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Things to Buy on Sale in January

By
Tina
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January is one of the best months of the entire year to be a smart shopper. After the holiday rush winds down, retailers are eager to clear out leftover inventory, and that means dramatic markdowns across nearly every category. Whether you’re looking to refresh your wardrobe, upgrade your home, or stock up on essentials, January’s sales calendar delivers some of the deepest discounts you’ll find all year. Everything in this guide focuses on buy sale january, giving you practical, actionable advice you can use right away.

The Smart Way to Buy Sale January Every Time

What Goes on Sale in January

Winter Clothing and Outerwear

Coats, boots, sweaters, and cold-weather accessories typically hit their lowest prices in January. Retailers need to make room for spring inventory, which means 50–70% off winter apparel is common. Stock up on your family’s coats and boots for next season, kids’ sizes especially sell out fast, so buy a size up.

Understanding how to buy sale january is something that pays dividends for the entire family over time. Families who commit to learning how to buy sale january consistently report better outcomes than those who take a more casual approach. The process of how to buy sale january becomes easier with practice; each small step builds on the last.

Holiday Decor and Wrapping Supplies

Christmas and holiday items go 50–90% off in early January. This is the smartest time to stock up on ornaments, lights, wrapping paper, ribbons, and gift bags. Store them away and you’ll save a fortune next holiday season.

Bedding, Linens, and Towels

January is traditionally known as “White Sale” month, a retail tradition dating back over a century. Major department stores and home goods retailers run their biggest sales on sheets, comforters, pillows, and towels. Look for thread counts you’d normally never be able to afford, priced to move.

Fitness Equipment and Gym Memberships

Retailers stock up heavily on fitness gear heading into the new year, and the competition for your resolution-fueled wallet drives prices down. Treadmills, dumbbells, yoga mats, and resistance bands often see significant discounts in January. Gym memberships also frequently offer their lowest join fees of the year this month.

Electronics and TVs

In the wake of CES (the Consumer Electronics Show held every January), retailers discount older TV models and electronics to make room for new releases. If you don’t need the absolute latest, January is a great time to find last year’s top-rated TV at a serious discount.

Furniture and Mattresses

Furniture stores frequently run clearance sales in January to make way for new showroom models. You’ll find solid deals on sofas, bedroom sets, and especially mattresses. Combine a January mattress sale with a White Sale on bedding and you can do a full bedroom refresh for much less.

Gift Cards (at a Discount)

After the holidays, many people sell unwanted gift cards through resale sites and marketplaces at 5–20% below face value. January is a great time to stock up on gift cards to stores you shop regularly, essentially getting free money for your next purchase.

January Shopping Tips for Smart Moms

  • Buy for next winter: Buying winter clothing in January means you’re shopping a full season ahead, size up for kids so it fits next year.
  • Compare prices before White Sales: Some retailers inflate “original” prices before a sale. Check price-tracking tools to know if you’re truly getting a deal.
  • Return window awareness: January is prime return season, which means stores are flooded with opened electronics. Look for like-new open-box deals at serious discounts.
  • Set up price alerts: Use browser extensions or retailer apps to get notified when specific items hit your target price.
  • Wait for mid-January clearance: The deeper holiday markdowns often happen in the second and third week of January as stores get more aggressive about clearing stock.

    • Why January Is One of the Year’s Best Clearance Months

    January is the great retail reset. Everything that didn’t sell during the holiday season hits clearance simultaneously, toys, electronics, clothing, home goods, holiday décor, and gift sets all go to deep discount as retailers need floor space and cash flow heading into the new year. The first two to three weeks of January represent the deepest clearance window of the entire year across the widest range of categories. Shoppers who return after the holiday rush specifically to buy clearance merchandise consistently get the best prices available on items they actually need.

    Holiday décor clearance in January goes 50–90% off within days of the holiday ending. If you put up a tree, string lights, hang wreaths, or set out seasonal decorations, buying replacements and additions in January rather than the following November is one of the clearest money-saving habits available. The quality of merchandise in January clearance is identical to what you would have paid full price for in November, only the timing is different. Building up your holiday decoration inventory through post-holiday sales compounds over years into significant savings.

    The January White Sales: Linens, Bedding, and Bath at Their Lowest

    January is traditionally “White Sale” month, the time when bedding, towels, sheets, comforters, and bath accessories are at their lowest prices of the year. This tradition dates back over a century and remains relevant because major retailers still use January to clear out home textiles inventory from the holiday season and make room for spring merchandise. If your towels are fraying, your sheets are pilling, or your children’s bedding needs updating, January is the best month to address it at the best prices available.

