Butter:
The price hovers around $4 a box for most of the year but can drop to $1.99 during the cooler months, when baking supplies go on sale. Since butter freezes nicely, don’t be afraid to ask for a case. (Looking for a stress-free Thanksgiving? Get our FREE guide for an unforgettable Thanksgiving. You'll get easy recipes, kid-friendly crafts and games, inspiring traditions, and more ideas for the best holiday yet.)
Sugar:
Sugar is another pantry staple that sees a cool-weather price cut. Look for $1 to $2 markdowns, with brown sugar and powdered sugar taking the largest dip. Beware that sale terms may limit you to one or two packages per purchase. Eat too much of the stuff? This is exactly how to undo a sugar binge.
Crackers:
Nothing beats cheese and crackers for impromptu entertaining (or no-time-to-cook nights). Look for sales on snack crackers and saltines; prices usually bottom out at $1 a box. What's more, you can use them to make one of these healthy snacks for weight loss.
Frozen Vegitables:
Throughout the year, you’ll see sale prices as low as $1 a bag—but during the holidays, that number can sometimes drop to as low as 50 cents a bag. These are the 10 most-nutritious veggies to choose from.
Bacon:
It usually sells for $2.50 to $6, but it’s been known to fall to $1.50 per pack around this time. It freezes like a champ, so buy in bulk. It’s a great item to have around for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Oil:
Look for deals on oil at both grocery stores and hardware stores, where it’s sold with the deep fryers for turkeys. A gallon will run about $20 instead of the usual $35. These are the silent signs you might be eating too much fat.
Poultry and pork:
We all know turkey goes on sale for Thanksgiving. But so do chicken and ham, so buy extra of all three and freeze for winter stews and quick meals. And prices are even better (as low as 40 cents a pound) the week after a holiday, as stores empty their freezers for new products.
Storage Supply:
Stock up on plastic bags and wrap, parchment paper, aluminum foil (try one of these genius uses for aluminum foil), and reusable containers for less than half the normal price.
Birthday Cake Mixes:
Both everyday and seasonal flavors go on deep sales throughout the holidays. Think beyond the gingerbread to upcoming birthdays: This is the time to buy white, yellow, and chocolate mixes. (Related: Here's exactly how to cut a cake, according to science.) And pick up cupcake liners too: They can drop 50 percent from $3 a pack.
