Save Bundles by Tracking Supermarket Sales Cycles

Updated

Grocery shopping is pretty routine. Week after week, we go in and buy the same items without thinking too much about it.

But you should be wary of shopping on autopilot. Chances are, you're overpaying -- sometimes by as much as 50 percent. The secret lies in the store's sales cycle, and the sooner you learn it, the sooner you save.

There are two types of sales cycles. The first is seasonal. A lot of seasonal sales are common sense; canned pumpkin is cheaper in October, chocolate sells for less in February. But there are a lot of other seasonal items that go on sale during months you wouldn't expect -- like oatmeal in January, and peanut butter in September.

The next type is a rotational sales cycle. These sales are typically used to rotate the stock on the shelves every 6 to 12 weeks.

This may seem complicated, but with some time and practice, you can learn how to keep tabs on the best deals.

Start by making a list of the top 10 items you most often buy at the store. Then, start tracking those prices week to week. Grab a circular if there's one handy. After 6 to 12 weeks, you'll start to see a point where the price drops noticeably lower than the other weeks. This is when you should shop for this item, and potentially even buy in bulk. Remember, each item will have its own cycle, so track each product individually for the most accuracy.

So if you want to maximize savings in the long run, start tracking your store's sales cycle. Some codes are definitely worth cracking!

Related: Stop supermarket overspending

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