Similar Posts

Celebrate Crocktoberfest With Cheap Crock Pot Recipes : The Grocery Game Challenge 2016 #1 Oct 3-9

Celebrate Crocktoberfest With Cheap Crock Pot Recipes : The Grocery Game Challenge 2016 #1 Oct 3-9

WELCOME OCTOBER WITH SEASONAL AROMAS USING YOUR CROCK POT FIT FOR ANY BUDGET.   It’s Crocktoberfest time friends which means you can dust off your crock pot if it’s hidden deep in your cupboard waiting for some kitchen time. Crock Pot lovers around the world are celebrating the beauty and convenience of the crock pot…

Should your grocery budget increase with shrinking product packaging: The Grocery Game Challenge #3 Sept 15-21, 2014

Should your grocery budget increase with shrinking product packaging: The Grocery Game Challenge #3 Sept 15-21, 2014

SHRINKING FOOD   I’ve talked about whether we eat too much and potentially why a grocery budget might be high but now we have to tackle shrinking product packaging. I often have people visit the blog wanting to find out what an average grocery budget might be so they can plan their own budget. One…

22 Comments

    1. I think what happens is they open it up to different areas as they need information. Check back often to find out if Newfoundland is available.

      Reply

  3. There is no information regarding the catalogue. How do we get a copy of the catalogue without spending hours on the computer trying to find the answers? Please reply to the email address shown below. Thankyou.

    Reply

  4. I cancelled my home scanning on may 18th. The man on the phone said he would send purolator to pick up the scanner today, tue the 24. A ups man showed up. It is not his to take. So call me to make arrangements for the pick up

    Reply

    1. Hi Wendy,
      I think you need to contact Nielsen Homescan from their website. This is Canadian Budget Binder and not Nielsen Homescan. Thanks 🙂

      Reply

  5. After reading this post a month or two ago. I actually registered for this program. Interesting, I must have fit the demographic when I filled in the survey. Lo and behold, I have a scanner and have already made my first transmission. I’m curious to see if this is going to be a lot of work or not. I buy a lot of produce and stuff without bar codes, but it seems pretty mapped out. Thanks for the info.

    Reply

  6. I am very disappointed that I went to sign up and Yukon is not an option for a province/territory in Canada. Kinda feel discriminated against as its open to Canadian residents yet… Obviously not all. Nor can I find a contact etc to resolve this issue with on the web at all

    Reply

    1. I’m sorry Elizabeth. I’m not sure about why the Yukon is not on the list. I don’t have access to anyone at head office otherwise I’d try to help you out. I’ll see if my contact knows anything for you.

      Reply

  7. I shop for 2 adults and a 4 year old boy. Our budget is $85/week or $425 for this month and includes laundry, health/beauty, etc.

    Walmart
    Kidney beans 2 x $.78
    M&M’s candy 10 x $.78 – $10.00 CO 51 (=$1.20 overage)
    Magazine $3.48
    Rebates $10.00
    OOP $3.10

    RCSS
    Jam $3.48 – FPC
    Chapmans slice cream $4.97 – FPC
    Bananas $.76
    Green onion 2 x $.50
    Coupons $8.45
    Colleague discount $1.03
    OOP $.75

    ****Because I am doing this so late I cannot remember what I price matched and to where and exactly what coupons were used and where so this may not be completely accurate****
    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. THE MEAT ORDER IS PAID IN FULL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (we still have tons left too).
    • Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $340 + $43.37 carried over if needed
    • Total Coupons Used this Week: $8.45
    • Total Coupons Used This Month: $13.70
    • Total Coupons Used this Year: $1027.62
    • Total rebates this week (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $10.00
    • Total rebates this month (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $12.75
    • Total rebates this year (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $179.50
    • Total SCOP this week: $0
    • Toal SCOP this month: $0
    • Total SCOP this year: $7.10
    • Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
    • Total Gift Cards Used this year: $298.04
    • Total Reward Points Used this week: 70,000
    • Total Reward Points Used this year: 210,000 or $210.00
    • Total tax free day this week: $0
    • Total tax free day this month: $0
    • Total tax free day this year: $81.98
    • Colleague Discount (this year): $20.95
    • Total Spent This Week: $3.85
    • Total Spent So Far for this month: $29.35
    • Total Over/Under spent for the month: N/A
    • Total Left to Spend for the Month: $310.65
    • Total to Carry over Next Month (if needed): $43.37
    • Total Spent To Date This Year: $3864.46
    Weekly overview: With being on bed rest I didn’t get much shopping in. We’ve just been going through the stockpile, eating at my parents or eating take out.

