How To Take A Baby Grocery Shopping Successfully : The Grocery Game Challenge #4 July 27-Aug 2, 2015
A NEW WAY OF SHOPPING
Congratulations new parents! You have to eat so unless you have someone else doing your grocery shopping you need to learn how to take your baby grocery shopping.
Parenting…my goodness where do I begin? It’s one of those topics that NEVER ends.
When it came to grocery shopping we wanted to know how to bring our baby shopping without pulling our hair out.
For many new parents their new lives can be overwhelming with everything from bringing the baby home for the first time to bringing baby outside into a world of chaos and harmony.
Many parents focus on germs, illnesses, feedings, diaper changes etc. when deciding whether to venture outdoors but the worst thing you can do is stay indoors all the time. You can still have lots of giggles and kisses outside as you can indoors.
One of the most nerve-racking places parents worry about going is to the grocery shopping or shopping in general. Bringing your baby grocery shopping doesn’t have to be stressful so don’t let every comment you read on the internet scare you into hibernating indoors and ordering in until your baby is a toddler.
After years and years of grocery shopping as a childless couple we had to re-think our approach to saving money in our grocery budget once our son arrived on the scene last year.
We are NOT parenting professionals so this post is what we’ve learned over the course of almost a year with our baby boy. Needless to say we are still learning something new every day as most parents do.
Grocery shopping used to be a relaxed affair with a coupon binder, flyers and time, something we no longer have.
We love grocery shopping but even if you don’t you still have to eat which means you either order groceries online, eat out or you grab your food shopping list and away you go.
Some people guard against going to the grocery store with a newborn baby but that didn’t stop us. Our son was only 7 days old when we popped into Zehrs with our baby boy. We had just come home after a weeks stay in the hospital and we knew our refrigerator was empty.
Best time to grocery shop with a baby
Before we brought baby to see his new home we made a pit-stop at the grocery store during the early morning hours. There were a few people in sight such as store workers and the odd shopper. Overall it was the perfect time for us to shop and it wasn’t as overwhelming as we thought it would be.
Our minds were racing when we walked through the doors.
Please don’t make the baby scream… please don’t…lots of please don’t but you get over that the more you go out in public. You get comfortable with your child because you learn to understand each other and those baby signs that alert you to what baby needs.
Since most babies are fast asleep late at night the best option for us would be early in the morning when the baby is awake or off napping but the store is quiet.
Bringing a newborn baby into a crowded grocery store may be overwhelming for the baby or keep the baby awake if he/she is trying to sleep.
We tried to keep the noise level in the house roughly the same as normal so baby got used to it. Keeping the house at a zero noise level just creates problems further down the road.
My Tip:
If you must take your baby grocery shopping go when it’s a quiet time or call ahead to ask how busy the store is. Keep in mind a store can get busy faster than you have time to drive, walk or take the bus there so be prepared for any situation.
You also minimize air-born germs if the store is not crowded which can be life-threatening to any newborn baby. This is due to very young babies having a very low immune system. If you are worried about people touching your baby don’t be afraid to hold out your hand and say, NO! If you must shop late at night just pick a slow time to bring your baby to the store or find a babysitter.
Take Direction from your baby
I know this might sound odd because you are the parent and in charge but if you are able to take your baby grocery shopping after he/she has finished eating or is due for a nap that might work better for you.
We try to work around our son’s schedule so we aren’t feeding him on the road unless we have to. Before we leave the house we make sure our cooler bag is filled with formula, water bottles, snacks and a lunch or dinner.
Even though he may not eat it you never know what could happen. The last thing you want is to be stuck in traffic with a hungry child. Our son loves his milk but he also loves his food, especially fruit.
Although we don’t mind if he is awake when we grocery shop having him asleep allows us to look around a bit longer without having to give him our constant attention. The hard part about this is when we get home if he hasn’t had enough of a long nap meaning he will wake up and be cranky.
We have never left him in his car seat to sleep as our doctor warned us about it. So, if we can somewhat work around his schedule to take our baby grocery shopping we will do that.
Also, if you are a new parent keep an eye open for designated new parent parking spaces at the grocery store and other retail stores. These parking spots close to the front doors especially in the winter really do help.
Where to put the car seat?
Like most new parents the first thing they think about is how can we grocery shop with a car seat?
