All week I will be sharing ways to save money and cut your budget in 2012. Today, I will be sharing how to use sales cycles to save big money! I have been able to save significant money on both grocery and home goods just by being aware of sales cycles.
What are sales cycles?
Sales cycles are simply a pattern of when specific loss leaders appear. Loss leaders are the items that a store reduces each week hoping that you’ll stop by to purchase and, of course, pick up a few impulse items here and there while you’re shopping.
When are sales cycles?
Most local grocery stores cycle their sales every twelve to twenty four weeks. By watching the sale ads, you will find which items cycle sooner than others. You can find barbecue items on sale from April to July but the deepest discounts in most areas will be just before and after Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Just before Thanksgiving and Christmas you can find bargains on baking goods and March is National Frozen Foods month. Click here to see a chart on sales cycles.
Tracking the price of an item over a period of several weeks will help you become familiar with sales cycles and fluctuations in prices. I recommend focusing on the five to ten items you most frequently purchase. Click here for a worksheet to help you get started.
Why should I follow sales cycles?
We use a ton of shredded cheese in our house. I know that at least every 12 weeks I can get our cheese for 50% off the regular price. When this sale hits I make sure to stock up the freezer. This trick saves me tons of money and all I had to do was stock up at the right time!
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Great tips. Knowing sales cycles will make savings with coupons much more rewarding at the grocery store.