Something you might want to add to your after Christmas list is a new collection of containers for storing all your Christmas stuff. These go on sale, oh about Halloween or soon thereafter, but they begin to be marked down big time after Christmas. From wrapping paper storage bins to some new shelving that will hold individual boxes of ornaments or bins filled with holiday lighting, you can find a variety of seasonal storage options at a discount.
If you have been considering an artificial Christmas tree, you might want to pick one up now and set it aside for next year. There is a variety of options including pre-lit designs with LED, power saving lights. Many of them are priced at 50% off or more, at the time of this writing. I was just looking at some.
Along with your shopping list for after Christmas, start putting together a post-holiday “to do” list as well. Are there some DIY projects you have been meaning to do but just haven’t had the time? Maybe, you planned to do some things before the holidays, but found it a little difficult to finance projects and Christmas presents at the same time.
Make a list. Check it twice. Make sure you have written down all the materials you’ll need before you begin and check for any special instructions. Ask your helpful home improvement center representative for tips that may make the job easier.
If you have items to return, consider exchanging them for things you can use. For example, if you received a holiday sweater vest (that you would probably never wear in a million years) that came from a local supercenter, and you really don’t need a new sweater vest, you may want to ask for a shopping card instead of an exchange. You can then wander through the hardware department, check out the latest paint colors, or maybe just pick up things like roller covers and drop cloths.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d be notably more happy with materials that will help me achieve a freshly painted room than I would be with a sweater vest.