Two days until Christmas, and I actually feel ready.
Thanks to Amazon.com, I’ve only had to do one big-box store shopping run that literally involved grabbing a few sub-$10 toys from random aisles for extended family members whom I don’t think read this column. (If they do and know who they are, they’re good toys, I promise.)
I didn’t really succeed in my goal to put a bunch of time into handmade Christmas gifts, so I’m going to have to save that ambition for next year.
Procrastination and crafts don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand, I’ve learned.
I daresay it might be the first Christmas Eve or Christmas Eve Eve that I haven’t had to make a last-minute shopping run, which is quite a personal milestone.
So with Christmas shopping behind me, I come to another all-important topic: after-Christmas shopping.
Amid my research on this topic, I was slightly disappointed — but not entirely surprised — to learn after-Christmas deals are being predicted to launch as early as Dec. 23, proving to be just as much a misnomer as Black Friday.
According to the website dealnews.com (tagline: “Where every day is Black Friday”), the fact Dec. 26 is on a Wednesday this year, when many people will be back at work, likely will mean “big headlines and discounts, which may be great for getting your attention, but may not always offer the best deals.”
The site predicts your best after-Christmas deals — in store and online — will be on apparel, whose discounts can range from 40 to 90 percent with stacking coupons.
(Note to self: Get on favorite retailers’ websites to search for printable coupons before departing on post-Christmas shopping mission.)
Another good bet probably is electronics, which in some cases see higher discounts after the holidays than they do in the weeks before.
So whether you intend to spend your Boxing Day (that’s Dec. 26) playing with your new toys, returning them or buying them, I truly hope you find it enjoyable.
Which brings me to the lecture portion of thiscolumn.
My duty each week as the Bargain Advocate, as you know, is to share ways you can make the most of your resources; to save money and enjoy life — even if you don’t have a lot to work with.
So, as much as it pleases me to inform you about the fact there likely will be lots of good deals to be had in forthcoming days, I think it also falls upon me to encourage you to take stock of what you do have and be thankful for it.
I’ve been encouraged throughout the past few weeks to hear from readers in various parts of the state who have formed holiday traditions that are precious to them, and it has consistently struck me that although I might not have the largest television or nicest house or snazziest décor, I still have an awful lot to be thankful for — such as my family and health and the roof over my head.
Even if you don’t have one or all of those things, I hope you’ll take time, in the spirit of the season, to reflect on something that brings you joy — something that doesn’t necessarily come in a box or a bag.
Merry Christmas and happy saving,
Abbey
