The holiday season is often hectic, and it’s easy to accidentally overlook the need to buy a gift for a loved one or friend. Plus, last-minute invites to gift-giving celebrations can happen, and if you don’t have a stash of gifts at the ready, you may need to purchase something right before Christmas. Fortunately, even when the answer to the question, “How many days to Christmas Eve?” is “none,” you can still save on Christmas gifts. Here’s how.
Head to Local Retailer Websites
In many cases, the easiest way to find out what’s on sale on Christmas Eve is to check a retailer’s website. Along with online sales flyers, you can see how much a product is discounted as you search for items. Plus, many retailers have special sections on their sites dedicated to holiday sales, and that will take you directly to the deals.
Just be aware that you want to focus on what’s available at local stores in your area. Usually, that means setting your preferred store as your shopping location on the website. Why is this important? Primarily, it’s because it lets you see local inventory levels. Then, you’ll know what’s available if you need to head to the store to get the gift. Plus, you may be able to use a convenient option – like in-store pickup or drive-up pickup – and pay for the item online, streamlining the entire process.
As you shop various sales, make sure to check out the prices of products that catch your eye at other local stores. There’s always a chance a competitor will have a better offer or some kind of bonus – like rewards points on a loyalty card – that makes it a stronger choice.
Start Early in the Day
When you’re trying to get the best deals through Christmas Eve sales, starting your gift search as early in the day as possible pays off. In many cases, retailers have a limited supply of deeply discounted items, so once everything available has been purchased, you won’t be able to get your hands on that gift. Essentially, this is a situation where the proverbial early bird gets the worm.
Exactly how early you want to start may vary by retailer. Some companies may list their bargains online before physical stores open, which is a boon if you want to schedule an in-store or drive-up pickup or simply want a game plan for when you head to the store. However, if the retailer doesn’t publish that information early, you can still increase your odds of getting great deals. Just find out when the store is opening and plan to be there as close to that time as possible.
Check Our Clearance Racks
If you don’t have much luck with the actual Christmas Eve sales, that doesn’t mean you’re entirely out of luck. There’s an excellent standby option that’s always worth checking if you want to find deep discounts: clearance racks.
Clearance racks are where retailers usually have their biggest bargains, and some items there may be up to 90 percent off the original retail price. While the items may be out-of-season technically, that doesn’t mean there aren’t solid gift items there. After all, not everything you give someone needs to be a winter-only item, so approach it with an open mind, and you might find the perfect Christmas present.
With this approach, you may need to head to several stores to see if you can find something suitable, which may make your Christmas Eve a bit hectic. Still, it’s potentially worth the effort if you really want to keep the cost down, so keep this strategy in mind.
Do you usually wait until right before Christmas to shop, or do you like to plan ahead? Do you have any tips that can help people take advantage of Christmas Eve sales or other discounts to get Christmas gifts for less? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read More:
- Is It Too Late to Start Christmas Shopping?
- Money-Saving Tricks for Online Shopping
- How to Teach Children About Budgeting Through Holiday Shopping
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.