I’m a Retired Boomer: 5 Things I Always Buy After the Holidays To Save Money
Written by
Brooke Barley
Edited by
Levi Leidy
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Most retirees are doing their shopping now, but some are waiting until after the holiday festivities are over to hit the stores. What doesn’t sell during the Christmas rush can be deeply discounted come Dec. 26. GOBankingRates talked to some boomers in retirement who wait all year to take advantage of the bargains after the holidays. Here are the items they’re shopping for.
Also here is the one money factor that leads to a happy retirement.
Air Fares
Airline prices typically go up during November and December, as many are traveling to see their family in other parts of the world. Deborah Lindner, retired Salt Lake City resident, finds that after the holiday hustle, tickets tend to be much cheaper in the new year.
“I have had success when I’ve [booked flights in January] in the past and it’s kind of nice to look forward to a trip, whether it’s to visit family, attend weddings or a vacation,” Lindner explained.
Lodging
“I also look for deals on hotels or Airbnb’s for any of those trips,” Lindner added. She noticed that her accommodations tend to be more affordable come January as well. This makes planning out trips for the rest of the year easy, as she can get good prices on both airfare and places to stay.
Household Items
After Black Friday sales and last minute Christmas shopping is over, some items are discounted because they’ll be considered out of season or simply not enough of them sold during the holiday rush. Lindner said she finds great prices on housewares, including furniture and appliances.
Many stores will hold sales specifically aimed at selling some of these types of items. Look for these in January and February.
Electronics (but Not All Electronics)
“Some people think the best sales are during Black Friday, but I got the best price on my Amazon Echo after the holidays,” said Linda James, retired Beaverton, Oregon resident. James went on to explain that now, she often will start to shop for her family’s Christmas presents during January and February. “If I know what they like, I’ll buy it then because that’s when the prices are lowest.”
However, retired Salt Lake City resident Carl Arky cautioned that waiting for prices to drop after Christmas might not always pay off. Arky wanted to buy a new television and had specifically waited until Dec. 26 to do so, but was let down.
“To my utter dismay, Costco actually bumped the prices up the day after Christmas,” Arky explained. “I shopped around. Same story at all the other stores.”
Arky asked a Costco employee why the prices had gone up. “She wasn’t sure but thought Costco used the electronics as bait to get people to sign up for memberships and come shop more during the holiday season.”
Holiday Decorations
When the demand plummets for decorations, that’s when James pounces. “They practically give the stuff away at Walmart,” James explained. “I bought my Christmas lights and my tree all after Christmas one year for a fraction of the price it would’ve been in November.”
More From GOBankingRates
