There are 4 times per year to buy candy: immediately after Easter Sunday, Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. Hershey, Nestle, Mars, and Wonka all create special holiday candy assortments. Packaging makes it unique to each particular holiday. After the holiday, this candy cannot be sold at full price because the packaging is now outdated. It cannot be saved and resold the following year because it would become inedible long before then. This is why Easter candy is discounted significantly, beginning on April 22.

After Easter Sunday, candy discounts of 50% are common. Walmart, Target, Kmart, and Walgreens are good national sources. Target usually starts at 30%, eventually getting to 50 and finally 70% in the final days. I’ve also found Kroger family stores to offer half price Halloween candy: Dillons, Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food Stores, QFC, Ralphs, Smith’s, Baker’s, City Market, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Gerbes, Jay C Food Stores, King Soopers, Owen’s, and Pay Less Super Markets. If these retailers exist in your area, RiteAid, CVS Pharmacy, Cub Foods, A&P, Albertsons, Publix, Safeway/Von’s, Osco/Jewel, and Cashwise/Coborns are also worth a shot.

Move quickly on half price Easter candy sales! The “good stuff” always sells out within a few days. Come early and you’ll find Reese’s and Cadbury Eggs, Kit Kats, Twix, Snickers, Milky Way, Three Musketeers, and Baby Ruths for 50% off. Wait too long and there will be nothing left besides generic jelly beans and the stuff that nobody wants. April 22nd is prime time for half price Easter candy deals.