Summer Sales Memorial Day Father’s Day The Fourth Labor Day

Yum

Starting a week or two before Memorial Day when summer “unofficially” starts up to Labor Day, which signifies the end of summer’s casual fun, you’ll see grocery stores responding to each holiday in turn with sales Watch for these sales around Memorial Day Father’s Day The Forth Labor Day.

As far as saving at the grocery store during any of the summer holidays, you’ll see many of the same things on sale, with just a few exceptions, whether you’re talking Memorial Day, Father’s Day, The Fourth, or Labor Day.

Before we proceed: Long post alert! I promised you years ago I would never write incomplete cutesy articles that only give you breezy easy answers or worse, make you click and click to get the information you need. So fair warning! And FYI: You’ll find links at the bottom of the page for all the big food holidays.

Whether or not you celebrate any of the summer holidays, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, or Labor Day, it’s wise to be aware of what can be on sale, what might be at rock bottom pricing, and what to stock up on to take the best advantage.

Once summer ends, some items will be scarce or non-existent, and others priced higher as we transition into fall and winter with their own cycle of sale items. You won’t want to miss out on some of these summer sales – especially on items that will carry you through the year. (Yep, I said year!)

The ad was at one of my local stores.

The competition for your dollar is high before any holiday. Those clever grocers want to lure you to their store during the weeks before with a few holiday-appropriate rock-bottom sale prices. They want you to pick up a single big ticket sales-priced item or two to be the centerpiece of your event, and while you’re there grab everything else you need, whether on sale or not.

Their reasoning (and maybe yours although I hope to change that) is that you are stressed for time and spending more than usual on groceries in response to the holiday. They are betting you will not cherry-pick the best sales items, spend extra $$ to stock up on them, and leave the rest behind. And they are really betting you won’t go to another store and do the same.

The grocers may be right. Spending even more money stocking up might be the last thing on your mind when the holiday already costs you extra & you’re already super busy. But doing so strategically should be the FIRST thing on your mind.

Shift your mind to the possibility that holiday grocery sales can leave you financially ahead rather than behind if you’re in the know.

Shop around in the weeks before a holiday focusing on cherry-picking the best sales, checking the ads for multiple stores.
Buy what you need for the holiday and pick up extra groceries at rock-bottom sale prices to stash for the next few weeks, months, and beyond.
If you’re a couponer, producers will glut the market with coupons (electronic & paper), and combined with sale prices and store coupons this can make for an even sweeter deal.

If you know what to look for AND have an idea when those items might go on sale again, you can stock up appropriately and not buy too much or too little. That’s shopping for the win!

Once you wrap your mind around the idea, it’s easy to identify what might be on sale seasonally and/or around holidays.

Now and then sales pop up for no obvious reason. Set aside or come up with a few extra bucks for those surprises.
Some stores (most ads come out on Sunday or Wednesday) might toss out a last-minute Friday ad right before a holiday. If you’re on a budget, setting aside a little extra for that sale might pay off.

Playing the “grocery market” is like playing the stock market. Put the most money on the best value and buy low. Think of it as “skipping along” from sale to sale, from Holiday to Holiday, spending more money when it is to your advantage to stock up and less when sales aren’t good. There are plenty of both seasonal and Holiday sales to get you by.

Your goal is to never pay full price and to do that means you need to build up a reasonable stash of food in your cupboards, pantry, and freezer. Shopping this way is a low-cost effortless way to do that. In time you’ll realize that even if you have to start small, almost everything in your kitchen was purchased at a low and you’re eating better for less.

These are my picks and best advice for what to buy during Summer Holiday Sales; your good judgment and knowledge of how prices and sales work in your area should prevail.

Almost anything you can grill or smoke will be at a great price somewhere and sometime before a summer holiday. While some might vary by region there are options to satisfy just about anyone.

Many “Prepared” or “Heat and Eat” options may be on sale but will cost more (and not taste as good) than if you make a similar item from scratch. Do whatcha have to, but if you’re going to buy, at least buy them at a low. (For me they are a hard no.)

Pork Items:

Pork is lowest during the fall and before or shortly after any holiday where ham is featured: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Easter, and Mother’s Day. Summer sales are still very competitive. Watch for these:

Ribs: A big sale item, often at rock-bottom pricing. If you love and have room (they’re bulky) in your freezer, stock up at a low. Sometimes in cryovac, ribs freeze well as is. If space is short, trim to St. Louis style (see instructions on “Competition Ribs“) and rewrap carefully. How to use trimmings is on the same post.
Pork Butt or Shoulder: (and sometimes loin or tenderloin) You may find good prices; it depends on your area. High demand for ribs means something has to be done with the rest of the animal. Know your pricing and stock depending on what you will use, already have on hand, and space. Buy accordingly keeping in mind there will be many pop up sales and low prices in the fall.
Smoked Sausages: There are multiple varieties. Link sausages, especially brats, and hot dogs, will be rock bottom. Rope sausages (think smoked sausage, kielbasa, andouille, etc.), and cured sausages (like summer sausage), will also be on sale. Buy if the price is great. If the items are in large packaging, break them down into sizes your family will need and freeze.
Bacon and Breakfast Sausage (links and bulk varieties): All will be on sale before any holiday. Watch for store specials and store coupons. Get in the habit of picking up several packages when you see them at a low, just enough to last to the next holiday. Both freeze well, bacon for months maybe longer but sausages have a more limited shelf life.