First things first, read your manufacturers booklet and talk to the store manager or even call your local police station to ask about car seat safety at the grocery store.
Most police stations have trained officers who specialize in-car seat safety and would be happy to help answer your questions. You may also find car seat specialists in your area by looking in the phone-book.
There are also Child Car Seat Clinics in Canada so you could also inquire with any questions you may have by contacting them. There are always options if you have questions but aren’t sure of the answers.
We’ve seen many parents who put the car seat on top of the shopping cart.
I found this short but relevant post about what not to do with your baby car seat in the grocery shopping cart at carseatblog.com. The writer was talking about putting the car seat on top of the shopping cart.
The problem: Infant car seats aren’t designed to be secured to the top of a shopping cart. Most car seat manufacturers specifically prohibit using their seats this way but that warning is usually buried along with 30 other generic warnings in the instruction manual so it doesn’t get much attention.
The issue is that the car seat isn’t strapped in or snapped onto the cart. It’s just perched on top.
It may lock in like it does in your car seat base BUT that doesn’t mean it’s right. You don’t want to compromise the car-seat in any way. Even if your manufacturers booklet says you can do it consider other options. A shopping cart can easily tip if it is top-heavy not to mention if the cart hits a bump.
Other parents opt to put the entire car seat into the shopping trolley and shop with space around the seat, bottom of the cart and in the toddler seat area. Fair enough, as long as you stay in control of your cart.
Some parents will try to push two carts at once but I almost see that as distracted driving but that’s your choice. If 2 parents are present than one can push the cart with the baby inside and the other can push the empty shopping cart.
If you are so lucky you might have a grocery store that has a built-in carrier on the grocery cart. We’ve seen this in the past before we had our son but at the time of writing this post I can’t seem to remember what grocery store in Canada we saw this in. Do you?
If anything we would feel safer with the car seat inside than on top of the cart. We never took either option. When grabbing a grocery cart we would split the duties with one of us pushing the cart and the other pushing our son in his buggy. The other option is one of us goes grocery shopping but it’s nice to get the wife and baby out of the house during the day.
Since it’s such a controversial topic I leave it in your hands. Do what makes you feel as if your child is the safest but follow all safety rules. A life is so precious.
When we don’t have lots to get we don’t even bother with the shopping cart. If one of us is alone with the baby we only use the baby buggy basket below. It’s surprising how much you can fit in that storage area of the buggy.
If you only shop once per month you may want to consider bringing a friend if you are grocery shopping alone with your baby.
Your store may have a policy that doesn’t allow car seats in the top portion of the grocery cart make sure to abide by that rule. You may notice what you can and can’t do in the hard seat plate in the front of the shopping cart where a toddler would sit.
My Tip:
Use your baby stroller as your shopping cart to fill the bottom basket only or put your car seat inside the shopping cart securely. Never leave unattended for…anything! If you need help ask the store for assistance.
Sticking to the grocery list and budget
Besides the obvious feedings, diaper changes etc. we have been faced with struggling to stick with our grocery list. Our budget has been fairly stable although we have had some months we went over and have had to catch up.
Getting our grocery budget under control certainly helped us become debt free and kill our mortgage in 5 years. It seemed so easy to do but now that we have a baby shopping is different. Our minds are constantly on the baby and everything else you can think of baby related.
- Do we have any appointments this week?
- What will dinner be?
- Did we put that load of laundry on before we left?
- When did the baby last feed?
It’s not just mommy brain it’s mommy and daddy brain that we have.
In other-words, we are not organized at all. The coupon binder is collecting dust and we now rely on an envelope in my wife’s purse. We’ve had some instances where we have the coupons taken out and forget to give them to the cashier. We NEVER did that before our son came along.
Thank goodness coupon apps are starting to take over from the traditional paper ones. Now we don’t have to carry coupons as much as we used to.
We were missing deals and found we were spending more money than we should have been.
So, what did we do?
We came up with a plan, that’s what we did.
We both walk together at the grocery store now instead of bolting off in different directions. One of us tends to the baby and the other focuses on the grocery shop with a clear head.
We plan our shop with coupons and the grocery list BEFORE we go. My wife will read the flyers and circle any deals she sees then I will go over it and make a master list for us. We both double-check the list and receipt before we leave the store.
We typically are never alone with the baby at the grocery store but if we were we’d have to do this alone which means we would have to be extra organized.
