Sale Cycle Cheat Sheet!!! Must Read!!!

I came across this post last year and finally tracked it down again. This is a must read whether you are brand new or a coupon pro. Let me know what you think of this and if you have noticed these trends at your stores! You may even want to print this and keep it in your binder!

A savvy shopper waits until a product is on sale and then stocks up! The idea is to create a stockpile that will last you 3-12 months, or until the product again reaches its lowest price.


Packaged Foods are seasonal just like produce! Each calendar month brings a new batch of sales. Here’s the predictable sale cycle for each calendar month:

January:

National Oatmeal Month: Quaker

Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs

Super Bowl Sunday: Pepsi, Coke, chips, dips, cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings

Seasonal Produce: oranges, pears, grapefruit, tangerines, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, kale, kiwi, avocado, cabbage, spinach

Clearance: Christmas decorations, toys, wrapping papers Winter Health: cold medicines and vitamins



February:


National Canned Food Month: canned fruit, vegetables, meats: tuna, chicken, salmon, pie fillings

National Hot Breakfast Month: Malt O Meal, oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, syrup

Valentines: chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc

Chinese New Year: soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, noodles

Seasonal Produce: artichoke, asparagus, raspberries, potatoes, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, kale, kiwi, avocado, spinach



March:

Frozen Food Month: frozen meals, TGI Fridays, Contessa, Foster Farms chicken, Eggo, Sara Lee, Healthy Choice, DiGiorno, Freschetta, Breyers, Dreyers, Marie Callendars

Seasonal Produce: artichoke, asparagus, avocado, Haas, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, fennel, kale, leek, lemon, lime, mushrooms, onions, orange, peas, radish, rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, tangerine



April:

Easter: ham, eggs, some baking supplies: sugar, spices, baking mixes, chocolate chips

Earth Day: organic foods, Energy Saver

Seasonal Produce: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, grapefruit, Hass Avocado, mushrooms, onions, peas, rhubarb

Clearance: after Easter sales are the time to stock up on decorating, baskets, etc for the next year.



May:

Memorial Day: BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips

Paper Products: plates, utensils, insect repellant, sunscreen

Cinco De Mayo: salsa, tortillas

Seasonal Produce: artichokes, asparagus, avocado, beans, green, beets, blackberries, carrots, onions, sweet vidalia, peas, edible pods, English/Shelling peas, new potatoes, raspberries, strawberries



June:

National Dairy Month: eggs, milk (free milk Catalina, wyb cereal), ice cream, cheese, butter, yogurt, Cool Whip, in-store dairy coupons or booklets

End of June is Fourth of July Sales: hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips

Seasonal Produce: apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, corn, cucumber, eggplant, grapes, honeydew, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, raspberries, red onions, summer squash, strawberries, sweet Vidalia onions, tomatoes, watermelon



July:

National Ice Cream Month

More 4th of July BBQ Sales: hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips

End of July, Back to School Sales begin: crayons, pencils, folders, binders

Seasonal Produce: Asian pears, Bartlett pears, green beans, blueberries, corn, cucumber, eggplant, figs, garlic, grapes, nectarines, red onions, Valencia oranges, peaches, peppers (sweet, bell), plums, potatoes, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelon



August:

Back to School: pudding cups, lunch meat,

Staples and Office Depot penny items

Disinfectant: Clorox, Purell

Clearance: insect repellant, sunscreen, charcoal

Seasonal Produce: Apple (Gravenstein), Hass avocado, beans, green beans, berries, corn, cucumber, eggplant, figs, grapes, melons, onion, peaches, Bartlett pears, bell pepper, plums, raspberries, summer squash, tomatillo, tomato



September:

Back to School Sales through Labor Day: crayons, pencils, folders, binders

Diabetes: Bayer glucose meters, Glucerna cereal

Seasonal Produce: apples, artichokes, beans, bell peppers, chili peppers, cucumber, eggplant, grapes, onion, Valencia orange, pears (Asian, Bartlett), pomegranate, squash, tomatillo, tomatoes, winter squash



October:

Halloween: candy

Beginning of the baking sales: canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, baking chips

National Seafood Month

Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina

Seasonal Produce: almonds, apples, artichokes, arugula, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, chard, chestnuts, cranberries, lemons, parsnip, pears, pomegranate, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, winter squash, turnips, yams



November:

Baking Sales in full swing: nuts, chocolate chips, evap milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes

Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce

Turkey, canned pumpkin, stovetop stuffing, Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows

Seasonal Produce: Anjou pears, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, Comice pears, cranberries, kiwi, lemons, oranges, potato, squash, yams

Clearance: After Halloween Sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year. Halloween candy-alternatives like halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc.


December:

Holiday Dinner: egg nog, deli platters, instant potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows

Baking: flour, sugar, butter, cream, cake mix, brownie mix, muffin mix, breads, pie crust, marshmallow, whipped cream

Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce

Clearance: Buy all your Thanksgiving Decorations, extra table settings and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off.



Big thanks to KCL for writting this up!

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