Where’s The Beef:

Pretty much anything that can be grilled or smoked will be at a great sale price before a summer holiday. It’s worth noting that the cheaper roasts and large cuts, like cuts from the round or chuck roasts, will be a little more scarce and/or on sale less often during the summer – so many of those cuts are utilized for the high demand for ground beef.

Brisket: Brisket is often on sale before summer holidays but may be scarce and pricey in some areas. You may also find brisket on sale in response to the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Passover, and Hanukkah although this varies with region. Trim the whole brisket (separate the flat & point & remove excess fat) before freezing for space saving & easier thawing. Chuck roast can be an inexpensive sub for some recipes.
Ground Beef: Will be at super-sale prices, with different percentages in different sales leading up to almost any summer holiday. If you aren’t particular about the percentage you’ll have more opportunities to grab at rock bottom. Do think about using less ground beef and more chicken. Ground beef is not the bargain it used to be.
Preformed Burgers: Both fresh and frozen will be an item, often at rock bottom. The pricing per pound is never as low as ground beef of the same percentage on sale, and the quality is never as good. If you use them, stock up at a low knowing you are paying more for a convenience product.
Premium Burgers: Already “mixed up” burgers, usually from the meat case, filled with cheese, and so on are often at a low before any summer holiday. Consider making your own – the premade ones are not a great value, even on sale.
Steaks: Usually, there will be a steak or two at a great price. Buy what you need but keep in mind the stock up prices are usually between Christmas and New Year’s. Know the pricing in your area so you can judge accordingly. The biggest exceptions to this “rule” are flank and skirt. Consider them if the price is right, although usually on sale they are expensive. Larger sirloins can be a budget substitute for many recipes.

Chicken & Poultry:

Depending on the area, chicken (sometimes frozen and sometimes fresh) legs, thighs, quarters and breasts will drop to rock bottom about once a quarter. This sometimes coincides with Summer Holiday sales. Whole chickens normally drop to a low in the weeks after Easter so you may see them in conjunction with Mother’s Day and Memorial Day sales.

In General: Know what your rock bottom price is for fresh chicken breasts and thighs (boneless) so you can compare with larger bags of frozen beasts and thighs. Fresh is sold by the pound, frozen by the ounce. Take the # of ounces and divide by 16 to convert to pounds.
Wings: Keep an eye out for wings, especially, which can be pricey per pound compared to other chicken parts. Grab them if you see them at a low and enjoy them and stock up if they are at rock bottom, but not too much. They will likely continue to hit rock bottom before many different holidays. Boneless wings (sliced chicken breasts or tenders cooked like wings) can be a budget alternative.
Tenders: Items like chicken tenders and nuggets (often frozen) are big sellers before any holiday. Know your prices, highs, and lows, and stock up if it’s a great sale, especially if you serve them regularly. Hint: These are so much cheaper if made than bought; if in your wheelhouse consider it for meal prep. Sliced boneless breasts or thighs are usually less expensive than actual tenders and require less prep (no need to remove the tendon.)
Ground Chicken/Turkey: This is an item I don’t ever use; I can’t comment except to say I am not impressed with the quality, safety, or price. Check this article from Consumer Reports.

Fish & Seafood:

Every summer holiday will have at least some Seafood & Fish (fresh or frozen) on sale. The prices aren’t usually rock bottom but it pays to pick up if they are or if you are not stocked up and regularly use them.

The best pricing for most fish/seafood isn’t when they are in season but in the weeks before Easter (Lent) and again before Christmas (Advent) and before New Year’s Eve/Day.

Note on farm-raised vs. wild-caught. I cannot even begin to cover a topic so extensive. I urge you to consider both safety and sustainability and if it’s important to you (and it should be) do your research. Clear your cookies first. I love this post on Omega 3’s.

Seafood: Depending on your locale, Shrimp & Crab Legs will be on sale along with a few other items. If you enjoy these items, indulge. If you wish to buy extra, do so in moderation. There is a good chance the same prices will present themselves during each summer holiday sale until they reach rock bottom before the winter holidays.
Salmon & Tuna: Salmon is often on sale before holidays, Tuna less so. Again, these items are at rock bottom during Lent, and Salmon will reach another low before Christmas. For the budget minded, great sale prices make them more affordable. Pick up in smaller amounts as they present themselves but stock up for the year during Lent.
Other Fish & Extras: Your stores might present a white fish on sale; I’m afraid I haven’t seen the sales with as much regularity. There may be “surprise” sales on other unexpected items. Now and then I’ve seen lobster, scallops, etc. Keep your eyes open, and know that sales like this can vary by location, and are more prevalent near coastal areas.

