BORED AT THE CASH MIGHT COST $
Not everyone falls prey to the marketing ploy of magazines at the check-out although there are many of you that just can’t go without your weekly or even daily dose of “worldly news”.
We do not subscribe to magazines so unless it is a free magazine like “Melt magazine” or “Ingredients Magazine” it will never end up in our shopping cart.
Although those magazines in Canada revolve around food they are not costing us any money. Maybe that means we are boring people?
With the internet at our finger tips you can find just about anything you need to know online. You can pretty much find free magazines online which will give you hours of reading entertainment.
Magazines are not cheap either as you can expect to pay anywhere from $2-$5 and then some just to read something and toss it in the garbage.
Magazine fever
I notice my wife falls prey to the celebrity gossip magazines while waiting at the check-out and will look at In Style magazine, Chatelaine magazine and Canadian Living magazine. She has never bought a magazine though and to be honest I just don’t think she ever will.
On occasion she may pick up Money Sense to flip through only because we’ve had a few free subscriptions just for being a Rogers customer. I do like Money Sense magazine although I’m not sure I’d pay money to learn about saving money when I can borrow from the library for free. I guess it depends on the person.
I remember reading somewhere a wife mentioned that her husband has to have the paper version of the newspaper every day to make him happy. He apparently had no interest reading it online and that’s fair. If it’s something you’re used to doing for many years and it makes you happy and not putting you in the money dog house, then enjoy your money splurges.
Frugal and free magazines
Rogers magazines are a decent price if you are a Rogers customer however we’ve never felt the need to order them. If there are any Rogers promotions where they offer our choice of magazines free then we’ll gladly read them.
I won’t lie and say I don’t notice the magazines at the cash register because I do. Most times I’m having a laugh at the headlines, “How to live longer by eating this miracle fruit” or other odd attempts to capture your attention so you spend the money to read what is in the magazine. If you are like most customers who are bored you pick up the magazine and read it while waiting in line.
I know this drives other customers and the staff bonkers but hey, people will keep themselves occupied if they have to. Post a sign if you don’t want customers inspecting the merchandise, lol. If you go to Shoppers Drug Mart most of their stores have a massive magazine section which we’ve seen people hang out at. If you need a Chapters fix you can read magazines there as well before you buy them.
It’s a frugal way to get your fix and move on out the door saving you money in the budget. Other ways to save money on magazines is to check out your local second-hand shops for earlier subscriptions.
Even though they may be older they still hold information that you might enjoy. I know the library has magazines you can read or borrow as well as picking them up garage sales for cheap. If you are lucky you will find a magazine ‘o’ holic who puts them in a box on the curb with a Free sign. That’s your chance to swoop in and grab some free magazines and read until you just can’t get enough.
Some of the best magazine subscriptions out there that aren’t just filled with gossip rather educational material which is great. I enjoy looking at photographs and reading about adventures although I can get that high online for free. Well, it’s not free since we pay for internet services but why spend more if you don’t have to. I’m pretty sure anything you read in a magazine will be somewhere online.
I’m not saying buying magazines is wrong especially if it’s a hobby of yours or you have the cash to splash on them but what I’m saying is there are ways to save when buying magazines to get your fix.
If you are hell-bent on buying magazines at least look for an online magazine code or a subscription discount that way you are paying less for the cost of the magazine. I know many of you might say you only buy it once in a while but that once in a while might add up to a full-year of subscription if you are paying full price at the cash register.
Magazines want your business so don’t be afraid to look for the best deal online and save some moola!
- Do you buy magazines?
- What are your favourite magazines?
- What ways can we find discounts on magazines?
June grocery game challenge posts
If you missed any grocery game posts for the month I will post the line-up for the month each week here in this section for you. Join in the Grocery Game Challenge fun and post your grocery shop in the comment section of each blog post… here are the GGC rules! Each month I hold a draw and one WINNER is chosen. I will post the winners name right here so make sure to check back every week.
- Would you go back if you forgot your groceries? The Grocery game challenge #1 June 2-8, 2014
- Do you only buy groceries on sale? : The Grocery game challenge #2 June 9-15, 2014
- How to chop everyday food costs without coupons: The Grocery Game Challenge #3 June 16-22, 2014
Grocery saving tips
Click, Save and Print. It’s that easy!
Free Money Saving Downloads are awesome lists that were created to get us on track to work towards reaching our budgeting goals and now we are sharing them with you.
I hope you take the time to get back on track and start the savings process in your grocery budget today.
Get organized with a FREE freezer inventory, meal plan, shopping list, price comparison list and much more all for FREE. CLICK HERE to download all the free lists and even our family budget spreadsheet for FREE.
NEW!! You can now download the FREE Canadian Budget Binder Budget Spreadsheet in Excel…Grab it while you can… It’s FREE! We use it to budget and in large part a reason we were able to pay our mortgage off in 5 years, check it out!
Ultimate grocery shopping guide
Everything you want to know about grocery shopping in Canada is below with new information added monthly.
If you missed a Grocery Game Challenge post some of the most popular posts are listed below or you can now find the posts listed on their own page called The Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide.
If you know a topic that should be discussed send me an email and let me know.
