Grocery stores are busy this week before Thanksgiving, but it's one of the best times of the year to save money on staples, experts advise.

Pick up a turkey, but also look ahead to holiday baking and entertaining.

"You won't see these low of prices again before next year," said Cynthia Townley Ewer, the Richland-based editor of OrganizedChristmas.com and OrganizedHome.com.

There are more loss leaders (below-cost sales intended to draw in shoppers) on staples now than any other time, so she suggests stocking up on heavily discounted baking items.

"People can go broke trying to feed all their guests during the holidays if they're not careful about how they're shopping," said Leanne Ely, author of "Saving Dinner for the Holidays: Menus, Recipes, Shopping Lists and Timelines for Spectacular, Stress-free Holidays and Family Celebrations."

For grocery stores, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the biggest selling periods of the year, said Michael Sansolo, senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute.

The busiest days are the day before Thanksgiving and Dec. 23. Experts also advise avoiding weekends, lunch time or between 5 and 6 p.m. weekdays.

"We all know when the holiday is coming, but for some reason, we all procrastinate," Sansolo said.

Planning ahead even a little will help shoppers save time.

Chuck Beebe, vice president of sales and marketing for Larry's Markets, suggests shopping the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Generally, people can miss the bustle by coming before 11 a.m., between 2 and 5 p.m. or after 6:30 p.m., he noted.

Teri Gault, founder of the online service The Grocery Game, likes to shop after 10 p.m. "There's hardly anyone there," she said. Store employees usually are stocking shelves and happy to help find items.

With Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, she plans to grocery shop the night of Dec. 21, a Wednesday.

Ely, a certified nutritionist and host of SavingDinner.com, prefers to hit grocery stores midmornings, midweek, especially Wednesdays or Thursdays if she wants to catch good sales that might run out.

More tips for avoiding crowds and saving money on holiday grocery shopping:

Plan all holiday meals well in advance. This lets you take advantage of deals through the season. A menu also helps you delegate when guests ask what to bring.

Don't forget breakfast. Cherie Myers, Pacific Northwest director of public affairs for Safeway, recommends sketching out the entire day's meals for key holidays, from morning to bedtime.

Make two shopping lists: fresh items and anytime ingredients. Take the nonperishable list every week, and buy only sale items. "Stores aren't going to offer the best deals on everything you need in one particular week," Gault said. "If you go with a list and buy everything on it in one week, you'll spend more."

Pick up an extra frozen turkey or two (even if you're not hosting). They're cheap now, and they'll last six to nine months in a deep freezer, Gault noted.

Don't procrastinate if you're picky. "I don't know of a time we've run out of anything essential to a holiday," Myers said. But that doesn't mean stores always will have the brand a shopper wants, or less-common items such as organic, free-range or kosher turkeys. Beebe advises ordering turkeys in advance to ensure the desired size is available.

Don't get suckered into emotional buying. "Emotions run high this time of year, but there's no reason to buy cling film with snowmen — and pay a premium for it," Ewer said.

Ignore the end-of-the-row displays. Go down the aisle for the really discounted brands.

Watch out for gourmet items. Grocery stores know shoppers are more likely to splurge on items for entertaining or gifts.

Saving time might cost more. As Supermarket News noted in a story last year, "Several retailers said they are planning to promote more high-margin, prepared foods this year to compensate for aggressive price competition on other items."

Don't buy cookware at grocery stores . "Pans are far cheaper at discount stores than at grocery stores, even on sale," Ewer said. Ditto plastic cups or paper plates.

Don't overbuy or overcook. Sketch out a guest list in advance so you have a ballpark figure when shopping. Pay attention to recommended portions; for example, a 10- to 12-pound turkey should be plenty — with leftovers — for a family of four, Ewer said.

Don't shop when you're hungry or tired. That's true year-round but especially relevant during the holidays. And if possible, leave kids — who love the expensive holiday-theme items — at home.

Stephanie Dunnewind: sdunnewind@seattletimes.com