Suburban Homesteading – Frugal Living

With the year coming to a close it’s a great time to lay the groundwork for stocking your pantry and home with needed items. An effective way to shop for food storage and other household items is to know when they typically go on sale.

Some of this is common sense. Seasonal items like winter coats generally go on sale by the end of December while gardening supplies can be purchased for less in the fall. But, some great information can be found on the Consumer Reports website, websites on stocking up and store ads. The Calendar below is just a sample of the items you can stock up throughout the year, helping to build a well supplied pantry and save money on other purchases. Be patient. Watch store ads for items that are 50% off or more. Shop when items are on sale. As time goes by and your pantry grows you’ll be spending less time in the market and more time shopping from your own pantry!

(Keep in mind that this is just a generalized list. Every part of the country is different and sale times and items may vary)

Month-by-Month Seasonal Sales

January – New Years, Chinese New Year, Super Bowl Sales
Grocery Sales: Roasts, apples, grapefruit, oranges, and pears, breakfast cereal, canned chili, soups, dry bouillon, prepared meals, teriyaki and soy sauce, oriental noodles, lotion, toiletries
Seasonal Sales: Winter clothing & accessories, winter boots & shoes, handbags, white sales, dishes, Christmas clearance, furniture, appliances, computers, storage containers, shelf organizers, planners & calendars, filing cabinets, shelving, CDs and DVDs, cookware, humidifiers, stock up on wedding gifts

February – Valentine’s & President’s Day Sales
Grocery Sales: Post Valentine’s Day candy, apples, grapefruit, oranges, pears, breakfast cereal, food bars, canned chili, nuts, toilet paper, facial tissue, butter, foil, plastic wrap, trash bags, hair color, razors, diapers, soap/body wash, wheat grinder
Seasonal Sales: Furniture, mattresses, semi-annual bedding & bath sales, curtain, rugs, Valentine gifts, snow blowers, last year’s chain saws & lawnmowers, digital cameras, DVD players, radios, CD players, luggage, athletic shoes & clothes, some swim suits, baby item sales, fitness equipment, small appliances, large appliances & freezers, fireplace items, portable heaters, used cars

March – National Frozen Food Month
Grocery Sales: Frozen vegetables, meats, breakfast items, and TV dinners. Case lot sales – canned soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, meats, stew, honey, jelly, mac & cheese, Spam, hand grain mill,
Seasonal Sales: Garden supplies & seeds, spring clothing & shoes, last of the winter clothing clearance, toy clearance, jeans, luggage, infant clothing & bedding, winter sports clearance, ski equipment, storm windows, computers, TV’s, Ipods/MP3 players, air beds, laundry appliances, snow blowers, chain saws, Easter clothing, toys, and candy

April – National Garden Month, Easter
Grocery Sales: Eggs, ham, marshmallows, broccoli, cauliflower, Easter candy clearance
Seasonal Sales: Men’s suits/ties, Easter and spring dresses & shoes, paint, digital cameras, luggage, lawnmowers and lawn equipment, chainsaws, vegetable & bedding plants and soil, handbags, jewelry, spring tops and shorts/capris, sandals, trampolines, framed swimming pools, swing sets, pillows, sheets

May – Cinco De Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day
Grocery Sales: Taco sauce, enchilada sauce, salsa, Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, buns, asparagus, pineapple, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, frozen veggies, baked beans, paper goods, olives
Seasonal Sales: Mother’s Day gifts, spring cleaning supplies, athletic shoes & clothes, tires, home maintenance items, white sales such as linens, blankets, towels, women’s undergarments, sportswear & ties, sunscreens, bug spray, cordless phones

June – National Safety Month, Father’s Day
Grocery Sales: Bottled water, dairy products, tomatoes, croutons, salad dressing, Gatorade powder, lemonade powder
Seasonal Sales: Summer clothing, dresses, summer sports gear, men’s clothing, refrigerators, TV’s, computers, electronics, fabrics, building materials & lumber (for food storage shelves!), pianos, canning supplies, insect repellent, sunscreen

