Clearance Grocery Deals

You are probably familiar with clearance shopping—winter coats in the spring, swimsuits in the fall—but a lot of people don’t realize you can actually buy clearance food too! Grocery stores mark foods for quick sale for a variety of reasons. Some have damaged packaging, some are close to the expiration date and some are considered seasonal food, like holiday candy.

You can even use coupons on the clearance price just as you can for a weekly store sale. This can make many groceries incredibly cheap, but is it safe to eat? Check the expiration date-sometimes you have a few days, sometimes it is even sooner. Dented cans are safe to eat as long as they aren’t bulging, pierced or rusted. Crackers or cookies in damaged boxes could be just the thing for your next casserole or dessert.

Find out where your store keeps their reduced goods. Day old bread is typically found in the bakery, meat gets marked down by the meat department, watch for vegetables & fruit in the produce section and don’t forget to check out the dairy department for short-dated milk, cheese and yogurt. Many of these can be frozen to extend their life.

It is a great way to get what you need, at an even lower rate than the weekly sales.