Food food and more food
If you are a foodie like I am you will enjoy going through my Free Recipe Index where recipes from CBB foodie Nicola and myself are shared every Sunday on the blog. Check it out! Try a recipe and leave a review for other fans!
Shoppers Drugmart
- 2x 4L of Neilson Milk $3.97
- 2x Large dozen eggs Sale $1.99 each
Total out-of-pocket $7.94
Zehrs
- No name evaporated milk $1.49
- Graham cracker crumbs $4.59 club size
- PC Greek cream cheese Sale $2.99 each
- Western Sour Cream $3.69-50% off sticker
- 4 x salted butter Sale $2.99 each
- Astro Greek Yogurt $3.99-50% off pink sticker
Total out-of-pocket $27.85
Metro
- Halal Dahl Plain yogurt sale $1.99
- Selection Pitted dates $2.99
- 2 x Reduced produce orange and yellow peppers $0.99
- Liberte Coconut Yogurt $3.49 (my splurge, mmm) + $0.25 snap saves (did you see this Jen <<<< 🙂
- Blueberry pint sale $2.50
- Sweet corn 2/$5.00
- Reduced produce Granny Smith Apples $0.99
- 1x grocery bag- forgot my bags.. oops! $0.05
Total out-of-pocket $19.00
Walmart
- Watermelon $3.97
- 2 x Sesame oil $5.77 (the best we’ve found is here)
- Limes $0.94
- Cabbage $1.41
- Romaine Lettuce hearts $1.97
- Spinach $1.47
- Cucumbers Sale $0.77 each
- Fennel $1.67
- Red onion $1.19
- Seedless Grapes Sale $1.87
- Tomatoes Sale $2.05
- Salsa $2.97
- Frozen corn $2.47
- Philadelphia cream cheese double Sale $3.47
- Croutons $1.88
- 2 x Plantains $0.95
- Real Lime juice $2.27
- Barilla Linguine Sale $0.94- $0.75 coupon
Total out-of-pocket $45.59
Grocery shop results
Yearly grocery budget for two: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $240 per year or $20 per month.)
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00 or $78.33 week with potentially one no-shop week per month or $58.75 for 4 weeks per month. (During the months with 5 weeks we just make it work)
- Total Budget for June $235.00-$20.89=$225.49/4=$56.37 per week or $75.16 per week if we do 1 no-shop week.
- Total Coupons Used this Week : $0.75
- Total Coupons Used to date: $41.00
- Total Discounts this Week: $3.85
- Total Discounts Used to date: $43.61
- Total Gift Cards Used to date: $33.18
- Total Rewards Points Used: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used to date: $20.00
- Stockpile Budget ($20.00): $20.00
- Stockpile Budget Used to Date: $20.00+$19.08+$17.94+ $2.06+$20.00+$15.10 + $20.00 (June)
- Snap Saves to date: $0.25
- Total Spent This Week: $100.38
- Total Spent So Far June: $71.21+ $67.10+$36.68+$100.38=$275.37
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: over $49.88
- Total Over/Under spend for the month: over $49.88
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $0
- Total to Carry Over Next Month: -$49.88
- Total Spent To Date This Year: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $242.66+ Feb $191.74+ March $255.82+April $235.07+May $223.62+June $275.37
- Weekly Overview: Wow we sure did go over this month but let me explain. We had an unexpected gathering to attend so I made a cherry cheesecake as well as a salad to bring along. Without the extra expense of the dessert and salad we would have been fine this month. We don’t go to many gatherings and for this one my cheesecake was requested by all so I had no problem with bringing it. We will have to make up the difference now in our budget but we discussed it and are fine with that since we have plenty of stockpile to eat up. If we didn’t have the room in our budget we would have declined and brought something in accordance to what we could afford for our grocery budget.
Coupon Sleuth
Did you find any coupons? If so share the details in the comment section of this post where you found it and what the coupon is for with expiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Grocery Game Challenge RULES: Read the rules first and if you have any questions email me or comment on this post with your question and someone will answer you as soon as possible.
- Do I have to be Canadian to post my Grocery Shop?: No, you don’t have to be Canadian to post your shops only to win a monthly prize. We have fans who post their grocery shop who live all over the world.
- When does the Grocery Game close each month?: The Grocery Game Challenge closes at midnight of the last Sunday of the last post for the month. You can post your shops all month-long.
- Does your Grocery Budget include health and beauty and laundry products?: Yes our Grocery Budget includes such items as shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap etc. We don’t mind stockpiling items that won’t be affected by expiry dates or have long expiry dates but not so much food any more. It’s just one way to help cut your budget to save money.
- Where can I find Canadian Coupons?: Here are your latest Coupon Match-ups of the week and your weekly Checkout 51 offers from 25 Newspaper Inserts around Canada compliments of Save Big Live Better that you can use to help you save money in the Grocery Game Challenge.
- What is an FPC?: An FPC is a free product coupon which means you can get a free product as described on the coupon.
- How Do I Know what stores accept coupons? : You can find all your store coupon policies here. If you are not sure it’s always best to call the store and ask.
- How Do I Grocery Shop?: I can tell you about grocery shopping and what we do in terms of shopping to save money and how it works for us. There are no wrong or right answers, just smart choices.
