One of the benefits of shopping at the same stores frequently is you can begin to notice trends such as when items may go on clearance and where they are put in the store.
My QFC has a “discontinued/manager’s special” shelf near the dairy section. While there tonight, I scored big. Check out what I found:
The large cans of fruit cocktail were just $0.59 each (regularly $1.13). It looked like perhaps it was on sale because the “Healthy Kids” variety had been discontinued. Who knows? I also found a nice jar of canned mangoes for $1.29 and the smaller canned peaches were $0.49 each, half off as well!
A few notes about shopping in clearance:
- Identify where your store(s) tend to put clearance. I usually find them on a back shelf, towards the back of the store. I have an Albertsons that likes to put clearance in shopping carts down the freezer aisle. My Fred Meyer often intersperses clearance items throughout each department, so I’ve come to learn where the bedroom clearance section generally is, and where I might find wicker baskets on clearance.
- Identify when your store(s) tend to put items on clearance. Did you watch last week’s webcast? Christy shared that Target has a definite rhythm to how they clearance departments. If you note a particularly hot clearance sale, pay attention to the time of year. Sometimes you can identify a trend and be prepared for the next year! Never hesitate to ask your cashier or store manager for information, too.
- Pay attention to expiration dates. On the cans I purchased tonight, some will expire in May of this year, so I didn’t go hog wild. Others were good through 2014.
- Remember your coupons! In many cases you can use coupons on clearance items! This includes many Groupon offers for retail stores, too!
- Plan ahead using seasonal clearance. Many of you took advantage of Christmas clearance sales and will be more than prepared for next year’s holiday season (which always comes around faster than you realize!). Last year I found Easter egg kits for $0.19, so I picked up a couple. You can also carry this principle to clothes and gift buying.
What other tips do you have for identifying clearance sales or markdowns at your store? Find any great scores yourself recently? Share!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Surprisingly, some of the better holiday deals I scored were marked down meat products…a monster ham for $6 at Albertson’s and a mass selection of beef and pork at Safeway for 50% off. The sale ads change on Tuesdays so “sale” proteins get marked down to make room for the next cycle of sale items.
My Safeway does 30% off on Mondays, 50% off on Tuesdays so keep an eye out and see what your store’s pattern is. Check the “packaged on” and “sell by” dates, if it isn’t something you will use promptly then toss it in the freezer for later. If something looks off then do not purchase it, personally I shy away from discounted fish & seafood. A lot of those pre-marinated items and specialty meats from the meat case make it to the mark down bin regularly.
Good luck and don’t be afraid of clearanced proteins, I’ve actually been buying it for the meat eaters in my home off and on for 20 years and never had a problem.
QFC puts bread on clearance a couple days before the experation date too. Some times I buy a couple loaves and freeze them. Or make bread crumbs.