January is one of those months for me that is rough when it comes to budgeting/bargain shopping. On one hand, my husband and I are reviewing our budget from last year and setting our budget for the year to come. I feel a sense of renewed vigor for saving money and I'm excited about the year to come. I'm cleaning out our house and pledging to avoid the clutter that has somehow accumulated throughout the year.
But then there are the SALES! January is really a great month for scoring big on all kinds of things. So, while I am still committed to sticking to my budget throughout the year, I just can't pass up bargains like this. And in the end it will all work out. Because the clothing I'm buying for pennies on the dollar right now will be the fall wardrobe for my kids, and I won't be forced to spend 3 times as much on the same clothes in August. And the toys I'm buying right now for 75% off will be the toys I give at birthday parties and in Easter baskets and Christmas stockings this year. So instead of buying a toy at the last minute for a birthday party for $20, I can get that toy for $5 right now and the extra $15 stays in my pocket! At the end of 2010 I am planning to be under budget in all areas, but let me just go ahead and apologize to the budget for this month...I promise I'll make it up to you!!
Here are some of the deals that I can't pass up right now...
Clothes: Many stores are trying to clear their fall/winter inventory to make way for the spring styles that are hitting the shelves. Old Navy is taking an additional 50% off their clearance prices again this weekend (should run through Sunday at least), Target has racks and racks of clothing at 50-75% off including lots of shoes for the whole family, the Disney Outlet online is offering an extra 20% off with code OUTLET20, the list goes on! When you walk into a clothing store, head straight to the clearance racks and I'm guessing you'll walk out with some hot deals!
Toys: Target's big toy clearance is pretty much over at this point, but I hope you were lucky enough to get in on the action! There are still a few deals left on Target's shelves and from what I hear, Walmart is also clearancing a lot of toys right now. Even though the thought of another toy in your house might make you nauseous at this point, think about things that you can put in the closet for future birthdays, friends' birthday parties, and even Christmas next year!
Everything Else: Honestly, there are good deals to be had for every room of your house right now. Just check out the clearance sections at all of the stores you frequent and you will find deals. If the store doesn't have one big clearance area, look at the "endcaps" (the end of the aisles) for the big markdowns.
With the abundance of deals available right now, one thing that I have to keep in mind is that if I don't need it, it's not a deal. I really do struggle with this because I love the thrill of getting something for a fraction of it's retail price. But just because something is cheap, doesn't mean I NEED it. Sometimes it's best to put something back on the shelf. And I have done that a lot this month. So, I guess that is progress!