Stores are a regular stop for many Canadians. We all know the feeling of walking into your local grocery store, grabbing what you need without really thinking about it, then getting back on our feet again with an overwhelming sense that there’s nothing more important than picking up some milk or bread before heading home- only to find yourself spending hours browsing the aisles!
It doesn’t help when prices keep increasing yearly; according to recent surveys, Canadian families paid an extra $966 for groceries come 2022, which isn’t a small chunk of change.
But what if there was another way? What if you could get your groceries for free, or at least for a fraction of the cost? It may sound too good to be accurate, but there are ways to do it! Here are a few tips:
The average Canadian will visit a grocery store 5.43 times a month (1.29 times a week). According to a survey from 2018
Canadian families will pay an extra $1160 for groceries in 2023,
How to save money on Food CANADA
With grocery prices increasing, it’s no wonder that 85% of consumers have seen their costs rise in the past three months alone. With this rate at such high levels and how bad things were before by comparison – 80%, we can only imagine what might happen next!
How To Save Money on Groceries using Common Sense Strategies.
Let’s Talk about it before Leaving the House First!
First, determine your grocery budget.
The best way to save money on groceries is by cutting back on your bill. The first step will be figuring out exactly what portion of the cost comes from food, so check recent receipts or bank account balances if available – this may give us an idea about how much you need! If there isn’t enough information yet, but you still want something specific like “Maximum amount allowed per week, ” try looking at other items needed until you figure out exactly when it’ll all fit into place again without overspending early.
Create a Meal Plan
It can be fun to plan out all the meals you want to create, including snacks with fresh fruits and a grocery list using what’s in your pantry, such as using up dried beans!
Meal Planning is one way for people who live alone or have small families (or just like flexibility) to save money by not having any wasted ingredients. Making these plans helps because there are no last-minute emergencies when trying to make something special during dinner time- you already know precisely what to create. It is a great way to keep your fridge clean, use up items in your pantry, and not over-purchase things you already have.
Purchase a Meal Planner from Amazon
Try different grocery stores.
Sometimes it’s excellent to know what is in your grocery store, where they keep their discounts, and when the meat gets discounted. But sometimes, it’s good to switch things up and check out your store’s competition. You may find a few items that are cheaper at a regular price than your favourite local grocery store.
Make a plan and stick to the grocery list.
A grocery list is a great way to save money because it allows you to plan for the items you need. This way, you can avoid impulse purchases and only buy what you need. Plus, it’s a great way to keep track of what you have in your pantry and use all your ingredients before they go bad. This also gives you a chance to check for sales and coupons.
This allows you to take advantage of discounts and save money on groceries. You can usually find sales and coupons in the weekly flyers or online with apps.
Price matching (Apps or competitor flyers)
Price matching is a great way to save money on groceries, especially if you’re looking for a specific item. You must find the item’s price at a competing store and show the cashier the offer. They will then match the price, and you can purchase the item at that store.
You can also price match online by finding the item on a competitor’s website and entering the information into the app. This way, you’ll get the best deal on groceries every time you shop.
Apps like Flipp or Reebe make it easy to find grocery store flyers and compare prices. You can type in an item, and it will show you who has it on sale. You can also use these apps to create grocery lists.
Find the Cheapest Grocery Store
There is “NO Cheapest Grocery Store, but if you use flyer apps such as Flipp, reebee and know what you can purchase at the dollar store cheaper, you know what items work best at Costco ( if it’s worth a membership at all). You may find Shoppers Drug Mart cheaper for butter, milk, eggs on the weekends, etc. Once you get an idea of where to buy your essential basics for a reasonable price, it will help.
Try to leave the kids at home.
It cannot be easy to grocery shop without your kids, but a new study suggests it may be worthwhile. The study found that shoppers who bring their children to the store spend up to 10 percent more on groceries than those who shop without their kids.
The problem, the researchers say, is that stores are designed to attract young consumers, with bright colours and kid-friendly products placed at eye level in the shopping cart. Cereals, snacks, and candy near the checkout counter can also be tempting for kids and parents. The solution is to leave your kids at home with a babysitter or relative. Doing so may help you save money – and avoid a headache – when you hit the grocery store.
Order curbside pickup
Curbside pickup is excellent for many people and a great way to save money, especially if I often notice you are stuck shopping with the kids or at home from work. It can help you limit the number of times you go into a store. The less you shop, the fewer chances you won’t make impulse purchases. Many people are used to shopping online and swinging by to pick up, or you may want to use this service sometimes and still shop for your produce and meats on your own. It’s also a great way to shop weekly ads by the store and use rebate apps to ensure the right product and price.
Don’t shop on an Empty Stomach.
