Missed the first posts in the Simply Saving series? Read them here.
So the last few weeks we have been talking Coupon Organization. Now, we are going to back up a bit and discuss the ins and outs of a store sales ad or circular.
Sale Ads are the most important tool when saving money. They are the key to knowing what to buy and when to get it. The sale ads let you know what is on sale each week in the store. Most stores display their ads as you walk in the door, they aren’t usually to hard to find. I always pick one up and walk the store with mine, it is best to have one on you in case the shelf is not marked with the sale product.
Here are a few tips that will make using an ad work in your favor:
Sale Ad Dates
Sale ad dates or “run dates,” are crucial. These are the dates the sale prices and special offers are effective. While stores vary their start and end dates, they typically start on Sunday and end on Saturday, or they start on Wednesday and end the following Tuesday.
Why Does it Matter?
If I pull together my shopping list on Friday for a grocery store whose sales ad runs Sunday to Saturday, and I don’t get to the store until Sunday, guess what? Everything I planned to purchase from the ad I used on Friday is no longer on sale. Sunday starts the new sale ad cycle, and thus, the new sale prices.
Real Sales vs. Ad Placements
This is a very important principle to grasp: just because an item is on the front page of a store’s sales ad doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. To save money you must know the best prices on the items you purchase.
How Do I Know the Best Prices?
This is where the “Provisions Price List” or Free Provisions iPhone App really comes in handy. When you are wondering, Is it really a good price? Check your list. Maybe it is a good deal or maybe it is just an ad.
Get Ads Online
The key to keeping your spending down is to plan before you head out the door. Hard to do if you don’t have a copy of the sale ad, right? Most stores put a digital copy of the current week’s sale ad on their website, so be sure to check there before heading out.
Do you have any tips for reading a store sale ad? Share them with us in the comments below. I would love to hear your tips and tricks when using your store sale circular.
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Coming next week….Understanding BOGOF and 10 for $10 Sales
I only look at the front and back of the store flyer.