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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Yesterday I was reading my children the classic story of the grasshopper and the ant. For those that may be unfamiliar with the story it is about a hard working ant who is busy all summer long stockpiling food for the hard winter ahead while the other character in the story, the grasshopper, spends his days playing his fiddle and dancing. Then the cold harsh reality of winter arrives and the grasshopper finds himself cold and hungry while the smart little ant is warm and snug in her nest with her stockpile of food set aside to feed her (and here fellow ants) the winter through.

It is amazing to me that there is actually a children’s story centered around stockpiling. With all of the negative connotations that have been floating around there in the media about stockpiling and couponing it was refreshing to pull this story out from the bookcase and use it as a teaching moment to my children on being a hard worker and being prepared. Having a reasonable stockpile is not hoarding, not if you are going to use it. It is not foolish. It is not greedy or selfish. It is not glutinous. No indeed it it is smart!

In the wake of Hurricane Irene I am reminded just how important and convenient it is to have a stockpile. After speaking with some of my couponing friends one of the common threads has been “I am so glad I have a stockpile!” Unlike other natural disasters like tornadoes and earthquakes, hurricanes usually come with a few days notice. People then rush to the store to stock-up on water, bread and canned goods because they are not already prepared. While the stockpiler is pretty much set and may only need to run to the store for a few items to get them through. But what about those of us that live in an area where a natural disaster can strike without warning, we are left at the mercy of nature and many find themselves unprepared! When a tornado touches down, like we saw recently in Joplin Missouri, grocery stores were destroyed, so there was no running to the market to pick up supplies after it happens.

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Tags: Earthquake, Emergency, Hurricane, Preparing For Winter, Stockpile, Stockpiling, The Ant & The Grasshopper, Tornado
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We recently received a great question from HotCouponWorld reader Gretchen W. from Spokane Washington asking us how many coupon inserts she should get each week.

Dear Coupon Girls,

I have recently taken up couponing and would like to build a modest stockpile of grocery items. However I was wondering if you could suggest to me how many coupon inserts I should get each week so that I have enough coupons to build a stockpile. We are a family of 5 (myself, my husband and our three children ages 3, 5 and 10).

Thanks for your help,

Gretchen W. Spokane WA

P.S. Love your site, keep up the good work!

Hi Gretchen,

Thanks for the compliment on the site, it is always nice to hear that we are helping folks save money! Your question is such a good one and one I think other new couponers may be asking too. As you have learned in order to save money with coupons one of the fundamental keys is to build a stockpile. The size of your ones stockpile is going to vary greatly from the size of another persons stockpile based on many deciding factors. We recommend that you take into consideration the following before deciding on how many coupon inserts you will need.

• The size of your household
• Available room for stockpiling
• Consumption rate for each item you buy
• Financial stability

The fact of the matter is, there really is no “rule” set in stone on how many coupon inserts you should try to obtain each week. However, I personally find that 2-4 coupon inserts per member of your household is about right. So for your family of 5 you may want to aim for 10 to 20 coupon inserts per week.

Couponing is more than just “get the coupons, find the deals and buy a bunch of stuff and stockpile it”. In order to be a SMART couponer it is important to think and evaluate your own person situation in order to stockpile smartly.

The size of your household: For obvious reasons the larger your household the larger your stockpile will probably be. We are a family of 6 people plus 3 cats, 3 dogs and a guinea pig. My stockpile needs are probably going to be greater than a single person as we consume more food and household goods.

Available room for stockpiling: You need to plan before you stockpile where you are going to store these items. Each persons home is different. If you live in a small apartment or trailer with little extra storage you will need to either dedicate a closet, cupboard or shelving unit for your stockpile or get creative with your space. I won’t presume to tell anyone where they should not stockpile items, but I personally think having stuff stored in plain sight or in valuable living area creates mental clutter, and for me, no deal is worth the anxiety caused by having an extra mess in my home (I have 4 kids at home…they make enough of a mess already!) On the other hand if you are lucky enough to have extra storage space in your garage, attic, basement, spare room then you are only limited by as much space as you have. I am blessed to have a 2 car garage where I store most of my food items, a unused linen closet (we store linens in the bathroom or in the bedroom instead) which I use for health & beauty products, and a ample laundry room where I store cleaning and laundry supplies. Before stockpiling assess what sort of space you have and get creative if you need to!

Consumption rate for each item you buy: For each item you plan on purchasing with your coupons you need to think not just “how many coupons do I have” but also “how much of this product will my household use”. There are some items that you will find that you all the time, every day, every week or only a few times a year. For example, most households use toilet paper everyday (we hope), so that is something you may want to stockpile more of versus something you may only use a few times a year like oven cleaner. If you are a from scratch baker you may want to stockpile more baking supplies like flour and sugar than boxed cake mixes. Think about how often you will use each item before you buy it. Just because you have 10 coupons for something does not necessarily mean that you need to buy 10 if you will not use 10 before that item expires.

Financial stability: Ones financial situation does come into play I think when one is considering how much of something they should stockpile as well. Right now the economy in the US is rough for so many people, with 13.9 million people unemployed (according the the US Department of Labor), many people are struggling or are worried about possible job lay offs. This is a real situation for many who are turning to couponing as a way to help economize their households. So I think that it is important to take into consideration where you are at financially when planning how much to stockpile. If your job, for example is pretty secure and you have ample savings to get you though a few months if you were laid off then you may only want to stockpile enough to last you 3 to 6 months. However if you are worried about your job stability you may, if you have the room to do so, want to stockpile a little bit more to last you a longer period of time should you loose your job, say 6 to 12 months or more. And if you are already unemployed and are living paycheck to paycheck or find yourself on a very small budget no matter what the circumstances then you are going to want to stockpile enough based on what space you have and what you can afford. I have been in that situation myself, living on a very tight budget when my husband was injured at work and couponing and our subsequent stockpile literally saved us. So I think it is something worth considering.

I wish there was a cut and dry answer to your question Gretchen, but I hope that I have given you some sound advice for you to begin to think about and start planning a coupon and stockpile strategy that works for you and your household.

Happy Shopping!

Heidi

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 past  Ask The Coupon Girls posts.

Tags: Ask The Coupon Girls, Coupon Inserts, Coupon Questions, Couponing Questions, New Couponer, Stockpile, Stockpiling, Sunday Coupon Inserts
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Organizing a stockpile all depends on the amount of room you can designate to the cause. Some people contribute a spare bedroom, some give up their entire garages. And some even build spare rooms onto their homes for stockpiles (talk about dedication). Regardless of the amount of space you have anyone can stockpile.

I have seen people with extra rooms build shelves along the walls and then others have bought cabinets to use. Either way you prefer is fine. A good way to store smaller items is to buy plastic tubs. You can get these tub in all sizes, so you can buy the smaller ones to put toothbrushes, chap sticks, and make-up. It is a great way to keep the smaller items together and to keep them from getting lost. You can even stack these boxes on top of each other to compact it down. These could be stacked on a shelf or on the floor.

As for myself, I have several areas I use to stockpile. I have 2 small hall closets in my house. I have a wooden cabinet that was given to me that has 3 drawers, 2 doors that open to reveal 2 shelves and then the top of it has a small storage there. I also have a large wire basket shelf unit that contains 4 large size baskets. I also have a shelf that was built for me behind my back door that has 4 shelves and a large open area at the bottom which is perfect for stacking sodas.

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Tags: Organization, Stockpile, Stockpile Organization, Stockpiling
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