July – Canning Month, 4th of July
Grocery Sales: Bottled water, ketchup, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, mustard, croutons, salad dressing, mayonnaise, pickles, relish, hot dogs, ground beef, Jell-O, beef steaks, chicken, paper supplies, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, corn, cherries, squash, watermelons, cantaloupes, tomatoes, plums, peaches, and nectarines, Gatorade powder, lemonade powder
Seasonal Sales: 4th of July sales & clearance, summer clothing clearance, swim suits, sandals, beach towels, camping equipment, hiking boots, summer sports equipment, shade covers, coolers, dutch oven, charcoal, used cars, air conditioners, fuel oil, rugs & carpet, radios, craft supplies, BBQ’s, patio furniture clearance, lawn mower clearance, back-to-school sales begin

August – Back to School Sales
Grocery Sales: Squash, green peppers, salad fixings, berries, apples, melons, peaches, apricots, and fresh fish, juice
Seasonal Sales: Camping equipment clearance, barbecue clearance, patio furniture clearance, new car clearance, furniture, outdoor sport equipment clearance, lawn mower clearance, air conditioner clearance, fans, yard tools, back to school sales, swim suit clearance, computers and printers for students

September – Emergency Preparedness & Case Lot Sales
Grocery Sales: Utah Case lot sales (canned soups, fruit, vegetables, beans, meats, stew, honey, jelly, macaroni. & cheese, Spam, Ravioli’s, Spaghettios, hand grain mill, etc.), apples, broccoli, cauliflower, school snacks, Capri suns, fruit snacks, cereal, peanut butter/jelly, bottled spaghetti sauce
On Sale: jeans, fans, yard tools, bikes, rugs, lamps, dishes & glassware, fall clothing
Clearance Sales: School backpacks (look for a sturdy one for 72-hour kits), BBQ’s, patio furniture, back-to-school supplies, college furnishings, summer sports equipment, comforter sets, summer clothing such as shorts & capris, pajamas, summer athletic clothes, sandals, canvas shoes
Camping Clearance: tents, lanterns, flashlights, camp cook sets, hiking backpacks, hiking boots, camping chairs, 2-way radios, sleeping bags, camping stoves, Dutch ovens, shade covers, coolers, duffle bags

October – National Fire Prevention Month, Halloween
Grocery Sales: Vegetable and other oils, canned pumpkins, cranberries, grapes, oranges, sweet potatoes, and yams, instant potatoes, stuffing, canned cranberries, marshmallows, ice cream, pie shells, whipped cream, crackers, candy making supplies, nuts, choc. chips, frozen pizza, corn syrup, soup mixes
Seasonal Sales: Winter coats, school clothing clearance, hosiery, fishing supplies, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire escape ladders, glow sticks

November – Veterans Day, & Thanksgiving Sales
Grocery Sales: canned cranberries, canned pumpkin, stuffing, olives, whipping cream, cool whip, frozen vegetables, fresh cranberries (freeze for later), cream cheese, chicken broth, turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, yams, and post-Halloween bags of candy, condensed milk, cake mix, frosting, brownie mix, cooking spray, pie filling
Seasonal Sales: Coats, boots, gloves, quilts, blankets, baby blankets, heating appliances, water heaters, appliances, men’s/boy’s suits, Thanksgiving week sales

December – Christmas & after Christmas Sales
Grocery Sales: Candy making supplies, flour, sugar, nuts, choc. chips, oranges, apples, and grapefruit, broth, soups, party foods, baking cocoa, hot cocoa, pasta, vanilla & other extracts, cream of tartar, cooking spray, cold medicine, thermometers, toothbrushes, batteries, vitamins
Seasonal Sales: Winter coats, gloves etc., toys, shoes, gift items, bikes, new cars, quilts & blankets, electronics, small appliances, gift wrap, after Christmas sales, candles, baby furniture, cell phones

photo credit: Matt Kowal