LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE AND GROCERY SHOP
If you have a love affair with the grocery store and are single, I’m going to tell you how to find love while roaming the food aisles.
Most people are looking in all the wrong places for love and doing the deed isn’t going to be your fast-track way to the alter either.
There’s more to finding love than what happens in the bedroom. Sadly the first place that comes to mind for those who want to find love is by going to the bar.
The bar dating scene is so old these days especially with free online dating sites like Plenty of Fish and even apps for your smart phone that it has taken on an entirely new direction.
The problem with the meet at the bar mindset is that it’s always been where people go to enjoy drinks, dance and meet people.
In one sense we are conditioned from the time we are in University and College that the bar scene is where people hook up because that’s where students go to unwind and have fun.
It’s time to think outside of the clubs because there are more places to find love besides the dance floor. Have you ever noticed that most people in a bar have a beverage in their hands when they are talking to people they meet? So, food and drink really is the boundary between two bodies and a great conversation starter.
- Can I buy you a drink?
- What are you drinking tonight I’d like to buy you a drink?
A bar or dance club is a meeting place but the stigma of it being the place where you go to find a quickie one night stand will always be the front-runner.
Plenty of people have a love story to share from meeting at the bar but in 2015 the bar is old school. I may get shot down for this one but there will always be the lovers and haters of the bar scene. I’ve never been fascinated with going to the bars.
Everyone who is single wants to know how to find love and the answer is, love will find you. If you believe in destiny believe that you can meet your true love at the bus stop, the bank and even the grocery store. Have you ever watched the movie Serendipity? I have a million times with my wife!
Meeting people at the grocery store
I’m not going to toot my own horn but I have had the ladies chatting me up while pushing the shopping cart around. I’m guessing it has to do with my British accent but my wife says I’m very handsome so we’ll leave it at that.
Most times I don’t even know the ladies are flirty with me because I’m NOT looking for love. It’s my wife who says, “OMG she was flirting with you and must have thought I was your sister or something.” I do wear my wedding ring!
Whether it’s at the drive-thru while I’m getting a coffee or while I’m picking the best tomatoes in the produce section there always seems to be…. the question.
Sir, Can you help me with this? or the ladies overhear me talking to someone else and they chime into the conversation especially if it’s a little granny I’m talking to or helping.
I’ve come to realize that yes you can definitely meet someone in the grocery store and although I’m not looking for love I can bet there are plenty of people out there who have found just that while checking off their grocery list.
Have you given up on love?
Stop asking yourself “Will I ever find love” because today I’m going to share with you some simple ways to meet people at the grocery store.
Whether you’re a man or a woman you’ve likely thought about falling in love and your ideal love story is waiting to be brought to life.
The problem with this is that we create barriers to falling in love because of set ideals that for most can be way out in left field. You might never find someone that checks off every box on your wish list.
You can’t force love you have to let it creep up on you and then BAM your world will literally be turned upside down. All good though.
I asked the following question on my What’s For Dinner thread on Facebook the other night:
Do you believe one of the best places to meet someone (dating potential) is at the grocery store?
Here are some of their responses:
- Can’t say that I have met a date in the grocery store. Meet a lot of hungry folks there but no dates.- Christine
- Not sure about grocery stores, most people I see there are pretty rushed. I do meet a lot of people at the local farmer’s markets during the growing season. Those are fun with many folks enjoying talking about great food, recipes, prep tips, etc.- Sue
- I guess you could meet somebody at the grocery store but that’s not me.– Della
- I met my husband while driving the lunch truck to construction sites! Food was involved! I started bringing him home cooked food from my house (special just for him) and he was hooked!-Cynthia
- I think it could be potential for meeting a special someone – not such a pressured environment but it just depends on the people I think.-Heather
- I have never met anyone at the grocery store. I have only ever had conversations with adorable elderly ladies.-Amanda
So it seems that the fans do believe that you can find love at the grocery store but for many it’s not for them, they’re not looking or it hasn’t happened yet.
Food is love and any time Mrs. CBB and I have went to parties, backyard gatherings, weddings or baby showers etc. when you bring up food YOU will always have a crowd around you sharing their love for the kitchen.
The best part is if you are a fan of cooking the food conversation is the perfect start to meeting and building a relationship. What’s even better is if you are a man who cooks. Women really do find men who cook sexy!
5 Ways You Can Find Love At The Grocery Store
Accidentally crashing your grocery cart into someone whose attention you may want might not score you points on the love meter but asking the right questions and observation will.
1. Are they married or in a relationship?
The first thing you must do whether you are a man or a woman is… LOOK FOR THE RING. Unless you are planning to have simple conversation with anyone then avoid this question but this post is about finding love so talking to random potentials means doing fast homework.
Don’t just look on the finger either… look around their neck. Many men and women can’t wear their rings any longer as they don’t fit so they loop them on a necklace. Not all married couples wear rings either but if you see one, back away or if you don’t have a legitimate question to ask.
Please don’t assume that the woman who is with them is their mother, sister or any other relative or friend either.
The hardest part is trying to figure out if the gorgeous woman or sexy man pushing the grocery cart is simply taken but not married. BUT, the only way you will find out is if you start a conversation.