    The quality spectrum in January bedding sales is wide, so it pays to know what you’re looking for before shopping. Thread count matters for sheets, but only up to a point, Egyptian or Pima cotton at 300–400 thread count generally outperforms cheaper polyester blends at any thread count. For comforters and duvets, fill power is the relevant spec: a down or down-alternative fill power of 600+ will provide better warmth-to-weight ratio than something marketed primarily on thread count. Reading the specs rather than the marketing language helps you identify which January sales are genuine quality bargains and which are simply discounts on lower-quality merchandise.

    You Might Also Like

    Looking for more helpful family tips? Check out our guides on Buy sale june, explore everything about Buy sale, and don’t miss our practical advice on Buy sale april.

    For independent buying advice, Consumer Reports shopping guides is an excellent free resource families can rely on.

Frequently Asked Questions About January Sales

What is the best thing to buy in January?

The best purchases in January are winter clothing (50–70% off), holiday decor (50–90% off), bedding and linens (White Sale tradition), and fitness equipment. Electronics, particularly TVs, also see good deals as retailers make room for new models unveiled at CES in January.

When do post-holiday sales happen?

Post-holiday clearance sales typically begin on December 26th and run through mid-to-late January. The deepest discounts on holiday decor and winter clothing usually come in the second and third weeks of January, as stores push to clear remaining inventory before spring merchandise arrives.

Is January a good time to buy a TV?

Yes, January is one of the best times to buy a TV. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) happens every January, and manufacturers announce new models there. Retailers discount previous-year TVs to clear shelf space for incoming inventory, making deals on excellent models readily available.

What is the January White Sale?

The White Sale is a long-standing retail tradition where stores offer major discounts on bedding, linens, and towels in January. The tradition dates back to 1878 when department stores used the slow post-holiday period to sell white-colored household goods. Today, it remains one of the best times to buy sheets, pillows, comforters, and towels at a discount.

Should I buy gym equipment in January?

January is a great time to shop for fitness equipment because retailers stock heavily for the resolution crowd and competition drives prices down. Treadmills, ellipticals, dumbbells, and home gym equipment often see meaningful discounts. However, if you can wait until February or March, some items discount further as the resolution rush fades.

How long do January sales last?

Most major January sales run from December 26th through the end of January, with some extending into early February. The best deals on holiday items happen in the first two weeks of January. Furniture and bedding sales often run the entire month, and some retailers extend mattress and home goods sales through Presidents’ Day weekend in February.

Are January sales worth it?

Absolutely, January is consistently one of the best months for deals on winter clothing, bedding, holiday decor, electronics, and fitness equipment. The key is knowing what you need before the sale hits so you can act quickly on limited quantities, and comparing prices to ensure the “sale” price is genuinely lower than the regular price.

For the full year-round view of when prices drop on everything, bookmark our complete monthly shopping calendar.

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114 COMMENTS

  1. I think January is the time of year everyone looks forward to as it the SALES. You look around to see what bargains you can pick up.

  2. It is the time to stock up on cold weather food items. I need to always have on hand cold medicines, hand wipes, kleenex, hand sanitizers and soup and hot tea!

  5. These are great tips, thank you! You can often find great deals on electronics in January, too, clearing out the “old” models to bring in the new ones!

  6. I only knew about a few of these, thanks for the tip!! I know there is a lot of after christmas clearance too!

  7. I can’t for January to come to shop it is the time for the best deals in the world. That is when to get clothes and my shoes.

  11. Sometimes a sale is not worth it, however. My hubby brought home some really cheap coffee a few days ago, brewed some, and it was barely drinkable.

  13. I found on Christmas Day online is the best time to buy video games, they are usually fifty plus percent off. I also got so many clothes at Old Navy all 75 percent or more off. I only allow myself new shirts if they are under dollars and pants if they are under 10 dollars.

  14. I used to love shopping the after Christmas sales, until the stores started putting all of their junk items out a few years ago. Now that the stores have good stuff for their sales, I don’t have the money to buy anything!!

  16. There are so big time sales going on for fitness related items 🙂 resolutions resolutions resolutions!! lol

  21. I’ve been waiting to get a new big tv and I had heard they had good sales right before the Superbowl. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ll be on the look out.

  23. I think right after Christmas is a great time to get stuff. You can get things 50-75 % off alot of times.

  24. Thanks for the tips! I love to shop in January, but some stores have low inventory because they take inventory! I try to buy “extras” during this time such as sheets and towels.

  25. I never thought to buy linens this time of the year. I usually buy them in the summer. I’ll have to go check it out!

  26. I used to keep a list like this of the best times to buy everything. This list was taped to the inside of my gift cabinet. Perfect! great to keep on hand!