There is never a better time to stock up on condiments than before Summer Holidays. If you’re a couponer, electronic or paper, you might pick up many of your condiments for pennies. Stock up for the year on items you use as you see them hit rock bottom in the series of summer holidays.

If you run out, there will be decent sales on some items before the Super Bowl, although they aren’t usually at rock-bottom pricing. Do watch for sporadic sales at other times of the year.

Fill in with specialty items around specific holidays as they make sense. Some examples: Salsas before Cinco de Mayo. Horseradish & Cocktail Sauce before Christmas/New Year. Salad Dressings (homemade salad dressing is not only better, it’s less expensive) before Easter & Mother’s Day. Vinegar before Easter. Once you learn to identify rhythms and apply them to almost any item a new way of shopping will open up.

Basic Condiments:

The grocery has your # when it comes to summer holiday sales! They know you’ll need some of the basics. They’re not counting on you buying MORE than you’ll need.

Your thinking might be “We’re having the neighbors over for a cookout. Do we need ketchup? Maybe I should grab beer and charcoal as long as I’m there.” Then you pick up other items as the plan for the event is formulated. (The grocer loves that kind of thinking/shopping!)
What they don’t love? “Wow, ketchup’s a dollar for a bottle! Mustard, too? I’ll buy 6 ketchups and three mustards”, and “Oh I always use Barbecue sauce, so I’ll get a few and I won’t have to pay full price for a long time on these things, hopefully until the next big sale. Maybe I should see what else I can stock up on for a rock-bottom price.”

Do stock up heavily in the summer. I ran out of my $2.50 jars of Mayo and had to pick up one at $5.49 this spring. It made me cringe and reminded me to make homemade Mayo more often.

Watch for sales on Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Pickles, Pickle Relish, Hot Sauces, Barbecue Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, and so many others.
The best pricing on these items is during Summer, usually before the Holidays. It will seriously pay to take advantage of these.

Salad Dressings:

The more you use, the more you should pay attention to the price. It pays to stock up for several months to a year if you see at rock-bottom prices.

It’s almost always healthier, and cheaper, and it only takes a few minutes to make simple salad dressings.

If you use commercial ones, the sales are good before any holiday. You’ll find the best sales from Easter through the summer holidays.
Pay special attention to Ranch pricing if your kids are addicted.

Packets & Mixes:

Though not really “condiments” for the most part I’m not sure where to include them; they are all over the place from pancake to cake mixes, biscuit mixes to gravy, chili, and dressing packets, and everything in between.

Make your mixes or cook from scratch and you will save money.

You might see dip mixes, dressing mixes, chili & taco packets, and almost anything in a box or packet on sale before the summer holidays.
If you use these, stock up in limited quantity, since you’ll see them often on sale. The dip/dressing mixes will likely be at a low.

Grocery Store Cheese:

Plain Old Packaged Grocery Cheese (including store and brand name) of all types will be on a deep sale in the weeks before a holiday.

Consider buying in blocks. They are easier to store than slices or grated and stay fresher longer once opened. Wash your hands, keep them covered when not actively using, and don’t place them on counters, and they will be less likely to pick up molds.

Grocery store cheese keeps for weeks unopened and can be frozen in a pinch. Once frozen, the cheese will be dry and a bit crumbly and is best used in dishes where it doesn’t matter. Casseroles are great contenders for this.
Pick up in quantity when you see great prices. Hint: Keep an eye on the ounces in each package. Shredded, sliced, and grated may contain different amounts for the same price.

Near Deli Cheese:

This better cheese is sold in or near the deli area. Look for great sale prices before any holiday on various items. Summer holidays don’t always generate the best prices but it’s worth taking a peek. The winter holidays, Valentine’s Day, Easter & Mother’s Day are great times to pick up bargains.

Since many are brand names, check the producer’s sites for coupons. Hard cheeses like Parmesan and Asiago last longer if bought in wedges. If Feta is at a low and you use it, stock up. Additional brine can easily be added to cover. See What to Know About Feta. Fresh Mozzarella and Burrata won’t last long so don’t over-buy even if it’s on sale.
They’re so handy, but avoid any already grated hard cheese if you can. Ounce for ounce it costs more than cheese in wedges or blocks, it doesn’t stay fresh for long, and it generates waste in packaging and product; often the last of it is tossed.
Ditto for soft cheese like bleu cheese and feta crumbles. The crumbles and blocks are side by side and the packages look the same size. The crumbles cost a bit less per package but compare ounce for ounce. It becomes clear the crumbles are a poor value. The crumbles are dried and do not compare to the quality of cheese you crumble yourself. Do not pay more for an inferior product.

Kraft Cheese, Velveeta & American:

These all have their places and there’s no reason for people get on their high horses about them. I don’t mind a dry-aged steak dinner (I’ll take one anytime, lol!) but I can also get down with a gas station taco! There’s a place for all foods. Most brands have coupons.

