There are definitely times of the year where it is the best time to purchase certain items. These are items that I have been tracking for the past 8+ years since I began coupon shopping. Knowing your sales cycles and when it is the best time to buy is one of the keys to saving money. As I have stated before, the goal for coupon shoppers and all smart shoppers really, is to buy at the lowest price point, and when it comes to consumable items, purchase enough to last until the next time those items go on sale (stockpile).

Monthly Trends

February is all about Valentine’s Day as the holiday falls right in the middle of the month so we should see all sorts of deals on gifts for your sweetheart. Also Super Bowl Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, so the first week should see deals on foods for the big party.

Grocery Trends

There are a couple of food holidays that fall in February. And often times we will see deals around those items. National Snack Food Month means we may see some good sales on chips, snack mix and other snack type food items. Also the second week of February is Jell-O Week, and that may mean Jell-O sales at the grocery stores. February is also National Canned Foods Month so we should expect good sales on canned foods such as soup, canned fruits and veggies etc.

For Valentine’s Day expect heavy sales on candy and chocolate – brands to watch for are Nestle, Wonka, M&M & the Mars brands. Drug stores such as Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid usually have the best deals nationwide on holiday treats I have found. Also because of the romantic nature of the holiday we should also see some “interesting” sales on intimate products such as K-Y, condoms and other items of that nature.

Don’t forget to shop after Valentine’s Day for post-holiday clearance. Look for great discounts on candy of course but don’t forget to check your meat department’s markdown section the day or two after this romantic holiday for markdowns on pricier meats like steak, shrimp and lobster tails! Stores stock up in anticipation of all those romantic meals and if they over bought you may just find some great deals to fill your freezer with!

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Tags: Best Time To Buy, February Sales Cycle, Grocery Sales Cycles, Sales Cycles, Stockpiling
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There are definitely times of the year where it is the best time to purchase certain items. These are items that I have been tracking for the past 8+ years since I began coupon shopping. Knowing your sales cycles and when it is the best time to buy is one of the keys to saving money. As I have stated before, the goal for coupon shoppers, and all smart shoppers really, is to buy at the lowest price point, and when it comes to consumable items, purchase enough to last until the next time those items go on sale (stockpile).

Monthly Trends

January is the first month of the new year and retailers and manufactures know that on the forefront of many peoples minds are their new years resolutions. The top resolutions that people make are:

• Weight Loss – look for deals on vitamins, diet foods and supplements like Slim-Fast, Special-K, South Beach Diet etc. as well as sports and exercises equipment.
• Organization - watch for some of the better prices of the year on things like plastic totes and bins, hangars, shelf organizers, paper filing, calendars and planners, filing cabinets and organizational software.
• Finance - If one of your resolutions or goals in 2012 is to save money, get out of debt or be a better financial steward of your money you should see a heavy push for books, software, and other tools to help you reach your financial goals.
• Quit Smoking – Look for high value coupons and sales to go with those coupons at most retailers for smoking cessation aids like nicotine gum and patches.

Grocery Trends

January is National Oatmeal Month and as such we usually see good sales on Quaker products (oatmeal, granola bars, snack items and to a lesser extent cold cereal). To go along with the Quaker sales we should see some high value coupons such as a $3.00 off 5 Quaker products coupon. However these coupons are usually issued only in select markets in the store sale ad flyers, so you need to be checking your sale ads and if no luck you can try trading for some in the coupon trading forums. If Quaker is a product you like a lot, I suggest that you go ahead and stockpile good on this one because we won’t see another heavy push on Quaker products until October.

This month is also a great time to stockpile some great deals on cold medicines. The stores know we are all cooped up inside with our germy kids (OK maybe that is just me!) and so they offer some really good sales and coupons on cold and flu medications. Look for some great deals on brands such as Triaminic, Robitussin, NyQuil, as well as deals on Kleenex and Puffs. While it is safe to stockpile facial tissue as much as you have room for really, don’t go too crazy on stockpiling the cold meds. They do expire. This is a time when many of these brands may push out a new product by offering really high value coupons and super low sale prices. Don’t over stockpile on these new cold and flu medication products. Speaking from experience I have ended up tossing items that I got for free after coupon after learning the new product was not all that good.