Over time you will gradually learn where you should and shouldn’t go in the grocery store or at least how to say no, I’m on a budget I need to buy this or that.
You may also substitute items in order to stick to your grocery budget to make it work. Nobody is perfect, heck we struggle with this part of our budget like many people do.
This is why the grocery game challenge was created to not only show you that we are like everyone else but to bring us all together to work as a team to get our budgets on track.
If you have just joined The Grocery Game Challenge 2014 get ready to dive deep into your grocery budget and learn just where you are spending, how much you are spending and what you are saving.
Feel free to read all the above posts that I linked to above which I feel are relevant to learning about the grocery budget and grocery shopping in general.
You’ve made a wise decision to take control of your grocery budget now show me your shops and let’s get saving!
Welcome to The Grocery Game Challenge Canada 2014!
-Mr.CBB
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Juanita says
Hey Mr.CBB
I love looking at flyers on my phone or the paper ones if they show up on time. I like writing my “wish list” shopping list in a book that I always carry with me since my brain is not what it used to be since having our little miss. I have no idea how much time I spend couponing, it isn’t a full time job for me like it is for some people, I just have had great luck finding coupon inserts and the occasional tear pad but I do have a wonderful friend that I met through coupon trades that has better luck than I do with tear pads and we send coupons to each other on a regular basis so combined I think it saves a lot of time for both of us when working together and is worth the stamps we use. I am extra thankful to be on mat leave this year so I don’t feel pressure to get things clipped and organized. I have a some what good memory when it comes to coupons so when looking at flyers I already know if I have a coupon for it or if the sale is a good deal or not. Having me know the prices on our everyday items saves us a lot of money and I feel responsible to know these things since I am mainly the one that does the food budget and shopping. I never wanna go back to the days of getting to the end of the food budget before the month or week has ended and there is no food to eat. Also to be honest the hubby and I don’t have much of a social life and don’t entertain a tonne so that frees up time for me to coupon whenever I want.
Juanita says
Our weekly budget is $125 making this month $500
Safeway
$2.50×2 butter
$5 total oop
Sobeys
$1.25-.50C barilla
$4.29-fpc mouthwash
$3.88 2lb strawberries
$6 lotto max
$3.99×2-bogosale & $1C
$13.85 total oop
$9.78 total coupons
Target
$3.49×4-$2Cx2&$1.50TCx4 huggies wipes
$2 rebate from snap saves
$8.99(pm to sobeys)-$2TC&$2C
$5.39 borax
$1.99×2-$1Cx2 Lysol toilet cleaner
$1×2 rebate from snap saves
$2.99-$2CO51 febreeze spray
$5.48×2(pm superstore)-$1TCx2&$1C Tylenol
$2×4(pm superstore)-$1.50TCx4 huggies wipes
$1×2 rebate from snap saves
$4.94×2-$1TCx2-$3C infants Tylenol
$36.65 total oop
$30 total coupons
Walmart
$5.94×2-$5C aveeno shampoo/conditioner
$9 baby swim suit
$2.97×2-$1Cx2 ice cream sandwiches
$2×2 salad toppers
$1.25×5 juice
.95×4 1L chocolate/strawberry milk
$33.95 total oop
$7 total coupons
$89.45 weekly total oop
$46.78 weekly total coupons
$407.93 monthly total oop
$109.03 monthly total coupons
Horray for being under!!
Mr. CBB says
Hi Juanita,
Congrats on being under for the month! It’s not easy to do but when we do it we are very happy. You use a great amount of coupons every month. How long do you invest in cutting coupons and looking for deals each week? You get ballot 26. Well done! Mr.CBB
joanne tjerno says
Okay my next two shops are going to be EXTREMELY small as my mom is moving so she cleared out most of her food in the freezer and cupboards and gave a TON to me! and my next week off is my vacation so lots of sandwiches as we are driving around to many places. I have decided for july to cut my budget to 150 a week. I used up my overages from the last two months to purchase an early xmas present.
As for magazines at the checkout I just dont look….i find some of the covers so entertaining! I used to buy the “gossip” magazines all the time. However nowadays most of these stories can be found for free online. My mom has several magazine subscriptions so i tend to take her old ones when she is done reading them. Here is my shop for this week. Like i said very small.
Zehrs
Kraft dinner x2=2.67
tomatoes 2.41
salami 3.16-50%=1.58
total=6.66
Shoppers drug mart
milk 3.97×2=7.98
total=7.98
walmart
clear hair and scalp shampoo 1.00×5=5.00-5X 2.00 coupons=+5.00 (i gave all these shampoos to my mother in law as it is her fav!)
bandaids 1.00
olay facial wipes 5.97-4.00=1.97
olay faial wipes 5.97-4.00=1.97
total=2.27
Well this is all that i bought his week :S I went out with family for dinner three times in which they paid. And also went to my moms for dinner twice in which she cooked :S. Combine that with all the food they gave to me and i was set this week!
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $700
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $18
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $69.75
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $388.22
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: 0
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: 6.50
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year: 7.50
Total snapsaves this week=0
total snapsaves this year 36.75
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Total SCOP this month: $0
• Total SCOP this year: $4.28
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
•Total Spent This Week: $16.91
•Total Spent So Far for june: $343.28
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $356.72
•Total to Carry over Next Month: 356.72 left over this month as i used my last two months overage for a christmas gift!