Wrapped American slices will probably be at rock bottom for the year before any summer holiday. Do not attempt to freeze but if it is at a great price, know that it keeps for weeks, and pick up a few packs if you have room and use them.
If you use it, look for coupons on Velveeta. If Velveeta cheese dips for parties and get-togethers or a Mac’n Cheese are in your wheelhouse and the price is great, you may want to buy several. If compared to the per-pound, sale price, grocery store cheese is a better value.
Kraft cheese in the green can is iconic. I said what I said! Look for it on sale during holiday sales; It may be at a low or grouped with other Kraft items. It can be handy to have on hand for weeknight dinners, quick garlic toast, popcorn, cheesy chex mix, and for kids to use but at my store it was $5.49 for 8 ounces regular price, a wedge was $5.89

Cheese Curds:

While cheese curds may be on sale, probably at rock-bottom pricing depending on where you live (especially Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, the value might not be great.
Buy if you need but do watch the per-pound pricing; if it’s too high, substitute with other cheese if possible but there is nothing better breaded and fried or in Poutine than curds

Prepared Items:

Sides like Baked Beans, Potato salad, Cole Slaw, Macaroni or other Pasta Salad, prepared party food like chicken salad, ribs and barbecue, appetizers like Wings, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Buffalo Chicken Dip, Guacamole, Hummus, Pimento Cheese, and any trays of food like deli cheese trays, maybe fried chicken and prepared subs are all going to be on sale along with others I’ve missed.
Don’t fall for it; I have to mention how pricey they are. If you’re on a budget, avoid them like the plague & figure out how to make them at home. I gotta admit I can down some Publix fried chicken; a church lady told me about it and she wasn’t wrong!

Dairy Items:

Look for Sour Cream, Cream Cheese, Yogurt, and Whipping Cream to be on sale before every summer holiday. Butter will usually be on sale, but not at the rock-bottom prices you’ll see before Easter and during the winter holidays.

Buy in enough quantity to last until the next holiday rather than just buying what you need for your upcoming holiday weekend. All have a long shelf life in the fridge; freeze the butter.
Check Aldi or Lidl for all these items; they may be less than the grocery store sales price.

Canned Whipped Cream:

Note that the amount of whipped cream in a can is minuscule compared to what you can make yourself from a carton; it’s generally not the best value.
You cannot beat how quickly you can use it with no mess involved. Buy if it is on sale and you need it.

Dips:

Sour cream dips, hummus, and almost every dip in the dairy case will probably be on sale in the weeks leading up to a holiday.

If the creamy ones are much more than sour cream, making yours from the sales-priced sour cream/cream cheese, etc., might be a better alternative.
A hard no for me is any type of hummus unless I have no time for making my own. Be wary of the expense, even on sale. If you use it on the regular pick up a couple of cartons.

Lunch Meats:

Lunchmeat may be on sale in the deli and refrigerator case. Use your best judgment; know your pricing. It’s a rare purchase for me.

If it’s low you might want to stock in a limited amount. Some freeze but once frozen, lunch meat can be “wet” when thawed. One way to get by the once-frozen texture is to drop in lightly simmering soups, for instance ramen.
Stretch it in sandwiches or other concoctions rather than eat it out of hand.

King’s Hawaiian:

This specialty bread will likely be at a great price during every holiday. My rating for value would be even on sale, it’s a special purchase.

If you use it regularly or plan on using it shortly, check for coupons and buy. Chuck it in the freezer where it will be ok for a short while.
Nothing beats the small buns for sliders and King’s Hawaiian now makes other types of bread.

Any kind of “junk food” might be on sale before each summer holiday. It’s pricey and dollar for dollar, we Americans spend more on it than almost anything else. There is a reason packages don’t come in “pounds” – it would be too easy to compare to other foods.

I don’t use coupons that often anymore but there are times when they can still be worthwhile. Combining them with holiday sales is one of them.

Breakfast Cereal:

I said what I said; most cereal is overpriced and not great nutritionally and I do place it in this category. Someday I’ll do a post on it! 🙂 I don’t include oatmeal & other grain options here and want to stress some cereals are much better than others. They are not normally included in sales like this but take a peek and see.

I tend to check cereal prices specifically to make goodies with! Chex, Rice Krispies and so on. They keep for a long time and I like having them on hand to quickly toss together something when guests are dropping by or tote somewhere.

Many holidays have good sales prices on cereal, name brand or generic. Buy it if you use it and need it, enough to wait out the next great sale. If you buy it, you probably already know the score: The best sales “pop up” sporadically and are often clustered in grocery ads, buy so many get $ off. Some of these are before holidays.
Apply coupons (there are always coupons online, at producer’s sites & on paper if buying brand name) to lower the price. Combined with a great sale they may beat out generic pricing. The big players here are General Mills and Post.
It’s wise to shop at alternative stores, discount or buyer’s clubs, or forgo it and find other breakfast options.

