Grocery Deals By The Month

You know how you feel when you go grocery shopping and you meticulously shop, always looking for "the best deal" or "smartest buy" for that item on your list, only to return on the next trip to find the item part of some fabulous sale that you didn't know would happen? Well, I use to see it a lot, but I have learned to think a little smarter in a tight economy.  Being the ever-budget-minded shopper and coupon-clipper that I am,  I thought it might be nice to share some information that I got from an article by Teri Gault, the founder and CEO of www.TheGroceryGame.com. 

Monthly, grocery chains will run sales on certain products that even the employees don't know(one of the cashiers at my local store asked me for this) that can you save you some bucks.  Here's the list:

January:

Super Bowl Foods: Frozen appetizers, chips, soda, beer

Low-fat and low-carb items like frozen foods, diet soda, granola bars

February:

Canned fruits, vegetables and soups

Medicines, cold remedies and vitamins

March:

Peanut Butter

Frozen meals, veggies and fruits

April:

Hams!

Soy products

May:

Grilling products: BBQ foods, sauces; buns and spices

Paper products like plates, napkins

After Mother's Day: small kitchen appliances

June:

Dairy products

Seafood

Ice cream

July:

More BBQ foods:hot dogs, hamburger, etc

School supplies

August:

Lunch-box items: fruit cups, juices, snacks

Sunscreen

Tissues

September:

Breakfast Foods: hot and cold

More BBQ foods for Labor Day!

October:

Pasta

Frozen pizzas

Pet food and supplies

November:

Thanksgiving foods: turkeys, sweet potatoes, cranberries, etc

Baking products: flour, sugar

Frozen pies

December:

Champagne

Disposable containers

Foil, wax paper and plastic wrap

Blogging, Day 1

The Blue Ridge Mountains

Today is my first day at blogging and seeing what this is all about. I used to be pretty savvy with all the new technology, but I must admit that I have slipped in my old age.  This was suggested to me by a neighbor, who thought I should write about my garden, but there are many things to discuss, so here goes.....I am a single mom of 2 teenagers who are learning the ways of the world around them, one of whom is now about to turn 19 and a 15 year old who will soon be driving and making me a nervous wreck.  Like most single parents, it can be a struggle, but the kids are great and they have learned that money doesn't grow on trees and it easily disappears if they aren't carfeul.   My oldest is a student at the community college, studying criminal justice and my youngest is a sophomore in high school, a self-admitted video-game fanatic.  I also have 2 stepchildren, 1 of which I never see and the other is a struggling young mom herself.  I am a college grad working in a field a little distant from my major, but I enjoy it.  Our town is surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.  And while most people can't wait to leave, I find the grand mountain range and the heritage that goes along with it, reassuring and I am firmly grounded here. 

We love to take short road trips on weekends to see the abundance of historical cities around us, the most enjoyable ones being the "mystery trips" that the kids and I take.  I get them up, tell them what they need and how long we'll be gone, then they find out later where they are going!  These always begin with a bit of grumbling, but end with thinking that I may be  a little fun afterall!  Here's a link to one of our more recent adventures!  http://www.paintbankgeneralstore.com/  It's a small little town that you might miss if you drive too fast, but they have an old-time general store with a restaurant and a fish hatchery open nearby. Be sure to ask the park rangers for fish food. The little ones will love it!