After Christmas Sales — What to Buy!

So, you all probably know that I like decorating my classroom.  In fact, I have a ton of blog posts on this site dedicated to decorating.  You might also know that I have a passion for making it cute while keeping it cheap.  It’d be easy to blow hundreds of dollars on your classroom each month, but it’s also easy to make good choices when you buy and what you buy.

This time of year is a particularly good time to snatch up deals when they’re on super clearance.  I like to buy holiday stuff after the big holiday is over, in fact I go holiday decoration shopping after most major holidays (Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc.).  I pull out plastic tubs and save all of those decorations/resources for the following year.

Here are a few of my favorite holiday clearance choices and some suggestions as to why/when you should buy!  If you have other favorite clearance items that I haven’t mentioned, leave them in the comments section at the end of this post!

Twinkle lights – Go buy them now… as in, right now.  Don’t wait until they go even further on clearance because if you’re looking for a certain color they will be gone!  Also, think outside the Winter holidays for all the other times you might want twinkle lights.  If you are decorating for a specific event or concert you might want green for March, Red for February, blue to look like rain,  or any other color for general decoration.  Don’t wait too long or they’ll be gone!

Discount Ribbon –  Last year I bought some really cheap ribbon after holiday wrapping went on sale and I used it make cheap DIY ribbon wands.  I took some old recorder cleaning rods that were not being used and threaded the ribbon through the eye on the end.  There are plenty of other manipulatives and projects you can make with ribbon.  Look for long, durable, and non-fraying ribbon if you can but also look for the stuff that’s been really marked down.

General Decorations.  Do you want general decorations (Santa stuff, stockings, reindeer, garland, etc) for your room at school?  Get it and pack it away now.  I found some really great glittery Christmas trees last year for pennies a piece.  I also look for big/flashy things that might make nice scenery or set pieces for upcoming holiday/non-holiday musicals.

I buy big gift bags and cheap tissue paper to open up and set out.  The bags and tissue fold easily for travel to the high school an dit only takes a second to open them up and add some paper to make it look like an actual gift/present to put under the tree. This quick and tricky decoration makes the stage look cute in a flash and is easy to store and reuse for many years.  I buy bags with Rudolph, Santa, and things like “Fa la la la” on them.  I try and get big bags because the bigger they are the better they show up easier from a distance.  I also look for bags that aren’t too themed so that I can use them again in the future for whatever Holiday program that I come up with even if it’s not Santa or Christmas related.  This is something you can also get donated by parents/other teachers.

Thank You Cards Do you give thank you cards out after concerts?  Maybe you give them to students who have helped you throughout the year?  Secretaries for their great work in helping you schedule your programs and for EVERYTHING else they do?  Buy the holiday themed thank you cards now and save them for next year.  They’ll be much cheaper after the big holiday and there are still some cute styles left!

Electrical Odds and Ends

Electrical timers.  I have about four lamps in my room (depending on the time of year, sometimes I add twinkle lights or other little lamps) and I’ll tell you, it’s a pain to turn them on and off each morning.  Another teacher I know who uses lamps in their room has a kid come in each morning and evening to turn them on and off.  Self timers make turning on/off your classroom lamps really easy.  Lights turn on right before school starts and turn off at 4 p.m. when we’re done.  You can use them all year round for anything from lamps to fish tank lights to anything else.  They’re cheaper right now so if you’re gonna get em, get em now!

Electrical cords.  Same as above, if you’re going to get extra electrical cords, get them now.  You can find power bars, outlet splitters, extension cords, and other accessories on super sale.  Your selection might be limited to  “evergreen” colors but that doesn’t bother me with how cheap they are.

Computer accessories.  Lots of stores (especially the office ones) have little trinkets like USB splitters, fun tape dispensers, Sharpie pens, and more on sale.  Big stores purchase items like this in bulk to be sold as stocking stuffers but you can use them in the classroom and at your desk.

Miscellaneous Holiday Themed

Santa hats.  You never know when you’ll need em for concerts or decorating or holiday parties.  They’re usually $1 each year at the Dollar Tree but right about now they’re usually $.33 each.  This year I needed something extra for my after-school choir to us at a performance so I reached into my Santa box.  In just a few seconds they were all looking festive and bright.

Start looking for fun “After-New Years” Sales to pick up those “year specific” items like table decoration, year-themed glasses, streamers, plates, etc.  A lot of times you can find items printed with the year (e.g. “2013!”) around New Years Eve or in April/May for graduation decoration.  I buy those items on sale and use them to decorate my door and hallway at the beginning of the following school year.  Back to school?  Why not have the year printed on colorful streamers and a banners above your door that says “Happy New Year!”  Kids won’t know that it’s a left-over New Years decoration.

Is there anything that I missed or forgot to mention on this list?  Do you have any “after Christmas” decorating finds that you always look for?  I’d love to know about what’s on your list.  Leave a comment below in the comment section to share!