As you shake off last night's party and cook black eyed peas, it's time to start thinking about those resolutions you swore you'd make last year
Marcia Fernandes / 500px
Given how big the party is on New Year's Day, the actual holiday itself is a pretty sedate one. As people recover financially from the big December holidays and physically from last night's excess, the appeal of getting out and doing something is not that strong.
The couch, however, emits a tremendous gravitational force, amplified by the college bowl games on TV.
Some competitive shoppers, though, want to get a jump on the final year-end clearance markdowns. And some people have had more than their fill of family time. For them, there's good news.
There are a number of retail options open today. Keep in mind, though, that it’s a federal holiday, which will impact some other services.
Store hours will almost certainly vary, so it's a good idea to call first to confirm your local location is open.
The start of the new year is a federal holiday, and as such, banks are closed. You can, however, still use ATM machines to get cash or put money into your account and online banking is still active, though transactions won't post until tomorrow.
Don’t count on it. The U.S. Postal Service does not operate on New Year's Day. As for UPS and FedEx $FDX, it’s not so cut and dry.
At FedEx, only FedEx Custom Critical will be running. UPS, meanwhile, will not offer domestic ground, air, or international service, but UPS Express Critical will be operational. Some UPS stores will be open, though you’ll want to call before you head there as they'll be the exception, not the rule.
The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq $NDAQ, and bond markets are all closed. Trading will kick off for 2026 on Tuesday.
City, county, state, and federal offices are generally closed. There could be the occasional exception, but you’ll still want to call and confirm.
Pretty much all of them. Whether you’re hoping to take advantage of clearance deals or plan to load up on diet friendly foods, you’ve got free reign.
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