Sales Cycles Predict What Will be On Sale

No I don't have a crystal ball, but anyone who has been stockpiling even a short time will begin to notice that sales come and go with the seasons. Yes it is true that most items go on sale every 12 weeks or so, but some only have those rock bottom prices once or twice a year.

We all know that certain fresh produce has a peak season when their prices are lowest, but what about all those other aisles in the grocery store? 

The best way to predict the sale is by keeping in mind what events are coming up. If the Super Bowl is just a few weeks away you count on their being sales on chips and soda with coupons to match, and it is like this all year long. Calendar events, holidays, and special food related "awareness months" bring sales and clearance on specific items constantly.

Here is a month by month list of what will be on sale (or your own personal crystal ball) so you can keep an eye out for coupons, sales, freebies, and those stock pile prices.

January

• Weight loss/ Healthy living products: Frozen healthy meals, (Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice etc) Special K products, 100 Calorie packs, low calorie drink mix, and instant oatmeal. Gym Equipment
• Super Bowl Sunday Sales: Soda, Chips, Chips, Cheese,  Crackers, Dips, Wings, Frozen appetizers
• Pharmaceutical: Cold Medicines and Vitamins 
• Diapers: Often some great diaper deals from end of December through February
• Clearance: Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, ornaments, wrapping paper, scissors, all those prewrapped gifts, toys, gift bags, bows, calendars, candles (especially those holiday scents)

February

• National Canned Food Month: canned fruit, canned vegetables, pie fillings, canned tuna, salmon, beans
• National Hot Breakfast Month: Kellogg's General Mills, Post, and Quaker cereals, cream of wheat, frozen breakfast items, syrup, pancake mix, malt O meal
• Valentines Day: Various chocolates, Whitman's and Russel Stover, KY and other personal care items
• Lent (regional) Sales on fish and meat alternative meal items
• Chinese New Year: Noodles, Soy Sauce Teriyaki Sauce
• Heart Healthy Prodcuts (American Heart Month) low dose asprin, supplements, low cholesterol oils and spreads (Hellman's, Kraft)
• Clearance: Valentines days clearance, decorations boxed chocolate, Valentine's cards etc

March

• Frozen food Month: Ice cream, frozen meals, Frozen family dinners, Eggo frozen breakfast items, frozen pizza, frozen fruits and vegetables,
• Clearance: St. Patrick's Day decorations, mardis gras

April

• Easter: Great prices on Ham, sugar, spices, baking mixes (great baking deals in Nov as well), candy, jelly beans, and eggs
• Earth Day: Energy saving products, light bulbs, organic foods, and "green" cleaning products and other "green" items
• Clearance: Easter clearance (love!) look for Easter baskets, Easter dresses, decorations, and candy

May

• Memorial Day: BBQ sauce, Ketchup, Mayonnaise and other condiments, potatoes, potato chips,coolers, ice chest
• Picnic Season:  Paper plates, disposable utensils, insect repellent, sunscreen, grilling meats, A1 steak sauce, hot dogs, marinades, Hamburger and hot dog buns
• Non Grocery Items: Pools, swim toys, beach toys, garden furniture
• Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, Tortillas, tacos, Mexican seasoning packs
• Graduation & Mother's Day: look for party platters and catering promotions, balloons, and party foods, lots of restaurant specials for Mother's day

June

• National Dairy Month - Milk, Eggs, Ice Cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, smoothie mixes, sour cream, coffee creamer. (Look for store specials and catalina deals)
• Summ/4th of July (upcoming) - Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, plus Hamburger and Hot dog buns more condiments, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, marinade, steak sauce and other condiments, lighter fluid, charcoal, lighters, Popsicles and other ice cream novelties, Gatorade, potato chips, and other party fare. Also lots of deals on bottled beverages and sports drinks. Look for free Fuze, Smartwater, Vitaminwater, Gatorade, and the like.
• Pharmaceutical: Allergy medicine, Claritin, Zyrtec, Asprin, pain relievers, other sinus and headache medications

July

• 4th of July - More 4th of July sales: party fare, grilling favorites, chips, condiments, jell-o and more (see June) 
• National Ice Cream Month
• Back to School - (starting already) packed lunch items, pudding cups, lunch meat,
• Back to school Non Grocery - lots of free pens and pencils after coupons, paper, staples, disinfectant wipes, boxes of tissues, crayons ($.25 packs of Crayola 24ct). Office Depot and Staples will have weekly penny items, and CVS will have many items free after ECBs.
• Clearance: Summer Toy Clearance! Great clearance toys at Target, Wal-mart, also pools and swimming accessories.

 August

• Back to school: Sack lunch items, lunch meat, mayonnaise, small bags of chips, cookies, pudding cups, lunchables, go-gurt, breakfast cereals, 
• School Supplies: Crayons, markers, pens, pencils, paper, lots of free deals and deals for less than $.25, Disinfectant wipes, tissue boxes, hand sanitizer
• Labor Day: Grilling meats, breads, fruits, chips etc. 
• Clearance: BBQ equipment, patio furniture, August White sale/linens, Summer items plastic cups, plates, pitchers, sunscreen, insect repellent 

September

• Back to School Sales (through labor day:)  crayons, pencils, folders, binders
  Diabetes:  Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal etc.
• Other Groceries: Cold cereal, canned soup, cereal bars, frozen breakfast, pop-tarts, juice boxes and other packaged lunch items
• Baby Sales: Always a lot of sales on baby items around the end of August beginning of September

October

• Halloween: Candy (and lots of it) look for candy coupons expiring the 31st, and nearly free candy bars
• Fall baking: Apples, pumpkins, canned pumpkin, pie crust
• Holiday Season: sales begin on canned fruits and veggies, cookie dough, cream cheese, shredded cheese, coffee creamers
• Winter clothing sales begin.

November

• Christmas Toy Shopping Begins:  Lots of great store promotions, look for coupon books, at K-mart, Sears, Toys-R-Us, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and other toy stores for 10% off, Free $xx.xx gift card when you spend $xx.xx, Make sure to sign up for all participating reward cards for % back at some stores.
• Holiday Baking: nuts, chocolate chips, butter,  evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, flour, sugar
• Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce, great coupons on delmonte and Libby's canned items so keep an eye out.
  Thanksgiving: Turkey, Libby's canned pumpkin, stovetop stuffing, betty crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows, French's fried onions, macaroni and cheese,
• Cold & Flu Season: Dayquil, Vicks and other cold medicines, children's and infant Tylenol, children's cough syrup, childrens and infants fever reducer, cough drops, lip balm, lotions, disinfecting wipes and cleaners, tissues
• Clearance: Halloween clearance. 50% off most places starting Nov 1. Great time to get Halloween toys, pencils, rings, and other candy alternatives for next year. Also great time to shop for decor. 

December: 

• Holiday Grocery:  Holiday cookies and candies, Eggnog, gravy,  Frozen dinner rolls, Pillsbury refrigerated dough, Frozen pies and other desserts, canned and frozen vegetables, cream soups, broth, cranberry sauce, marshmallows, instant potatoes, sweet potatoes
• Household: Candles; air freshener
• Health & Beauty: Body spray, body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes, brushes, hair bands
• Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Baking mixes, Breads, Pie Crust, Whipped cream
• Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
• Clearance: Thanksgiving decor, esp. Napkins and table ware

Items on sale frequently

(These items are free or cheap after coupons often with no special occassion)
Toothpaste, Body Wash, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toilet Paper, mouth wash, toothbrushes, Laundry soap, dish soap.



Thanks to KCL for help with this list