It’s easy to tell if someone is taken because they will send the “I’m taken vibe” because they won’t show you the same interest as if they would if they were single. That or you simply might not appeal to them right off the hop.
It happens, people go for looks first because attraction is what brings people together on a sexual level. Not all relationships start out that way either because the mind is always a better conversation than relying on the body. That brings up the old question…Is it Lust or Love?
One of my fans told me about this Singles Shopping Night at a Safeway in the Osborne Village of Winnipeg. I thought it was a brilliant idea because I’ve joked with my wife in the past about dating and the grocery store.
With over 1000 confirmed shoppers from a Facebook event showing up to find love you can bet the place was heating up.
I agree that food makes it easier to approach people in the grocery store because the majority of people unless they hate food and cooking enjoy talking about it.
2. Make eye contact and body language:
Take a breather once in a while and look around because you don’t want to seem like a killer out for blood. Please, don’t lick your lips and act out of character either because that won’t register either.
Just be yourself and the rest will follow.
Too often people try so hard to find love that they may just scare away the person they were meant to be with.
Run your hands through your hair, smile and look at the other person when you talk to them. If you find that your space is heating up or the hands find their way to the hips you may have a potential match.
3. Ask a question or for help
The most obvious thing to do if you want to find love at the grocery store and you spot someone that catches your attention is to ask a question.
There’s nothing wrong with being nosey with what products are in their shopping cart or evaluating what they are doing before you go in with your question.
You can ask someone what a certain food is or how they plan to use it in a recipe. If you want to find out just how much they love food like you do ask about cooking methods.
If they have no clue it’s possible they are clueless in the kitchen. Maybe they are just learning but take the opportunity to dig deeper, share experiences and offer tips of your own even if you are the one who asked the question in the first place.
Just don’t come across as creepy.
Also, don’t give up too much information about your life or what you hope for might end before it even starts. She or he doesn’t need to know that you hate washing dishes so you leave them for a few days until you get to it, if you catch my drift. Sometimes less is more until you get to know each other.
Many couples once they fall in love have no problem dealing with each others habits but don’t dish them up until you need to. You should be accepted for the person that you are but at least give the meeting a chance.
4. Continue the conversation and shop side by side if you can
They say when two people are in love they start to mimic each other even if they don’t know they are doing it. If you find you are both still chatting, smiling and pushing your grocery cart side by side you might be on to something.
5. Carry the conversation to the parking lot
If you are a gentleman you can offer to carry some of her bags or help load them into her trunk but you just met so don’t go overboard. Both of you can hold the door open for each other and don’t forget to keep smiling.
Don’t stalk someone either because if they aren’t interested you might freak them out a bit. You should be able to figure out from body and facial expressions whether someone is into you. If you find they are in a rush or avoiding you, the answer is obvious.
Don’t make it complicated.
Clearly meeting someone is only the first step in dating. It’s only after a date or even two or three that you might decide to continue dating or call it quits.
Just don’t underestimate the power you have as an individual. Not every guy is looking for Miss Perfect and not every woman wants Mr. Muscle. Believe in yourself and really, you have nothing to lose but a few minutes of your time.
If at the end of the conversation you get a name and phone number or you ask for a phone number and get it then it’s your turn to take over because my tips end when you get in your car and drive off.
Good Luck Finding Love or having love find you!
Did you find love or know someone who has by meeting someone at the grocery store? Share your story in the comments or share this post with them. I want to hear their love story.
March 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!
- How the Food Network helps us to save money- GGC #1 March 2-8, 2015
- How monthly grocery shopping can help your budget- GGC #2 March 9-15, 2015
- The Paleo Diet- Can you afford to eat like this? -GGC #3 March 16-22, 2015
- Family Dinner Ideas that won’t chop your budget- GGC #4 March 23-29, 2015
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 could 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 are new here and haven’t had a chance to read past posts grab yourself a beverage, sit down, relax and enjoy some educational reading material on ways to save money in your grocery budget.
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.
2015 Grocery shop results
If you are a foodie like I am you will enjoy going through my Free Recipe Index where recipes from CBB Home Chef Nicola Don and myself are shared every Sunday on the blog. Check it out!
Yearly grocery budget for two 2015: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $240 per year or $25 per month.
Shoppers Drug Mart
- 2 x Neilson Milk 4 Litres $3.97 each
- 2 x Large Eggs Sale $1.77 each
Total out-of-pocket $11.48
Food Basics
- Selection Tortilla Chips $1.99 (Easter Party)
- Marc Angelo Pork Roast $10.99-40%
- 6pk pomegranate $1.29 reduced rack
- 6 pk lemons $1.09 reduced rack
- 6 pk of avocado $1.09 reduced rack
- Yellow onions $2.97
- Carrots $0.97
- Bananas $1.74
- 2 x seedless cucumber $0.67 each
- Red tomato cluster $0.92
- Sweet Potatoes $4.29 and $3.95 for baby food
- Gaylea Sour Cream Low fat $1.49
- 4 x Astro Yogurt Coconut $2.49-$1.00 coupons
Total out-of-pocket $37.88
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00
- Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs $235.00
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $0
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $20.00
- PC Points Plus Earned to date: 28786
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Snap Groupon to date: $1.50
- Zweet to date: $1.50
- Cart Smart to date: $0
- Checkout51 to date: $1.50
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
- Total to spend this month $204.49 (includes overage from February)
- Stockpile budget 2015 ($25.00): (Jan/Feb) $50.00 +$0
- Stockpile budget used this month: $0
- Total coupons used this week: $4.00
- Total coupons used to date: $13.00
- Total in-store discounts this week: $6.60
- Total in-store discounts to date: $140.52
- Total spent this week: $49.36
- Total spent so far this month: $231.02
- Total over/Under spend this shop: $over
- Total over/Under spend for the month: $26.53 over for the month
- Total left to spend for the month: -$26.53
- Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $166.49+ Feb $261.51+ Mar $231.02 + April $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts): What a great month for shopping considering it was 5 weeks long. I don’t think we did too bad even though we went over by $26.53. Keep in mind we didn’t use our stockpile budget either this month but we didn’t really stock much so that’s fine. Let’s welcome April with a bang…bring on the warmer weather! BBQ will be getting a cleaning very soon.
