TulaneLSU's Top 10 after-Christmas Walmart sale purchases

Dear Friends,

I pray your Christmases were wonderful and you received and gave as much joy as is humanly possible. Most of my festivities occurred before the birthday of Christ and Kige, so yesterday was quiet, allowing for reflection and prayer. I’m sometimes an insufferable sort of person, so I rarely get many gifts anymore. When I do, it’s usually gift cards, money, and stocks. I haven’t gotten a Radko in three years, which I find inexplicable. One of my family members, who follows my exploits here, got me a nice gift card to Waffle House, as they read I had only been to one once. I redeemed it yesterday, and will have more about that adventure in another letter.

For some, the passing of the 25th results in an emotional declivity and despondency. The 26th used to be that way with me, as the house emptied and the quiet overtook the laughter, candles, and warmth. Sadness need not conquer joy in our Christmastide, however. We still have twelve days to go! To spread joy and happiness through the entire Christmas season, not just through the 25th, is the motivation behind TulaneLSU's ScADVENTger Hunt. More on that to come later as well, but please be preparing for a great scavenger hunt.

One of the great things about the 26th is it marks the beginning of the after-Christmas sales. The caveat here is with Hobby Lobby. Although the hordes wait in line before it opens on this morning, the sales are no better -- 66% off -- than they were last week. If you are ever wanting to get Hobby Lobby’s Christmas items, go the week before Christmas, as you will have a better selection, smaller crowds, and the same savings.

My morning began at five, in line, waiting for Walmart to swing wide its doors for 50% after Christmas savings. To me, this is the new Black Friday, as a small, mostly friendly crowd gathers. I always bring hot chocolate, cookies, and ornaments to hand out, which usually helps get the crowd even more festive. We sing carols and this morning a few even did some square dancing! If I had to pick three words to describe the crowd they would be festive, industrious, and clean. It’s rare to have unsavory characters here because most of them aren’t willing to wake up before dawn to get the great deals. It really is a grand time because these people are after my own heart. We are not ready to let go of the Christmas season just yet. I suspect you too, dear reader, are here reading for the same reason.

As most of you already know, Walmart’s Christmas offerings at full price are significantly cheaper than what you find elsewhere. To illustrate this point, this year’s wildly popular Nostalgic Christmas Tree, which I believe both greenwave and Evil Little Thing purchased, was $25 at Walmart, $40 at Target and $50 at Dillard’s. 50% off these already great prices makes my amygdala gyrate.

Some might say, “TulaneLSU, should I wait another week for the 75% off sale?” Last year, with the economy in stagnation, waiting was a good investment. But with the economy what it is, no way this year. There will be hardly anything left by next week.
What a great morning it has been, and I don’t want to hoard that joy to myself.I want to share with you TulaneLSU’s Top 10 after-Christmas Walmart sale purchases.


10. Battery operated LED light strand



There are so many economic indicators out there, some good, some bad. Most are reactive rather than predictive, meaning they tell you how the economy is that day and in the previous few months. I propose that the amount of Christmas lights available for purchase in Walmart’s after-Christmas sale is an indicator both predictive and reactive. Last year there were next to no lights available on clearance, while the rest of the offerings were aplenty. This year, there were even fewer lights on clearance!

As people become more confident in how the economy will perform in the coming year and have extra disposable income, Christmas lights fly off the shelves before Christmas Day. The opposite holds in economic uncertainty and downturns. Christmas lights and the energy to run them are the proletariat’s caviar, that lagniappe of life you want every year, but only is affordable certain years. I expect big things for this year’s economy based on what I am now calling TulaneLSU’s Walmart Christmas Lights Theorem. I invite you too to use the theorem, and I may work in conjunction with LSURussian on an equation to share with the Money Board at a future time.

Some of you will say that my shopping is far too small a sample size. Perhaps, but I did go to four Super Walmarts today: Kenner, Jeff Highway, Tchoup, and Vets. These were some of the few lights available this year. They will illuminate some of my garlands next year. Perhaps they will stay indoors or I’ll get risky and put them on a wreath outside.

9. Tartan plastic tumbler



My family is quite involved in the Comus and Rex organizations, so over the years we have collected quite a collection of plastic cups. Speaking of that, has it ever bothered anyone else that Rex capitalizes in every example of the krewe’s use the words pro bono publico? I’m all for keeping Latin alive in our language, but at least use proper lower case letters. Is it also not strange in this day and age that Rex is always an old guy and the Queen is almost always a college student and always younger than 30? What kind of message of public good does that send? Younger guys should have the shot at being Rex and older women should be able to be Queen of Rex.

What does that have to do with these beautiful plastic tumblers based on, I believe, the Glenturret tartan? You decide. At 74 cents each, I purchased six and will be happy to display these throughout the year. I really appreciate the gold trimming at the lips. Why plastic? Well, I purchased some $400 Waterford tumblers at last year’s Dillard’s 75% clearance and someone broke one, leaving me with an odd number, which I refuse to use.