People do many stupid things in their hunger! If I’m hungry, I purchase more stuff than on the grocery list because I’m letting my eyes and stomach do the purchasing.
Having a snack before buying groceries or shopping after a meal can be beneficial.
Know when to shop
Know when to shop! Time of day also affects bargaining. Early Bird tickets go on sale first, especially for reduced meats and vegetables or sometimes right before closing as managers are slashing prices in the morning.”
Most Grocery Stores Change the flyer sales on Thursdays each week, so remember to start creating your list and plan to start on Wednesday. Shopping the sale items weekly is a great way to save on your total grocery bill. Wait for those pork chops to come on sale, or compare the price of Chicken breasts before doing a grocery run.
How to Save when at the Grocery store
Saving On Produce & Fruit
Saving on Vegetables and fresh fruits at the grocery store can be a challenge; we all know you can watch for expiring fruit on the side corners of the aisles, but there are a few other ways to consider how to save on these items.
Don’t be scared to spend money on FROZEN Fruits & veggies.
It’s been proven that frozen foods are not less healthy than fresh ones! Frozen food isn’t inherently less healthy than its new counterpart. Most Fruits and vegetables are frozen at their peak time and make a great alternative when purchasing out-of-season fruits and vegetables. You save money on the cost, but they also last longer than fresh!
Eat Fresh Veggies and Fruit during the Local Growing season.
When you go to the grocery store with your budget, the best thing you can do is follow this guideline. Purchasing fruit and vegetables out of season usually costs much more due to shipping and export costs. So stock up when you can find it in local growing seasons. For Example, Asparagus is ready in the spring-early summer in Canada. Generally, you will find it the least expensive during this time frame and will pay more during the fall and winter.
Learn to buy extras if you don’t grow your own during the growing season, and learn how to Freeze each kind of vegetable/ fruit for later.
Don’t forget to check out local farmers’ markets for bargains.
Buy local products at Farmer’s Markets during the year.
You will have a good supply of fresh organic foods. A farmer’s market also offers some benefits. You can taste products and free food tastings and often get a better bargain than purchasing from the grocery store.
Don’t buy Ripe Fresh Fruit.
People love to grab and feel the fruit in the produce section. They are looking for the ripest and most ready piece. This is okay, but you should only do this if you plan to eat the fruit soon. You can save money by buying fruit that is not ripe yet. Then you can eat it over a more extended period.
Knowing which foods don’t have to be bought organic is essential if organic is important to you.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce annually. This guide is a scientific measure of the pesticide residue from conventionally grown produce.
According to EWG research, there is no need to buy organic versions of these fruits and vegetables because they have very low levels.
- Avocados
- Onions
- Sweet peas frozen
- Asparagus
- Sweet corn
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Mushrooms
- Eggplant
- Broccoli
- Honeydew Melon
- Cabbage
- Kiwi
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Cantaloupe
Read more about the EWG’s findings here.
Learn to Ignore eye-level items.
How do we find our grocery items? It wasn’t an accident. Grocery shops have smartness. The people wanted you to see these splurges of merchandise. Think about this like a treasure hunt for an excellent price. Bulk items can sometimes be cheaper and located on the bottom shelf or store-brand items on the top.
Avoid impulse purchases
The best way to avoid impulse purchases is to list the items you need before going to the store and stick to that list. If you see something that is not on your list, ask yourself if you need it or if you can wait until next time. You can also try to shop when you’re not hungry, so you’re less likely to buy things on impulse.
Think before buying in bulk.
It’s a good idea to purchase bulk food items when you know you’ll use them all before they go wrong or when they’re a lower price per unit. It’s not a good idea to purchase bulk food items if you won’t be able to use them all before they go wrong or if they’re more expensive per unit than buying a smaller amount.
Large Packaging Is Usually Cheaper but not consistently.
Generally speaking, the larger packaging is cheaper when buying a product in a small or big package. Choose a large container and understand storage techniques when saving on bulk items.
But when using coupons and rebate apps to earn cashback, you will need to figure out your end cost and weigh the difference in prices, including when you earn rewards such as PC optimum points.
Get a Price Book today, or Read the importance of having one.
Choose generic Store brands.
It’s straightforward to go to the marketplace and pick the brand everyone mentions. That is what many brand owners focus on and charge extra for. Look for local and generic brands that offer the same high quality and ingredients as the named brands (if not more!), and you’re not required to spend much. If the information exists, you can look for products online or order a few generic products with your typical grocery products to try them yourself.
When to Stock up and when to avoid
We like to find deals. Did someone make you suckered to purchase anything that is not needed? Please don’t buy anything because it was on sale When it was not on your grocery schedule unless you can work it out in your budget. It’s one thing to buy one or two extra and a completely different one to avoid perhaps purchasing 10 of them.
