2008 day-after-Christmas sales: bigger sale/deals after Christmas!

By this time, the merry making is in full swing and Christmas gifts have been given and unwrapped. Many are tired from all the partying, booze and, of course, the last minute shopping. It's the same thing every year. But do you think the Christmas shopping season is over? Definitely not! For many, it has only just begun with more discounts and bargains on the horizon with the traditional day after-Christmas sales. In fact, some people may have been waiting for after-Christmas sales for the bulk of their shopping. With the financial crisis plunging us deeper into economic trouble, this is quite understandable, and practical. Who says you have to can only give gifts before Christmas? The Christmas season runs through New Year and gift-giving is always welcome anytime during
the season.

Experts are predicting even bigger discounts for after-Christmas sales this year. Christmas shopping figures before December 25 all over the world have been rather tame, even disappointing, compared to previous years - a consequence of tight budgets and a world in recession. The economy has been in a recession since December 2007, and tighter credit and more layoffs continue to squeeze consumer budgets. Not even big discounts and bargains could sway some shoppers during pre-Christmas sales. As a result, prices are expected to drop further to sway shoppers to spend.

In the United States, this year's day-after-Christmas sales is expected to rival those of Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that kicks off the shopping season and can put retailers into money-making territory for the year. For the first time, J.C. Penney is opening at 5:30 AM on December 26 and will take orders for wake-up calls on jcp.com. Various other offers from retailers have been advertised online in the hope of enticing shoppers to shop more.

2008 Day-after-Christmas sales offers/day-after-Christmas deals

Aside from JC Penney's aggressive campaign, here are other offers this season:

Bath & Body Works wants you to hold back some cash because its semi-annual sale, with 75 percent off, starts Monday.

Ikea is promoting its post-Christmas discounts of 20 percent to 60 percent off.

Wal-Mart is creating buzz with its Sunday markdowns on "home and office needs." Rumor is that means Apple iPhones. With recent news that Wal-Mart will start selling iPhones, this may just be true.

Sears will offer up to 75% off on electronics and 50% off on Craftsman tool storage chests. Kmart will add 40% off to clearance items, already marked down 30%.

Toys R Us circulars in newspapers Thursday will bill the day after Christmas as the "biggest" after-holiday sale with deals including an $81.99 race car set for $19.99 and table games, originally $239.99, for $131.99.

More discounts will surely be announced soon. Be on the lookout for bigger bargains as retailers try to outdo each other to get shoppers' attentions. This year's after-Christmas sales may end up as the biggest shopping day of the year.

A word or caution: Though discounts and big bargains will certainly be great for everyone, buy only what you need. No matter how cheap an item may be, it will still turn out to be an expensive buy if you'll have no use for it.