One of my favorite things about Christmas shopping, is shopping the after Christmas sales.  There are great bargains to be found, and not only on Christmas gifts, but also on gifts that can be used throughout the year.  Although there are great deals, you need to have a strategy.  This is what works for me.

Make a list of all of the people that you will need presents for next Christmas, and how many birthday presents you need throughout the year.  If you have an idea of what you would like to get that person, you can place that beside their name on the list.

Make a list of all of the Christmas decorations that you need, or want to get for next year.  Do you need to replace your tree?  Are your ornaments broken, and what about the lights?

Once you have your lists complete, set a budget.  Decide how much money you want to spend in total.

The last thing to decide is when to go.  Most stores start marking things down the day after Christmas.  They usually start at 50% off, and then in about a week they lower it to 75% off.  The earlier you go, the better selection you will get, but if you wait you will get a little better price.  It all depends on the budget that you have.

Shopping the after Christmas sale can save you tons of money, so if you have a little extra Christmas cash, you may want to check it out.

photo source:  jaylopez