Summer freebies & sales, what to expect?!

[KristyQ-pon]

So i've been doing this a while but i started right at the end of summer last year actually getting good at it anyways. So all the summer stock pile items were done. I'm going to be ready this year. I got a really healthy stockpile of anything and everything to wash things (body/dishes/clothes/teeth etc..)lol But the grocery stock was never great, all i really have is a "few" condoments left maybe 1-4 bottles of anything, cereal and mac n cheese heh... I know that summer is supposed to be a good time to stockpile some of these items i'm about to run out of and maybe items i didn't know to look for when this adventure first began! So my question is: WHAT should a couponer expect to get for FREE or nearly free in the spring/summer coupon run that you can't really get during other seasons? (aka what goes on sale and matches with coupons.) I'm basically looking for list style responses and hoping ppl give me examples of something i might have already missed or is coming up. Stores i have are CVS (dun't really like because of limits) Wags (love) Food World (meh..expensive without qs but they do double $.50 and under but for exp. Heinz ketchup everywhere else will be $1.00 at this store it will be $1.59) Walmart (if i have to lol) and Dollar General. A town 30 mins away JUST got a publix built and the grand opening was last week but i haven't had a chance to go that way to check it out, so if its worth the drive it could be an option for a great deal! Thanks in advanced for any responses!

[Coupon_Queen]

Summer is a great time for stocking up. My only other favorite time is around Thanksgiving, because I love baking (those items go on sale then). You can expect great prices, deals, and sales on:

Grilling meats like ribs, bratwurst, hotdogs, etc
corn on the cob, watermelon, strawberries, and other berries are in season
CONDIMENTS! The #1 summer special. Ketchup, mustard, relish, pickles, marinades, salad dressing. You will not see these prices year round. Stock up now, check for longest exp date.
Things like patio sets, bathing suits, towels, summer toys can yeild great sales toward the end of summer
Frozen foods, especially ICE CREAM! I can't tell you how many boxes of Nestle cones we ate last summer, between man Qs and IPs.
Drinks like gatorade, juice boxes, crystal light. You may even see coupons or rebates for X wyb a certain beer.
Keep an eye out for coupons for charcoal, wyb other products or alone.

We also have a member here Mnmz, she has a link to 'seasonal sales items' in her signature. Its a list of year round items and what to expect.

[Bear]

Here is a link to the seasonal sale cycles. It will give you a start. For summer, I think of condiments cheap or free ie BBQ sauce, mustard, mayo, ketchup, and A1. Think BBQ and grilling for sales. Grilling spices, marinades, charcoal. Produce is usually cheaper due to being in season. Maybe pasta for pasta and macaroni salads. Not usually free, but look for sales on sunscreen (Target is a good place this week).

http://forum.couponmom.com/couponing...les-items.html

[KristyQ-pon]

Thanks you two! That's really helpful. I do notice i get really good deals on meats in my area like 99cent a lb chops/chicken breasts 1.50/lb ground beef 10lb box of bacon for $15 hotdogs after coupons were only around 10-15 cent and i stocked up on those last year and we JUST basically started running out of everything lol, so that will definately be something i restock on since we actually have a deep freezer this year! yay! (only 2 of us) i didn't get much of a stock pile of the condoments but plan on trying this year so i'll be willing to trade for many other qs for the ability to get these. My husband eats ketchup and ranch dressing like drinking water lol. Last year i got some "bulls eye" bbq after a coupon for around .35cent and now i'm HOOKED, even though kraft is nearly free, we still have 4-5 bottles of it left, but that bulls eye went in almost a month through 6 bottles lol. It's my summer dream to stock up on that stuff for a year supply! I guess i should go change my iso hehe... i get pretty weird qs i mostly get mine from ebay/friends/recycle bin scavages/take-a-tabs/etc. I will buy a paper if it has a bunch of stuff but my area has the worst values and the worst quantities of qs. I.e. the last rp i got had 3 coupons in it... yes.. 3 i didn't even know they made a version that bad. lol So i get some interesting things, i'm deff looking forward to starting another summer potluck train! Thanks again for the info!