Grocery store flyers usually run a three-month or Seasonal cycle ( items vary). So the thing will come on again for the price you see listed on a flyer, but with the inflation issue in 2022, you want to consider purchasing more if it’s an item you consistently see a price increase.
How to Save Money on Groceries by Other Ideas
Start freezing and storing meals now.
Keeping some freezer meals on hand for emergencies may save you money instead of feeling like Takeout due to time restraints. There are vast online recipes for preparing freezer meals or learning how to meal in a jar for easy reheating. You will be saving money as well as time. This means no more wasting food every day.
Redefine dinner
If the word “dinner” makes you imagine preparing a large home-cooked meal, including meat, potatoes, and a salad. The time has passed, and dinner is not a big meal anymore! “. Your family can survive a few days a week from the traditional Dinner options you may have grown up on. Do not fear serving a simple lunch or making breakfast for dinner so you can stretch the groceries. Kids like eating pancakes. Take it seriously. Eggs can be purchased cheaply in recipes like Fritos or quiches if you feel fancy. Beans and rice are not only cheap but healthy.
BUY ROTISSERIE CHICKEN
There are a few exceptions to the rule of not buying prepared food. Rotisserie chickens are one of them. A whole roasted chicken can often be more expensive to make at home.
Grocery stores often cook chickens to put on sale. The chicken is cooked and then sold at a lower price.
Bottom line: Rotisserie chickens are a good deal. They are delicious and juicy.
Avoid soft drinks
Drink the benefit of Fresh Juice, and use powdered juice powder to make water taste a bit better. Soft drinks don’t provide any nutritious value; they are bad for your teeth, Soft beverages also lead to environmental concerns, and you need to recycle them. Save yourself time and the environment by making drinks at home or drinking fresh juice.
BYOB
No, this is not your opinion. Bring your bags to the supermarket! Your spending will typically range from 5 to 10 dollars per year. Five bags would save you around 25 cents per grocery trip! Keep reusable bags in the car in case of an emergency.
Collect/Request Coupons
There is no big surprise here, as we all know of coupons and cashback systems we can all use as Canadians. Just be aware many times, coupons offered are items that rarely come on sale or are new products and usually are not on many healthy products. But it is wise to keep tabs on Coupons available to you and see if the item is something you already use. Remember, Coupons are just a tender and a small way to save money; the only way Coupons give you more traction is by finding the item heavily discounted.
Canadian Companies That Will Mail Coupons
Cash Rebates
Similar to Coupons, but in digital form. You can purchase the item and upload the receipt to get money back when buying the stuff they have listed. Save anywhere from $1.00 to $4.00 per item. It’s another way to save money on your grocery bill by the end of the year. The negative about cash rebates is you will need to accumulate $20 before cashing out. Cash rebates are an excellent way to save on cleaning supplies such as laundry soap.
Grocery Apps Canada to Download and Save Money
Check Your Receipt for Wrong Prices ( SCOP)
If you notice an error on your receipt after checking out, take it to the customer service desk and let them know.
Some grocery stores are generous when fixing a pricing problem. For example, when shopping at Scop Store, you can get the item for FREE if you find something that rings up at the wrong price.
How to SCOP: Use the Scanners Code of Practice in Canada
Get a Good Cash Back Credit Card on Groceries
Did you know you can save money at the supermarket using a different credit card? You will only get this benefit if you pay off your monthly credit card bill. You won’t save any money if you don’t because you’ll pay more interest than what you earn in rewards.
Consider PC Optimum points for all your purchases at Loblaw stores and Shoppers Drug Mart, where you can earn and save points and redeem them for free groceries. The PC Optimum card is free and easy to use,
Many average Canadian Families use a PC Mastercard to purchase all of their items and do not pay an annual fee but only do it if they can pay off their credit card every month. The interest is over 20% and will save you nothing if you can’t pay off your balance every 21 days.
If you are not good with credit cards, you can always use a PC Money account – a savings/checking account- and earn a few extra points when shopping at Loblaws stores.
Shop During Senior Discount Days
Senior discounts are a dying breed of savings, but some grocery chains still offer them. Ask your local supermarket if they give seniors a discount — typically 5% or 10% off the regular-priced items — for shopping on a certain day of the month.
Confirm before showing up and expecting a discount.
How much do Canadians spend on groceries?
The average Canadian family spends approximately $26,657 on groceries yearly, increasing by $487 compared with the previous year. This includes grocery purchases and meals. Restaurants account for around 30 percent of the average household income in Canada. This increased year on year. A Canadian household spends 30% of its food budget on the restaurant industry. In 2019, average families spent roughly $8886.7 to purchase groceries from retailers. It was significantly better than last year. Naturally, they differ considerably from place to place.