We do have a baby Bjorn carrier which either one of us could use if we were alone but using the baby buggy and car seat works just as easily for us. When it comes time to check-out if we are struggling I’m sure asking for help won’t be an issue from the store staff. There’s always a way, but staying calm is key.
One important tip I learned was to scope out the grocery stores with the family bathrooms. This can be tough especially if your favourite cheap grocery store has no bathrooms.
There’s nothing worse than being a dad shopping and having nowhere to change your baby. Worse case you leave the store and go out to your vehicle to change our son which we have done on many occasions while shopping.
Stores need to get used to the fact that dads grocery shop or shop retail with their babies and they need somewhere to change their baby in the bathroom or in the least have a family bathroom.
If you grocery shop with a plan and mindset you may find it easier to stick to the grocery budget and feel less overwhelmed.
Conclusion
I know for a fact that you already have other tips in your head that you want to share because I haven’t covered them. That’s great, so leave a comment below because I’m still a new parent learning how to live life with a little person in tow.
What else can you add to this post to make a new parents grocery shopping experience successful with a newborn baby?
-Mr.CBB
July 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 to get grocery savings you deserve without the embarrassment: Grocery Game #1 July
- 5 Ways to Check Out Faster at the Grocery Store: Grocery Game #2 July
- 5 Ways Product Placement Entices You To Spend More At The Grocery Store: Grocery Game #3 July
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 $235 per year or $25 per month.
Food Basics
- Sausages $4.23- $1.69=$2.54
- Sausages $4.20-$1.68= $2.52
- 2 1lb Strawberries $5.00
- 10Lb Potatoes $3.47
- Bananas $1.52
- 4 x Mango $3.52
- Broccoli $0.88
- Green Onion $0.77
- Red Cabbage $4.25
- 4 x Ruldolph Bread $2.29 each $9.16 (stockpile)
Total out-of-pocket: $24.47 +$9.16 (Stockpile Budget)
Zehrs
- 6 x Cloverleaf Tuna $0.88 each $ 5.28 (stockpile)
- 2 x dozen of Healthy Premium Eggs $4.29-50% =$4.30
Total out-of-pocket: $4.30 + $5.28 (Stockpile Budget)
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 $206.91
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $7.94
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $20.00
- PC Points Plus Earned to date: 124736
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Snap Groupon to date: $15.00
- Zweet to date: $14.50
- Cart Smart to date: $0
- Checkout51 to date: $6.00
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
- Total to spend this month $235-$28.76 (over June) $206.24
- Stockpile budget 2015 ($25.00): (Jan/Feb) $50.00 +$0 (Mar)+$16.94+$25.00 (April)+$25.00+ May $25.00+ June $25.00+July $
- Stockpile budget used this month: $14.44
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $30.50
- Total in-store discounts this week: $4.22
- Total in-store discounts to date: $564.59
- Total spent this week: $28.77
- Total spent so far this month: $212.16
- Total over/Under spend this shop: under $5.07 over
- Total over/Under spend for the month: $5.07 over
- Total left to spend for the month:-$5.92
- Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $166.49+ Feb $261.51+ Mar $231.02 + April $258.44+May $218.12+ June $235.67+July $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts)
We didn’t do too bad in July considering we only have $5.92 to catch up with for August which will easily be resolved. As you will see we loaded up on fruits and vegetables while they are cheap which should last us a long time now.
Canadian Coupons Found This Week
Here are some great places you can find Canadian Coupons!
I found a few coupons last week but nothing new for this week so I’ll share the same coupons again for those that missed them last week.
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.
- Best Coupon Apps: Coupons are slowly fading out but mobile coupon apps are the big rave these days. Just recently the popular coupon site that mailed coupons to households have gotten involved with their new mobile Save.ca app joining forces with the many apps that are already out there.
- 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: Baby/FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Tuomas_Lehtinen
our weekly budget is $125 making this month $625
but we will be over this month!!!!