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 but you will still get a ballot when you post your shops even if they are late but I encourage you to stay on schedule. It’s a proven fact the minute we stop doing something that is scheduled that we end up forgetting to do it all together. Don’t let that be you! You can post your shops all month-long.
- Does your Grocery Budget include health and beauty and laundry products?:
YesNo, our Grocery Budget includes such items as shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap etc. As of 2014-2015 we no longer include such items in our grocery budget so we can see actual food numbers at the end of the year so we can plan accordingly for our budget. 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.
- Canadian Coupons: Where can I find Canadian Coupons?: Here are your latest Checkout 51 offers that you can use to help you save money in the Grocery Game Challenge. There are many great Canadian Couponing websites online that share weekly coupon match-ups so you can plan your grocery list.
- What is an FPC?: An FPC is a free product coupon which means you can get a free product as described on the coupon.
- What is GGC?– The Grocery Game Challenge of course!
- How Do I Know what stores accept coupons?: 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 2015 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. If you are brave and want to learn everything I know about grocery shopping in Canada check out my Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide! It’s FREE!
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 2015!
Join in and become money savers and take control of your grocery budget.
-Mr.CBB
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Photo Credit: Love hands shopping cart: Freedigitalphotos.net/Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot
Juanita says
Hey Mr.CBB
Yes that is 10lbs of bacon for $10!! It was expiring in two days and we had four cases to sell before we had to throw away. It is a low quality bacon, usually more fat than meat.
Yes that is one of the more expensive places to buy milk. I have seen it for $6 before deposit and recycling fee!! Needless to say I have scoped out the stores to see what everyones prices are and will be using those $1 off 4L dairyland milk coupons that I have found in the inserts! We started her on milk just before her first bday when I was heading back to work because we used up all the breast milk we had in the freezer within the first few weeks of me working. Technically we should have wait till she was “full term” 13 months before trying but we tried and everything turned out okay.
Sweet potatoes are her fav since the beginning and probably will always be so I always stock up when I see a sale. There is a pallet of them at work left over from easter so I am waiting for them to be marked down to stock up again.
The palmolive coupons were from an insert awhile ago and thankfully I had six given to me just in time to take advantage of that awesome sale! Wish I had more of them to really really stock up but maybe there will be another awesome sale since another $1 coupon just came out.
You guys may not have a Safeway there but your weekly sales beat us in prices!! Too bad no Walmarts here price match country wide any more let alone province wide. They just do local and even then you would have to being a flyer or your phone to price match.
Juanita
Juanita says
Our weekly budget is $125 making this month $625
Sobeys
$1.99 dzn eggs
$3.99×2-$1Cx2 cb sliced cheese
$1×10 campfire bacon – clearance
$2.83×3 4L chocolate milk – clearance
$1.32 2L pop
$8.99×2-.75Cx2 907g cheese
.65 tomato
$42.14 total oop
$3.50 total coupons
Superstore
$1.30 sweet potatox2
$1.30 total oop
Safeway
$1.66×3-$3.50C crest toothpaste
.50×10 frozen juice
$1.50×10-$1Cx10 Palmolive dish soap
$13.05 total oop
$13.50 total coupons
Shoppers
$6.99×2-$3C folgers kcups
$11 total oop
$3 total coupons
Co-op
$3.99 cherry ice cream
.98 stove top stuffing
$2.79-$2coupgon dzn eggs
$5.75 total oop
$2 coupgon
Save on foods
$1.59×2 2lb organic carrots
$7.21 sweet potatox6
$10.40 total oop
Walmart
$1.27 mushrooms
$2×2-.50Cx2 small international delight
.50×23 frozen juice
$3.47×2-.50C large international delight
$1.27 green leave lettuce
$2.97 cheese toast
$5.40 4L homo milk
$32.91 total oop
$1.50 total coupons
$116.55 weekly total oop
$23.50 weekly total coupons
$1688.68 yearly total oop
$481.48 yearly total coupons
Mr. CBB says
Hi Juanita,
What is campfire bacon? Did you get 10lbs of bacon for $10? lol.. if so WOW! Eeek is homo milk really that expensive? I guess we should look since we will be buying it for our son soon. How old was your daughter when you transitioned to milk? Those sweet potatoes are pricey I know. Our son loves sweet potato so when I see them on sale I try and buy them in bulk and we puree and freeze. I still have to write that post too soon. Awesome price on the dishsoap too. Where did you get those coupons? wow.. i miss all the good stuff although we have no Safeway in Ontario. Well done this week! You get ballot 6. Mr.CBB
Angela Mainse says
Finally caught up on posting March. I am truly making myself become accountable.
