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One of my favorite shopping days of the year is December 26th. While many people are happy to sleep in after Christmas, I was not one of them. Going to stores to get the sales was on my mind. When my troop was younger, we did not sell cookies. I managed all of our activities on dues alone. It was my job to make our money stretch out for the year.
In my personal life as well, the Recession had hit my family very hard. I became an ace coupon/sale shopper…more than I had been previously.
So on December 26th, I woke up early to get the holiday deals.
Image from Pixabay and altered by the author on Canva
There are so many things on sale after Christmas, that when combined with coupons, cost me next to nothing. Plastic wrap and foil, reusable containers, tissues, paper towelsn and food in Christmas packages are 50% off on December 26th.
Craft stores start giving away things right before Christmas, and the day after, the shelves need to be cleared for Valentine’s Day. This is where a Girl Scout leader on a budget can shop and buy craft materials for next to nothing. Many times stores will have these items at 70% off!
One of my favorite stores is Michael’s. I jumped for joy when one opened in the shopping center that I pass on my way to work. My co-teacher, who is the mother of two boys and is into sports, not crafting, is thrilled that I am the one to jump at the chance to get the supplies we need for our preschool crafts. My Director loves to hear how much I saved with my sales and coupons. In fact, I no longer need to get approval from her to buy something I find during an excursion to the store. She knows that I am getting the best deal.
What I Buy on December 26th at Michael’s
There are many hidden treasures on the clearance racks. If you are not one to get up and go early, you can shop online at Michael’s and pick up your items in the store later at no extra charge.
Stickers
When we were into scrapbooking, I bought all kinds of winter stickers. I also purchased anything with a snowman, penguins, or polar bears for crafts.
Paper Goods
Are you going to be bridging or simply having an end of the year party? Then purchase festive paper goods in solid green or metallic. If they have matching utensils as well, pick those up while they are on sale.
Craft Kits
Many Christmas craft kits are 70% off, even the ones in the Dollar section. Think about what comes with the kit…maybe the craft is not for your troop, but parts of the craft are. You can buy the items for the parts you need.
Ribbon
Ribbon can be used for all sorts of crafting! It comes in all sizes and colors. Please note that while glitter ribbon is jazzy, it sheds glitter. You may want to think about that before you purchase this kind.
Baking Supplies
This is where I go a bit crazy now that my girls are older. We bake for service projects and just for fun. I also bake in my down time because for me, baking is therapeutic. I like to make treats for my family that are healthy and taste good. I can accomplish something and it is appreciated.
This is the time to buy the following baking supplies:
- Sprinkles, sugars and icing that come in kits (the best bargain-so much cheaper than those tiny tubes sold in the supermarket baking aisle)
- Muffin liners, both mini and regular size
- Cookie cutters (snowmen and mittens can be used all winter)
- Cellophane bags (you can bake for any holiday or occasion and place them in one of these bags).
- Baking molds (some come out only this time of year)
Presents
Do your girls make something for their parents Mother’s Day or Father’s Day? There are giftable items that the girls can give to their parents.
Here is an example of using an inexpensive Christmas item for a future spring craft.
These red loaf pans can be part of a Mother or Father’s Day gift. The girls can write in Sharpie “I Loaf You” right on the pan on both sides. Then they can place in a cellophane bag cookies that they baked and/or decorated as part of the meeting, or put in candy that you bought on sale after the holidays. Decorate a gift tag and a card, tie with the ribbon you bought, and you have a spring meeting all planned out and it is December!
Do you shop the after-Christmas sales? What do you look for?
