Seasonal Sale Cycles: A Monthly Guide with Free Printable

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One of the simplest – and often overlooked – ways to save money in the grocery store is by shopping the seasonal sales. This is the best way to build a stockpile at low prices. I have built and maintain my stockpile by utilizing the seasonal sale cycles. Let me give you an example of what I mean.

I make poppy seed chicken several times a year. It requires 2 cans of cream of chicken soup. Prices have continued to climb so cream of chicken soup now costs around $1.29 a can. In November, it goes on sale for as low as $0.49 a can. This past year, I stacked my coupons with the sales and bought a case of cream of chicken soup for only $0.39 a can. I saved $0.90 a can or $21.60 in my grocery bill for the year simply by planning ahead and buying when the prices were lowest. I try to do this every November.

Now, how do you know what will be on sale in any given month? Simple. Grocery stores sell things in cycles. Many of the sale cycles are tied to holidays in a month as well as national days, sponsored by those manufacturers. By knowing what is on sale in a specific month, you can plan ahead and stock up in that month to save in the months to come.

It’s hard to know all the specifics so I’ve done the work of the seasonal sale cycles for you. I’ve gone through all 12 month of the year and noted occasions and holidays, special months, clearance things to watch for, and the items most commonly on sale in any given month. It’s a long list but one that I hope will help you.

Because this is such a lengthy list, I’ve also created a free 3 page printable of the Seasonal Sale Cycles that you can print for your own reference. You can download your own copy of my list via the link above, or via the link at the bottom of this post.

Are you ready to learn more about the seasonal sale cycles? Here is the list of what to buy in any given month.

January
Occasions: New Year’s & Super Bowl
Specials: National Oatmeal Month
Watch for: After Christmas Clearance
Sales on:
• Quaker Oatmeal
• Diet foods
• Healthy Choice
• South Beach
• Lean Cuisine
• Special K
• Kashi
• Yogurt
• Granola Bars
• Chips
• Soda
• Dips
• Frozen Snacks & Wings

February
Occasions: Valentine’s Day & Chinese New Year
Specials: National Hot Breakfast Month & National Canned Food Month
Watch for: After Valentine’s Day Clearance
Sales on:
• Hot Cereals
• Frozen Waffles and Pancakes
• Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches
• Biscuits and Cinnamon Rolls
• Syrup
• Canned Fruits
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Meats
• Pie Fillings

March
Occasions: St. Patrick’s Day & March Madness
Specials: Frozen Food Month
Sales on:
• Frozen Vegetables (Box and Bag)
• Frozen Fruits
• Frozen Meals
• Ice Cream
• Frozen Pizza
• Frozen Snacks
• Cleaning Supplies

April
Occasions: Easter & Passover
Watch for: After Easter Clearance
Sales on:
• Ham
• Eggs
• Butter
• Organic Foods
• Kosher Foods
• Marshmallows
• Coconut
• Baking Mixes
• Spices
• Kosher Foods
• Organic Foods

May
Occasions: Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day & Memorial Day
Specials: National Barbeque Month
Sales on:
• BBQ sauce
• Condiments
• Marinades
• Salad Dressing
• Pickles
• Potato Chips
• Dips
• Grilling Meats
• Hot Dogs
• Salsa
• Tortillas
• Taco Seasoning
• Picnic Supplies

June
Occasions: (Almost) 4th of July
Specials: National Dairy Month
Sales on:
• Milk
• Cheese
• Cream Cheese
• Ice Cream
• Yogurt
• Butter
• Whipped Cream / Cool Whip
• Picnic Supplies
• Hot Dogs
• BBQ Sauce
• Ketchup
• Condiments
• Potato Chips
• Dips
• Watermelon
• Tomatoes

July
Occasions: Fourth of July
Specials: National Hot Dog Month & National Ice Cream Month
Watch for: School Supply Sales
Sales on:
• Blueberries
• Watermelon
• BBQ Sauce
• Salad Dressing
• Condiments
• Grilling Meats
• Hot Dogs
• Baked Beans
• Ice Cream
• Picnic Supplies
• Sunscreen
• Aloe
• First Aid Supplies
• School Supplies

August
Occasions: Back to School
Watch for: Summer Clearance
Sales on:
• Pudding Cups
• Lunch Meat
• Bread
• Cereal
• Waffles
• Clorox
• Purell
• Zucchini
• Corn
• Tomatoes
• Bell Peppers
• Back to School Sales on Supplies

