I like to think of myself as somewhat of a money-saving ninja. Since it pains me to pay full-price for anything, I have become very strategic about when I buy things, scoping out deals and waiting until the end of season clearance sales. Now that the holiday season is over, January is full of discounts with retailers looking to get rid of last year’s inventory to make room for the spring season. There is a method to my madness, and if you are curious what kinds of deals you should be scoping out in the month of January, read on for some ideas!
1. Holiday Décor, Wrapping Paper & Gift Sets
Immediately after Christmas, holiday items tend to go on sale, but these discounts continue into January. So, if you are in need of new holiday decorations, or want to replenish your stash of wrapping paper, January is the time to stock up so you’re ready for next year’s holiday season! Discounts typically start at least 50% right after Christmas and continue to fall after New Year’s, dipping to 75, 80, even 90% off! You’ll want to act quickly, because the selection goes fast, and the longer you wait, the more picked over the selection will be.
You can find deals at various stores including the big box ones like Wal-Mart and Target, as well as department stores like Macy’s and Kohl’s. It also is worth a look at home improvement retailers like the Home Depot and Lowe’s for discounts on big-ticket items like artificial trees and inflatables.
Don’t forget, that in addition to things like ornaments and other holiday décor, retailers will also be looking to get rid of anything that is in giftable, holiday packaging. This includes things like cosmetics and beauty items, as well as shelf-stable food. For deals on makeup and cosmetics, Ulta is also a good place to check out. For things like lotions, soap and candles, make sure to check out Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale!
2. Anything fitness
Gym memberships: January is a great time to sign up for a gym membership because many chains are offering special New Year’s rates. Depending on the gym, discounts will vary, with some waiving membership fees, to some deeply discounting the rates. Just be careful about long-term contracts. You don’t want to be locked into paying for a membership all year if your New Year’s resolution falls by the wayside after a month.
Fitness Equipment: If you would rather be able to work out at home, January has about five times as many exercise equipment deals as December (thank you New Year’s resolutions!), so it is a great time to invest is a piece of fitness equipment. Some good places to look for discounts are Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart, where you can look for up to 50% off things like treadmills, elliptical machines, weights and exercise mats.
3. TV’s
Everybody know that Black Friday is the time to snag a sweet deal on a TV, but January actually offers some great TV deals as well. In fact, Black Friday sales typically feature the cheap, doorbuster TV models, but if you wait until January, you can usually find deals on the higher quality sets. Look for sales to start mid to late January, as retailers prepare for the Super Bowl.
The major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart offer a wide variety of TV brands and sizes. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a great deal before the big game!
4. Travel
If the cold, dark winter weather has you dreaming about traveling somewhere warmer, January is a good time to book a trip! You can find some great deals on vacation packages and getaways during the month of January. Keep in mind that while you are booking this trip in January, the travel dates for many of these deals are actually not until the spring.
If you are looking to fly somewhere, you can often get good deals on spring flights to places like Europe and Asia. The travel dates for the lowest fares will probably be limited, but worth checking out.
You can also save big if you are looking to book a cruise before spring break because it is the ‘off season.’ You can expect discounts of 30% or more, plus things like free amenities like onboard credits or drink packages.
5. Winter Apparel
January is a great month to snag deals on winter clothes and accessories, as retailers start to clear out their winter stock to make room for spring styles. That means you can get a lot of great deals on winter gear like jackets, hats, sweaters, boots, etc. Clearance deals might get even better in February or March, but selection will be limited by then, so January is the time to buy if you want to ensure you can still find your size at a nice price.
When shopping these end of season sales on winter apparel, remember that quantities are likely to be limited, and when items are gone, they’re most likely gone for good. Some clearance items may also be final sale, so pay attention to the return policy if you are unsure about style or fit.
Keep in mind, that while retailers are offering nice discounts on regular winter apparel during the month of January, don’t expect deals on things like skiing and snowboarding equipment. January is still peak season for these winter sports, so retailers typically don’t start really slashing their prices on winter sports gear until the season winds down in March or April.
6. Bedding and Linens
January is the time when many major department stores hold “white sales” (fun fact – Linens only used to come in the color white. That’s why retailers call them “white sales”) to clear out their inventory of sheets, towels, blankets, pillows, etc. Look for big sales at the major department stores like JC Penney, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Nordstrom Rack. You can also take a look at deals from online discounters like Overstock, Wayfair or even Amazon. You can oftentimes find deals of 60-70% off, sometimes as much as 80% off these bedding basics.
7. Furniture
January can be one of the best times of year to buy furniture. This is because merchants typically get their first batch of the new year’s inventory in February, so many of these retailers start discounting old inventory in January. So, if you are in need of a new sofa or dining set, you can start looking in January. Sales typically linger through President’s Day.
Local furniture stores may be the best place to look for deals. Plus, you can oftentimes take advantage of free local delivery. However, if you’re open to online shopping, you can also check out stores like Overstock, Wayfair, or even Amazon (which has its own furniture lines called Revet and Stone & Beam).
8. Toys and Video Games
Since many retailers stock up on toys during the holidays, once the holiday season is over, you can often find steep discounts on their leftover inventory. While many of the most popular toys won’t be deeply discounted in January, you can still find some good deals. In particular, Target is a good place to look for discounts on a variety of toys, up to 70% by the middle or end of the month. (Walmart and Amazon are also worth a look.) I like to pick up a few things in January to use for future birthday presents!
January can also be a good time to get deal on video games, since a lot of video games are released just before the holidays. If you wait until January to buy, you can find discounts on even that season’s hottest games!
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So there you have it, my list of the top deals to look out for in the month of January!
If you are interested in what deals you can score in February, March, or even August, I’ve got you covered all year! Be sure to check in at the beginning of each month, because I’ll be sharing a post like this one sharing my secrets letting you know what deals to look out for that month!
Also, be sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram, where I share some of the great deals I am snagging in real time!
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