Next week the REAL fun begins... shopping after Christmas sales and getting those deep discounts! Share your tips here: where to shop, what to look for, etc.

There is a way I save hundreds of dollars every year during the Christmas sales ... and I do it by ... not going.

Don't get me wrong. I use to love shopping with the best of them but one year I was visiting at someone's home and someone else came in after having been at the post Christmas sales. She was showing us the Gap sweater for $10. The jeans for $15! There were bags and bags of stuff which she spent hundreds of dollars on and suddenly the light went on for me. Christmas had just passed. I had just received many beautiful gifts. I knew there were bargains out there but I really didn't need any of them. So I didn't go and after a year or two, I didn't even miss it and now I love spending the few days after Christmas playing games with my family and pretending that the malls are still closed. It's saved me a ton of money.

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I totallly agree Kathryn! Besides that, we are realllly filled to the brim around here in regards to storage space! I don't want any more rolls of gift wrap, gifts to store all year, and more things, period. I soooo want to declutter and get rid of what I have already!

I am trying to simplify, and I can't seem to do that when I keep bringing more stuff in.

Once, after we had moved, I was struck with a weird thought. First of all, moving had been an overwhelming chore, seeing box after box of our *STUFF*... I could not believe how much we had crammed into our house.

So, I was coming back from Target or something, and thought: "Wow, here I am bringing even MORE into our house... which we will one day have to move OUT..." And I just hated the thought of cramming more stuff into my house.

I long to streamline things, as best I can in my own life/circumstances. A friend of mine lived in Japan for a time, and I had read a book about the Japanese and their furniture etc... well, I don't know if this is current info, but what I read was that they have very "mobile" furniture, as in it is lightweight and is even on wheels so you can move it around the room, out of the way etc... even classrooms (I heard) have desks on wheels so they can move things as need be. They also have room dividers made from paper with wood frames (can't think of the word I'm trying to use here...). I looked around my house at our huge entertainment centers, heavy wood armoires, sturdy dressers, huge and heavy tables and thought how nice it would be to be less cluttered and not feel things were so "heavy"... I am probably not conveying too well my thoughts... I'll stop rambling now! I guess I just want to lighten our load, not add more to it.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

OK...I'm not that good. I love to go the day after Christmas! It's a tradition with my Mom. I always go before th estore opens and head right for the toys, gift wrap, and cards. I don't have tips, but I'll be back to check your out!

I go buy my calendar at 50% the day after Christmas.

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Mommy to Jade (5/01), Brynn (2/03), Kylee (12/06) , Big sister to Ryan (4/99)

http://hechtrov.blogspot.com/

I agree, I dont go, dont go after chiristmas, dont go after halloween, dont go after thanksgiving. I have so many stores from Pier one, Target, Walmart, Sears Macys JC Penny, near me, that when I need something there is always a sale on and I can get great deals.

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We buy things we dont need,
with money we dont have,
in order to impress people
we dont like?
(Ramsey, D)

I like to go just to get the holiday stuff. I might not find anything but if I do it's at deep discount. I don't have much holiday stufff at all so I try to buy one or two things each year so that slowly I can have something new to display the next year. That way I only spend a couple of bucks put it away for next year and It's like opening an early christmas present when I start decorating the next year. I don't really buy anything else though because I'm usually broke or worn out from the actual Christmas shopping.

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The only after holiday sale I go to is after Christmas and it is for one reason: MY BIRTHDAY!!! My mom (who will be here this year) and I go every year (I don't go when she isn't here) after Christmas and have since I was a teenager. She buys me my birthday presents then (clothes, of course). I usually only get a couple of things and we have so much fun!

I have a plan for this year. I bought her some stuff from my Dad at Eddie Bauer Outlet and found some stuff for me for after Christmas. PLUS, they gave me a 15% coupon a purchase between 12/26 and whatever. I am so excited!

We go shopping and then go to lunch. Not too exciting, but lots of fun and just us!

The only stockpile shopping I do is at the Target toy sale in January. I buy about 5-7 presents age approriate for my children and save them for those unexpected birthday parties throughout the year. That has saved me a bundle over the couple of years I have done it. Oh, and if I am near a Hallmark store I will go and get a couple of half off ornaments for next year.

I have to say I usually don't go until things are 75% or more- for the most part if you pay attention you can get the same Christmas stuff for 50% before the holidays. This year the only Christmas item I may purchase is a new pre-lit tree. I like to do most of my after Christmas shopping is the Jan. toy clearance at Target (to pick up a few presents for the kids and the kids in our family), start of the winter markdown in clothes and a few stocking stuffers.

I have not gone shopping the day after Christmas in a couple of years. Only because I am just to tired from all the running we do on Christmas! However I would be willing to do some shopping online. My 2 yr old will be 3 in Febuary hoping I can a couple of things on sale for his birthday clothes or otherwise.

Does Target usually have any wrap left when it goes 75% off? I do need to replenish that.