STOCKPILES: Using the Sale Cycles

When it comes to starting and maintaining your stockpile, it can get a bit confusing. Now that you've found some great deals and you've come home with some great products, where do you put them? It doesn't take a lot of space to store a few things. Keep in mind that products go on sale about every 4-6 months, so only buy what you'll use in that time. 


This is where the Sale Cycle list can come in handy. This simple sheet will guide you by showing you when items are most likely going to be on sale. For example: September and October are great months to stock cereal, cheeses, and anything else you might need to get your kids ready for the new school season. It can help you not over, or even under buy, things you want to stock up on. Check it out!

View the Sale Cycle!

Finding Your Coupon Balance

We (the Savvy with Savings ladies) have been talking a lot about couponing for our families lately. It is a great way to support our families by making each hard earned dollar stretch just a little further. But is there such a thing as too much?

When I was a coupon newbie, I felt like I had to go get every single good deal that blogs posted about and get as much of it as I possibly could. I will admit that I may still have a few items in my stockpile that I bought almost two years ago and have not used yet (see the circled Scrubbing Bubbles cleaners below? I used to have enough of those to clean my toilet every day for a year!). Learning to coupon is also about learning what your family needs and how to find the balance between buying and using your stockpile.

A good way to know how many of one item to buy is to figure out how much your family will use in 6 months time and buy just that many. One thing I am glad I have learned is everything will go on sale again! We even have posted a sale cycle list here on Savvy with Savings that shows what time of year most items will be on sale.

A good example of this is when I buy chicken. I usually purchase my chicken through Zaycon Foods. They sell their chicken in 40 lb. boxes. My family usually eats 2 lbs of chicken a week so 40 lbs. will last around 5 months. Which is perfect since Zaycon Foods sells their chicken about every 5 or 6 months! I buy one box at a time knowing I will be able to use all of it before the next sale.

I love this article by Fabulessly Frugal,  "Stocking up: How Much is TOO Much."

This past weekend I wanted a couple bottles of free Dawn dish soap with doubles at Albertsons. There were none on the shelf so I talked to one of my favorite managers who informed me that they only had 30 to begin with and one lady had purchased all 30 of them. I understand that I am not going to get every deal since there are so many trying to stretch their dollar also, but to hear that one person ruined it for everyone else is really pretty annoying. I think Fabulessly Frugal says it best, "Some couponers aren’t trying to build a massive stockpile, but just need to feed their families that week. When the shelves are empty, they don’t have a huge stockpile to fall back on."

I have always believed that couponing is all about finding balance. In this case it is all about finding the balance between buying and using.

Have you found your balance?

A list of sale cycles to help you with your stockpile

SALE CYCLES:
How and when to stockpile can be very tricky sometimes. knowing when items will be on sale/free again can help you decide whether to stockpile for 3, 6, or 12 months. Who wants to run out of anything and have to pay full price?? :)

The best way to start a new stockpile item is when it is brand new. Manufacturers typically launch promotions around new products. Look for clearance prices right before a new product is announced. Stores need to make room for new products by selling off the old products.

Once a new product arrives, look for major promotions to clear the first wave of the product. Stores don’t stock products that don’t sell, so companies want to “prove” that the product should be stocked.
New Packaging: No one likes to purchase “old” products, so any products packaged in holiday, special occasion, sporting event, or special promotion packaging will go on clearance after the event. Some of the largest packaged events include Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but also Super Bowl/Football, World Series/Baseball, Olympics, etc. Special packaging is common for any “party foods”, like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, crackers, and chips.

