When To Buy Cheap Christmas Ornaments?

With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your Christmas decorations. An important part of holiday decor is Christmas ornaments. Knowing the best times to buy cheap ornaments can help you decorate affordably and effectively.

In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of early planning for ornament purchases and share tips on when you can find the best deals throughout the year. Understanding the ideal times to shop will ensure you get quality ornaments at bargain prices. Proper planning allows you to spread out costs, take advantage of sales, and avoid the stress of last-minute shopping. You’ll finish your Christmas decorating feeling organized, thrifty, and full of holiday cheer.

After-Christmas Sales

One of the best times to buy inexpensive Christmas ornaments is during the after-Christmas sales in January. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby deeply discount Christmas decorations like ornaments immediately after the holiday season ends.[1] Discounts typically start at 50% off in early January and increase to 75-90% off by mid-January as stores try to clear out merchandise to make room for new inventory. For example, a box of 12 shatterproof ornaments originally priced at $10 may be marked down to just $2-3 in the post-holiday sales.

The selection will be more picked over the longer you wait, so shop early in January for the best selection at the steepest discounts. However, waiting until late January means prices will drop even lower. It’s also a good time to stock up on ornaments you may need for next year’s tree. Retailers are eager to offload Christmas merchandise so they don’t have to store decorations for another year.

Summer Sales

Many major craft and department stores start selling Christmas decorations and ornaments during the summer months before the holiday shopping season begins. Stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Hallmark typically put out Christmas merchandise in July or August (Chicago Tribune, 2016). This allows them to tap into the excitement and preparations for mid-year holidays like July 4th, as people begin thinking about decorating and celebrating. It also lets stores extend the selling season for holiday décor over more months. According to Hallmark, they have sold Christmas ornaments in their stores since July 1993, releasing a limited early selection before their full ornament line debuts closer to fall (Rent-A-Christmas, 2023). So savvy shoppers can get a jump start on holiday décor deals by perusing summer sales at craft and department stores.

Dollar Stores

Dollar stores like Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Family Dollar are great places to buy inexpensive Christmas ornaments all year round. These bargain retailers keep their prices low, with most items costing just $1-5. Shop their seasonal sections for a wide selection of classic glass ball ornaments, mini ornaments for decorating small trees and wreaths, nutcracker figurines, snowflake decorations, and more. Look for specially-themed ornaments too, like angels, Santas, snowmen, gingerbread men, and other symbols of Christmas. Dollar store ornaments are very affordable, especially when bought in bulk. Stock up on multiples of your favorite designs. The quality is decent for the low prices, ideal for filling up the tree. Dollar stores get new ornament shipments regularly, so keep checking back for fun, festive finds.

Online Sales

Shopping for ornaments online can be a great way to find deals year-round. Many online retailers offer discounts or coupon codes that can help you save money on ornaments, even when it’s not the holiday season.

Sites like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and specialty Christmas stores often run promotions with discounted ornaments and free shipping offers. It’s worth signing up for email lists from your favorite retailers so you can snag discounts as soon as they are announced.

Social media can also be a good source for finding ornament sales and coupon codes. Many stores will promote deals on their Facebook and Instagram pages. You may even find coupon codes and cashback offers on sites like RetailMeNot that give you additional savings at major retailers.

Just remember to factor in shipping costs when shopping online, as they can sometimes cancel out any discounts. But with the right sale or coupon code, shopping online can be a money-saving way to buy next year’s ornaments ahead of time.

Thrift Stores

One of the best places to find inexpensive Christmas ornaments is thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army 1. These thrift stores regularly receive donated Christmas decor from the community, so their selection is always changing. Visit thrift stores frequently to catch newly stocked Christmas items.

Check thrift stores year-round, not just during the Christmas season, for the best selection and prices 2. Ornaments and decor tend to get picked over quickly during the holidays. Shopping off-season means you can stock up on bargains. Also, check discount areas like the 50% off color of the week for additional savings.

Look through all Christmas-themed merchandise, including holiday linens, candleholders, and knickknacks that could be repurposed. Get creative about what can become an ornament! Raid holiday textiles for ribbon, lace, beads, and other supplies to make DIY ornaments.

DIY Ornaments

Making your own Christmas ornaments is a great way to get unique decorations at a low cost. With some basic craft supplies like paint, glitter, felt, and glue, you can create beautiful handmade ornaments to adorn your tree.

Ornaments made from natural items like pinecones, acorns, and cinnamon sticks can also make rustic-chic decorations. Simply coat the materials with glue and roll them in glitter or tie a ribbon around them. Get the kids involved too – homemade salt dough ornaments painted with their tiny handprints make precious keepsakes. The options for DIY ornaments are endless!

Websites like BHG offer a wealth of easy ornament craft ideas to suit all skill levels. Their tutorials walk you through how to make gorgeous beaded, quilted, and decoupage ornaments using supplies you likely already have at home.

So if you’re looking to deck your halls on a budget this season, grab your craft box and let your creativity shine. The personal touch of homemade ornaments makes them extra special.

Buy in Bulk

Buying ornaments in bulk packs is one of the most effective ways to lower the cost per ornament. Rather than purchasing individual ornaments at full retail price, you can find big packs of ornaments at wholesale retailers for a fraction of the per unit cost.

Retailers like Walmart, Target, and online stores often sell variety packs with multiple ornaments for one low price. For example, you can find 50-100 count ornament variety packs for around $10-20 (just $0.20-0.40 per ornament). This is significantly cheaper than buying individual ornaments at $1-5 each.

Opting for bulk packs gives you plenty of ornaments for decorating the tree at a very affordable per unit price. Just make sure to buy early while these value packs are in stock.

Wait for Sales

The best way to save money on Christmas ornaments is to wait for sales. Retailers offer the deepest discounts on holiday decorations right after Christmas or in January. Department stores will start marking down ornaments by 50-75% in the days after Christmas to clear out inventory for the next season ¹. Even popular brand name ornaments like Hallmark will go on clearance in late December and January as retailers try to sell remaining stock ².

Being patient and waiting for these after-Christmas sales and January clearance events is the key to getting the best deals on ornaments. The selection may be more picked over, but the savings make it worthwhile for budget-conscious shoppers. Going later in the discount period often means even lower prices too, sometimes 75-90% off original prices. The longer you wait, the cheaper the ornaments get.

Another good time to buy discounted ornaments is summer. Retailers will mark down remaining holiday inventory in July or August. This presents another opportunity for significant savings if you don’t mind buying next year’s ornaments a little early.

Conclusion

In summary, the cheapest times to buy Christmas ornaments are right after Christmas and during summer sales in July. January is the optimal month to shop post-Christmas sales for steep discounts on ornaments. Many retailers like Target, Michaels and Hobby Lobby dramatically slash prices to clear out holiday inventory. July sales also offer good deals on ornaments as retailers try to get rid of excess summer stock. Other cost-effective strategies include shopping dollar stores, buying ornaments in bulk quantities, making DIY ornaments, and waiting for online sales and promotions throughout the year.

The key is to be strategic and patient – buy out of season when prices are lowest. With some planning and savvy shopping, you can deck out your Christmas tree and home with beautiful ornaments without breaking the bank.