Week 5 – March 29 – April 4
• Grocery budget to work with in March: $400 (Breaks down to $80 weekly, I classify March as a 5 week month)
• Total coupons used this week: $.03 (bag credit)
• Total coupons used to date: $22.50
• Total RCSS gas coupons used this week: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used to date: $5.37
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed this week: $0
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed to date: $90
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used this week: $0
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used to date: $38.76
• Total student discounts this week: $2.25
• Total student discounts to date: $68.76
• Total tax savings RCSS this week: $0
• Total tax savings RCSS to date: $4.25
• Total spent this week: $64.05
• Total spent so far this month: $370.85
• Total left to spend for the month: $29.15
• Weekly carry over: $15.95
• Total in carry over jar: $213.05
• Total Spent To Date 2015: $868.20
Giant Tiger: Chicken strips 5.00 x 2, mushroom pieces and stems .77 x 2, frozen Italian meatballs 5.00 x 3, frozen chicken wings 5.00, frozen salmon (4 pce in a pack) 4.00 x 3, less bag credit .03: 43.50 rounded down 1 cent
RCSS: Yogurt raisins 3.69, NN white vinegar 1.99, Hellmans mayo 2.97 (PM), grape tomatoes 3.98, carrots 3 lb 2.49, potatoes 10 lb 1.97 (PM), grapes 4.41 (PM), green onions .89, less student discount 2.25, tax .43: 20.55 rounded down 2 cents
We ended off the month with another addition to the carryover jar. A total of 29.15 went into that jar. It’s a good thing. Now that March is gone, our new budget takes effect. We have no idea if the reduced grocery will work, but we have to try. It was a lot of freezer stuff this week, lots of easier meals essentially with my last month of school being so busy with my charity project, exams and final assignments. Add to that hockey season is still another few weeks. So, it will be good to have. And so much cheaper than fast food of course. I do prefer to make things from scratch, but I will be able to get back to that in May. So, we start April fresh and new. And, hopefully with success.
Angela Mainse says
I did my totals a little quickly to get caught up this month. I took a closer look. The number that is off is the carry over jar. At the end of March it has $191.80 in it. Not sure where I came up with that other number, however, my spreadsheets have it correct and my jar actually has that amount! Nothing has been used out of it yet, next month is when things get tricky now that our budget is down to $50 a week for the three of us (including toiletries and paper products). I must say I’m nervous. 6 years ago when we were on a $30 weekly budget we ate well and my son was almost 4. Food costs more and our son eats more.
Mr. CBB says
Good thing you found out the right numbers. We’ve made errors in the past too, it happens. I look forward to your new shop amounts and you know what, I know you can do it!! Keep the faith and shop like a pro. You have the skills and knowledge how to make money stretch in the food budget. 🙂 We’re all here for support.
Mr. CBB says
Hi Angela,
Be optimistic and your new grocery budget will work. Plan as much as you can the meals and stretch the dollars. Homemade is always better tasting and just better for us. Sometimes convenience works better for certain situations but too much of that and you can easily see it wipe out a big part of the budget. Buy what you need and can get by on that provides a nutritional balance of foods. Anything more and the tight budget might be compromised. You can do this!! You get ballot. 3. Mr.CBB
Christine Weadick says
Yearly grocery budget for four adults and two cats -$7800.00
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $240 per year or $25 per month
Foodland #1
3 lbs carrots -2.69
1 hot cross buns -2.99
2 raisin bread @2.99, $1.00 WUB2 coupon
3 Palmolive dish soap @3.29, 3×1.00 coupons
1 yogurt -3.49
1 bagels -3.99
2 blocks cheese @3.99
2 4l milk @4.88
1 jug water -5.49
1 lean ground beef -6.10
Tax -1.76
Total OOP -$59.78
Foodland #2
Bananas -1.42
1 pickles -1.79
2 raisins @2.29
1-18 count eggs -2.99
1 yogurt -3.49, 1.00 coupon
1 Cheerios -4.49
2 4l milk @4.88
1 case ginger ale -4.99
1 package fresh sage -1.67
1 jug water -5.49
Tax -.65
Total OOP -$45.42
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $650.00
Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs $650.00+$87.24(Jan and Feb under by this)
Total Gift Cards used to date: $0
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 6250
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
Snap Groupon to date: $3.00
Zweet to date: $19.00
Cart Smart to date: $0
Checkout51 to date: $17.50
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
Total to spend this month $650.00+$87.24(Jan&Feb)=$737.24
Stockpile budget 2015 ($25.00): (Jan/Feb) $46.70+(Mar)$22.18=$68.88
Stockpile budget used this month: $22.18
Total coupons used this week: $5.00
Total coupons used to date: $22.79
Total in-store discounts this week: $0
Total in-store discounts to date: $32.97
Total spent this week: $105.20
Total spent so far this month: $786.52
Total over/Under spend this shop: $over
Total over/Under spend for the month: $149.28 over for month
Total left to spend for the month: -$149.28
Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $640.13+Feb $572.63+ Mar $786.52+ Apr$
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts): this month stunk big time. It’s going to take some work to get back in line. Getting this and that for Easter didn’t help nor did two trips to No Frills this month. I did manage to get some extra rebates from Zweet and CO 51 on Easter goodies. Lately I haven’t been finding the discounts on meat like I was but I keep looking. I grabbed some dish soap I needed anyway, it was ‘t on sale but I had coupons for it. I have to work off almost $150.00 in overage from March. It won’t be easy but I will be working on it, might take a couple of months…
Mr. CBB says
Hi Christine.