    Reply

  8. GGC for December 12th to 19th

    Name Your Store: Superstore
    Total Coupons Used: $0.00
    Total Points = 1600
    Total Out Of Pocket: $42.26 ($14.09 Pet; $28.17 Human)

    4 Campbell Soup – 4/$5.00 = $5.00
    1.5 Kg Friskies Cat Food – (PM FB) = $3.99
    NN 18Kg Cat Litter = $8.48
    6 Cans Tuna = $4.99
    2 Boxes Triscuits – $1.67 (PM FB) = $3.34
    4L Skim Milk = $3.97
    450g Black Diamond Cheese = $3.95
    Breyers Ice Cream – (PM NF) = $1.97
    10 lb Potatoes – (PM NF) = $1.47
    Celery Stalks = $1.47
    Spaghetti Squash – (1.165 kg @ $1.72/kg) = $2.00

    Weekly Grocery Game Challenge Results
    Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $50.00/week ($40.00 Human & $10.00 Pet)
    Total Coupons Used this Week : $0.00
    Total Coupons Used This Month:  $2.00
    Total Discounts/SCOP this Week: $0.00
    Total Checkout 51 rebates this Week: $1.00
    Total Checkout 51 rebates this Month: $3.00
    Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0.00
    Total PC Points Received this week: 1600
    Total Rewards Points Used: 
    Stockpile Budget: $0.00
    Total Over/Under spend this shop: $11.83 under (Human); $4.09 over (Pet)
    Total Spent This Week: $28.17 (Human); 14.09 (Pet)
    Total Spent So Far for December: $57.43 + $42.26 = $99.69
    Total Over/Under spend for the month of December: $N/A
    Total Left to Spend for the Month: 83.98 Human; 16.33 Pet
    Total to Carry Over Next Month: $N/A
    Total Spent To Date This Year: $3,322.22
    Weekly Overview: This week, I bought things that we needed and thru price matching, received a few good deals (Potatoes at SS was $3.98 but I picked them up for $1.47 as example). I couldn’t believe that I was that far under my weekly budget but then I went by myself and I stuck to my list.

    Reply

    1. Hi Dee,
      You got a great deal on potatoes wow! You can’t beat that price. You make a good point about being under budget and sticking to the list. We have a huge problem sticking to our grocery list and that’s why The Grocery Game Challenge was born. We’re hoping in 2015 we can really work on sticking to that list as there were times in 2014 that it got out of hand for us. Will you have the same grocery budget for 2015? Great work by the way woot!! We are also hoping to maximize on PC Plus points as much as we can. You get ballot 7. MR.CBB

      Reply

  9. I’ve visited Canada before and never heard of this Nielsen homescan canada shop. That said, I’d post my grocery shop to win a monthly prize. I’m so excited…

    Reply

  11. DECEMBER – Week #3 of 5- Dec 15-21, 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:

    There are no shops to report this week as we are away on vacation and using our “vacation reserves” for whatever we do. One of my favorite places had a “buy a $50 gift card and get a free pass for a meal on your next visit” (approx $7.99 US value). Needless to say we got in on that deal and will be visiting Souplantation a few times this trip. Other places have similar deals going but we aren’t likely to use more than one gift card up during this trip. I still have half a dozen birthday coupons for free meals to use. 🙂

    ===============================================================================================

    OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:

    NO SHOPS UNTIL Dec 29th!

    ===============================================================================================

    OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:

    NO USA SHOPS UNTIL Dec 28th!

    ===============================================================================================

    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 $39.58+July $4.10+Aug $0.00+Sept $19.68+Oct $7.75+Nov $0.00+ Dec $0.00= $257.47

    •Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:

    Jan $2.58+Feb $7.18+Mar $0.00+April $9.20+May $20.19+June $1.00 + July $15.50+Aug $12.98+Sept $5.19+Oct $33.28+Nov $0.00+Dec $0.00 = 109.97

    •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 + July $0.00+Aug $0.00+Sept $0.00+Oct $0.00+Nov $0.00+Dec $0.00= $5.31

    •Total More Points Earned This Year:

    Jan 0+Feb 0+Mar 11 +April 0+May 5+June 0+July 52+Aug 0+Sept 32+Oct 31+Nov 103= 236 Points

    •Total Air Miles Earned This Year:

    Jan 456+Feb 584+Mar 0+April 4+May 125+June 3+July 210+Aug 88 + Sept 157+Oct 2+Nov 0+Dec 0= 1,631 Air Miles

    •Total Thrifty’s Points Earned This Year:

    Jan 25+Feb 15+Mar 0+April 0+May 39+June 11+July 145+Aug 0+ Sept 24 = 259 Points
    Program Discontinued on Sept 12th – We received $20.00 + 14 Air Miles

    •Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:

    Jan 0+Feb 0+Mar 650+April 0+May 5,400+June 2400+July 3,300+Aug 0 + Sept 1,450+Oct 0+Nov 0+Dec 0= 13,200 Points

    •Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:

    Jan 0+Feb 0+Mar 0+April 0+May 30+June 0+July 100+Aug 0+Sept 0+ Oct 10+Nov 40+Dec 0= 180 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 $186.11+July $110.63+Aug $130.76+Sept $185.68+ Oct $96.45+Nov$158.81+ Dec($12.50 trf to borscht+$20.00 to Summer$67.50 trf to US Reserve=$4.59 = $104.59)= $1,775.53