WOW! What a great end to the month!
Mr. CBB says
Hi Joanne,
The first thing I read was “WOW, What a great end to the month”…:) Good for you. That’s what we all like to hear. I guess going out for dinner three times helped… haha, especially that you didn’t have to pay. How much more do you think you would have spent if you didn’t go out for those dinners and had to eat at home? Overall, you have LOTS of money in your grocery budget left. You mentioned a while back you might scale that number down. Is that something you are still considering? You get ballot 3… 🙂 Mr.CBB
Mary F. Campbell says
JUNE – Week #4 of 5- June 23-29, 2014
2014 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $142.50 x 12 = $1,710.00 for 2 adults
•Total Stockpile Budgeted For Year: $47.50 x 12 = $570.00 for 2 adults
•Combined Grocery Budget for 2013: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00
==============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This week is all about shopping across the line but we also a small farmer’s market shop on the Canadian side of the border. I really had to work hard to contain myself! LOL I am totally dangerous in the vegetable section! 🙂
I had surplus cash in the Fortis gas balancing account this year so I decided to withdraw $109 in cash to top up our cash wallet for when we hit a farm or a farmer’s market this summer.
I couldn’t resist a couple of sales this week… last of the big time spenders. Not!!! LOL
Also, the plan is for us to not have another “US shop” until early in September – so we did stock up a little bit for our summer fun!
The gluten free products on the Canadian side of the border are getting to be more available and a better quality. This means we are able to shop the “prices” and “US Only” items these days. It’s nice to not be so focused on gluten free every time we head into the United States.
I also find, my eating preferences are less reliant on “certified gluten free products” and therefore my gluten intolerance is making less of a dent in our overall budget. Returning to more vegan and vegetarian meals certainly doesn’t hurt the pocket book either.
We aren’t exactly getting rich with the annual Costco rebate cheque. This year our cheque was for $13.45. It really doesn’t warrant the additional cost of an Executive Membership over a regular membership so we will be downgrading our membership next month when we renew.
And what would a week be without a rain check?! Hubby scored a rain check for the Save On Foods’ Western Family Sirloin Burgers @ $6.99 for 1.13kg – limit 6. Their rain checks are only good for 14 days so we’ll be using it early in July. Mmmm! Barbecue time!!!
==============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Farmer’s Market – Maple Ridge
2 x Zucchini +
5 x Rhubarb Stalks = $11.00
1 x bag English Peas = $3.00
•Total OOP: $14.00
• Grocery Budget OOP: $14.00
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $109.00 -$14.00 = $95.00
Thrifty’s – Maple Ridge
2 x Bread 60% Whole Wheat @ $1.00 ea on sale = $2.00
2 x Compliments Coleslaw @ $1.00 ea on sale = $2.00
1 x Celery = $1.00
•Total OOP: $5.00
• Grocery Budget OOP: $0.00
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $95.00 -$5.00 = $90.00
Shopper’s DrugMart – Maple Ridge
2 x doz Market Fresh eggs @$2.29 on sale = $4.58
•Total OOP: $4.58
• Grocery Budget OOP: $0.00
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $90.00 -$4.58 = $85.42
Extra Foods – Maple Ridge
1 x Wonder bread Hot Dog Buns @ 1.97 on sale
•Total OOP: $1.97
• Grocery Budget OOP: $0.00
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $85.42 -$1.97 = $83.45
==============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Walmart – Burlington
3 pkgs Rice Cereal ($4.88 ea) = $11.96
2 pack Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter $11.62
4 pkgs Hebrew National Family Pack Hot Dogs ($8.42 ea) = $33.68
2 x 2 lb pkg sliced honey ham luncheon meat ($6.98 ea) = $13.96
2 x 2 lb pkg Smoked Turkey Breast Lunch meat ($7.98 ea) = $15.96
2 family size sliced apples ($4.98 ea) = $9.96
• US Grocery OOP: $97.14
—————————————————————–
Costco – Burlington
2 x 4 lb butter – wrapped in ¼ lbs $9.99 ea = $19.98
• US Grocery OOP: $19.98
==============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $81.89 + Feb $48.32 +Mar $0.00 +April $22.88 +May $44.18 + June ($18.30+$10.36+$10.92= $39.58)= $225.93
•Total Coupons Used This Year:
Jan $2.58 + Feb $7.18 +Mar $0.00 + April $9.20 +May $20.19 + June ($1.00) = $40.15
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 +Mar $0.00 + April $0.00 +May $5.31 + June ($0.00) = $5.31
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 11 + April 0 + May 5 + June (0) = 16 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 456 + Feb 584 +Mar 0 + April 4 + May 125 + June (3) = 1,172 Air Miles
•Total Thrifty’s Points Earned This Year:
Jan 25 + Feb 15 +Mar 0 + April 0 + May 39 + June (11) = 90 Points
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 650 + April 0 + May 5,400 +June (2400) = 8,450 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 0 + April 0 + May 30 + June (0) = 30 Points
==============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $167.06 + Feb $155.74+ Mar $105.76 + April $145.56 + May $228.38 +June ($52.50 trf to US reserves+$23.50+$52.97+$8.00+$3.00+$10.78+14.00+5.00+4.58+1.97= $186.11)= $978.80
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $142.50+ Feb $142.50+ Mar $142.50 + April $142.50 + May $232.50 +June $142.50 = $945.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: ($33.80) OVER 🙁
==============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D STOCKPILE SPENDING:
•Total Stockpile OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $47.50 + Feb $47.50 + Mar $47.50 + April $47.50 + May $47.50 + June ($47.50) = $375.00
•Total Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget:
Jan $47.50 + Feb $47.50 + Mar $47.50 + April $47.50 + May $47.50 + June ($47.50) = $375.00
•Total Over/Under Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget: $0.00 AVAILABLE
==============================================================================================
2014 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Re-Stocking Budget:
2013 Fwd $125.00+Jan $17.50+Feb $17.50+Mar $17.50 + April $17.50 +May $17.50 + June $0.00= $212.50 AVAILABLE
==============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D BORSCHT RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Borscht Stockpile Budget:
2013 Fwd $275.00+Jan $12.50+Feb $12.50+Mar $12.50 + April $12.50 +May $12.50 + June $0.00 = $337.50 AVAILABLE
==============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Borscht Stockpile Budget:
2013 Fwd $0.00+Jan $20.00+Feb $20.00+Mar $20.00 + April $20.00 +May $20.00 + June $0.00= $100.00 AVAILABLE
==============================================================================================
• TOTAL SPENT Year-To-Date:
$978.80 Grocery Budget
$10.00 Hiding Spot Cash
$10.00 Safeway Cash Card
$375.00 Stockpile Budget
$80.00 Cash Repayment from neighbor
$24.27 2013 Costco Rebate Cheque
$0.00 2014 Costco Rebate Cheque – $13.45
$250.00 Safeway Gift Card =
$1,728.07
$1,140 may have been budgeted for JAN to JUNE ‘2014 but we have these funds already accounted for and not yet spent:
$212.50 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$337.50 Borscht Fund
$100.00 Holiday Season Fund
TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES $650.00 … that is a $400.00 carry-forward from 2013 and $250.00 in NEW 2014 savings.
So, if you look at the $1,728.07 calculation that we have spent in 2014 and subtract the $250.00 we have actually saved in our “reserves” and the $42.30 we have recorded as spent but is actually set aside for future USA grocery shopping… we have actually spent $1,435.77!! That is $295.77 over the $1,140.00 we budgeted for January through June.
BUT if you also take out the cash that was either a gift, some non-budgeted earning method or a loan repayment: ($10 Hiding Spot Cash from bottles + FREE $10 Safeway Gift Card + $80.00 Cash Repayment from a neighbor + $24.27 from a 2013 Costco Rebate Cheque + $0.00 used out of a 2014 Costco Rebate Cheque for $13.45 + a Christmas present of a $250.00 Safeway Gift Card) = $364.27 then we actually only used $1,071.50 of the budgeted $1,140.00 have a Budgeted Grocery Balance SURPLUS of $68.50 still sitting in our bank account.
IF you don’t pay any attention to how we paid for the groceries, then the seemingly $295.77 overage will easily be absorbed into the value of 9 weeks x $47.50 = $427.50 vacation we will be taking in 2014 and still leave us an additional $131.73 for cross border shopping.
==============================================================================================
REMAINING GROCERY FUNDS FOR JUNE:
CANADIAN $’s
Groceries: ($33.80)
Stockpile: $0.00
Cash Hiding Spot: $83.45
Safeway Cash Card $0.00
US $’s
Our Reserve: $159.42-97.14-19.98 = $42.30 AVAILABLE 🙂
US Cash Hiding Spot: $0.00
==============================================================================================
The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Thrifty Foods:
6 loaves 100% WW bread @ $1.00 (Good until July 28th)
4 Compliments Sweet Green Relish @ $1.00 each (Good until July 28th)
12 Heinz 1.36 L Can of Tomato Juice @ $1.99 each (Good until Aug 9th)
Safeway:
1 Schwartz’s Smoked Sliced Meat Pouches 500 g $8.99 (Good until Aug 17th)
1 Schwartz’s Smoked Sliced Meat Pouches 500 g $8.99 (Good until Aug 18th)
2 Coast-to-Coast Italian Sausage Buns – 8 pack $2.49 (Good until Aug 24th)
10 Coke/Pepsi 2L Pop @ 5 for $5 maximum of 10 (Good until Sept 1st)
1 Lucerne Skim Milk 2L) = FREE (Good until Sept 18th)
2 Asparagus @$1.99/bunch (Good until Sept 18th)
Save On Foods:
6 Western Family Sirloin Burgers 1.13 kg @ $6.99 – limit 6 (Good until July 8th)
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Mr. CBB says
Hi Mary,
You and my wife both would be dangerous in the vegetable section. Sometimes I wonder how we will fit most of the stuff we get in the refrigerator lol. Why do you think the Gluten Free prices are going down in Canada? I wasn’t aware there were different Costco memberships. I’ll have to look into that. My sister in law has one and my wife goes once in a while but doesn’t buy anything. If you were near I’d give both you and Chrstine all of our Rhubarb lol. Overall how you calculate your grocery budget and savings is up to you but you are doing fantastic. I can’t get over the deals you find without using many coupons. The rain checks have been great for your both and it’s something we need to keep in mind when shopping as well. Sometimes it’s easier to brush off something when it’s out of stock rather than to ask for that rain check. I hope you get that stash of asparagus, great deal. Do you grill the zucchini on the bbq? It’s so good. Well done Mary… great shops for the month. You get ballot 23 Mr.CBB
Christine Weadick says
My shops for the final week of June came very close to the mark even with getting a total of $50.00 worth of strawberries, most of which went to jam for the next year!! I had to get some shampoo and conditioner as we were about out and the drug store was out of stock on the sale stuff. No rain check for special purchases..darn!!
