The New Year Calendar is your friend...

Oldie but Goodie: first posted 1/2009
I love filling out a brand new, clean calendar for the new year. I always wonder what will fill the pages and what I will see the next January when I review it. Isn't it amazing what can happen in one year??

Here's a little hint though: it can save you a lot of money. How?

Here's how I do mine:

First, I go through with a red sharpie and put all of our family/extended family birthdays with a star, so they stand out. Family first, right? ;)

Then, I go through with my previous year calendar and mark important sales. Whenever there is a fantastic sale I come across, I mark it on my calendar with a cloud and stars around it, so I can be sure to be on the lookout the next year. This saves us money because we can budget for the sales and never have to pay full price for things like clothing and toys.

I also watch for Target's huge toy clearance, which also happens in July and January, where they go 75-90% off. It's a great time to stock up the gift closet for friends' birthdays.

Some other sales I always mark:

*Dillards add'l 50% off : every New Years day they have an additional 50% off their clearance prices. This is the best sale they have of the year. It includes furniture here as well. You can score beautiful, high end things for Walmart prices.

*Target's annual domestics clearance on sheets, shower curtains, towels, etc. happens also in February

*The Children's Place also has great add'l off sales where I look more for dressy clothes for my kids for Christmas, Easter, church etc.

* I also mark Target's Christmas, Easter, and Halloween markdown to 75% and 90% off to buy for next year: costumes, decor, etc.

*I just marked Hobby Lobby~they are 80% off Christmas right now and should go 90% off any day~that's when I will strike :) Their fall clearance went 90% off on Nov 21 this year.

*If you watch websites like Fishing for Deals or Pinching Your Pennies, these ladies are pro shoppers and will always alert you if you are on the lookout around your dates. Let them do the work for you so you're not always having to call the store, etc.

*Every store has their markdown periods~if you have a favorite store, wait, and when they best sales happen, mark them so you can shop at those times and resist the temptation to pay full price.

*Know what you are on the lookout for before you go to the sale. Never buy just because it's a "good deal." You all know this.

Let your calendar be your friend this year.