Save-ology 101: The Sales Cycle

It's important to understand that stores run sales on products in cycles, usually collaborating with manufacturers to coincide with coupons or catalina deals that can maximize your savings.  When all of those "stars align" to provide deep savings, the best approach is to stock up enough of the product to last you until the next sale, usually 4 to 8 weeks.  That way, you're not putting yourself in the position of needing a particular product and having to pay full price, in the the absence of a coupon or sale.

Sales are also seasonal.  Just this past week, the stores have run incredible sales on cleaning products.  Hmmmmm.... could it be that the stores and manufacturer's know that as warmer weather approaches our thoughts turn to Spring cleaning???  You bet, so stock up on the deals to get you through a good bit of the year so you're not paying full price later in the year when there isn't a sale on those products to be found.  Also, think about your holidays and notice how the sales coincide:

New Years Day (resolutions means sales on diet foods, vitamins, energy bars, pain meds.)

Valentines Day (chocolates, candy, intimacy products)

Lent (fish, fish, & more fish!)

Easter (candy, ham, eggs)

Memorial Day/ July 4th/ Labor Day (soda, hot dogs, bbq items)

Halloween (candy)

Thanksgiving (turkey, cake & cookie mixes, baking products)

Christmas (ham, candy, cake & cookie mixes, baking products, batteries)

So how do you know what's a good stock-up price?  A lot of this you will learn purely from experience.  As you build your stockpile, those figures change.  Let me give you an example.  When I first started couponing seriously, I was buying as much bodywash as I could at $1.50 per bottle.  Now that my stockpile is built up over a 6-9 month supply, I don't look at bodywash unless it's $0.50 per bottle or less.  And when I find it at that price, I buy as much as I can to keep that stockpile up. 

Also, meat, produce, breads and dairy can be tricky.  I recommend starting a "little black book" and taking it with you when you go to the stores.  Jot down the prices of the meat & produce products you buy regulary and develop a "buy price" and a "stockup price" for you to use as a rule of thumb when looking for the best deals. Paying attention to sales trends is very important to maximizing your savings opportunities throughout the year.