Thread: Shopping tips for this time of year?

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As I've become aware that faint signs of the Halloween shopping season have begun to crop up for some of you by now, I thought I might inquire as to anyone and everyone's early shopping tendencies and preferences. To elaborate, do you happen to find certain retailers particularly helpful toward the end of the "off-season" period, or certain types of items easier to stock up on at this time? What might you want to keep a particular eye out for just before stores begin stocking the more "official" and recognizable autumn items? Are you typically more inclined to shop a certain type of store (party, craft, discount, and so on) during mid-to-late summer?

Of course, I know answers will vary from the haunters to the partiers and so forth. While I'm for more of the party mindset as of now, I'm primarily trying to learn everyone's strategies and gain a broader idea of what's available this time of year. Please ask if you feel I need to elaborate further, as I know each person's specific "needs" will vary.

Not sure if I have any tips for early season, more like anytime. I watch for yard stakes that hold flood lights, colored lights for them, and extension cords.

I also watch for back to school sales, as I am getting more and more into paper mache the white glue goes on sale very cheap! Plus there are other supplies for Halloween crafting that you can catch on back to school sales as well.

This time of year is prime garage sale time also. I find the best finds there!

Hope this helps, most of it is common sense. Will be interesting to see what others have to say.

It's Yard-Sale season! So look out for items @ those. White Glue is good to pick up when Back to School Sales start! Lots of Fourth of July Sales going on! Styrofoam coolers are good to pick up for Fog Chillers, ect. Hope this helps!

Yard Sales are crazy right now!! I have purchased over 50 jack o lanterns that plug in the last 2 months and all have been so dirt cheap averaging .50 cents each. Check put the Yard Sale thread and you can get an idea of whats out there. My haunt has doubled for next to nothing just spending a Saturday morning driving the neighborhood.

Yard sale season - awesome finds since folks are cleaning out their holiday stuff.

Michaels is a fave for me just for the crafty stuff and the crows/ravens. I signed up to receive their emails and get coupons - usually 50% off one regularly priced item. You can print out as many as you want, and use them as soon as you start seeing the birds and Spookytown stuff. They put the Spookytown stuff on sale pretty quick at something like 20% off, so use the 50% coupons BEFORE they put them on sale if you're wanting some of those. I keep the coupons in my purse and go by them pretty often and pick up the ravens during July and August - they go fast.

Check the dollar stores starting mid August - they start stocking at different times, so you have to check in with them to get the good stuff. I generally start asking store employees when they get their trucks in so I know when it's a good time to check for new stuff.

Echoing what others have said, now is the time of year to be hitting up yard sales, Craigslist, and curbmart (for all those unsold items).

Salvation Army is having a 50% off sale on all clothing tomorrow, July 5th, at what looks like all the stores in No. IL/So. WI. It's worth finding out whether that's also true in your area, for all those fancy dresses and costume piece needs.

If you're not on Goodwill's membership/mailing list already, do so before the beginning of October when they send out a coupon for something like 15% off your entire purchase that's good from October 1 - October 30 or 31st. If your birthday occurs after October, lie about when it is. You get a 25% off coupon once a year for your birthday that's good all year. I save mine for the pre-Halloween shopping season. Shop at Goodwill early in the month for best selection.

Most of all, if price is a consideration, be patient when shopping retail! It's tempting to run hog-wild as soon as the new stuff hits the shelves, but there will be sales closer to the big day.

Thanks for the Salvation Army tip, BlueFrog! I had no idea. I grab costumes and decorations from thrift stores so this is great news.

Winter is our yard sale season, so not much out there now. It is good during "snowbird" season but when the retirees head back up north it dies right down.
We have a Walmart and Kmart but it is almost an hour drive to a Michael's, JoAnn's, and the big party stores. So I am a big thrift store and dollar store shopper!

Our Hobby Lobby always has an 80% percent off clearance section this time of year. And later it will be 90%. It's a good way to pick up some over - the - top gothic-y decor. Huge candleholders, platters and decorative stuff. They go well in vampire scenes. A lot of their stuff is already black, so no need to paint.

Glad I may have found you a good lead, IshWitch! I hope this 50% off sale at Salvation Army is a nation-wide thing. The flier I received lists only stores in my region, but that makes sense. I don't think many SA shoppers are going to travel around the country that day looking for deals!

Do you have any good flea markets in your area? I just returned from one with boxloads of stuff for next to nothing in cost.

Originally Posted by GhostMagnet

Our Hobby Lobby always has an 80% percent off clearance section this time of year. And later it will be 90%. It's a good way to pick up some over - the - top gothic-y decor. Huge candleholders, platters and decorative stuff. They go well in vampire scenes. A lot of their stuff is already black, so no need to paint.

I know where I am going on my day off!
The Big City!