Budget Friendly Bits: When to Buy What

Want to get the best deal on food that you buy? It all starts with knowing when to shop. Wednesday an Sundays are the best days to grocery shop. Wednesdays for many stores is double coupon day, sometimes new sales ads go out, and the stores may still honor last week’s deals on top of the new deals. On Sundays newspapers put out coupon inserts and weekly ads. Coupons combined with special pricing in newspaper inserts may lead to great deals and savings. Quantities are sometimes limited so you don’t want to miss out.

I don’t know if you know this but everything has a good deal season. Hope this month-by-month guide brings you the biggest bargains.

January
Chocolate
Soda
Oatmeal
Diet foods
Frozen finger foods
Beef and other meats
Tea
Soups
Super Bowl related foods – like chips, salsa, soda and snacks
Turkey
Ham
Baking supplies – like flour, sugar, yeast chocolate chips, baker’s chocolate, sweetened condensed

cabbages
leeks
broccoli
cauliflower

oranges
grapefruit
tangerines
tangelos
lemons
papayas
pears
Apples

February
Canned Foods
Chocolate and candies
Steak
Seafood
Oatmeal and other hot cereals
Snack Foods
Chinese New Year related foods – soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, noodles and stir fry ingredients such as bamboo shoots and water chestnuts
Breakfast related foods – like pancake mix and maple syrup

broccoli
cauliflower
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes

oranges
grapefruits
lemons
papayas

March
Frozen foods and veggies
Pasta
Peanut Butter
Flour
Corned beef

broccoli
lettuce
Celery
artichokes

pineapples
mangoes

April
Candy
Eggs
Ham
Cheese
Mustard
Ready-made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Organic/natural foods
Pie crusts
ricotta
mozzarella
crushed tomatoes
olive oil
dairy products
Chicken

Mushrooms
zucchini
rhubarb
artichokes
asparagus
spring peas
broccoli
lettuce
Cauliflower

pineapples
mangoes

May
Hotdogs
Ground beef
Pork
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments – ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish
Salad dressing
Chips
Ice cream
Popsicles
Frozen pies
Soda
Bottled water
Salsa

Mushrooms
okra
zucchini
rhubarb
artichokes
asparagus
spring peas
broccoli
lettuce

cherries
pineapples
apricots

June
Ice cream
Butter and other dairy
Popsicles
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags
Fish and seafood
BBQ related foods

corn
lettuce
Tomatoes

watermelon
strawberries
cantaloupe
cherries
blueberries
peaches
apricots
Lemon
Limes

July
Hot dogs
Pork
Ground beef
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments – ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish
Salad dressing
Chips
Ice cream
Butter and other dairy
Popsicles
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags
Baked beans

cucumbers
tomatoes
summer squash
corn
green beans
lettuce

watermelon
strawberries
cantaloupe
blueberries
peaches
apricots
kiwi
raspberries
plums
Blackberries
Nectarines

August
Cereal
Breakfast bars
Peanut butter
Jelly
Lunch meat
American cheese
Yogurt
Chips
Snack cakes
Cookies
Ice cream
Soda
Bottled water
Iced tea mix and bags
Drink boxes
Coffee
Fresh Fish
lamb
canned goods

cucumbers
corn
eggplant
tomatoes
summer squash
green beans
lettuce
Green peppers

watermelon
strawberries
cantaloupe
blueberries
peaches
apricots
kiwi
raspberries
plums
Apples
Blackberries

September
Cereal
Breakfast bars
Peanut butter
Jelly
Lunch meat
American cheese
Yogurt
Chips
Snack cakes
Cookies
Hot dogs
Pork
Ground beef
Hamburger and hot dog buns
Condiments – ketchup, mustard, barbeque sauce, relish
Salad dressing
Canned fruits and vegetables
Soups
Broth
Frozen pies
Soda
Wine
Drink boxes
Chicken
Honey
Rice
Breakfast related foods – oatmeal, pancake mix, syrup, bacon, sausage, and other breakfast foods

Mushrooms
eggplants
pumpkins
tomatoes
spinach
lettuce
Broccoli
Cauliflower

grapes
pomegranates
Apples

October
Canned fruits and vegetables
Dried fruits – raisins, apricots, cranberries
Soups
Broth
Fair Trade products
Seafood
Pasta
Pork
Canned tomatoes and pasta sauce, as well as ravioli and other such foods
Canned chili
Apple related products – applesauce, apple juice, apple pie filling, apple butter, chutneys, and etc.

Mushrooms
sweet potatoes
pumpkins
winter squash
broccoli
spinach lettuce
Tomatoes

cranberries
apples
pomegranates
grapes
Oranges

November
Turkey
Butter
Cheese
Baking supplies – flour, sugar, yeast chocolate chips, baker’s chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, cooking oil
Pie crusts
Ready-made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Pie filling
Spices
Nuts
Dried fruits – raisins, apricots, cranberries
Oatmeal
Candy
Marshmallows
Soups
Broth
Frozen food and veggies
Stuffing
Hot beverage related products – coffee, hot chocolate, tea

pumpkins
winter squash
sweet potatoes
broccoli
mushrooms
spinach
Potatoes

cranberries
oranges
tangerines
pears
pomegranates

Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Disposable baking pans

December
Ham
Butter
Cheese
Baking supplies – flour, sugar, yeast chocolate chips, baker’s chocolate, sweetened condensed
milk, cooking oil
Pie crusts
Ready made dough
Dinner rolls
Frozen pies
Cake mix
Cake frosting
Pie filling
Refrigerated cookie dough
Spices
Nuts
Dried fruits – raisins, apricots, cranberries
Oatmeal
Soda
Stuffing
ricotta
mozzarella
crushed tomatoes
olive oil

sweet potatoes
mushrooms
broccoli
cauliflower
Potatoes

pears
oranges
grapefruit
tangerines
papayas
pomegranates
Apples

Disposable baking pans
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap

Note: Bananas seem to always be in season. There are a some holes in this list, admittedly. I sorry I could not find a clear season for carrots, parsnips and a few other vegetables and fruits. Hope to add to the list as I discover more food seasonal deals.

References:
*wisebread.com
*frugalliving.about.com
*Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There by Mark DiVincenzo
*oprah.com
*stretcher.com