Buying it on sale but how much and when will it go on sale again?

[Momtwice]

This is one part of the price book idea that always challenges me.

How do you know how much of an item to get when on sale?
How do you know when it will go on sale?
Do you have a 6th sense about this, or do you record it methodically and watch for a pattern, or do you just wing it?

[EmsMom]

This is something you get the hang of by trial and error. With experience you find out how regularly things go on sale and how much you use. Write the date of the sale in your price book along with how much you bought so you can have a starting point. You might want to err on the side of getting too much for non-perishable items such as toilet paper and too little for perishables such as grains or eggs. Many times I have stocked up too much; often this is just because my family suddenly loses interest in a certain food. It happens less and less, though, as I get more experience. Things I have learned: one can never have too much toilet paper (unless you are planning to switch to cloth in the very near future :LOL) and the 10 cans of bamboo shoots purchased on sale will eventually be composted!

[Momtwice]

Thanks!

LOL about the bamboo, I love them in homemade Asian recipes and I have bought too many also at times!!

I have been meaning for years to do a price book. I came to a decision recently that I want to do the basic non sale prices first. I feel psyched about this. (I think I got overwhelmed because I have so many choices of stores, which I am grateful for, yet overwhelmed at times.)

Once that is done I may start recording sale prices as you suggest. Good idea. Thanks!