Foodland, June 22
3 1l chocolate milk @.99- 2.97
bananas- 1.11
2 pizza sauce @1.89- 3.78
1 unsweetened apple sauce- 1.98
2 packs snap lids (for my jam jars) @1.99- 3.98
1 bread crumbs- 1.99
1 cranberry cocktail- 2.99
1 doz eggs- 2.99
1 W/W bread- 3.09
1 yogurt- 3.29
1 tomato- 1.43
3 packs ground pork @4.49, 50% stickers on all 3- 2.25X3= 6.75
2 4l milk @4.79- 9.58
3 blocks of cheese @4.97- 14.91
1 case cream soda- 4.99, 1.00 coupon
1 jug water- 5.49
2 whole roaster chickens- 6.71+6.71
Tax- 1.49
Total- 87.69, 1.00 coupon + 6.75 discounts
Megans Family Farm, June 23
Strawberries- $30.00
Jackson’s Pharmacy, June 25
1 Dove shampoo- 6.99
1 Dove conditioner- 6.99
Tax- 1.82
Total- $15.80
Foodland June 25
2 1l chocolate milk @.99- 1.98
bananas- 1.27
1 jar pickles- 1.79
1 jar green relish- 1.99
Kolbasa cold meat- 2.19
1 bunch celery- 2.49
1 W/W bread- 2.99
1 yogurt- 3.29
1 bagels- 3.89
1 pack ice cream drum sticks- 3.99
1 6pack Gator ade- 3.99
Honey ham- 4.05
1 lb butter- 4.19
1 parmesan cheese, grated- 4.43
1 salad dressing- 4.49
1 4l milk- 4.79
1 block cheese- 4.97
1 jug water- 5.49
Tax- 1.04
Total- $63.31, no coupons
Total budget for month- $650.00- $162.50/4 weeks
Total coupons/discounts for week- $7.75
Total spent this week- $196.80
Total spent for month- $660.14
Total over/under for week- over $34.30
Total over/under for month- over $10.14
Left for month- N/A
Total coupons/discounts for month- 12.90+24.04+12.25+7.75= $56.94
Total carry over to next month- $10.14
Total YTD- J$653.06+F$594.21+M$633.19+A$672.42+M$647.70+J$660.13= $4495.64
Stock pile- $25.00 spent $23.95
I went over this month but not by much. I will admit I was worried about getting my strawberries and staying on budget but I came close to doing it!!! I’m over by $10.14!!!! Considering I spent $50.00 just on the berries I am pleased with the month in spite of going over. With next month being a 5 week month I believe that means $2.00-$3.00 a week to make up but I should be able to deal with that the first week or very close to it. I made just over 30 jars of jam and added to the few jars left from last year we will be good for the winter for jam!!!
Having to pay full price for the shampoo and conditioner hurt but that’s life. Making some cold salads for those really hot days and getting some cold meat to go with it didn’t help any either. This is the only time of the year I buy cold meat any more.
All in all I am happy with how the month went.
Mr. CBB says
WOW, you did incredible considering all that you bought and the strawberries, congratulations Christine well done mate. How much do you reckon each jar of jam cost you to make? It’s always better homemade. We make our own as well. The cold salads are a must in the summer for us and we live mostly on salads and protein and that’s it. We don’t buy much junk at all… we aren’t into chocolates, candy and sweets. Once in a while if I make it or if we have a craving but the less we have in the house, the better. That Dove shampoo is a price killer wow~~~ Is that a certain brand you buy? Again, well done and you get ballot 22. Mr.CBB
Christine Weadick says
Adding up the cost of the berries,new snap lids, sugar and the Certo Light minus he two big bowls of berries we ate as is, I would guess those jars of jam ran me around $2.00 for a 500 ml jar or there abouts.
Cold salads are popular here in the hot weather too but I still need to cook the potatoes and the macaroni. I try to do the potatoes in the microwave or just have them on the stove the same time as the pasta and with the stove vent running full blast. It still heats things up for a while. I should make some more for this week soon too.
I try very hard to get the shampoo on sale but it didn’t work this time. I do need to watch what kind I use as I tend to sensitive and dry skin. I was able to run the receipt for the Dove through Checkout 51 for a $2.00 rebate but I don’t include that with my groceries as I want to save all that until late November to use as funds for Christmas shopping as money will be tight again, as usual. That with any points from Jackson’s and Shoppers will be handy to have then. I really miss being able to get those gift cards from Air Miles I used to get…they were nice to use then too….oh well
Jen P says
Every other week or so we buy a magazine at the checkout but it’s always the same one and it’s one of the cheaper ones. We don’t buy it because it’s at the checkout and we can’t resist, we buy it because Ken likes this particular magazine.
