The Best Time to Buy Groceries - A Month to Month Sale Cycles Guide (2024)

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

All stores have a system they use called a sales cycle. Get to know the month-to-month sales cycles can help you save money. See what is on sale each month.

The Best Time to Buy Anytime – A Month to Month Grocery Sale Guide

Did you know that the items you purchase at the store go through what we call a “sale cycle”?

You see, a sale cycle simply means exactly that term – sale items fluctuate. Store sales will generally follow a pattern or cycle for when they go on sale. The goal is to make your purchases at their lowest price point and stock up until the next sale cycle.

Plus, by utilizing your coupons when these items are at their lowest price point, you will generate a huge discount! So the big question still stands; When is The Best Time to Buy Anything? – Glad you asked 😉

Saving More Money By Shopping the Sale Cycles

Always keep an eye on your local store ad flyer.

These will show you the sales happening each week at your favorite store, then you want to match these deals with coupons for even bigger savings. You can view all currently available coupons by checking out our coupon database.

Grocery Store sales cycle every 6 to 8 weeks, but you have to keep in mind that not all items follow this general rule. I wanted to share with you some store sale cycles noticed over the years that do not follow this typical sale cycle. Be sure to save this list (bookmark it) or even print it.

This will be a nice grocery store savings resource for you to have on hand when searching out deals.

Each month, for example, the list includes when specific food categories tend to go on sale (baking goods, paper products, baby items, and so on) and holiday-related sales, such as condiments and grilling meats around Memorial Day. Better yet, though, you can capitalize on the more obscure food holidays like National Canned Food Month (February) or Frozen Food Month (March)

January

• – Breakfast:oats, oatmeal packets, and cereal
• –Diet Food & Healthy Living:shakes, weight scales, diet cookbooks, exercise equipment
• – Organizing Products: Shelving, plastic tubs & containers, labels, etc
• – Cold Remedies: Vitamins, supplements & cough drops
• – Big Game Day Savings: Dips, soda, frozen snacks, pizza, pizza,cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings, cut fruit & veggie trays

February

• –Big Game Say Savings (may continue): Chips, dips, soda, frozen snacks, pizza, cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, pizza, wings, cut fruit & veggie trays
• – Canned Food Items (Watch for Can, Can Sale – ShopRite)
• – Hot Breakfast Items:Oatmeal, frozen waffles, syrup, waffle & pancake mix, hash browns, bacon
• – Chinese New Year: Asian Food Products
• – Valentine’s Day: Chocolates, Candy, Cards, Flowers, etc

March

• – Frozen Food Month:Great frozen food deals! Watch out for Price Chopper’s freezer deal. (Typically purchase a freezer for $200, Get $200 in FREE food items – coupon booklet)
• – St. Patrick’s Day: Corned Beef, Cabbage, Soda Bread
• – Breakfast Cereals (Lucky Charms for our Irish friends)
• – March Madness:Soda, chips, dips, cheese, crackers, frozen pizza, wings, fruit & veggie trays, etc

April

• – Easter:Hams, baking supplies, eggs, kosher items (for Passover) & candy.
• – Earth Day: Organic food items, reusable products, eco-friendly items,Energy Star appliances, LED lighting

May

• – Memorial Day: Hot dogs, sausage, meat,BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips, paperplates, rolls, buns, etc
• – Cinco de Mayo: Mexicanfood ingredients
• – Mother’s Day: Cards, flowers, chocolates
• – Gardening Supplies:Plants, flowers, seeds, watering cans, plant food, soil, weed killers, mulch

June

• – Father’s Day & Graduation Items: BBQ items, fresh Bakery items, veggie/fruit trays, meat, chicken, condiments, paper products
• – 4th of July Preparation Items:Hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ sauce, ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips, etc
• – Dairy: milk, yogurt, cheese

July

• –Summertime Savings: BBQ items, meats, condiments, hot dogs, salad dressing, chips, dips, etc.
• – National Ice Cream– Expect to see lots of ice cream & frozen treats!
• – Back to School Preparation: Snack-size items, peanut butter, juice boxes, plus school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes, clothes, etc.

August

• – Back to School Items:Pens, crayons, paper, binders, backpacks, notebooks, markers, note cards,snack items, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, deli meats
• – Clorox Classroom Cleanup:sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizers
• – Seasonal Clearances:insect repellant, sunscreen, charcoal

September

• – Diabetes Care:Glucose meters, Glucerna cereal, diabetic items
• – Fall Cooking & Foods: Soups, comfort foods, pumpkin, baking items (sugar, flour, baking mixes)
• – Halloween Preparation: Candy, costumes & accessories begin.

October

• – Halloween: Candy, costumes, accessories
• – Fall Baking:Canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, baking chips, pie crust, flour, sugar, baking mixes, etc
• – National Seafood Month: Many seafood sales

November

• – Pantry Needs:Canned foods, non-perishable food items. Thanksgiving Preparation: Canned veggies, cranberries, pumpkin, broth, gravy, fruit, butter, baking supplies, turkeys, ham,stuffing, etc
• – Party Items: Crackers, party trays, salami, cheese
• – Hot Beverages: Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, k-cups
• – Black Friday Sales Begin: Keep your eyes peeled on Inspiring Savings as I continually keep you up to date on those items.

December

• – Christmas & New Years: Eggnog, deli platters, instant potatoes, gravy mixes, rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows (if you are planning on serving turkey on Christmas, purchase it in November, this will be the LOWEST price point)
• – Baking Supplies:Flour, sugar, butter, cream, cake mixes, brownie mixes, muffin mixes, breads, pie crusts, marshmallows, whipped cream
• –Christmas deals for gifts.

The ultimate goal is to purchase the items you need at your local grocery store when they are at their lowest price point, utilize coupons, and stock up until the next bug sale.

You can find ways to get more coupons by reading through our coupon resource page. You will find ways to get coupons that can be used during the sale cycles listed above.

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