To stockpile an item when it isn't new, wait for it to go on sale, then stock up!!!
Here is a monthly list of when certain items usually go on sale and when you can expect the best prices:

JANUARY sales and deals:
Diet foods and products (New Years resolutions!!)
Healthy Choice
South Beach
Lean Cuisine
Yogurt
100 cal. packs
Special K

Cold meds.
Vitamins
Health products

Super Bowl party foods--
soda
chips
dips
crackers

OATMEAL!! (national oatmeal month)

FEBRUARY sales and deals:
**national canned food month
Canned veggies/fruit
canned tuna
canned beans

cereal
eggos etc.
syrup

dog food

Valentines day promos (Chocolate)

Chinese New Year promos--
soy sauce
teriyaki
ramen noodles
stir fry

MARCH sales/deals:
**Frozen food month
Frozen veggies/fruits
Frozen dinners
Icecream

spring cleaning month--
household cleansers


APRIL sales/deals:
marshmallows
chocolate chips
sugar (white, brown, powdered)
brownie mix
cake mix
food coloring

*look for clearance olive oil

MAY sales/deals:
condiments--
bbq sauce
ketchup
mustard
mayo
pickles
relish

cheese
chips and dip
salsa
tortillas

charcoal
paper plates, napkins etc.
sunscreen
bug spray

JUNE sales/deals:
**National Dairy month--
milk
eggs
cheese
butter
yogurt
ice cream

condiments

hamburger/hotdog buns

JULY sales/deals:
**best BBQ sales of the year--
BBQ sauce
baked beans
ketchup
hot dogs
ground beef
steak

blueberries
AUGUST sales/deals:
**back to school sales--
lunch box foods
pudding cups
lunchables
lunch meat
bread
cereal
waffles

school and office supplies
disinfecting wipes
hand sanitizers

SEPTEMBER sales/deals
more back to school sales

tomato products--
spaghetti sauce
canned tomatoes
tomato sauce
tomato soup

baby item month--
look for sales on major purchase baby items (strollers, carseats etc.)

OCTOBER sales/deals:
**Halloween promos--
cookies
candy
chocolate chips
nuts

apples
pumpkins

NOVEMBER sales/deals:
quilts/blankets
hot cocoa
canned food--
soup
broth
condensed milk
canned veggies/fruits

Holiday foods--
Turkey

Pumpkin (canned)
Stuffing mix
Potato mix
Butter
Sweet potatoes
Fresh potatoes
Gravy
Bread/rolls
Frozen pies
Cranberry sauce
Fresh cranberries

DECEMBER sales/deals:
crackers
chips
soda
stuffing mix
potato mix
potatoes
butter
frozen pies
cream soups
broth
egg nog

baking supplies--
Flour

Sugar
Butter
Cream
Cake mix
Brownie mix
Muffin mix
Breads
Pie Crust
Marshmallow
Whipped cream

Christmas items--
cards
bows
tape
ribbon
wrapping paper

I am excited for November's sales. I am running out of my soup and broth that I stocked up on last year. I am also looking forward to all the baking sales since December is definitely the month I do just about ALL of my baking (I think I do enough in December to cover the rest of the year ;)   )

What are you looking forward to adding to your stockpile?

SALE CYCLE: Find out what items should be HOT this July!

Every month is a chance to stock up on different items from the month before. The best way to do this is to know the sales cycles.

This is what we can expect in the month of July:

**best BBQ sales of the year--
BBQ sauce
baked beans
ketchup
hot dogs
ground beef
steak

blueberries (seasonal)

July is also Ice Cream month so look out for great deals on your favorites!

If you want to print our Sale Cycle list go HERE.

SALE CYCLES: Know when things will be on sale for stock-up!

SALE CYCLES:
How and when to stockpile can be very tricky sometimes. Knowing when items will be on sale or free can help you decide whether to stockpile for 3,6, or 12 months. Who wants to run out of anything and have to pay full price?

New Products: One way to add to your stockpile is getting a product when it is brand new. Just recently Procter and Gamble released their Gain Dishsoap... So what did they do? The released high value coupons that combines with store sales which allows us to stockpile. I think I am set for at least 6 months!  Once a new product arrives, look for major promotions to clear the first wave of the product. Stores don’t stock products that don’t sell, so companies want to “prove” that the product should be stocked. 

Clearance: manufacturers typically launch promotions around new products. Look for clearance prices right before a new product is announced. Stores need to make room for new products by selling off old products. 

New Packaging: No one likes to purchase “old” products, so any products packaged in holiday, special occasion, sporting event, or special promotion packaging will go on clearance after the event. Some of the largest packaged events include Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, but also Super Bowl/Football, World Series/Baseball, Olympics, etc. Special packaging is common for any “party foods”, like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, crackers, and chips.

