7 Shocking Secrets To Scoring Designer Deals At The Ross 49 Cent Sale (2026 Dates Revealed)

The Ross 49 Cent Sale is the single most anticipated, yet often misunderstood, clearance event in the world of budget shopping. As of December 15, 2025, savvy shoppers are already preparing for the next major markdown cycle, an unofficial but legendary annual event where prices on deeply discounted clearance items—including high-end home goods, apparel, and accessories—plunge to an unbelievable $0.49 or less. This phenomenon, which typically kicks off the new year, is not an advertised event, but rather the final stage of Ross Dress for Less’s rigorous, end-of-season inventory clearing process.

If you thought Ross already had low prices, prepare to be stunned. This extreme clearance is the retailer's way of completely purging old stock to make room for new seasonal merchandise. While the official "Ross 49 Cent Sale" is not a corporate-branded event, it is a very real, store-by-store markdown that offers the chance to acquire items that were already 70-80% off their original retail price for less than a single dollar. Understanding the timing and the store's internal markdown codes is the key to unlocking these coveted "penny sale" prices.

The Insider's Guide to the Ross $0.49 Clearance Event Schedule

For shoppers looking to hit the jackpot, timing is everything. The Ross 49 Cent Sale is not a single-day event but the culmination of a weeks-long clearance cycle. Based on the most recent cycles, including the highly successful January 2025 markdowns, we can predict the optimal time to shop for the next major event in early 2026.

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Predicting the Next Major Ross $0.49 Markdown Date (Early 2026)

The deepest discounts, where items finally hit the $0.49 price point, typically occur on a single, massive markdown day in late January. This date usually falls on a Monday, as this is the primary day Ross stores conduct their markdowns.

• The Clearance Window: The entire clearance process begins gradually in late December and intensifies throughout January.
• The Target Date: Based on the 2025 cycle, where the peak day was January 27th, the next major "49 Cent Day" is highly likely to fall on the last Monday of January 2026.
• Why Monday? Ross stores generally follow a markdown schedule where new price reductions are applied on Mondays. This means the best time to shop for fresh deals is Monday evening or early Tuesday morning before the shelves are picked clean.

It is crucial to note that the exact schedule can vary by location. The best advice is to start monitoring your local store’s clearance racks (typically marked with a yellow tag) from the first week of January onwards.

7 Shocking Secrets and Expert Hacks to Win the Sale

The 49 Cent Sale is a competition, and those with insider knowledge always win. These expert hacks will give you a significant edge over the average shopper.

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1. Understand the Color-Coded Tag System

Ross uses a color-coded system to indicate the age and discount level of a clearance item. Knowing this system is the most powerful hack for predicting which items are about to drop to $0.49.

• Yellow Tag: This is your primary target. Yellow-tagged items are already on clearance. These are the items that are candidates for the next major price drop.
• The Final Drop: Items that have been on the clearance rack for the longest—often those with the oldest colored tag (like purple, blue, or green from the previous season)—are the ones that eventually get marked down to $0.49 to be completely removed from inventory. The final $0.49 price is often the last-ditch effort to clear them out.

2. Shop on Monday Evenings (The True Secret Window)

While the markdown process starts on Monday morning, it takes employees hours to manually re-tag and move all the items. The sweet spot for finding the newly marked-down merchandise, including the fresh $0.49 items, is late Monday afternoon or early Monday evening. Tuesday morning is also a strong contender before the crowds arrive.

3. The "Designer Item" Myth and Reality

Yes, you can find designer items for 49 cents, but they are extremely rare. The items that reach this lowest price point are typically seasonal overstock, holiday-themed goods, or small accessories. However, the clearance sale surrounding the 49-cent event sees massive discounts on name-brand apparel and home goods, often dropping to $1.49, $2.49, or $5.59. Focus your search on these slightly higher, but still phenomenal, deals to score truly high-value items.

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4. Check the Back of the Store and End Caps

Do not just focus on the main clearance rack. Employees often place $0.49 items on end caps, near the registers, or in less-trafficked areas in the back of the store. These are the "hidden gems" that the casual shopper misses. Always check the clearance sections in departments you wouldn't normally shop, such as baby items, pet supplies, or kitchen gadgets.

5. Use the Price Scanner (The Verification Hack)

If you see a yellow-tagged item that you suspect has been marked down to $0.49, but the tag still shows a higher price (e.g., $1.99), take it to a price scanner. Sometimes, the price has been updated in the system before the employee has had a chance to apply the new sticker. This is a common occurrence during the rush of the major markdown day.

6. The "Senior Tuesday" Advantage

While the markdown happens on Monday, Tuesday is “Senior Tuesday” where seniors (55+) receive an extra 10% off. If you qualify, shopping on Tuesday morning means you can combine the already rock-bottom clearance price with an additional discount, making an already amazing deal even better.

7. What to Look For: The Best $0.49 Finds

Based on shopper hauls from the 2025 event, the most common and valuable $0.49 finds include:

• Holiday Decor: Items from the previous Christmas, Halloween, or Easter that need to be cleared immediately.
• Seasonal Accessories: Scarves, gloves, hats, or small jewelry pieces.
• Kids' Items: Small toys, socks, bibs, or baby sets.
• Small Home Goods: Kitchen utensils, single glasses, or decorative trinkets.
• Beauty Products: Single-use face masks, travel-sized toiletries, or clearance makeup.

Why the Ross 49 Cent Sale is a Must-Attend Event

The Ross 49 Cent Sale is more than just a chance to save money; it is a strategic shopping mission that rewards preparation and persistence. This event, along with the regular Monday markdown schedule, solidifies Ross Dress for Less’s reputation as a premier destination for extreme value.

By understanding the clearance cycle—starting with the initial markdowns in late December, escalating through January, and culminating in the highly anticipated $0.49 price point—you can transform your shopping strategy. Whether you're hunting for a high-end puffer coat for a few dollars, or simply stocking up on essential home goods for less than the price of a gumball, the annual Ross clearance event is an unparalleled opportunity. Be ready to shop early in January 2026, check those yellow tags, and you will be walking away with a haul that feels like stealing.