  28. January is the best month for whites. From now on it’s new towels (and consequently new rags) every new year!

  30. January is a great time to stock up, I agree. As long as you have the storage space to stock up. Thanks!
    Ross Olson

  35. I love January sales!! I save up all my Christmas money for that purpose! And you can stock up on stuff for next year’s Christmas!

  36. GREAT!! This so makes sense! Thanks for the tips!! It’s seems to be these things that slip our minds, now I know when to get the best deals and on what!!! Looking forward to checking out the stores now and realizing the difference that I was missing before! Great post and I must say savings worthy as well!

  38. All good tips, I usually look for coat sales mid-late Feb, and sports teams clothing (since my football team is out of the playoffs) are also greatly reduced, got my son a jersey for next year for half price 🙂

  45. Yes, I’ve noticed some of those deals in the flyers. I’ve spent so much for Christmas though, I hate to spend afterwards.

  51. I love to shop in January, they have the best sales on Clothing, and Makeup.

    Thank you for the post.

  53. I never have enough money left over to shop the sales after christmas! NEXT YEAR I’m so doing this!! 🙂 Lovely tips

  54. After Christmas and 4th of July are the best times to shop for anything. The semi-annual clearance sales are when I stock-up on my gifts for the year too.

  55. i bought a lot of Christmas clearanced stuff for next year. candles and bath-y junk gift sets for other people… and lights and garland and window stickies for myself. 50 to 75% off and it doesn’t matter if it’s in the basement all year 🙂

  56. I totally agree with you that its best to shop specially after peak season. I really want to go back to the gym this month that’s why Ive been looking for another Weight Loss Programs and Gym Membership discounts here in our place.

  60. After Christmas Shopping is the best!! I never thought about the towels and such!! Thanks for the great tips!! 🙂

  61. I absolutely love to shop after Christmas!! They have the best sales ever and I received alot of giftcards this year that came in very handy!!

  66. My daughter’s birthday is in February and I always get so much for her because of all the super fabulous sales that they have in January. Can’t beat all that after Christmas stuff, plus the 75% off sales on things like boots.

  71. I love the after the holiday clearance stuff!! we got candy for 10 cents at family dollar the other day because it was 90% off!! The singing animals, christmas decorations, etc. We usually do this after valentines day, 4th of july, and halloween too! 🙂 thanks for these tips, i wouldn’t have thought some of these things! 🙂

  77. wonderful tips and great review, i usually wait till after the holiday’s to shop for anything, prices always seem much lower 😉

  80. Bring on the white sales……….. these are the only thing nice about winter…. sales sales sales…………..imagine just after xmas who’s got the money lol

  81. Lots of great tips. Thank you, I never thought of shopping in January. Of course, I usually don’t have any money either, but maybe next year I’ll save up for the January sales.

  83. I’ve been thinking of doing that actually – especially for the summer items like patio stuff! I didn’t think about towels though but Im going to look for the bargains|! we really need some new ones

  84. I wish I could get motivated to start with the weight loss. I know now is the time with the cheaper prices going on.

  86. Isn’t there a lot of sales in January! I sometimes think that we ought to move Christmas to a few weeks later. You can get anything for really good money

  87. I like shopping in January too for all the white sales too. I’d love to be able to snag an airconditioner right about now, but not surprisingly there are none in the stores. Oh well, there is always after summer.

  94. Funny, I’ve noticed that some of the great deals we used to enjoy in January are already on sale in December. The prices aren’t much different. Do you suppose that’s because of the economy?

  95. So many great ideas. We are in the market to buy/sell our house and also need a new air conditioner. You are right, now is the time.

  96. Thanks so much for the tips! I’m always looking for the best deal and I just happen to need new linens. I’ll have to get out and get some before the month is over!

  106. I always leave a little money put aside for the January sales. It is incredible the discounts that you find from stores that want to get rid of the merchandise rather than having to store it. I bought all my next year’s Christmas paper/boxes/bags and a few extra decorations.

  108. I try very hard to never pay full price for anything. And knowing what will be going to be on sale or clearance helps a lot.
    thank you

  109. January is definitely the time for Gym Memberships. You’re right. I’ve seen so many deals lately! Even the Y does “pay the day” for your membership fee.

  110. WISH we were in the market for a house, but have to sell ours first. I thought all appliances were on sale this time of year. That is what we need. I know consumer reports or some other site tells you when the best time to purchase certain items. I guess an air conditioner SHOULD be out of demand here…it was -30 with windchill this week. Really though, ours is bad and I WILL go look into buying the compressor unit now, to be installed in the summer. Makes sense!

  112. The thrift store in our city has great sales in January. Last week my
    wife got up to 70% on several items. Thank you for the post.

  113. This makes a lot of sense to me… I’m going to make a notebook and start tracking this kind of thing all year long so I can budget better for the things I need. 🙂

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