Everything Else: To stockpile an item when it isn't new, wait for it to go on sale, then stock up!!!

Here is a monthly list of when certain items usually go on sale and when you can expect the best prices:

JANUARY sales and deals:

Diet foods and products (New Years resolutions!!):

Healthy Choice
South Beach
Lean Cuisine
Yogurt
100 cal. Packs
Special K

Cold Meds:

Vitamins

Health Products

Super Bowl Party Foods:

Soda

Chips

Dips

Crackers

Oatmeal!

National Oatmeal Month

FEBRUARY sales and deals:

National Canned Food Month:

Canned Veggies/Fruits

Canned Tuna

Canned Beans

Cereal

Eggos

Syrup

Dog Food

Valentines:

Cards

Chocolates

Candies

Chinese New Year:

Soy Sauce

Teriyaki Sauce

Ramen Noodles

Stir Fry Items

MARCH sales and deals:

Frozen Food Month:

Frozen Veggies/Fruit

Frozen Dinners

Ice Cream

Spring Clean Sales:

Household Cleaners

APRIL sales and deals:

Baking:

Marshmellow

Chocolate Chips

Sugar (white, brown, and powdered)

Brownie Mix

Cake Mix

Food Coloring

*Look for clearance Olive Oil

MAY sales and deals:

Condiments:

BBQ Sauces

Ketchup

Mustard

Mayo

Pickles

Relish

Cheese

Chips

Dips

Salsa

Tortillas

Charcoal

Paper Towels, Plates, Napkins

Sunscreen

Bug Spray

JUNE sales and deals:

National Dairy Month:

Milk

Eggs

Cheese (shredded and block)

Butter

Yogurt

Ice Cream

Condiments

Hot Dog and Hamburger Buns

JULY sales and deals:

BBQ Sales:

BBQ Sauce

Baked Beans

Ketchup

Hot Dogs

Ground Beef

Steak

Blueberries (in season)

AUGUST sales and deals:

Back To School Sales:

Lunch Box Foods

Pudding Cups

Lunchables

Lunch Meat

Bread

Cereal

Waffles

School and Office Supplies

Disinfecting Wipes 

Hand Sanitizers

SEPTEMBER sales and deals:

More Back to School Sales

Tomato Products:

Spaghetti Sauce

Canned Tomatoes

Tomato Sauce

Tomato Soup

Baby Items Month:

Look for sales on major purchases such as stroller, carseats, ect.

OCTOBER sales and deals:

Halloween Promos:

Cookies

Candy

Chocolate Chips

Nuts

Apples

Pumpkins

NOVEMBER sales and deals:

Quilts/Blankets

Hot Coca

Canned Food:

Soups

Broths

Condensed Milk

Canned Veggies/Fruit

Holiday Foods:

Turkey

Pumpkin mix

Stuffing Mix

Potato Mix

Butter

Sweet Potatoes

Fresh Potatoes

Gravy

Bread/Rolls

Frozen Pies

Cranberry Sauce

Fresh Cranberries

DECEMBER sales and deals:

Holiday Party Favorites:

Crackers

Chips

Soda

Stuffing Mix

Potato Mix

Potatoes

Butter

Frozen Pies

Cream Soups

Broths

Egg Nog

Baking Supplies:

Flour

Sugar

Butter

Cream

Cake Mix

Brownie Mix

Muffin Mix

Breads

Pie Crusts

Marshmallows

Whipped Cream

Christmas Items:

Cards

Bows

Tape

Ribbon

Wrapping Paper

A few more things to keep in mind:

-Cereal can be $1.50 or less at least once every two months.

-Pasta can be free or less than $1 every 2-3 Months.

-Diapers (Huggies mainly) go on sale every 3 Months (we've seen more sales this last year. This is not normal so please don't rely on the frequency of these last sales).
- At the end of each month, start looking out for some good clearance sales on non-perishable items. Things that might be nearing expiration.

Hopefully this list will give you a better idea of what is on sale and when--this way you can stockpile for very little out of pocket! 

{ -Savvy With Savings- }