Grocery Sales Forecast for September

I love September. I've always thought it seemed more like the start of a New Year than January ever did. Once the children returned to school life again settled into a less hectic, more comfortable routine. Its also a great month for the frugal-minded, offering a number of money-saving events, such as Walmart’s Anniversary Week Sale starting September 13; Foodland's One-Day sale on the first Thursday after Labour Day; and Shoppers' September promotions for Optimum Card holders. September is also the month when we find the greatest selection of low-priced, locally-grown produce and we'll probably have the opportunity to stock up on super-priced 5lb and 10lb bags of Carrots, Cooking Onions, Red Onions and Beets.

Having a good idea of upcoming sales can substantially increase the savings - fortunately stores generally run according to a set pattern and reviewing past activity provides a fairly accurate picture of what we can expect. Based on previous activity, I'll be planning my shopping around:

• Walmarts Anniversary Week Sale: While this sale doesn't appear to impact on groceries so much, other than detergents and paper products, there are fabulous sales right throughout the store, including housewares, electronics, toys, tools and more. 
• Foodland's One-Day Sale: Excellent prices on a limited number of products - at times they've held truckload sales to coincide - in 2012, every kind of Schneiders' product was offered. 
• Shoppers Optimum Card Promotions: Shoppers 20x points (spend $50.00 or more) promotion on the Saturday of the Labour Day Weekend. Chances are good that they will have September 'Spend Your Points' Days offering increased value for Optimum points redeemed on those days. I personally won't be spending my points at that time as I'd rather wait until December when Optimum points usually have the greatest value.

In Season Vegetables:

Broccoli - Baby Cut Carrots - Cauliflower - Cucumbers, Field, English, Baby - Lettuce, Iceberg, Romaine Hearts, Leaf - Mushrooms - Peppers, Assorted - Potatoes - Mini-Potatoes - Tomatoes, Field, Grape - Zucchini.

In Season Fruit:

Apples - Blueberries - Grapes - Melons, assorted, including Watermelon - Nectarines - Peaches - Pears - Plums - Raspberries - Strawberries.

Stores will be competing for business with sales of Back to School products with many of the featured items used daily by almost everyone so we can all benefit:
Nature Valley Granola Bars, Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bars, Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks

Quakers Oats & Instant Cereals, Post, General Mills & Kellogg’s Cereals

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Eggo Waffles

Nutella, E.D.Smith Jam, Smuckers Jam, Kraft Peanut Butter

Yogurt & Yogurt Drinks

Cheese Bars, Slices, Strings

Allens & Minute Maid 200g Juice Boxes

Variety of Chocolate Bars

Mr. Christie Crackers, Cookies and Mini-Treats

Schneiders Lunchmates, Snack Pack Pudding, Mott’s Fruitsations.

At the end of the month we'll have the opportunity to restock the baking cupboard with sale priced-products when a large variety of Baking Supplies are expected to come on sale:
Flour - Pie or Tart Shells - Evaporated Milk - Sweetened Condensed Milk - Dried Cranberries, Raisins or Pitted Dates - Cranberry Sauce - Assorted Chipits or Baking Bars - Brown, Golden or Icing Sugar - Lard or Shortening - Canned Pie Fillings - Marshmallows.

Nestle's and Chapmans will be offering an assortment of frozen treats to promote National Ice-Cream Sandwich Month.

A selection of Processed Tomato Products will be featured, including Canned Tomatoes - Tomato Paste and Sauces - Pasta Sauces - Canned Prepared Pastas - Ketchup - Salsa and Taco Dinner Kits, etc.  Canned, Condensed Soups will also be listed.

Finally, I expect Pet Food and Supplies to be listed for sale during the month.
Coupon available for Pedigree Dry Food (Buy 2 Get 1 Free).

Thought for today - Being frugal has nothing to do with being cheap and everything to do with being smart.
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Pet Care: Pedigree Dry Food (Buy 2 Get 1 Free)
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