I’m wondering if you should look at all the holidays that you buy big meals for every year and estimate the costs of those meals and if it’s $400 for example do a projected savings for them in the budget that way you don’t have to make up for overage? Just a thought. Yay, you got discounts from online apps!! So many people don’t know about them and that’s wasted money. I’ve gotten some great rebates using the apps. I find meat to be hit or miss. I did score a great price on pork mince this week as you will see. The reg price was over $8.00 which is crazy. I am better off buying a full pork roast. Good luck with your overage.. that’s going to be a challenge.I want to see how you handle it and feedback from you about the overage and how it affected your budget until it was caught up. You can do it!!! You get ballot 28. Mr.CBB
Christine Weadick says
I have found half price deals on the ground pork here too, just not lately. I get pre-packaged 1 pound packs that run $4.49-$4.99 each regular. That is for pork, chicken and turkey. I bought that pack of lean ground beef and broke it I to 2 smaller packs for sauce. I still have one pack of chopped mushrooms in the freezer from a half price sticker. Foodland tends to keep the reduced goodies in with the regular so I have to look over the entire produce or meat counters to find the deals but I do look over both…very carefully. We enjoy the turkey and I have to laugh…the store brand runs $4.99 a pack but I can get a local brand, Hayter, for $4.49!! I watch for sales for the holidays turkeys and get quite a few meals out of each one. The last few years I’ve been able to buy ahead some, getting my Thanksgiving bird in Oct with sales and grabbing a second one for Christmas as the sales in Oct. seem to be the best, then I use my turkey bucks from Foodland to buy my Easter turkey for cheap…
Dee says
Mar 27 – Apr 9, 2015
Name Your Store: Zehrs
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 0
Total Out Of Pocket: $5.00
Human
2 – 2kg Sugar – 2/$5.00 = $5.00
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 1400
Total Out Of Pocket: $39.13
Human
Minute Brown Rice = $3.29
Tidbit Pineapple = $1.44
Ketchup = $1.48
2 NN Mushrooms – $1.00 (400 PC Points) = $2.00
NN Mustard = $1.89
Cheerios = $3.98
Ragu Spaghettti Sauce = $1.00
2 lb NN Margarine = $2.78
460 g Cracker Barrell Marble Cheese = $3.98
Bananas – 1.730 kg @ $1.26/kg (400 PC Points) = $2.18
2 Green Pepper – 0.410 kg @ $5.00/kg = $2.05
Cats
18 kg NN Cat Litter – (600 PC Points) = $7.98
2 – 368 g Friskies Cat Food – $1.29 = $2.58
2 – 156 g Friskies Cat Food – 2/$1.00 = $1.00
Name Your Store: Zehrs
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 0
Total Out Of Pocket: $19.95 (Stockpile)
Human
3 – 460 g Cheese – Reg $8.99; Sale – $3.99 = $11.97
Gay Lea – 454 g Butter – Reg $5.29; Sale $3.99 = $3.99
Neilson – 454 g Butter – Reg $5.79; Sale $3.99 = $3.99
Name Your Store: Wal-mart
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 0
Total Out Of Pocket: $20.15 (Stockpile)
Human
9 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup – $0.67 = $6.03
4 – 454 g Butter – $2.87 = $11.48
Eggs = $2.67
Name Your Store: Zehrs
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $31.92 (Stockpile)
Human
8 – 460 g Cheese – Reg $8.99; Sale – $3.99 = $31.92
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 8400
Total Out Of Pocket: $52.01
Human
Smuckers Jam = $2.98
2 Primo Spaghetti Sauce – $1.79 = $3.58
Soya Sauce = $1.28
NN Peanut Butter = $3.97
2 NN Mushrooms – $1.00 = $2.00
2 NN Tuna – $1.17 (400 PC Points) = $2.34
3 L Vegetable Oil = $4.98
4 L Skim Milk = $3.97
5 Pillsbury Crescant Rolls – $1.97 (PM No Frills @ $0.97) (800 PC Points) = $4.85
NN Crinkle Fries = $1.99
2 Frozen Vegetables – $2.78 (PM No Frills @ $1.77) = $3.54
Bananas – 2.39 kg @ $1.26 kg (600 PC Points) = $3.01
2 Pads – 2/$7.00 (1200 PC Points) = $7.00
Deodarant = $2.48
Conditioner – $3.77 (PM Walmart @ 2.98) = $2.98
Cats
No Shop
Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the Human Year ($2080.00, for the pay period – $80.00)
Total Grocery Budget for the Cat Year ($390, for the pay period – $15.00)
Total Coupons Used this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Coupons Used To Date: $9.00
Total Discounts/SCOP this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Checkout 51 rebates this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Checkout 51 rebates to Date: $10.00
Total Snap rebates this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Snap rebates to Date: $1.00
Total Price Match for this 2 Week Period: $7.81
Total Price Match to Date: $139.64
Total Adhoc Stockpile this 2 Week Period: $72.02