I shop for 2 adults and a 3 ½ year old boy. Our budget is $85/week or $340 for this month and includes laundry, health/beauty, etc.
Giant Tiger
Miracle Whip 2 x $2.48 – $.75 coupon
Maple Lodge chicken wieners 3 x $1.00 – $3.00 coupon
Coupons $3.75
OOP $4.21
No Frills
Pita $.88
OOP $.88
Food Basics
Potatoes $2.98
OOP $3.00 (rounding)
No Frills
Corn 7 x $.77
NN mushrooms 3 x $.99
Ziploc bags 6 x $.88 – 3 x $2.00 wub2 coupons
Potato thins $1.88
Pita $.88
Coupons $6.00
OOP $11.33
RCSS
Hershey’s mini chocolate bars (PM NF) 3 x $1.88
Water (30 pack) 4 x $2.66 (earned 2000 bonus PC plus points)
Sweet Baby Ray’s 6 x $2.00 – 6 x $2.00 coupons – $.75 CartSmart
Goldfish (PM Longo’s) 2 x $2.00
Quaker Harvest Crunch 2 x $2.50
Twizzlers (PM NF) $1.88
Heinz Scooby Doo $1.25
Bick’s pickles (PM FB) 4 x $2.88 – 2 x $1.00 wub2 coupons (earned 800 PC plus points)
PC peanuts $3.98
Cadbury chocolate (PM Target) 2 x $1.79
Mott’s fruitsations applesauce (PM FC) 4 x $2.00
Christie’s crackers (PM FB) 6 x $1.44
Kraft salad dressing (PM WM) 2 x $1.94
Miracle Whip (PM GT) 2 x $2.48 – 2 x $1.00 coupons (wub salad dressing and miracle whip together)
Cheez Whiz (PM Metro) $2.99 – $1.00 coupon
BD cheese bar (PM FB) 2 x $4.44 – 2 x $.75 coupons
Eggo’s (PM GT) $1.88
Almond Fresh 2 x $3.50 – 2 x FPC
Coconut yogurt $4.59
Mushrooms (PM GT) $.97 – $.25 Zweet
Baby carrots (PM NF) $.88
Garlic $.37
Romaine (PM NF) $.88
Bananas $2.10 (earned 400 PC plus points)
Oranges $1.17
Broccoli $1.99 (earned 200 PC plus points)
Cauliflower (PM FB) $2.77
Cucumber (PM WM) $.77
Tomatoes (PM FB) $.68
English muffins $1.68 – 50% pink sticker (-$.84)
Wonder bread (PM NF) $1.88
Tortillas $3.00
Turkey pepperoni $4.49
Hummus $3.69
Coupons $25.50
Rebates $1.00
OOP $95.62
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $4,420 ($85/week) + Meat order $172.85/month for 9 months $1555.65=$5975.65 for the year including the meat order.
• Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $340 – $10.38 (over from last month) =$329.62
• Total Coupons Used this Week: $35.25
• Total Coupons Used This Month: $95.87
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $630.72
• Total rebates this week (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): $1.00
• Total rebates this month (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): $18.75
• Total rebates this year (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): $127.25
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Total SCOP this month: $0
• Total SCOP this year: $6.50
• Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
• Total Gift Cards Used this year: $270.84
• Total Reward Points Used this week: 0
• Total Reward Points Used this year: 0
• Total tax free day this week: $0
• Total tax free day this month: $7.61
• Total tax free day this year: $53.90
• Colleague Discount (this year): $11.08
• Total Spent This Week: $115.04
• Total Spent So Far for this month: $404.06
• Total Over/Under spent for the month: Over $74.44 🙁
• Total Left to Spend for the Month: N/A
• Total to Carry over Next Month: N/A
• Total Spent To Date This Year: $2230.42
Weekly overview: Wow. I blew it. All I can do is keep trying to make up for it!
Mr. CBB says
Hi Jen,
What are chicken weiners like? I’ve never had them before. Where did the Miracle Whip coupons come from? I hardly see coupons these days. Either they get taken before I’m at the store or our stores don’t get them all. I’m a fan of Hellman’s Olive oil may… mmm. We were over too but we found some good sales and we had to make that cheesecake for the party which put us over. We are working on cutting out any unnecessary items from the cart. We want to be as healthy as we can and although we may go to the odd party this summer and have to buy snacks it’s just something we don’t want to tempt us so we stick with fruits and veg. We’ve been lucky finding some cheaper fruit on the reduced rack as well. 🙂 You get ballot 21. Mr.CBB
Jen P says
I only ever buy chicken wieners. I just really don’t like any other type. The miracle whip coupons were from the kraft website. They were printables. I wish I had the will power and palate that you do. I just can’t stop myself from bringing that stuff into my house and I’m a picky eater 🙁
Mr. CBB says
Bringing what stuff into your house lol….. I’ve never tried chicken weiners before. Never say that you “can’t” do something because when you do you are already letting “Can’t” win~
Angela Mainse says
Weekly Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: 200
Total Coupons Used this Week : 2
Total Discounts this Week: 0
Total Checkout 51 cheques this Week: 0
Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
Total Rewards Points Used: 0
Total SCOP: 0
Total Spent This Week: 19.95
Total Spent So Far for June: 173.18
Total Left to Spend for the Month: 26.82
Total Coupons Used This Month : 5.50
Total Spent To Date This Year: 1,834.18
Total Grocery Gift card used this year in addition to total spent: 125.02
Weekly Overview:
Tincap berry farm: 4 L pick your own berries 10.00: 10.00
RCSS: banana 1.28, lysol soap 4.73 – 1 coupon: 5.60 (rounded down 2 cents)
RCSS: lysol soap 4.73 – 1.00: 4.35 (rounded up 1 cent)
Kept it as minimal as possible this week. We hope to go to the U.S. for a couple of basics this afternoon, but that will be different budget – gas, milk, bread essentially.
