I also like to buy Halloween toys and chotchkes at 1/2 off at the Dollar Store after Halloween. I buy a big box full for maybe $5-10 and put it away until next Halloween. Then my kidlets bring in great prizes to the school Halloween party instead of more junkfood or candy. They are the heroes for the day among their peers for what it would have cost for two small bags of candy.
Post Season Sale Items You Don’t Want to Miss
Photo: Lorri37
Tired of hearing the same old sale shopping advice? Here are eleven super savings items that are outside of the norm.
1. Halloween Costumes.
Many of these are great for dramatic play centers in kindergarten classrooms, a trunk full of dress up clothes for a unique Christmas / Hanukah / Eid gift, or for a children’s theater program that’s trying to get its costume department off the ground. While the movie-themed plastic mask costumes might not do you much good, there are many others that will. Think doctor, witch, ballerina, magician, black cat, fortune teller, magician, clown . . .
2. Flip Flops.
These can go as low as two sets for a buck at the end of the summer season. I recommend them for the following: around the pool at your health club year round, shower shoes at the gym and at youth hostels, and fun tuck-ins for pedicure gift packs you can put together for friends.
3. School Supplies.
These things get ridiculously cheap at back to school time. Not only is it a good idea to get enough to restock the kiddos at various times throughout the year (Christmas, Easter), this is also a great way to get loads of stuff to save you money on work-at-home and freelance writing supplies.
4. Red and Orange Rope Lights.
After Halloween and Christmas, these are dirt cheap. If you or someone in your family is an astronomy buff, this means big savings for you. The red and orange lights don’t disrupt your night vision the way regular clear lights do. I picked up a bunch of these at after holiday sales when we lived in Arizona, because my husband is into astronomy big time. This way, I could have light on the porch to enjoy evening cocktails by without disrupting his observations, and we also had a nice safely lit walkway out to the observatory.
5. Red Plastic Food Wrap.
My suggestion for this stuff is similar to the last item in that it’s astronomy related. This stuff makes a really cheap substitute for the expensive red lenses for astronomy flash lights. Just cut a piece, fit it over the regular clear flashlight lens and reattach the top. These are great for inexpensive back yard, naked-eye, blanket-on-the-grass star gazing with the kids.
6. Pool Noodles.
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The foam tubes that are all the rage for summer fun make really great water aerobics equipment. Check out your local recreation center or gym for classes. You’ll be amazed at the muscle building and toning exercises you can do with these things. Their prices are reduced to nearly nothing at the end of the summer.
7. New Year’s Items.
You’ll need to make sure you get the items that have the year only printed on them, but the hats, plates, napkins and cups are great for senior class events and graduation parties.
8. Night Lights.
The small clear and opaque lights that fit into bathroom and bedroom nightlights can run upwards of 5 USD for a two-pack. Since this same size is used in the strings of larger sized Christmas lights and in the plastic “candle” lights many people put in their windows, after Christmas is a great time to pick them up for pennies. This is a huge savings opportunity, particularly for parents of small children.
9. Canned and Regular Pumpkin.
This stuff can get you through the entire winter with fixings for soup, pumpkin lattes, sweet breads, stuffed pumpkin ravioli and homemade pumpkin ice cream.
10. Halloween Themed Pencils and Erasers.
I bought these by the boatload one year after Halloween. That supply is still going strong. Instead of handing out candy at Halloween, we give out these non-sugar treats that inspire a love of learning. The best part is that I don’t have to worry about over buying candy to have it either go stale or end up on my hips. These Halloween goodies are still in style year after year and I’m never caught unprepared for the neighborhood kids if I’m too busy to shop.
11. Sewing Notions.
My mother-in-law gave me this tip. Certain colors of sewing notions (fabric, thread, trim, etc.) go on sale after major holidays. With all of the pastel colors popular around Easter, I would think those people crafty enough to make their own baby shower gifts should never have to pay full price for those supplies again.
Have any other off-beat ideas for sale items? I’d love to hear them!
Best of Wise Bread
Yes, eventually. Although it can take a while. I've had certain kinds of hard candy eventually go gooey. That being said, I've spent a large part of my life in various extreme climates, so that might have had something to do with my experiences . . .
Interesting tip about the toy type items being used for party prizes.
Thanks to both of you for taking the time to post.
After Christmas and Valentine's day you can get sale candy so cheap. You can seperate the Christmas kisses red can be used for Valentine's Day and green for St. Patrick. You can chop them to add to cookies and loaf breads. Just a few ideas.
Thanks for the chopped kisses for baking idea. I'd heard of shaving the sale chocolate bars for topping fancy cakes or adding to coffee, but not the suggestion you gave. Good idea.
Another thing that's cool is to pick up sale candy canes and other peppermint candy items. They are great chopped up for peppermint mocha coffee drinks, in cheesecake, or in other types of cookies and baked goods.
Thanks for taking the time to post your ideas.
Glad you enjoyed it. And I agree, January is a great time to get after Christmas items. Solid color wrapping paper or at least patterns without the Christmas theme are a favorit of mine. You can use them all year long and there are some really dramatic combinations available like royal blue metallic with silver ribbon. Plain white with either gold or silver makes great wedding and bridal shower wrap. Also, a lighter colored ribbon on the white makes a great baby shower gift wrap. I've found some of the higher end designer wraps for as cheap as the generic in the after season sales.
One other thing I forgot to mention is alcohol. Lots of the seasonal flavored schnapps products get marked down, like the cinnamon, butterscotch and peppermint ones. I love those to mix with hot chocolate for winter social events!!
Savvy! I sold their stuff years ago. That is SUCH a great idea with the pink sales. Consultants everywhere will be thanking you.