Total Adhoc Stockpile to Date: $111.97
Total PC Points Received this 2 Week Period: 9800
Total PC Rewards Points Used this 2 Week Period: N/A
Total PC Rewards To Date: 26950
Total Over/Under spend this Human shop: $12.01 over
Total Over/Under spend for the Human month: $N/A
Total Left to Spend for the Human Month: $0.19 Over
Total Spent To Date – Human: Jan $69.59+$34.74+35.42+47.21+47.89+24.54; Feb $32.86+39.96+32.86; Mar $26.70+0.80+50.41+5.00+26.07+52.01 ; Apr $ ; May $ ; Jun $ ; Jul $ ; Aug $ ; Sept $ ; Oct $ ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $563.43
Total Over/Under spend this Cat shop: $1.94 under
Total Over/Under spend for the Cat month: $N/A
Total Left to Spend for the Cat Month: $.90
Total Spent To Date – Cat: Jan $3.22+11.28+32.17+0+0.98 ; Feb $12.50+$0.00+9.58+4.59 ; Mar $16.04+0+13.06 ; Apr $ ; May $ ; Jun $ ; Jul $ ; Aug $ ; Sept $ ; Oct $ ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $103.42
Overview: 1st week – Quiet week on the home front….didn’t find any deals to price match this week but I managed to stay under budget.
Overview: 2nd Week – Another quiet week on the home front but I found a few deals that I was able to price match against but I definitely used my Market Income to score some sweet deals on cheese and butter. I went over a little bit during this pay period but it will be no time in fixing that next grocery day.
Mr. CBB says
Hi Dee,
You might not have PM’d much but you did pick up some great deals on the mushrooms, cheese and bananas with those PC points, just to name a few items. I find that if coupons aren’t available if we watch those PC points we can get just as good of a deal as other stores. Great job with this shop. You won’t be short on cheese for a while. We buy it in bulk like you do too!! It lasts long in the refrigerator. You get ballot 26. Mr.CBB
kathryn says
Name Your Store: i.e. IGA (Australia)
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Out Of Pocket: $68.54
Week 10- 23-29 March, 2015
3L milk- $3.00
2L strawberry milk $5.99 (reduced)- $3.99
600 ml cream- $2.30
500g salt- $0.89
500g icing sugar- $1.54
200g tzatziki dip $2.79 (reduced)-$0.99
1 kg basa fish fillets- $6.98
1 kg puff pastry sheets- $2.70
250g strawberries- $2.99
125g x 2 raspberries $6.98 (reduced)-$6.00
mango-$2.49
18g ground cinnamon- $0.99
3L milk-$3.00
750 ml sasparilla- $2.93
750 ml ginger beer- $2.93
1 kg flour-$0.75
1 kg sultanas- $3.99
175gr salt& vinegar chips $2.89 (reduced)- $1.49
384 gr chia wraps $4.79 (reduced)-$2.99
.8 kg green grapes =$2.41
250 g strawberries- $2.99
125g blueberries- $2.99
.61g green peppers $2.56 (reduced)-$1.75
.66g nectarines $4.66 (reduced)- $2.89
half cantaloupe-$1.99 (reduced)-$1.59
.376g yellow pepper $3.76 (reduced)-$0.99
Do the above for each receipt you have then copy the template below and paste it to the bottom of your shop so we can see your results.
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $216.67 (averages $50 week)
Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs :284.59.
Total Gift Cards used to date: $0
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date:0
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
Snap Groupon to date: $0
Zweet to date: $0
Cart Smart to date: $0
Checkout51 to date: $0
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
Stockpile budget 2015 ($0.00): $0
Stockpile budget used to date: $0
Total coupons used this week: $0
Total coupons used to date: $0
Total in-store discounts this week: $4.78 (23-29 mar)+$8.95=$13.73
Total in-store discounts to date: $48.81 +$3.28=52.09+4.78=56.87 (23-29 mar)+8.95=$65.82
Total spent this week: $34.85+33.69=68.54
Total spent so far this month: $85.62+23.20=108.82+$75.45 (16-22 march)=$184.27 +34.85+33.69=$252.81
Total over/Under spend this shop: $
Total over/Under spend for the month: $131.05(under)-$23.20=$107.85 (under)=(09-15 mar)-$75.45 (16-22 March)=$32.40 (under)-34.85=$2.45 (over)..(23-29 mar)-$33.69=$ 36.41(over).
Total left to spend for the month: $286.61+131.05=$417.66 –23.20=$394.46(09-15 march)-$75.45( 16-22 March)=$319.01-$34.85=$284.16 (23-29 mar)-$33.69 (23-29 March)=$250.47
Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) $332.35+23.20=$355.55 (09-15 march)=$431.00 (16-22 March)-+ $34.85=465.85+$33.69 (23-29 March)=$499.54
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts):
even with our limited pantry, I am pleased with the variety of meals we are able to create on a minimal budget.Still able to splurge on ridiculous prices for raspberries/strawberries..even when they are on sale.Went over budget $36.41, but it all averages out, so not concerned.
