Matt Granite – better known as The Deal Guy – says the day after Christmas is one of the weirdest shopping sweet spots of the year. People are tired, stores are overstocked, and the goal flips overnight from “sell more” to “clear it out fast.”
In his video, Granite makes a point that’s easy to miss if you only think in terms of holiday décor. He says his list isn’t about ornaments or tinsel at all.
It’s about everyday products that get shoved into seasonal displays, holiday gift sets, or limited-run packaging, and then marked down aggressively when Christmas is over.
That’s where the big numbers come from. Granite says some markdowns can run all the way to 90% off, especially as you get closer to early and mid-January at certain retailers.
If you’ve ever paid full price in February for something you could’ve bought cheap in late December, this is basically your annual reminder to stop doing that.
The “Not-Christmas” Items Hiding In Christmas Aisles
Granite starts with a category that feels boring until you realize how much you overpay for it: extension cords, adapters, and timers. He says the versions marketed for Christmas lights work year-round for things like sprinklers, home security setups, and basic household lighting.
The catch is cosmetic. Granite jokes that you might have to tolerate festive colors or extra outlets. But if a green cord saves you real money, that’s not a problem – that’s a win.
Next, he pivots to something families actually use: calendars and board games. Granite says he previously flagged Barnes & Noble for calendars marked down as much as 50% off, and commenters reminded him that board games can drop as much as 75% off.
That tracks with how stores treat board games after December. They’re a popular gift, stores over-order, and then they have to dump inventory quickly when the gifting season ends.
If you have kids at home, or you’re trying to build a cheap “snowed in” entertainment stash, Granite’s point is simple: buy the fun stuff when everyone else is done shopping.
Warehouse Clubs Turn Winter Into Clearance Season
Granite says Costco and Sam’s Club operate differently than traditional retailers right after Christmas. While places like Gap or Banana Republic might still be running normal winter sales, he says warehouse clubs are already in clearance territory.
He claims winter clothing is where you’ll notice it first. If you’re the kind of person who needs basics – warm layers, decent socks, simple outerwear – Granite suggests skipping mall pricing and looking at the club markdowns instead.
He also mentions major price drops on toys, throws and blankets, and even gift baskets, especially ones with gourmet meats and cheeses that can last for weeks.
This is where you have to shop like a realist. You’re not buying a “holiday basket.” You’re buying snacks and shelf-stable treats that happen to be bundled in a fancy box. Granite’s strategy is basically: ignore the ribbon and focus on the food value.
Granite does mention wine gift sets and liquor bundles at warehouse clubs, but if you’re reading this for practical post-holiday savings, the bigger takeaway is that warehouse stores are trying to reclaim floor space fast. And when they reclaim space, prices fall.
The Tech Glut: TVs And Laptops Get Uncomfortably Cheap
Granite’s third point is what a lot of shoppers actually care about: TVs.
He says TVs were overstocked last year, but in 2025 it’s “even more dire.” He uses a very specific example: that huge 86-inch TV that warehouse shoppers have seen on sale repeatedly all year, including through the holidays.
His theory is straightforward: retailers like Best Buy and Walmart misjudged how many TVs they’d sell over Black Friday, so now there’s excess inventory that has to move. That’s when you get the “why is this still on sale?” pricing that feels suspiciously good.
He extends that logic to certain laptops, claiming some models are discounted even more now than they were during Cyber Monday. Granite says you can find well-equipped laptops under $400 at places like Costco, Sam’s Club, and Best Buy.
There’s a practical reality here that Granite doesn’t dance around: the best tech deals often come when stores are trying to “clean the shelves,” not when they’re hyping a shopping holiday. It’s less glamorous than Black Friday marketing, but it can be more effective.
In-Store Clearance: The Stuff You Actually Have To Hunt For
Granite then flags a category that matters because it’s inconvenient: in-store only clearance.
He points to Dollar Tree, where winter knickknacks and holiday-adjacent items can be marked down as much as 70% off, plus holiday cards that are cheap to stockpile if you’re the person who always forgets to buy them next year.
Then he brings up Aldi – specifically that middle aisle chaos that people either love or hate. Granite says Aldi clearance after Christmas can include clothing, giftable items, and low-priced home finds that get even cheaper when the season turns.
He also calls out big box stores and grocery stores for holiday-themed pantry basics: tortilla chips in festive packaging, Christmas-colored pasta, and other seasonal wrappers that don’t change the taste at all. Granite says these can be marked down as much as 75% off.
This is one of those “swallow your pride” shopping lessons. If you can get the same food for less because the bag has a snowman on it, you’re not losing dignity. You’re saving money.
