Seasonal Sales Calendar: Know When Everything Goes on Sale
Plan shopping around predictable seasonal sales. Buy ahead and stock.
Understanding Sales Patterns
Grocery sales follow patterns. Stores rotate discounts so that most staples come back on sale every few weeks, and seasonal items go on sale at the same time each year. Once you know the patterns for what your family buys most, you can stock up at the low price and avoid paying full price in between.
Protein Sale Cycles
Meat sales cycle regularly. Chicken, ground beef and pork tend to rotate onto the front page of the flyer every few weeks at each chain. Roasts are often discounted in the colder months, and grilling meats like burgers, sausages and ribs in the summer. Buy enough at the low price to last until the next sale and freeze it.
Produce Seasonality
Produce is cheapest in season: berries and corn in summer, apples, squash and root vegetables in the fall, citrus in winter, and asparagus and greens in spring. Out-of-season produce is usually more expensive and less flavourful, so plan meals around what's in season and use frozen fruit and vegetables to fill gaps.
Pantry Item Schedules
Pantry staples have their own rhythm. Baking supplies like flour, sugar and butter are often discounted before major holidays. Canned goods and pasta go on sale regularly throughout the year. Watch the flyers for a few weeks to learn the low price for your staples, then stock up only when they hit it.
Holiday Sale Patterns
Holidays bring predictable sales. Turkey and ham are often discounted before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Baking supplies go on sale before the winter holidays. Barbecue items are discounted around long weekends in the summer. Plan big purchases around these dates and freeze what you can.
Planning Around Sales
Use the patterns to plan. Keep a short list of your top staples and the best price you've seen for each. When the flyer matches that price, buy enough to last until the next sale. Build each week's meals around what's at its low point, and you'll pay full price for very little.
Featured Cities
Sale patterns differ by store and city. Browse this week's deals near you to see where your staples are on sale right now.
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