Many of my friends wonder how I get such "great deals"--the answer is simply that I pay attention to what the sale/clearance prices are, and I try to combine them with coupons. Another key is to look for Halloween-themed items that can be used in a season other than Halloween. Several years ago, Target's theme for Halloween was lots of black and white items. I picked up several dish towels for .25 each, that became my dish towels. I see other dish towels on sale, but for now (not much longer....look at how dingy this one is), these will suit me just fine:
For years, Target corporate followed the same "mark-down" schedule, so you knew when the items would go from 50% to 70% off. Last year, however, they pushed up the schedule, so now you really have to be on your toes. This is the mark-down schedule for last year for those of us in the Philadelphia area:
Halloween-themed items---50% off (edibles, 30%)--November 1st
Halloween-themed items--70% off (edibles 50%)--November 3rd
Halloween-themed items--90% off (edibles 70%)-November 5th
So, you should, if you are interested in checking out this sale, make a point of stopping by Target on one or more of these days over the next week. I am always amazed by people who tell me they wish they could get the same great deals I get, but that they never shop at Target. Seriously? I can guarantee that you won't get good deals if you don't actually walk into the store!
Another thing that people say is that they don't want to go because they don't need candy. I buy very little candy (except for two exceptions). The key, as I keep repeating, is to buy items that you can use at a time other than Halloween. For example, I will buy ziploc bags, disposable cups, bowls (usually, they are orange or striped), and utensils that are part of the Halloween clearance, because these will often not appear to be Halloween-y. You can really luck out if you can find those items that you didn't even know were part of the Halloween sale items, but which come up on sale. This is what the bloggers call part of "hidden clearance." These are the items (e.g. special bake ware, certain food items, books, dolls, etc.), that you can use year round in your kitchen, or to give as gifts, but which don't look Halloween-y at all.
As I said, I will buy candy (usually only non-chocolate items), for two reasons. First, my school puts on a play every year, and I will buy candy to sell in a few months at the concession stand and to use as part of our Kiss the Cast fundraiser (email me if you want to know how to do this...it makes tons of money for the school). Second, I will buy non-chocolate candy to put into Operation Christmas Child boxes (more on this later). These boxes are sent to children in third world countries, and while I don't love giving too much candy to kids, I think these kids deserve a little sweetness in their lives once a year.
So, I will be heading out to Target soon, and if you want to get in on these deals, you should, too. I don't buy much at 50% off (I usually try to wait for 90% unless I really want an item), but if this is your first time, you might want to check it out. And final word...it is important to swipe or scan all the items you think you want at the price-checker station. Sometimes items you assume would be part of the sale are not, and sometimes things that only look slightly Halloween-themed are....you will be shocked at what comes up on that price checker....and don't trust the signs. They are notoriously wrong. Last year, my store never said it was above 50% off the whole week...even when it was 70% and 90% off.
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