The Fastest Savings: Fragrance, Soaps, And Small Appliances
Granite says home fragrance and cleaning products are a top post-Christmas buy because limited-run scents get dumped quickly.
He mentions winter-themed hand soaps that aren’t strictly Christmas – meaning you can use them through the season without feeling like you’re living inside a December commercial.
Then he specifically calls out Bath & Body Works and says their annual sale begins on December 26, running two to three weeks.
Granite’s pro tips are very “Deal Guy”: buy in-store to avoid shipping fees, and sign up for the free loyalty account because he says you can get a $10 off coupon that stacks on top of the discounts.
From there, he pivots to small appliances – air fryers, countertop gadgets, and the kind of stuff people gift and then return. Granite says prices are “dramatically low” by this point in the year and points to Walmart, Costco, and Best Buy as places where the discounts show up.
This is where my own opinion lines up with Granite’s logic: small appliances are one of the easiest categories to overspend on because the packaging and hype make everything feel “must-have.” Waiting a few days after Christmas can turn a pricey impulse buy into a reasonable upgrade.
Travel Gear, Shoes, And The Quiet Discounts People Miss
Granite says anything tied to vacations hits a low point right now. He highlights luggage first, saying it didn’t get the discounts people wanted before Thanksgiving, but after Christmas, soft-side and hard-side suitcases can become a “complete steal.”
He also mentions packing cubes and even post-Christmas travel deals through sites like Expedia and Priceline, keeping his point broad: the travel industry keeps moving even when the holidays end, and retailers want inventory gone.
Then he moves into footwear, naming DSW, Foot Locker, and Zappos as places with deep reductions. Granite says 50–60% off major brands is common this time of year, and he adds Dick’s Sporting Goods as an overlooked place for shoe and apparel deals.
He gives a specific example with UGG, saying people often look at the official UGG site and find clearance is scarce, but department stores like Dillard’s may have UGGs up to 33% off, and Nordstrom Rack can hit up to 50% off, though not every style and size is included.
That’s a classic post-holiday reality: the best discounts aren’t always where the brand wants you to shop. They’re where unsold inventory goes to get cleared.
Beauty Sets, Stocking The Freezer, And The “Soft Stuff” Rule
Granite’s list then rolls into beauty. He mentions trendy items like LED light masks and says post-Christmas can be a good time to buy them. He also points to Ulta and Sephora for gift sets: holiday-themed bundles that often include full-size products at deep discounts.
Then he hits one of the most practical sections of his video: food. Granite says post-Christmas is his favorite time to stock the freezer. He points to ham, turkey, and party trays that can be broken down and frozen, along with leftover holiday items like chocolate, coffee, popcorn tins, and hot cocoa sets that get marked down fast.
He says he always checks expiration dates, but that many of these items last well into the next year. That’s a smart, boring habit – the kind that saves money without changing your life.
Granite also talks about discounted food storage containers and Ziploc-style items in holiday colors. His message is basically: if red-and-green plastic is cheaper, take the cheaper plastic.
And then he sums up a principle that’s honestly the best rule in the video: “If it’s soft, it’s on sale.” He calls out sweaters, thermal sets, coats, and bedding.
He specifically mentions American Eagle running half-off sales right after Christmas, and says Dick’s Sporting Goods is a surprisingly strong place to buy a coat post-holiday, sometimes with brands like Patagonia and Columbia reduced.
He even gives a rare “wait” recommendation: for mattresses, Granite says he’d wait until February’s President’s Day sales if your goal is the biggest savings.
The Markdown Schedule That Explains The 90% Claim
Granite finishes with the kind of detail people actually want: a rough markdown schedule.
He says Walmart starts seasonal drops around December 26 at about 50% off, with markdowns increasing up to 75% off beginning January 1.
He says Target offers 50–70% off seasonal items starting December 26, then anything left gets reduced further between January 1 and mid-month, reaching up to 90% off.
He also mentions Kohl’s being less predictable, with 30–70% off starting December 26 and some 80% off seasonal finds starting around mid-January. He notes Home Depot can run up to 75% off on Christmas items starting December 26 into January.
Granite’s larger point is that post-Christmas isn’t one day – it’s a rolling wave. If you want the best selection, shop earlier. If you want the deepest discounts, wait and accept that shelves might be picked over.
And honestly, the smartest takeaway from The Deal Guy is this: post-Christmas shopping isn’t about buying more stuff. It’s about buying the stuff you were going to buy anyway – just at the moment when stores are most desperate to get rid of it.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
