I cut myself off last month in preparation for the Day-after-Christmas sales.  Each year, I stock up on shampoos and lotions when the gift sets are 50% off, but it’s always more than a 50% discount from retail price.  The stuff I bought last year lasted me through July, and I spend around $30 every time.  Last year, I waited until later in the day and things had been picked over, so this year I decided to hit it at 6 a.m. when Walmart reopens.  Turns out the crowd had already accumulated around the clearance table.

My tactic this year was to wade through the crowd and toss anything and everything in my cart that I even thought I might want, then go hide in hardware to sort through what to buy and what to put back.  It worked great.  By the time I got back to the table, there wasn’t much left, but people were snatching up the things I put back.  A treat for the late arrivals.  I saw women dragging around two baskets filled over the top with gift sets.  It made my selection look meager by comparison.

This year, I chose to forgo the Color Workshop sets, even though they have such a huge variety, because I can’t drag pigment out of their shadows with even the best primer.  I did however pick up a Hard Candy nail polish block.  Hard Candy was cool when I was younger.  I don’t know if it’s always been a Walmart-only thing, but it is now.  It still costs as much as the higher end of drugstore cosmetics, but I don’t think it’s very popular these days.  Whatever, I still enjoy it.  The block was the most expensive thing I bought.  Gift set price $14.88 ($45 value according to the box); I paid $7.44.

There are a few things that I needed and would buy at retail price throughout the year, but managed to save well over 50% today.  The Olay body wash set cost $4.94; the body wash, lotion and candle retail at $14.38 total.  They also had my brand of shampoo in a set.  The Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser shampoo, conditioner and treatment retail at $14.91; again, I paid $4.94.

My total this year was $32.13, and I ended up saving around $70 off retail.

What did I put back? Perfumes, lotions and lip balms.  Miss K has got me well stocked on those things, and I already know those smell wonderful.

Did you do any clearance shopping today?  What did you get?