Near the end of January we should see a nice advertising campaign by the rest of the Pepsi line of products, namely soda/pop and chips in the Frito Lay/Tostitos line. Why the push on soda and chips….Super Bowl Sunday is on February 5th 2012. We may also see some good sales on Coca-Cola soda too, but while I love Coca-Cola (my husband works for Coke) the fact of the matter is Coke does not offer coupons and sales as Pepsi this time of year as Pepsi does. Along with the Super Bowl trend in what is on sale end of January look for coupons and deals on Velveeta, Ro*tel, Hillshire Farm Little Smokies, Tyson frozen chicken products (think wings), frozen pizza and other Super Bowl party type foods. Also if you are a beer drinker you should be able to score some decent deals on popular brands such as Budweiser, Coors and Michelob. Budweiser is the brand to beat though (think Budweiser Super Bowl commercials).

Produce In Season

Buying produce when it is in season is always going to be cheaper than buying it out of season. Fresh produce deals in January include:

• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Celery
• Chard
• Collards
• Garlic
• Grapefruit
• Kale
• Kiwi
• Kumquats
• Lemons
• Mushrooms
• Mustard Greens
• Onions
• Oranges
• Pears
• Pecans
• Spinach
• Tangerines
• Walnuts
• Winter Squash

* Seasonal produce deals can be dependant upon which part of the country you live in. Southern states will usually have better deals on fresh product over those in the northern states.

Other Deals of Note

Right after the first of the year is when retailers start to heavily discount their Christmas and holiday clearance. While before the new year you may have seen prices down to 50%, after the new year is when we normally see items go for 70% off or more. This is the best time to purchase holiday lights and decorations, wrapping paper and supplies, everyday use items with a holiday theme (think Christmas decorated Ziploc bags and containers – you can use them no matter what time of year…especially if they are free after coupon!) and gift sets. Do not be afraid of negotiating with your store managers to buy clearance in bulk. While this may not work at some of the big box chains like Walmart and Kmart it can be done at other stores. One year I bought a whole shopping cart of red candles and wrapping paper for a deep discount just by asking the manager “what kind of deal can you give me if I buy all of it”. Many stores just need to get rid of it all and you never know what kind of deal you can score unless you ask.

January is also a good time for department stores as well as online retailers to offer some great deals on sheets, towels and other “white goods”. Look for clearance prices on flannel sheets in January for next year as stores in some areas are already planning on Spring items. Out with the old in with the new…score a great deal for the bargain hunter!

Another item that we should start to see some decent deals on is tax software. As folks start getting their W-2’s in from their employers near the end of the month there should be some good deals start to roll out on tax software and programs from brands such as Turbo Tax and the like.

Tags: Best Time To Buy, Grocery Sales Cycles, January Sales Cycles, Sales Cycles, Stockpiling
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Reader Lauren from Georgia asks the Coupon Girls about how you can save with coupon values that require you to buy more than one of an item.

Hi, I am new to all this, but I so crave the savings in my future! I’m trying to figure out the best way to use a coupon that requires you to buy more than one. ex save 1.00 on two. How do I successfully save money with these without spending double the money? Thanks, and great website. All this info has been so helpful!

Dear Lauren,

There are many coupons out there that require you to buy two or more of the item to get your savings. That can seem counterproductive to some. But you can still save on these items. For the items you buy on a regular basis, you’ll want to get used to sales cycles and stock up on those items when they are at your “rock bottom price” buying enough to last you until the next good sale. Combining a sale with a coupon is the first step to saving money.  Let’s say I need oatmeal and the store normally sells the brand I like for $3.69 a box, if I have a $1/1 coupon for oatmeal, I’ll pay $2.69 a box. Now next month, the oatmeal goes on sale for $1.99 and I have a $1/2 oatmeal coupon, I am actually paying less at $1.49 a box after coupon by buying two. If $1.49 is the most I’m willing to pay for oatmeal then I am going to stock up enough to last me until the next good sale.

Another step is combining store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons if your store offers them. As long as the fine print of the coupon doesn’t exclude it, you can usually use both together. Unlike using two $1/2 widget manufacturer coupons when buying two widgets, you would be able to use a $1/2 widgets store coupon and a $1/2 widgets manufacturer coupon together. You can read the last Ask the Coupon Girls question posted for more on that.

Last but not least, if you aren’t happy with the coupon values you have and want other coupons you see being discussed, you can trade for them or use a coupon clipping service to obtain different coupons.

There are still more ways to maximize your savings. You may want to read our Couponing Basics forums to find out about taking your couponing to the next level.

Happy Shopping!

Tara

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have a coupon question you would like to see The Coupon Girls answer for you? If so submit your question here: Ask The Coupon Girls and be sure to check out our past Ask The Coupon Girls posts.

