11 Grocery Shopping Tips Experts Use to Save Money

4. Time your shopping for sales cycles and clearance

Sales often follow predictable cycles—many items go on sale every six to eight weeks. Clay Cary recommends tracking a handful of frequently bought items to spot their low points. Mid-week shopping, especially Wednesday or Thursday, can reveal new ad prices and clearance markdowns as stores rotate promotions. Shopping in the morning sometimes uncovers manager’s specials in the meat or bakery sections when older inventory is reduced rather than wasted. If you spot a true “rock-bottom” price on a non-perishable or freezable item, stock up within reason. Keep a simple list of prices you pay for 10 to 15 staples—when the price drops below your historical low, buy more. This approach prevents panic buying and helps you build a small reserve of sale-priced goods, which smooths bills over time. Timing buys does take a little tracking work, but even a basic checklist yields noticeable savings.