Best After-Christmas Sales 2013: 30 Deals And Discounts To Shop Now, Dec. 26

Christmas has come and gone. You've collected all your gift cards, decided you'll exchange that gift from your crazy aunt, and you still have your eye on that special item that wasn't under your tree this year. So, what's left to do? Shop the after-Christmas sales.

Many of your favorite stores are offering deals and discounts for shoppers to take advantage of Thursday in an effort to clear store shelves of items not sold before the holiday. Major retailers including Macy's, Target, Best Buy and Walmart are offering discounts up to 70 percent off select merchandise to entice shoppers on Dec. 26.

But this year, retailers are offering "after-Christmas" sales earlier than ever, some even beginning before Christmas. Or, as Forbes put it: "Just like Black Friday started the day before on Thanksgiving, after-Christmas sales won’t wait for their appointed day."

Amazon.com began offering its sales on Christmas Day, along with OldNavy.com. Target.com and Kohls.com, which are slated to roll out their after-Christmas sales by midday. Other stores like Walmart will open on Thursday at 5 a.m. to cater to shoppers who are returning gifts, buying additional presents or using their gift cards.

So why so early this year? Given the short holiday shopping season, retailers have been coming up with all sorts of innovative ways to bring consumers into their stores or click on their web pages. Since Thanksgiving fell so late, cutting shopping time from four weeks down to three weeks, stores have been reporting "lackluster" sales, so they've responded by offering heavy discounts and gimmicky bargains to entice shoppers.

One result is that after-Christmas sales will be better than expected, according to DealNews.com, which said prices are expected to be slashed up to to 70 percent off some items.

As Offers.com CEO Steve Schaffer told IBTimes earlier in the holiday season, Christmas decor and apparel will be the most heavily discounted after Christmas all the way through mid-January as retailers try to clear winter clothing and holiday decorations from their shelves.

So where are the greatest sales for Dec. 26? Here are 30 of the best after-Christmas deals and discounts.

DEPARTMENT STORES

JCPenney: 60 to 70% off men's outwear, hats, gloves and scarves; $10 off athletic shoes; $9.99 women's sweaters; 50 to 60% off sheets and sheet sets; $10 off purchases of $25 or more on apparel, shoes, accessories and home plus an extra 10% off furniture, mattresses, blinds, fine jewelry and watches using this coupon; Tons of Door Busters in store from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 26

Kohl's: Spend $100 or more and save 20% or Spend under $100 and save 15% using this coupon; 10 to 33% off kitchen electrics; 60 to 70% off sweaters plus and extra 10% off holiday sweaters and fleece; 55 to 60% off fine and silvery jewelry; 60% off outerwear; 60 to 70% off sleepwear; 100+ more early bird savings

Macy's: 15% off sale and clearance apparel, fine and fashion jewelry; 10% off sale and clearance watches, coats, suits, dresses, intimates, select shoes and home items using this coupon; Buy two bras, get two free; $10 off your purchase of $25 or more using this coupon or coupon code "AFTER25"

Target: $499.99 for XBox One; $399.99 for Sony PlayStation 4; $39.99 select video games; $199.99 Beats by Dre Solo HD Headphones; $99.99 FitBit Wireless Wristband; $15 select Blu-Ray movies; $199.99 32" Element LED HDTV; $99.99 Apple TV; 50% off Christmas

Walmart: $143.92 Bissell ProHeat Pet Carpet Cleaner; Holiday organization from $4.97; $179 XBox 360; $998 Vizio 60" Smart HDTV

APPAREL AND SHOES

Abercrombie & Fitch: 50% entire store; All jeans $39; Free shipping on all orders over $100

Aeropostale: Everything up to 70% off; Extra 15% off using coupon code "GIFT15" until 11:59 p.m. EST 12/25

Aldo: 30% off everything for Boxing Day; 50% off original price of select styles

American Eagle: 25% off new arrivals using coupon code "82X978R1"; All jeans under $30; 50% off clearance #AEOsale

BCBGMAXAZRIA: 50% off regular-priced items at checkout; Free shipping on all orders; 60% off plus 20% extra off sale items

Bloomingdale's: Through Jan. 1, 75% off women's, contemporary, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, men, kids, home and fine jewelry; Free shipping on online orders of $100 or more; Semi-annual handbag sale with 30% off select styles

The Children's Place: 30% off and free shipping on all orders with coupon code "D5H30EM"; Up to 75% off clearance

Express: 50% off men's and women's shirts and jeans

Forever 21: Buy one, get one 50% off sale using coupon code "BOGO"; Free shipping on orders over $50

Gap: Up to 50% off winter apparel or 60% off in-stores; free shipping on all orders over $50; get $25 Gap cash when you spend $50, $50 when you spend $100 and $75 when you spend $150

H&M: Up to 70% off final sale items

Hollister: 50% off entire store; Free shipping on all orders over $75

J. Crew: 30% off regular-priced styles with coupon code "GIFTNO"; Extra 40% off sale items with coupon code "GIFTNOW"

Lord &Taylor: 20% off sale and clearance using coupon code "AFTER" or this coupon; 60% off coats; 50% off Lord & Taylor gloves, hats and scarves; Extra 50% off already-reduced handbags and accessories;

Nordstrom: Up to 50% off sale items; Earn double points through Dec. 27

Old Navy: Up to 75% off in store or up to 60% off online until Dec. 31

Payless Shoe Source: 30% off clearance; 30% off entire stock of Champion sneakers

Saks Fifth Avenue: 70% off designer sale online Dec. 25 and in stores Dec. 26 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Free shipping using coupon code "HOLIDAY"

Victoria's Secret: Semi-annual sale with 25 to 40% off bras, up to 40% off sleep, up to 70% off clothing and clearance bras and panties; Free shipping on orders of $100 or more using code "100SHIP"

ELECTRONICS

Barnes & Noble: 50% off best-selling Nook Books; 40% off covers for Nook HD; free shipping on orders of $25 or more

Best Buy: 50% off select Samsung Galaxy flip covers; $10 off all modal iPhone 5/5s and iPhone 5c cases; $15 off Bose sport earbud headphones; $99.99 Fitbit wireless activity and sleep tracker wristband

OTHER

Bath & Body Works: Semi-annual sale with up to 75% off everything

Gander Mountain: Up to 75% off select footwear; Save up to $200 on new firearms; Save up to 75% off blowout sale; Free shipping on orders of $50 or more

Sephora: Extra 20% off sale items using coupon code "EXTRA20" until Jan. 1

Toys R Us: Buy one, get one 40% off select video games; Buy one, get one 40% off select movies; Buy one, get one 40% off all Skylander figures; Buy one, get one 40% off all Disney Infinity figures