Tags: Ask The Coupon Girls, Combining Coupons, Coupon Clipper, coupon savings, Sales Cycles, Stockpiling
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Everything, and I mean everything goes on sale at some point in time or another. Knowing when the prices are lowest and buying to stockpile is important. These are called sales cycles and it takes a while to learn them and fine tune your shopping habits around those low price times. For example knowing that during the summer BBQ and picnic supplies will be on sale this is when you grab your coupons and stock up on barbecue sauce, mustard (not 63 bottles please), mayonnaise, hot dogs, hamburger meat, paper plates and the like.

Find More Extreme Couponing Tips Here

Tags: Extreme Couponing, Extreme Couponing Tip, Grocery Sales, Sales, Sales Cycles, TLC, TLC Extreme Couponing, TLC's Extreme Couponing, TLC’s Extreme Couponing
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The month of August kicks off some great shopping and deals! Part of learning how to save the most money is knowing when the best time of year is to purchase items at their rock bottom prices.

Back to School: It is a given that August is the month to stock up on all of your back to school supplies. The sales at office supply stores (Staples, Office Depot, Office Max), national chain stores (Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart) and drug stores (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid) are where the best deal are at. Grab your kids’ school supplies list and look for the best deals. Don’t just buy for the first day of school though, think about what you will need year round as replacements (pencils, glue, crayons, paper, etc) and purchase enough to last the year round. Don’t forget about supplies you may need at home for homework too. Many of the office supply stores have great 1 cent, 5 cent and other super cheap deals with a limit of one deal per person. So take the kids in with you, give them each a buck and teach them some math skills by letting them buy their own back to school supplies!

Tip! – No kids at home that’s ok August is also a great time to fill your home office supply drawer or closet with pencils, pens, glue, staples, paper clips and paper too. I buy not just for my kids but also for my home office too!

Back to school office supply deals to be watching for:

• Backpacks
• Book Covers
• Calculators
• Colored Pencils
• Crayons
• Erasers
• Folders
• Glue
• Lunch boxes & lunch bags
• Markers
• Notebooks
• Page Dividers
• Paper (both note book paper and copy paper)
• Paper Clips
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Pencils
• Pens
• Rubber Bands
• Rulers
• Staples & Staplers

Back to school grocery deals to be watching for: School supply shopping does not end in the office supplies section of the store. Deals are to be had on some great grocery items. Think “School lunches” when you think about the grocery sales as well as convenience foods for breakfast. August also kicks off promotions like the Kellogg’s Fuel for School (watch for coupons and rebates).

• Bread
• Cheese slices
• Cold Cereal
• Condiments such as mustard and mayonnaise
• Deli meat
• Disinfecting wipes (Clorox & Lysol)
• Drink pouches & juice boxes
• Facial Tissue (Kleenex & Puffs)
• Fresh Fish
• Frozen waffles
• Fruit and apple sauce cups
• Hand sanitizer (Purell)
• Jelly
• Juice
• Peanut Butter
• Pudding cups
• Raisins in snack pack mini boxes
• Snacks like cookies, crackers and chips
• Toaster pastries
• Tortillas (think sandwich wraps)

August produce: It is now the peak of the summer produce season and now is the time to get in on some great deals on summer favorites in the produce department, farmers markets or road side produce stands. Stock up now and fill your freezer or if you do home canning take advantage of great deals on the following during the peak of season.

• Apricots
• Basil
• Bell Peppers
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Garlic
• Grapes (red & green)
• Gravenstein Apples
• Green beans
• Hass Avocados
• Hot peppers
• Limes
• Melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew)
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Onion
• Peaches
• Pears (Asian & Bartlett)
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Shelling beans
• Summer squash
• Tomatillo
• Tomatoes
• Valencia Oranges

Other Sales & Clearance Deals:

August is a good time to pick up some items for the house too. Buy now when these items are at their lowest price points or on clearance.

Barbecue & Patio Equipment – As stores get ready for the autumn and winter seasonal items they will be marking down the prices on outdoor gear. This is the time of year to purchase a new grill or stock up on charcoal and lighter fluid for next season.

Bathing Suits & Beach Towels – Again watch for these to go on clearance and buy now for next summer. Look for markdowns in the 70-75% range.

Consumer Electronics - To along with the back to school supplies like crayons and glue it is also a good time to pick up a new computer (laptops more than desk tops as sales are geared towards the college kids). So if you are in the market now is the time to buy. Also look for sales on paper shredders, hand held calculators, keyboards and USB devices.

