The SCI Grocery Year
What goes on sale in January
Fresh-start sales, and the last of the holiday clearance.
January is the month stores sell you organization. Everyone has just promised themselves something, and the shelves reflect it: bins, shelving, planners, exercise gear, all pushed to the front and priced to move.
It is also the last real chance at holiday clearance before it disappears into storage until next November.
Quiet month for groceries otherwise, which honestly makes it a good one to take stock rather than to shop.
Worth watching
If you actually use these things, January is a good time to take a look.
Storage bins and shelving
One of the few months everything for organizing goes on sale at once.
Sheets and towels
The old January white sale is still a real thing at most chains.
Holiday wrap, cards and decorations
Deep clearance, for next December. Store them where you will find them.
Soup, broth and canned vegetables
Cold-weather promotions run through most of the month.
Don’t get carried away
Buying containers is not the same as getting organized. A bin is only useful once you know what is going in it.
One thing to watch
The organizing aisle is designed around a feeling, not a need. If you cannot name what goes in it before you buy it, it is probably going to sit empty in a closet.
January is a good month for produce too
Depending on where you live, these are often abundant and especially good this time of year.
- Oranges
- Grapefruit
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Leeks
- Sweet potatoes
Worth doing this month
Eat the freezer first
Before buying anything, spend one week cooking only from what is already frozen. Most households turn up two or three dinners they forgot they owned.
Get the free Pantry and Freezer InventoryKeep your own prices
Seasonal patterns can tell you when to pay attention. But the best price for your family depends on what you buy, where you shop and what things normally cost in your area.
That is why keeping your own prices is so useful.
Start your free price bookBefore February gets here
Take five minutes on one thing
Check the pantry, the freezer or the household supplies for one thing you are running low on. That is it. You do not need to stock a bunker. Just notice what you will actually need next.
Next month we will be watching candy after Valentine’s Day, winter clothing markdowns and party food.
See what is coming in February