September
Occasions: Labor Day
Specials: National Baby Safety Month & National Coupon Month
Sales on:
• Cereal
• Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Capri Suns
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Campbell’s Soups
• Canned Goods
• Apples
• Beans
• Back to School Supplies

October
Occasions: Halloween
Specials: National Apple Month, National Pizza Month, National Pretzel Month & National Cookie Month
Sales on:
• Kraft
• Canned Pumpkin
• Evaporated Milk
• Chocolate Chips
• Baking Items
• Candy
• Apples
• Sweet Potatoes
• Potatoes
• Crackers

November
Occasions: Thanksgiving
Watch for: Halloween Clearance
Sales on:
• Crackers
• Peanut Butter
• Baking Items
• Flour
• Sugar
• Canned Pumpkin
• Gravy and Broth
• Stove Top Stuffing
• Dried Onions
• Turkeys
• Jello
• Marshmallows
• Frozen Pies
• Canned Vegetables
• Creamed Soups
• Onions
• Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

December
Occasions: Christmas
Watch for: After Thanksgiving Clearance & After Christmas Clearance
Sales on:
• Crackers
• Soda
• Ham
• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Baking Mixes
• Sweetened Condensed Milk
• Soup
• Sour Cream
• Potatoes
• Cool Whip
• Frozen Potatoes

Keep this reference in the back of your mind to help you save at the checkout. You can also print this list by downloading your own copy of Seasonal Sale Cycles . Now, watch for those seasonal cycles and buy then to save!

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11 Comments

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  2. Nice list.

    Our problem/issue is that we are retired, looking at fixed income (where we never worried about budget before). Cooking for just the two of us is problematic. All recipes (including your poppy seed chicken) is for a 9″ x 13″ pan. For us, we would be eating that for a month!!

    I’ve always stockpiled. I shop at Costco and we have a great local grocery store (HEB in Texas) that has great deals on meat and other items. When hamburger (in 2020 and 2021) is $2.97 pound. This occurs about once a month, so I purchase and make a whole bunch of meals and freeze.

    Anyway, my most stocked items (no kids, just two retired adults). mostly from Costco

    -Dark Red Kidney Beans canned (was .58 can, after COVID .78 can)
    -Rotel – 8 pack from Costco
    -Coffee K Cups
    -Coffee-Mate Creamer
    -Splenda packets (1200 in a box)
    -Canned Hormel Chili
    -Cream of Mushroom soup (cream of Chicken no longer available at Costco- maybe Sam’s Club??)
    -Bush’s Baked Beans
    – Diced Tomatoes
    – Tomato Sauce
    =Frozen Pizza
    – Shredded Cheese (I break down into smaller Ziplock bags and put extra in alternate refrigerator
    -Butter
    -Vitamins
    -pistachios (hubby is addicted, but much less expensive than purchasing a bag from grocery store
    and so on.

    So when you buy bread in bulk HOW do you store it? It takes us a couple of weeks to go through a loaf of bread.

    We buy milk by the half gallon (costs more) but takes us two weeks to go through.

    Curious- from a different point of view.
    Betty

    1. Your stock up list is a great one as well, Betty! The important thing is that you buy the things you use and need. I grew up in Texas so love HEB too. Good job at stocking up on hamburger when it is on sale! As for bread, bread freezes great! I freeze the loaf and just take out a couple slices when I need them. Whether it is store bought bread or homemade bread or buns, storing it in the freezer is a great way to make it last!

  3. Thank you so much for this list! It will be a great addition to my notebook! I try to keep a stockpile, and it sure has come in handy during these past several weeks. Always great to have information as I believe information is knowledge and this knowledge will allow us to save even more!

    1. You are welcome, Kathy! I’ve found this list to be very helpful in building and maintaining my stockpile. There is always more to learn about how we can save, and I’m glad I can help with that journey!

  4. Wow! This is quite a list. Thanks for for doing all the work on this. I can plan ahead a little more now.

    1. You’re welcome, Gretchen! It’s always nice to know what deals are coming next! I hope it helps you save a lot!

  5. Awesome list! Thanks for this. I was actually just thinking about looking for something like this yesterday!

    1. Thanks, Vera! And you are very welcome! It’s handy to know when the best deals are just around the corner. I hope it helps you save lots!

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