I was a bit annoyed at the cashier at RCSS this past week. They refused to ring up the coupons and items on 1 bill. It was just the luck of the draw, the cashier was the only one there, it was closing and I didn’t feel like arguing with her. I know 1 per purchase is always per item purchased and this cashier always argues it’s per transaction. So, I missed out on some bonus points on it as well, but the rounding ended up the same, so at least no actual pennies lost. Wasn’t worth the fight at 10 p.m. at night and holding up the line for that, this cashier is just not good to deal with and frankly the night staff don’t need complaints so late at night. If it was during the day, I would have had the pick of the cashiers. Lesson relearned… don’t go at close. Other than that, we stayed on track this month and I’m praying for a better July, despite having to throw a BBQ party for my son’s birthday with family – I’m thinking just hot dogs this year, no hamburgers – they’re too pricey. Especially when the garden starts to produce a lot more than just a few greens. Can’t wait. All in all it was a good month.
Mr. CBB says
Hi Angela,
They refused to ring up the coupons and items on one bill? What do they normally do? OH… that crap. One per purchase and transaction… coupons are pretty straightforward… the writing says it all. I never argue with a cashier I have a manager called over. They NEED to learn what it means to use a coupon if they don’t understand it and the store needs to “educate” the staff on how to read coupons properly. Follow the instructions and make sure everyone interprets them the same. Simple. Love the berries for $10~ You get ballot 20 Mr.CBB
KarenLynn says
Hi friend I am proud to say I don’t buy magazines at the check out but if the line is REALLY long I will read them with no guilt…..:) That being said I did NOT play the grocery game this week however I did eat out of the fridge/freezer/pantry for most of the week and I am proud to say that the men in my life were not impressed with my bacon potato casserole last night….my husband said “This is dinner?” ….”Yep I said!” Oh and by the way going gluten free and eating less of everything the benefit is all my clothes are getting looser too! Woohoo! Great shopping deals btw…..eggs for me are not really inexpensive because of the care, time, and feed, scraps, and greenery that go into our chickens but I do so enjoy them! Hope you and Mrs. CBB have a happy Friday! I also did buy a nice sized watermelon at Trader Joes this week for $3.99 they are always $3.00 less than Walmart and our local grocery store. Do you have a Trader Joes in Canada?
Shannon McLay says
Excellent points! I used to fall for the trap of magazines. Now I just find checkouts with lines and read the magazine while I’m waiting!
Mr. CBB says
You are not alone, many people do that BUT many people still keep them in business. Cheers Shannon!!
Julie says
After years of collecting Huggies diaper codes, I just got a one year free subscription to Canadian Gardener. I also got a few free samples of Canadian Living and In Style, I think from Sample Source. I also enjoy the Walmart free magazine too. We also get a free parenting magazine that comes with paying with our Quebec daycare. When I am done with them, my hubby usually brings them to work for a second life. They can easily become clutter!
Mr. CBB says
I agree it does become clutter. It’s nice to hear you give them a second life rather than put them in recycle right away.
Aldo @ Million Dollar Ninja says
I used to buy magazines all the time like a true sucker. I had subscriptions to Rolling Stones, and a few health and fitness magazines. I never worked out so I don’t know why I had a subscription to a fitness magazine. I’m glad I’m out of that wasteful time of my life.
Christine Weadick says
Years ago I used to buy the quilting and craft magazines but I haven’t got one in years now. I get the 2 free magazines you mentioned and I get Reader’s Digest on a gift subscription from my Uncle every Christmas. I did get 6 months free from Canadian Living thanks to Sample Source. The one I drool over these days is Canadian Gardener, I hinted about that one before Mother’s Day. No luck, but Christmas is coming too!!! Lol!!!
Hubby get Canadian Business and Money Sense from Rogers and he is happy with those.
The younger boy hits the local library book sales to get the back issues of automotive magazines, a whole years worth for a couple of bucks and he is one happy guy!!!!
I look at the magazines while waiting my turn at check out but I don’t pick them up, I just read the cover for a laugh….
Elisabeth says
I used to be a magazine sucker, but recently have changed my tune. If I’m tempted to buy a magazine, I will scout it out at our local library, or surf the website of the magazine I thought I wanted to buy. $4-$5 is too much to part with for reading material that could be free!
Mr. CBB says
Good for you Elisabeth!! You are right those small costs can add up week after week. You can get all the free reading material online or the library.