Bagged Chips, Pretzels & Snack Items:

Most of these items will be on sale during the weeks leading up to a holiday and are usually rock bottom at some stores. The issue is identifying just what sale is the best and if you want to wait out for a better price. It pays to know your rock-bottom pricing especially if you’re loading up for a party.

Many grocery stores put their upcoming ad up the evening before the sales cycle starts which gives you a last-minute chance to compare the current sales week with the next.
Snack items like this are usually on sale before every holiday. If they are a regular item at your house and you can ration them or have an upcoming event where you want to have them on hand, cautiously buy extra.

Crackers & Cookies:

Hint: Rather than snacking, use these items to create with and/or to have on hand for a purpose.

If you’re a baker, focus on cookies and crackers for desserts. Sale-priced graham crackers beat out the price of crumbs in the baking aisle. Many cookies make great crusts for cheesecake, ice cream pies/cakes, and refrigerator cakes.
Crackers can be a great item to have on hand; they are pricey full price and sales don’t always coincide with when you want to have a get-together.

The lowest prices for both of these are pre-holiday. The bigger conglomerates have their fingers in almost everything. And those two statements go together like Milk & Cookies – read on.

Watch for sales where items from producers are grouped across both categories. For instance, Nabisco (now Mondelez) might include crackers and cookies lumped into a “buy so many for a dollar amount or buy so many get $ off.”
These are sometimes combined with store coupons and the producer’s coupons. Now and then they are combined with specials from the store on top of the sale.
Sales might be focused on single items and might be included in a larger discount. A grocery in my area offered $5.00 off $30.00 and included a wide range of products from produce to ice cream to cookies, and crackers.
Stock up if the sales are great, in enough quantity to get you to the next holiday.

Salsa, Bean Dip, Cheese & Queso Sauces:

Many of these will be at a great price, but as far as the salsas and canned dips (and many other items used to make Mexican food) homemade substitutions will save a boatload.

Buy enough to last until the next holiday if you like and use these items, but your stock-up time is usually around the Super Bowl or Cinco de Mayo.
As for the chips, buy only in enough quantity to last until the next holiday. (It’s a project to make in any amount but so super cheap to do so!)

Nuts:

You’ll likely see some bagged and jarred nuts and mixes of nuts on sale. Know your pricing and whether or not they are a good deal.
Generally jarred nuts are not the best bargain, although tasty. They may be bought to be set out for snacking but are often used in recipes like the famous Chex mix.
Consider instead looking for better bargains in the bagged nuts (they can easily be jazzed up); check in the baking, the snack aisle, and the bulk offerings. Better prices are usually at buyer’s clubs and discount stores and beat out grocery sales prices.

Marshmallows & Chocolate Candy Bars:

You’ll probably never find a better deal on marshmallows and Hershey candy bars than before a summer holiday.
Watch for them on sale individually and grouped. Crunch the numbers, and compare sale prices across stores.

It never hurts to check your store’s bakery and the bread aisle. Your bakery might beat out the larger producer’s items in the bread aisle.

Buns:

Look for buns galore on sale: hoagie, brat & hot dog, burger, slider buns, and look at those in the everyday packages and fancier varieties.
Generally, these are at rock bottom pricing but many go on sale often. You might pick up a few favorites and freeze short-term for family dinners.
Hawaiian rolls are under Deli & Dairy.

Brownies, Bars, Baked Items:

They will be on sale, but many rotate in and out of sale regularly.
There is no doubt people buy these. My recommendation, budget-wise? Even on sale avoid these premade goodies.

While Condiments & Junk Food are listed elsewhere, here are some items to watch for and stock up on if the price is great.

Canned Beans:

Look for Baked Beans, Chili Beans, Kidney Beans, Refried Beans, and others all at a great price.
Some of these will likely be on sale throughout the year; you’ll often see some types on sale around the Super Bowl, March Madness, and others on sale for Cinco de Mayo, but Baked Beans are usually at a low during the summer holidays.
Stock up on any that are at a fabulous price, in enough quantity to last to the next sale, or until summer is at its peak and the warehouses are full.
Dried beans are always cheaper even if not on sale but canned beans usually won’t break the bank.

Sloppy Joes & Canned Chili:

Items like the Canned Chili (beans or no beans) and Sloppy Joes may be priced at a low, although usually, they’re lower during the big sales for sporting events, like the Superbowl and March Madness.
If you use these (I am all of a sudden craving Chili Dogs and everything will be on sale) stock up if the price is right; figure out how much you’ll use and buy appropriately.
Hint: Sloppy Joes are pretty easy to make homemade w/o cans or packets, and Chili is a little more complicated but easy enough.

Cream of Soups:

Cream of Soups will likely be on sale.
The price will likely be good, not great. Buy what you need on sale keeping in mind better pricing will be around Easter, with many sales around other holidays, especially the winter ones.
I do have a Cream Soup substitute on my site. I have a lot of alternative items.

