May 2009

I was asked recently how someone could know what coupons to save and what goes on sale when? Good question.

To save the most money timing sales with coupons and stocking up until the next round of sales is the best way to shop. But how to you know when something will go on sale? And when it is on sale, how do you know the price won’t go lower next week? Well, you don’t unless you work for a grocer marketing or manufacturer marketing department. But you can make an educated guess by tracking previous sales with a price book.

What exactly is a price book? A price book was always a binder or book filled with the date, store, sale item, regular price (and/or regular price per pound), the sale price (and/or the sale price per pound) and the unit price per ounce. Here is a great example of a price book page from houseworksbook.com. Today, many folks will keep track in an excel spreadsheet. Here is a great excel spreadsheet sample from cheapcooking.com. The excel spreadsheet can calculate unit cost for you (if you know how to use excel).

Some folks price book only items they use frequently or semi-frequently. Some post everything from a sale ad, and some post everything they purchase from their register receipts.

The negative to a price book is it can take years to notice a pattern, although you are hoping for results in a 3-6 month period. That is a long time to dedicate to a project. The payoff is huge, however. Imagine knowing exactly what and when something will be on sale in your area and determining if the price really is “a sale” with just a glance.

General Sales:

January is National Soup Month

February is Canned Food Month
National Snack Food Month, this ties in well with all the Super Bowl promotions and sales

January or February – Chinese New Year, Chinese foods

March is Frozen Food Month link to website
Also National Noodle Month

Easter – ham, eggs
Passover – traditional Passover Seder foods

May is National Beef Month
Cinco de Mayo, Mexican foods
Memorial day, beverages, picnic items

June is National Dairy Month
National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
Ice Cream

July is National Ice Cream Month
Independence day, beverages, picnic items

September is National Chicken Month link to website
Labor day, beverages, picnic items

October is National Seafood Month
National Pork Month

November – baking holiday needs, turkeys

December – baking holiday needs

About.com has a “best time to buy” list

You can track national sales but it is always best to know what is on sale in your market and when. Some items will never be a great price for you. The ability to know what to buy and when is one of the best money saving tools you can develop.

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