Now that Christmas has passed, department stores are drastically dropping the price on Christmas decorations and other seasonal materials in order to clear out floor space. As a frugal individual, now is the time to capitalize so you can save big money next year!

I’ve prepared a shopping list of items that you can pick up on very steep discount right now at your local department store. You can save as much as 80% on these items if you go shopping right now and place them in storage until next December.

Christmas lights I always pick up a couple replacement strands for the next year, as our old ones often wind up with a burnt-out bulb or some other problem when we bring them out of storage after Thanksgiving.

Christmas cards I am a big fan of Christmas card sending (with a personalized handwritten note inside each one, if time permits), so I stock up on these at a huge discount in the days right after Christmas. I can usually buy four boxes for less than one box cost on December 1.

Wrapping paper I’m not one who uses wrapping paper (I tend to use other things), but if you’re the type that uses paper, you’ll never find Christmas wrapping paper cheaper than in the week after Christmas.  Stock up and buy a few rolls now!
Christmas decorations My wife loves to rummage through Christmas decorations at various specialty shops at this time of year. The prices are right to get some amazing stuff for next year’s Christmas.

Ornaments Our extended families have a tradition of getting Christmas tree ornaments for our godchildren each year. We usually select this ornament from Hallmark as their inventory is now on sale at an amazingly low price.

We will probably spend less on all of the stuff we need for next year than we would have spent on just a few decorations if we had shopped early this month.