Canned Tomatoes:

You might find various tomato products on sale.
Pick up what you need for the next few weeks if the price is great. The prices will not generally be rock bottom, but sales are sporadic and unpredictable. These are an item I pick up throughout the year when I see rock-bottom pricing, keeping my pantry stocked.

There will be deals galore on all kinds of frozen food around any holiday. If you’re into it, stock your freezer, enough for the next holiday sale.

Hold off on big fish and seafood purchases for the better sales during Lent, buying now only if you want and need it.
Only stock up on chicken products like nuggets and tenders if they’re at rock bottom.
Some of the best pricing and the time to stock your freezer with whole chickens, chicken pieces, and nuggets is after Easter when there is no longer a need for so many of the laying hens, but early summer might still reflect some of that pricing if Easter runs late in the year.

Pizza:

The pricing will likely be great around any holiday but will go on sale regularly.
If you eat it, know your prices and stock up only when it’s at rock bottom. Look for coupons for an even better deal, if sold out, ask for rainchecks.

Ice Cream (and related products):

If you love ice cream and related products, toppings, and so on, they are usually at great prices.
If it’s a regular item at your house it might be worth buying a little extra; it will be on sale before almost any holiday and regularly throughout the year.

Other Desserts & Related Items:

There are all kinds of frozen desserts as well as frozen toppings on sale during holidays.

If you love to create look for Filo Dough and Puff Pastry at a discount and Pie Crust is a handy item to have on hand. Hopefully, all of them will be on sale.
Every holiday will likely have frozen fruits and berries on sale. Watch the pricing. It may or may not be worthwhile to pick up; if considering berries, compare to the fresh berries always on sale before any holiday.

Several Fruits & Veggies are almost always on sale before any holiday and some are pretty much always going to be on sale before the summer holidays. Keep seasonality in mind. The early holidays may have a lot of seasonal items but they won’t be local and many may not even be from the States. In the past, they were often not worth buying but the food chain has improved.

Watch for artichokes and asparagus at some of the best prices of the year starting around Easter and through the Memorial Day sales.
Look for Avocados & Tomatoes before any Summer holiday and pick up in various stages of ripeness.
All kinds of Bell Peppers will be on sale and will last for a couple of weeks in the fridge. Pick up extra if they are at a low. Have stuffed peppers. Roast and freeze all kinds if the price is great.
Mushrooms are likely on sale; buy extra, turn the package upside down to store, and poke several holes in the bottom.
Green Onions are on a low for almost any holiday. Don’t forget to stick the ends in water or dirt and regrow.
Carrots, Celery, and Cabbage store well for a couple of weeks. Pick up if at a great price but keep in mind the best pricing for cabbage is around St. Paddy’s Day. Close up the end of the celery package and it will last longer.
Lemons and limes may be at a low and last for a couple of weeks if kept out of moisture.
Corn will likely be at a low during all summer holidays. Check for freshness; there’s no need to open corn, look at the outside for holes, the tassels should hopefully still be yellowish and only tinged with brown. Press your finger across the top inch and a half. You’ll feel if the corn is full. Best pricing for corn is usually late summer when it is in season. At a low, fresh beats the pricing of frozen or canned corn.
Melons, including Watermelon, won’t be in season until late summer but you’ll likely see them dropping in price and on special around any summer holiday.
Berries of all kinds will be on sale just before the holidays. They might not be in season but watch the price and if you want them, go for it. The quality of out of season berries has increased a lot. If the price is stellar buy extra and freeze.

Salads & Salad Items & all kinds of Slaw Mixes:

Prepared salads and slaw mixes will be on sale, but will likely cost more than if you buy the veggies and prepare them yourself:

These items are often on sale in the week prior to any holiday.
Even on sale, they are often 4 to 10 times the cost of making your own. If you use, the sturdy ones might last into the next week.
When you get home, if in boxes, open the box, put a paper towel in it, turn it over, and poke a couple of holes in the bottom. Store upside down.

You’re also likely to see many different lettuces, spinach, etc., and items often used for salads on sale.

Let the sales be your guide.

Fruit & Veggie Trays:

These will be on sale, but still likely cost more than if you buy the veggies and/or fruit and prepare yourself:

A whole array of these may be on sale.
Frankly, I’m only mentioning here because they are such a horrendous value. Avoid them like the plague!

Most beverages are probably really unnecessary, but what a difference they can make in your life! Many canned and bottled will be at a fabulous price before any holiday. Stock up in quantities to last until the next holiday.

Pop or Soda:

Often on sale at rock bottom (1/2 off) prices; there may be a quantity-limited notation.
Buy, buy, buy if this is a regular item for you. Know how much you drink and buy in quantities to last until the next holiday. Get rain checks if needed.
Cans at rock bottom will always be less than rock bottom pricing on any bottles, including liters and two liters even when those are sale-priced.

Beer, Ciders, Etc.