Mr. CBB says
Hi Kathryn,
By the looks of it you milk is comparable in price to Canada with 3L costing you $3 an in Canada you can get 4L for $3.99 which is great. I’ve never had strawberry milk before what is it like? Do you think that with a limited budget then a family could still eat healthy?
I think you did fabulous with your shops this month. The deals you scored were great! I love all those reduced prices! I think if someone really wants to eat on a limited budget well they need to be organized, shop sales and reduced racks and it can be done.
Keep up the awesome work Kathryn!
You get ballot 25. Mr.CBB
kathryn says
In Nova Scotia, I have never seen 4L of milk lower than $5.99 (we have a milk quota in NS, which keeps the prices higher)…unless something has changed in the past 7 months 🙂 In Canada, I have never seen milk reduced, they just take it back.Here they will sometimes have amazing prices on all milk.Of course it only has a day before it expires.(still lasts about another 6 days)
Strawberry milk is just like our chocolate milk..except they sell it in strawberry, banana and iced coffee flavours. It would be a great base to use as a milkshake…add ice cream and fruit.
We sometimes use it in our coffee…for a sweeter different flavour.
Your budget is very similar to ours Mr CBB, and you have a baby. I think as long as a family has the right attitude all families can eat healthy on a budget.. As they become experienced, they take advantage of pricing cycles, incentives,coupons,stocking up, reduced food, and sales. This lowers their unit cost.
Dee says
Kathryn,
Ontario also has a milk quota but the stores have milk as a lost leader. I’ve had strawberry milk and it’s not too bad in taste, except I think it’s too sweet. But then again, I only like milk that comes from a cow and the watered down crap that is sold in the stores.
kathryn says
I wish our stores in NS would sell them as a loss leader 🙂
Mary F Campbell says
MARCH – Week #5 of 5- March 30-April 5, 2015
2015 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
I needed to get a 4L jug of milk this week using points so I am making an additional transfer to the Unused Reserve to offset our purchase.
($4.99) Unused Cdn Reserve – MAR
Have I mentioned lately how much I love rain checks? This week we scored three, count them…3, rain checks on WW bread for 6 loaves each @ $1 a loaf for large loaves. Pretty sweet! That’s 18 loaves for $18.00!!
============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
OUR NEXT SHOP WILL BE April 6th!
============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
OUR NEXT USA SHOP WILL BE May 18th!
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $3.58+ Feb $0.00 + Mar $14.54= $18.12
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.0 = 0.00
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 +Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.0= $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 22 + Feb 45 + Mar 140= 207 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 + Mar 1 = 1 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 1200 + Feb 900 + Mar 900 = 3,000 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 30 + Feb 40 + Mar 0 = 70 Points
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $199.31+ Feb ($180.69) + Mar ($12.50 trf to borscht+$17.50 to Re-Stocking+$10.00 Xmas Reserve+$15.00 to Summer+$50.00 trf to US Reserve+$20.51 trf to Unused Funds Reserve+$40.23+$3.69+$4.93+$7.98+$4.99 Trf to Unused Funds+$2.79+$15.88+$4.48+$57.34+$1.60 Trf to Unused Funds +$4.99 Trf to Unused Funds = $274.41 )= $654.41
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $190.00+Feb $190.00 + Mar $190.00= $570.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: ($84.41) OVER 🙁 That’s okay, I’ll straighten it out in April!
============================================================================================
2015 UNUSED CANADIAN GROCERY RESERVE :
2014 Fwd $0.00+Jan $0.00+Feb $3.83+ Mar ($32.09)= $35.92
============================================================================================
2015 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $325.00+Jan $22.50+Feb $22.50 + Mar $17.50= $387.50
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D BORSCHT RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $412.50+Jan $12.50 + Feb $12.50 + Mar $12.50= $450.00
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $110.00+Jan $10.00 +Feb $10.00+ Mar $10.00= $140.00
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $90.00+Jan $10.00 + Feb $10.00 + Mar $15.00= $125.00
============================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 570.00 Grocery Budget JAN-MARCH
$ 35.92 Redeemed Points to Purchase Groceries
($ 0.02) Hiding Spot Cash – SPENT
($ 13.45) 2014 Costco Rebate Chq – SPENT
($165.00) Trf to Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Borscht, Xmas, Summer)
($170.00) Trf to US Grocery Reserve
($ 35.92) Set in a reserve to offset Redeemed Points
($ 305.94) Actual CASH SPENT
($ 84.41) SPENDING OVERAGE
• VALUE POINTS REDEEMED Y-T-D:
$ 4.98 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JAN
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – FEB
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – FEB
$ 4.99 Whole Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAR
$ 4.99 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAR
$ 4.99 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAR
$ 1.60 Sprouts- 1,000 MORE Pts – MAR
$ 4.99 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAR
$ 35.92 Total $ Value of Points Redeemed
So far $570.00 has been budgeted Y-T-D for 2015 and we have recorded these funds as “spent” and in fact they have been “saved”:
$387.50 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$450.00 Borscht Fund
$140.00 Holiday Season Fund
$125.00 Summer Season Fund
OUR TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,102.50 … that is a $937.50 carry-forward from 2013 & 2014 and $165.00 in NEW 2015 savings.
