After Christmas Creep?

Before Thanksgiving, many of us were lamenting the "Christmas Creep"; how it seems Christmas in the retail world (and planning in our own minds) comes earlier and earlier every year. But how about the after Christmas creep?

I love to find bargains at after Christmas sales, but it seems to get some of the best after Christmas finds, I may have to start before Christmas. In the last couple weeks I was in two different stores that had already marked down their ornaments and other tree trimmings 50%! This worked well for me, as I was shopping for ornaments: the first time for the kids annual ornament and the second for an ornament exchange.

Last week Mamaw found Christmas cards also marked down 50% already. It seems that the after Christmas sales now begin before Christmas. Do the mark downs really need to start before Christmas? I assume the mark downs will be greater after Christmas, but at the expensive of selection. I shouldn't be surprised I guess.

I don't think I will be looking for the deals until after Christmas. In fact, I am hoping to not do any more shopping until after Christmas, though I may have to do one last grocery run. I hate going this time of year. It is always crowded and people are . . . .well let's give them the benefit of the doubt, and say they are distracted by what they need to get finished. If I do go shopping between now and Christmas, I won't be taking all four kids and I probably won't be taking the time to look for after Christmas bargains.