Many of these items will be at rock bottom around any holiday, some of which are more seasonal or tied to specific holidays and will only be at rock bottom during specific holidays.
Sales prices will be from 1/3 to 1/2 off. Your favorite brand, if it is a popular brand, will most likely be on sale at some point, somewhere, during holiday sales. Not being brand loyal will give you more opportunities for saving.
Stock up. Learn how to store and for how long on this excellent article by Eat by Date. You can count on some sales during March Madness, then Easter, but the Summer Holidays will have great pricing, too. After summer is over, the great sales diminish.

Wine:

Don’t forget to check for great wine prices. You’ll never know what’s there until you look.
As stores stock in what they most want you to buy during the holiday, sometimes they’ll make room by putting other bottles on clearance. If your store has a clearance aisle check it.

Hard Liquor:

You’ll find many opportunities to buy on sale around any holiday, as far as I know in most areas at liquor stores.
Sign up for email alerts, watch the sales, and know your pricing. There is really never any reason to pay full price on almost anything.
Most liquor stores have a big sale once a year, usually sometime from late February to March. That will be a great time to stock a cabinet as you’ll probably find a better variety on sale and rock-bottom pricing. In the meantime, selectively pick up on smaller sales, like holiday sales.

Coffee:

All the different coffees you could want will usually be on sale before any holiday.
Some holiday pricing is better than others, especially around Christmas and New Year (the best time to stock up.) If you are not already stocked up or the type of coffee you use will not keep, try picking some up at each holiday sale including the summer ones, to tide you through to the really great winter sales.
If you use pods, check your Buyer’s Club for the best pricing (and again, stock up during those winter sales.)
There are so many myths about coffee! The best article I’ve found to reference is this one from John Beans.

Miscellaneous Beverages:

Items like Water, Energy Drinks, Water Enhancers, Seltzers, Sodas, and Juices: Most of these items will be on sale at some point leading up to any holiday. If you use it, stock up at a low.
Ice tea, in bottles, powders, and tea in bags: You’ll see them on sale during holidays, but also sporadically throughout the summer.

Almost all of the items below are on sale during every holiday, although some items are lower on certain holidays than others. Savvy shoppers might want to shop around and check more than one store.

Use these sales to your advantage. Plan ahead, know how much you need & use of items, what is a great price in your area, and what a good deal is.

Batteries:

Your buyer’s club and hardware store might have better pricing than the grocery store even when the grocery prices are rock bottom. For batteries, keep a small piece of paper where they are stored and jot down the # of batteries and the price they were last bought at. It will give you a frame of reference to recognize a good price when you see it. So many options are hard to sort through. It doesn’t hurt to do this for light bulbs, also.

Batteries are at a great price before any holiday but Back to School Sales, Halloween, Christmas, and a few weeks before the Time Change will be the best prices.
Rechargeable batteries are really where it’s at. Watch for specials on those, though the best prices won’t be at the grocery. Always have a few standard batteries on hand so you won’t have to pay full price, ever.

Personal Products:

Razors/will likely start going on sale, but there is better pricing during the Back to School Sales. Know your preferred products and watch the sales.
Allergy medications will start popping up at great prices; generally, the sales are in early spring and peter out as the summer progresses.
Sun Screen & Bug Sprays might be on a steep special right before any summer holiday.

Paper Goods & Plastic Plates, Cups, Silverware:

Toilet Paper, Tissues, Paper Plates, Cups, Napkins, and Paper Towels all fall into this category and will all be on sale during most holidays.
Know your pricing on these items and keep in mind that of the above, the TP is probably the only necessity. Generally, the grocery store is not your best bet for TP unless it’s a sale with buy so many items, get $ back combined with coupons.
If you TP sales like that in your grocery ad, it’s probably a “campaign” from the producer. Stores will sometimes drop pricing on top of the specials from the producer. Check your CVS, Walgreens & Rite-Aids to see if the deals and pricing are better; it wouldn’t hurt to check Target. Walgreens doesn’t always “play along.”
If you use paper plates and picnic-type items, the best sales will be during the summer holiday sales. Figure out how much you do use and stock up.

Storage & Basics:

You’ll find Aluminum Foil, Plastic Wrap, Ziplocs, Plastic Storage Containers, and Garbage Bags on sale.
If you need it and the price is right, pick up enough to last until the next holiday sale. Your typical stock-up time for these items (and any cleaning items, below) is during the multitude of sales in the Spring.

Grilling Items:

Starting around Cinco de Mayo, and now including Mother’s Day (as grilling has become more popular), you’ll see sales popping up on these items before each summer holiday. The best sales are usually before Father’s Day and the 4th of July.

Foil Pans, Charcoal & Lighter Fluid, Lighters, and Wood Chips will be on sale.
The best pricing for these items will be clustered around the Summer holidays; as summer ends, make sure to buy enough to last until May if you are an all-year griller.

Detergents:

Dish Soap, Dishwasher & Laundry Detergents will be at a discount.
Buy enough to get by, for now. These items will be on sale before every holiday but Spring is your stock-up time. In the Spring, there will be a “campaign”, especially from PG&E, with lots of coupons and money-back deals. Stores will sometimes drop pricing on top of the specials from the producer.