Home & Garden Centers - As summer projects winding down stores like Home Depot and Lowes Home Improvement will start trying to clear out lumber, home remodeling supplies and other project items.  Garden supplies will start to see the trend on markdowns as well. Look for discounts on hand tools, pots, potting soil, and watering cans. Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, lawn mowers and outdoor furniture are good bets as well. August is also the time of year to buy carpet. While not always the lowest price deals, if you are a gardener, August is the time to begin planning and ordering online or by mail your bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus, etc.) for autumn planting.

Linens & Towels – Older kids going off to college means sales on twin and full sized bedding as well as linens in bright colors geared towards the younger age group.

Summer Clothing – Check the clearance racks for great markdowns on shorts, tank tops, sundresses and other summer clothing. Don’t forget to check the clearance racks for sunglasses, summer hats and sandals and flip flops as well.

Sunscreen & Insect repellent – You are supposed to wear sunscreen year round however in some parts of the country sunscreen can be hard to find in the winter and when you can find it, it is at full price. So watch for sunscreen to go on clearance as well at this time of year and stock up to last till next season. Watch the expiration dates however, although, most sunscreen has a 1 year expiration date so you should be OK.

Toys – Summer toys such as water guns, bubbles, kiddie pools, pool inflatable’s and other outdoor toys that have not been sold yet will be marked down heavily. Watch for 50-70% off sale prices as retailers try to move stock.

Tags: Air Conditioners, Apple Sauce Cups, Apples, Apricots, Asian Pears, August, August Produce, August Sales Cycles, Avocados, Back To School, Backpacks, Barbecue, Bartlet Pears, Basil, Bathing Suits, BBQ, Beach Towels, Bell Peppers, Blackberries, Blueberries, Book Covers, Bread, Bulbs, Calculator, Calculators, Cantaloupe, Carpet, Cheese Slices, Chips, Cold Cereal, Colored Pencils, Computers, Condiments, Consumer Electronics, Cookies, Copy Paper, Corn, crackers, Crayons, Crocus, Cucumber, CVS, Daffodils, Dehumidifiers, Deli Meat, Disinfecting Wipes, Drink Pouches, Eggplant, Erasers, Facial Tissue, Folders, Fresh Fish, Frozen Waffles, Fruit Cups, Garden, Garden Soil, Gardening, Garlic, Glue, Grapes, Gravenstein Apples, Green Beans, Green Grapes, Hand Sanitizer, Hass Avocados, Home Depot, Honey Dew Melon, Hot Peppers, Jelly, Juice, Juice Boxes, Keyboards, Kmart, Laptop, Lawn Mowers, Limes, Linens, Lowes Home Improvement, Lumer, Lunch Bags, Lunch Boxes, Lunch Meat, Markers, Mayonnaise, Melons, Mustard, Nectarines, Note Book Paper, Notebooks, Office Depot, Office Max, Office Supplies, Okra, Onion, Outdoor Furniture, Page Dividers, Paper Clips, Paper Shredder, Patio Equipement, Patio Sets, Peaches, Peanut Butter, Pears, Pencil Sharpeners, Pencils, Peppers, Plums, Produce, Pudding Cups, Purell, Rasins, Raspberries, Red Grapes, Rite Aid, Rubber Bands, Rulers, Sales Cycles, Sheets, Shelling Beans, Shorts, Staplers, Staples, Summer, Summer Clearance, Summer Clothing, Summer Squash, Sundresses, Sunglasses, Tank Tops, Target, Toaster Pastries, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Tortillas, Towels, Tulips, USB Devices, Valencia Oranges, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Watering Cans, Watermelon, What To Buy In August
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Did you know that the month of March is designated as “Frozen Food Month”? What this means for the frugal shopper is that this is a great time to be watching for deals and coupons on things like ice cream, pizza, frozen vegetables and other great items to fill your freezer.

Also be on the look out for deals offered by some grocery stores that will be running specials on freezers themselves with the purchase of certain amounts of frozen foods.

For more information on sales cycles check out Hotcouponworld’s Sales Cycles thread in our forums.

For more information on what items you can or cannot freeze check out Hotcouponworld’s Storage Guides: How to Buy, Store & Use Anything forum.

Tags: Food Storage, Freezer, Freezing, Frozen Food Month, March, Sales Cycles, Stockpile, Storage
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