This also means that with $190.00 to start MARCH less $55.00 transferred to the various savings reserves less $10.53 transferred for Points Redeemed during JAN/FEB = $75.51 + an additional $50.00 saved in our US grocery reserve, we opened the month of MARCH with $74.47 available to spend on the Canadian side of the border, less an overage of $0.00 carried forward from February, PLUS we have spent $158.88 on our groceries (cash & points) so this month and have $84.41 OVERAGE for the month in our CANADIAN budgeted grocery funds and will carry the overage forward into April.
We have groceries that have been purchased using points redeemed, rather than the budgeted cash in the amount of $35.92. Available as an offset, we currently have $35.92 in our UNUSED CASH RESERVE. As at this moment, we need and additional $0.00 in the UNUSED CASH RESERVE. If our budget is truly sufficient, when we reach December 31st, the unused funds should still be equal to, if not greater than, the value of the points redeemed. It’ll be interesting to see if they actually are.
Note: Another reserve of $283.07 IS AVAILABLE for our next US shop currently scheduled for May 18th!
Of the outstanding US Shopping Reserve $283.07:
$113.07 is carried forward from 2014
$170.00 is new 2015 Y-T-D savings
Less $0.00 that we’ve actually spent in 2015
= $283.07 US Reserve Available
============================================================================================
The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Safeway
Broccoli Florets @ $1.99/lb – Good until Apr 7/15
4 Lean Ground Pork @3.49/lb-Good ‘til Apr 26/15
4 Signature Café Pizzas @ 2 pizzas for $9.00- Good ‘til June 19/15
6 Ronzoni Sweet Onion Marinara @ 2 for $5.00- Good ‘til June 20/15
Thrifty Foods
4 Island Gold Large Brown Eggs @ 2 for $5.00- Good ‘til April 21/15
4 Island Gold Large Brown Eggs @ 2 for $5.00- Good ‘til April 23/15
6 Island Bakery WW Bread 570 g @ 1.00 per loaf- Good ‘til April 25/15 << NEW RAIN CHECK 🙂
6 Island Bakery WW Bread 570 g @ 1.00 per loaf- Good ‘til April 27/15 << NEW RAIN CHECK 🙂
6 Island Bakery WW Bread 570 g @ 1.00 per loaf- Good ‘til April 29/15 << NEW RAIN CHECK 🙂
================================================================================
Mr. CBB says
Hi Mary,
You my dear are the happiest rain check fan that I have ever had the pleasure of chatting too. I can see why though with all the great deals you get. For $1.00 a loaf for bread you can’t go wrong especially if it is fresh bread and not day olds like we buy with pink stickers which are still fine but not as fresh as fresh.
I was at the grocery store and looking at the price of pork and beef mince and I was floored. About 2lbs of beef was almost $16 and up to $8 for a pound of pork mince. Nah!
Those points sure do come in handy especially for your milk. When you both go to the USA how much would you typically spend? I see you have almost $300 in your US fund for a trip or is that for several trips?
Considering you are over $84.xx that’s not too bad for all the deals you get. I’m sure you will make that up.
Well done, how exciting. I love how you are so detailed. That’s what it’s all about. Taking the time to invest in your own finances. You get ballot 24.
Mr.CBB
Mary F Campbell says
We’ll see how the US shop goes Mr CBB… I haven’t shopped in the US since last December (hence the big US reserve) so I know that I am in for both some sticker shock and a massive foreign exchange shock. BUT, I won’t buy what isn’t a deal unless it’s a gluten free item that I just simply can’t get here. For those items I need to go further south than my day trips take me though.
I have actually been finding lots of good sales here locally this winter, so we shall see what we shall see. We also have an import ban on poultry and eggs from Washington and Oregon states right now – so those items are off the list. There are no deals to be had if you have to pitch it at the border. 🙁
My “get up and go” seems to have “got up and went” during this tax season so the quick turn around, shop til you drop, day trips were just simply not possible for me. I had a horrendous winter fighting flu every time I turned around. 🙁 My other health issues leave me with a rather compromised immune system and I feel like I have a sign on my forehead that tells every germ in town PICK ME! LOL 🙂
We have little US trips planned for May, September, October and December… so I expect that will be when we actually shop in the US. 🙂
Juanita says
Mary
those are some awesome rain cheques!!!!!
The Money Spot says
I’m over being single! LOL! I love this post, thanks for sharing.
beth says
I have been happily single for a decade but I just decided last week that I should make an attempt to actually meet someone. I will give the grocery store a shot. I hate shopping and usually just rush in and out so I will have to change that.
I always thought a hardware store might be a better place to meet a man but all of the single ones have to get their own groceries so it might work.
Mr. CBB says
My wife said back in the 90’s she was told that Canadian Tire was a great place to meet a man. I’m guessing any hardware store would be just the same lol. The problem is it’s hard to find conversation starters at the hardware store where talking about how to cook a roast is much easier.
beth says
When I am at the hardware store looking confused, which is every time I am at the hardware store, nice elderly gentlemen always offer to help me. Perhaps I need to shop later in the evening when all the seniors are at home.
I am hopeful that I can find someone who doesn’t smoke, showers regularly and knows how to program the universal remote for the tv.