These people you will hand you a gift and then you can say, “Oh I have something for you too.” The best thing to do in this situation is to have one or too really generic gifts like a box of candy or nuts. The generic gifts should be something you can use as a stocking stuffer for family members should you not need to come up with a gift for your neighbors, co-workers etc.
Once you have the list of people you have to buy for and have a targeted amount of money to spend on each person, add up the amounts of money to get an idea of how much money you will need for Christmas. If you think the total amount will be too much, start going through your list and eliminating a dollar or two from each persons allotment. Do this until you have a total gift expense that will keep you from going into debt. It is a good idea to include what you think you may have to spend on people you might have to buy for. Now you have a total amount of money that you can spend for gifts.
Next, you must figure out how much money you will need to spend for entertaining. This cost will in most cases be primarily for food. Here you will have to use your knowledge of food prices. You may need to look around the local grocery store to see what the prices are for holiday items like hams, turkeys, cheese etc. You should be able to get many of these items on sale right before the holidays but, don’t count on it. Instead use the normal prices to come up with your entertainment budget.
When it comes to entertaining for the holidays, use what you have in storage first. Then, perhaps in the case of parties at least, you might be able to borrow say, a fancy dish for the mashed potatoes or a punch bowl. Many times parents can help out with these items. Do not go out and buy such items for a one time use unless you have no other choice and you cannot find a substitute item. Remember, there are places where you can rent a lot of items such as large coffee pots for parties or chocolate fountains.
Decorating for the holidays should not be expensive. Use what you have first. Borrow from others if you have to and of course, try to make your own decorations. I will soon have a new blog on this site dedicated just to saving money on decorating for the holidays. Until then, try to have a really small budget dedicated for decorations. Maybe you could make up a list of must have decorations and go from there. I would include table settings and napkins with decorations so, you might want to just budget $10.00 for such items and shop early at the dollar stores. Decorations are items most stores only order in once or twice during the holiday season so, if you don’t buy them early, you might not have much choice and what I think is worse, it may cost you more money. The cheaper items always sell out first.
Overall, make budgets for gifts and entertaining over the holidays. Add up your budgets to see if you can afford what you have budgeted and cut a few dollars here and there until your overall budget does not put you into debt. You might also budget some money for travel expenses. Whipping out the credit card at the last minute because you forgot to allot funds for that trip to Wisconsin, will definitely keep you from saving a fortune.
To be specific, people you might have to buy for are those that show up with gift either at work or at your doorstep. These people you will hand you a gift and then you can say, “Oh I have something for you too.” The best thing to do in this situation is to have one or too really generic gifts like a box of candy or nuts. The generic gifts should be something you can use as a stocking stuffer for family members should you not need to come up with a gift for your neighbors, co-workers etc.
Once you have the list of people you have to buy for and have a targeted amount of money to spend on each person, add up the amounts of money to get an idea of how much money you will need for Christmas. If you think the total amount will be too much, start going through your list and eliminating a dollar or two from each persons allotment. Do this until you have a total gift expense that will keep you from going into debt. It is a good idea to include what you think you may have to spend on people you might have to buy for. Now you have a total amount of money that you can spend for gifts.
Next, you must figure out how much money you will need to spend for entertaining. This cost will in most cases be primarily for food. Here you will have to use your knowledge of food prices. You may need to look around the local grocery store to see what the prices are for holiday items like hams, turkeys, cheese etc. You should be able to get many of these items on sale right before the holidays but, don’t count on it. Instead use the normal prices to come up with your entertainment budget.
When it comes to entertaining for the holidays, use what you have in storage first. Then, perhaps in the case of parties at least, you might be able to borrow say, a fancy dish for the mashed potatoes or a punch bowl. Many times parents can help out with these items. Do not go out and buy such items for a one time use unless you have no other choice and you cannot find a substitute item. Remember, there are places where you can rent a lot of items such as large coffee pots for parties or chocolate fountains.
Decorating for the holidays should not be expensive. Use what you have first. Borrow from others if you have to and of course, try to make your own decorations. I will soon have a new blog on this site dedicated just to saving money on decorating for the holidays. Until then, try to have a really small budget dedicated for decorations. Maybe you could make up a list of must have decorations and go from there. I would include table settings and napkins with decorations so, you might want to just budget $10.00 for such items and shop early at the dollar stores. Decorations are items most stores only order in once or twice during the holiday season so, if you don’t buy them early, you might not have much choice and what I think is worse, it may cost you more money. The cheaper items always sell out first.
Overall, make budgets for gifts and entertaining over the holidays. Add up your budgets to see if you can afford what you have budgeted and cut a few dollars here and there until your overall budget does not put you into debt. You might also budget some money for travel expenses. Whipping out the credit card at the last minute because you forgot to allot funds for that trip to Wisconsin, will definitely keep you from saving a fortune.
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