    •Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
    Jan $142.50+Feb $142.50+Mar $142.50+April $142.50+May $232.50 +June $142.50+July $142.50+Aug $142.50+Sept $142.50+Oct $142.50+Nov $142.50+Dec $142.50 = $1,800.00

    •Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $24.47 AVAILABLE

    ===============================================================================================

    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+July $47.50+Aug $47.50+Sept $47.50+Oct$47.50+Nov $47.50+Dec($17.50 trf to re-stocking + $30 trf to US Reserve = $47.50) = $660.00

    •Total Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget:
    Jan $47.50+Feb $47.50+Mar $47.50+April $47.50+May $47.50+June $47.50+July $47.50+Aug $47.50+Sept $47.50+Oct $47.50+Nov$47.50+Dec $47.50 = $660.00

    •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+July $17.50+Aug $17.50+Sept $17.50+Oct $7.50+Nov$35.00+Dec$17.50= $325.00 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+July $12.50+Aug $12.50+Sept $12.50+Oct $12.50+Nov$12.50+Dec $12.50= $412.50 AVAILABLE

    ===============================================================================================

    2014 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:

    •Total 2014 Holiday Season Reserve:
    2013 Fwd $0.00+Jan $20.00+Feb $20.00+Mar $20.00+April $20.00 +May $20.00+June $0.00+July $10.00+Aug $0.00+Sept $0.00 +Oct $0.00= $110.00 AVAILABLE
    ===============================================================================================

    2014 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:

    •Total 2014 Summer Season Reserve:
    2013 Fwd $0.00+Jan $0.00+Feb $0.00+Mar $0.00+April $0.00+May $0.00+June $0.00+July $0.00+Aug $20.00+Sept $20.00+Oct $10.00+Nov $20.00+Dec $20.00= $90.00 AVAILABLE

    ===============================================================================================

    • TOTAL SPENT Year-To-Date:

    $1,775.53 Grocery Budget
    $104.04 Hiding Spot Cash
    $20.00 Thrifty’s Points Redemption
    $20.00 PC.Plus Points Redemption
    $20.00 Safeway Cash Card
    $565.00 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 =

    $2,858.84

    $2,280.00 may have been budgeted for JAN to DECEMBER ‘2014 but we have these funds already accounted for and not yet spent:

    $325.00 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
    $412.50 Borscht Fund
    $110.00 Holiday Season Fund
    $ 90.00 Summer Season Fund

    TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES $937.50 … that is a $400.00 carry-forward from 2013 and $537.50 in NEW 2014 savings.

    So, if you look at the $2,854.25 calculation that we have spent in 2014 and subtract the $537.50 we have actually saved in our “reserves” and the $240.80 ($146.80+94.00) we have recorded as spent but is actually set aside for future USA grocery shopping… we have actually spent $2,080.54!! That is $199.46 UNDER the $2,280.00 we budgeted for January through December.

    BUT if you also take out the cash that was either a gift, some non-budgeted earning method or a loan repayment: ($104.04 Hiding Spot Cash from bottles etc + FREE $20 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+ $20.00 Thrifty’s Points Redeemed and $20.00 PC.Plus Points Redeemed+ $1.00 gift from hubby’s spending money) = $519.31 then we actually only used $1,561.23 of the budgeted $2,280.00 have a Budgeted Grocery Balance SURPLUS of $718.77 still sitting in our bank account.

    IF you pay any attention to how we paid for the groceries, then we seemingly have $718.77 AVAILABLE. If you count all grocery purchases regardless where the funds came from, we have actually have $199.46 still available this year but most of it is buried in our reserves.

    We still have 2 weeks of vacation coming this month that will help us finish the year pretty darned close to on budget.

    ===============================================================================================

    REMAINING GROCERY FUNDS FOR DECEMBER:

    CANADIAN $’s

    Groceries: $24.47
    Stockpile: $0.00
    Cash Hiding Spot: $0.02
    Safeway Cash Card $0.00
    Safeway Savings Reward $0.00

    US $’s

    Our Reserve: $146.80
    US Cash Hiding Spot: $94.00

    ===============================================================================================

    The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:

    NONE!
    ===============================================================================================

    Reply

    1. Hi Mary,
      Did I miss your birthday? Happy Belated Birthday. Is this souplantation a soup buffet? It sounds amazing. That was a great deal that you picked up. If you know you will use it you might as well grab it. No shops this week.. good for you. We’re almost there… You get ballot 5 Mr.CBB

      Reply

      1. Souplantation has an all-you-can-eat build your own salad bar, usually half a dozen soups and chilis, assorted breads with an occasional gluten free muffin choice, baked potatoes and of course the build-your-own-sundae counter. I love the soft serve ice cream with crushed peppermint candies. 🙂 No Mr CBB…my birthday isn’t until Boxing Day and Christine Weadick’s is Christmas Day…just a wild and crazy couple of Capricorns! LOL

        Reply

        1. I would love to go to that restaurant. That would be perfect for dinner tonight… we are looking to see what’s out there then a romantic walk through the town to see all the lights the city put up. Some birthdays coming up.. maybe even mine too 😛

          Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.