Sometimes I worry that Thanksgiving is slowly losing its identity as a separate holiday. Many people I know rush through their turkey and pie in order to start shopping at insane hours the next morning. True, there are deals to be found during Thanksgiving as retailers prepare to lure you into their stores. Some deals will take a little patience, however. Check out this list of five things you don’t want to buy during Thanksgiving.
Christmas décor. It’s easy to get caught up in the romance of the holiday when all of the stores have their artificial trees, gift wrap and sparkling lights set up before Halloween is over. You may find a few markdowns on the holiday decorations, but the longer you wait, the better the deal. Those Christmas cards and jingle bell socks will cost less the closer you get to the holiday.
Calendars. Stay away from the 2012 calendars at Thanksgiving. You have a smartphone for a reason. Keep all of your appointments for next year electronically stored, and wait until the end of the year or early next year to get your calendars. Otherwise, you will be paying full price.
Winter clothing. Sure, Thanksgiving can make you want to wrap up in a new sweater or a puffy vest. Hold off until the temperatures really drop, though. Buying winter apparel now will not save you any money.
Toys. Sure, you will marvel at the sales advertised on toys. But take a closer look, and you’ll realize that over Thanksgiving, the markdowns are minimal. The real deals come in a week or two, when we are getting closer to Santa’s arrival and this year’s hottest games and toys are still in stock. Hold off on the bikes, the Barbies and the video games.
Watches and jewelry. The Thanksgiving weekend is not the best time to buy the bling. Wait until retailers and jewelers really want to unload their inventory. I never recommend that you save your shopping until Christmas Eve, but it is probably the best thing to do if you are buying a piece of jewelry or a watch.
So slow down, and have some turkey. You have the whole season to shop.
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