Fresheners:

If you’re into things like air fresheners and sprays, they’re often on sale, too.
Pricing is likely better during spring sales. They’re a hard no for me. They’re not a frugal item and proven to be not good for your health. Enough said.

If there is anything to be aware of, it’s that premade trays, even on sale at holiday prices are not a great deal. I get that they are convenient, but if you want the most bang for your buck, avoid them like the plague. I’ve mentioned that here and there in the above post. It’s a thing for me.

These are crazy expensive. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Shrimp Ring, a cheese tray, a meat & cheese tray, kabobs, a veggie or fruit tray, or any other. You can almost always buy the individual items in full sizes for less than what is in the tray and you can save even more if you aren’t worried about duplicating a tray exactly and save yet more if you use sales-priced components.

Check out the ad below. The veggie skewers are $4.99 a pound. That’s crazy – it’s about 3x times the cost per pound of buying your veggies and slicing them.

Here’s what I would pay for the veggies on the week before a holiday:

Mushrooms are $1.99 for 8 ounces (15 mushrooms) on sale $1.99.
Red Bell Pepper, 8 ounces, on sale $1.00.
Red Onion, 1 pound is about $.75.
Green Bell Pepper, 9 ounces $.75
Yellow Squash, 6 ounces, on sale for $1.79 is $.67
Zucchini Squash, 5 ounces, on sale for $1.79 is $.60.
Green Bell Pepper, 9 ounces $.75

The Math for comparison and you can use this same math for almost any of the premade trays:

The total Spend is $6.51 and the total weight of the veggies bought is 3 pounds 13 ounces.

Subtract Waste: There will be waste; I guestimated 5 ounces so the total remaining vegetables are 3 pounds 8 ounces.
Convert Weight: Multiply the 3 pounds by 16 (since there are 16 ounces in a pound) which gives you 48 ounces and add in the remaining 8 ounces for a total weight of 56 ounces.
Divide $ Amount by Ounces: $6.51 divided by 56 ounces is about 12 cents an ounce.
Find the Price per Pound: Multiply the 12 cents per ounce by 16 and the vegetables are: $1.86 per pound.

So here are the final comparisons:

Purchased Kebab Tray: Total Spend is $4.99 for 16 ounces: 31 cents per ounce/$4.99 for 1 pound.
Homemade Kebabs: Total Spend is $6.51 for 16 ounces: 12 cents per ounce/$1.86 for 1 pound. You still have 2 1/2 pounds of vegetables to use.

Now if you only want two kebabs, I get that you’ll pay less total, but if you want more or have any use for the other excess veggies, you’re far better off buying the veggies whole. (All of these veggies would be great in a stir fry or in a quick coconut curry with or without chicken or beef.)

Check the insane pricing of these veggie skewers! Especially when the squashes are $1.79 a pound.

If your answer to all of this is, “I’m on a budget & I can’t afford to buy a couple of hundred dollars worth of food on a holiday!”

Cherry-pick” these sales, buying just what makes sense for you. No need to spend a fortune.
Spend more on weeks when you stock up on sales. Your return is far greater than the outlay of cash and your spending will naturally dwindle on weeks without good sales.
Spending a set amount of money every week is a great way to keep within budget, but it is not a great way to buy your food at the best price!
It can be difficult to stock up, especially if money is tight. Start out small if you need to. As a young single Mom with no child support I started out with a few extra boxes of pasta. Sometimes in desperation, we went through those and I had to start over. Slowly I built a pantry and filled my freezer.

The best way to save at your Supermarket is the best way to buy stocks. “BUY LOW.” And the low prices are usually before holidays. Know your prices and learn how to buy, store, and keep stocked up until the next great sale.

If you have a well-stocked pantry, even if it’s makeshift, and a freezer (and you should have a stand-alone deep freeze if you are interested in saving money on your groceries – maybe you can invest in one with your grocery savings) you’ll never have to pay full price, or even just a good sales price. You’ll always pay a great price!

Start small if you have to. Very small if necessary. But do stock up at a low.
If a price does not make sense to you and you can forgo the product, do so.
Buy what makes sense to you and what you can use and store.
As you start building up a stash of food, you’ll see your weekly grocery store bill go down. Slowly but surely.
Keep track of that food; add a “need to buy soon list” before you are in danger of running out of essentials. Start looking for great prices before that happens. Hang on to that extra cash (if possible) to apply towards the next great sale. Or apply to a freezer.
Trust the process; it makes sense and it works!

So whether or not you’re planning to party during the summer holidays, think of them as more than just a sale for yet another “Food Holiday” where you buy what you need for the week or the party and are stressing at the extra cost.

Leverage those sales to pick up items at a low and stock up in enough quantity to last until the next great sale.

Buying low is the way to go and the only way to save the most money. Always apply the most $$ to the food at its lowest price. You may be surprised to learn that careful grocery store shopping, although more effort, will almost always beat out prices at your buyer’s club and sometimes discount groceries, although I often rely on both for certain items.