London drugs – another stacking trip before my coupons expired
$10.99×6-$27C kcups
$14.99×2-$14.99Cx2 gold bond lotion
$42 total oop
$56.98 total coupons
Shoppers
$1.99 granola bars
$2×2 cookies
$1.88×3 crackers
$1.97 nibs
$1.88 chips
$1.75 total oop
Rexall
$1.99×2-$1C dzn eggs
Walmart
.10×2 3pk pens
$2.97×2 drumstick ice creams
$2.74 15pk water
$1.12 sobe drink
$1.10×2 chocolate milk
$1.12 gaterade
$14.60 total oop
Sobeys
$7 chicken burgers
$3.99×6-$2Cx5 ready crisp bacon
$6.59-fpc chiplote jack cheese chicken sausages
$6.59-fpc mild Italian chicken sausages
$5.29 wagon wheels
$3.39-fpc gluten free pasta
$5.99-$1C cheese whiz
$4.89 russet potatoes
$3.99 2lb blueberries – rain cheque
$3.99 2lb nectarines
$1.99×2 croutons
$9.83 lean ground beef (4 meals)
$57.90 total oop
$27.57 total coupons
Superstore
$5.98 10lb carrots
$1×3 sidekicks
$2.50×2 vh sauce 1200P
$2.47×2 chips
$1.97 cookies
$1×2 knorr soup mix 500P
$3.88 raspberries
$4.19 cheese bagels
$31.20 total oop
$164.45 weekly total oop
$85.55 weekly total coupons
$760.46 monthly total oop
$215.60 monthly total coupons
$40003.40 yearly total oop
$1263.87 yearly total coupons
yep really over budget! good thing I have time to balance it back out. But I always know we go over budget when my girl comes to visit for the summer.
Hi Juanita,
Hmm, crackers, chips and nibs all in one shop. Either it was movie night or you went shopping hungry haha. What do you normally put on your bagels? We would toast them with cream cheese but we haven’t bought them in ages. My wife loves them. That is insane the stacking at London Drugs. How often do you go in there to stack? Can you buy food in there or is it just boxed foods and drinks like Shoppers? Even though you are over budget you now see where you have to start making some changes. Maybe you can look at those times when she comes and budget more or save all year for those extra expenses as a projected expense. 🙂 You get ballot 28. Mr.CBB
Hey Mr.CBB
Yes it was a snacky/treat shop!
My hubby and will do cream cheese or butter but my girl only likes butter on cheddar cheese bagels.
I don’t go to London Drugs as much as I would like to stack but I do wanna get more items before the year ends and before the policy could get changed at any time. It is pretty similar to shoppers food wise.
My girls tastes and cravings change every visit she comes and this year I didn’t buy too many things ahead of her visit with not knowing what she wants or likes. She is also a big time snacker and that is a habit that is hard to break let alone wake up before noon sometimes 😉
I’ve been hearing for years they are changing it. I’m sure it was all rumours around the web though. I’d stock up if I could. Damn you’re lucky. How old is your oldest?
Name Your Store: i.e. Superstore (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $1.88+1.78 +1.13+5.74 (coupon) + 1.89+ 2.10 =14.52
Total Out Of Pocket: $0
Gift card- $5.99=+3.64+.37+5.98+12.65 + 5.37+ 4.10 +41.06=$79.16
PC points- $40+20 +60=$120.00
plastic bag rebate- $0.08+ .03= .11
month of July- 1-31 July 2015
4 L milk- $5.99
2 juice 2@ 2$4.00 = $4.00
flour $9.99
veg oil $5.99
grape jelly – $2.29
margarine – $2.99
4 L milk- $5.99
vanilla ice cream- $5.99
peppers reduced $4.99- $2.50= $2.49
reduced produce = $0.99
reduced produce = $1.49
pepperoni reduced $5.79-$2.90= $2.89
coffee creamer =$4.99
coffee creamer (1400 PC pts) =$2.99
mushrooms – $2.00
naan bread reduced $11.96- $6.00 = $5.96
bakery buns reduced $4.69- $2.35=$2.34
cooked chicken reduced $9.99- $5.00 = $4.99
graham crumbs =$4.19
cream = $3.49
brussel sprouts 2/ $5.00 (1000 PC pts) = $5.00
hand lotion $4.99
icing sugar- $2.50
peanut butter 4 @$3.49 -=$13.96
orange pekoe tea = $5.99
whip cream $2.99
parkay margarine 6 @ $3.33 = $19.98
bacon 4 @ $1.99 =$7.96
4 L milk = $5.99
2 juice @ $1.25 = $2.50
cheese 2 @ $4.28=$8.56
4 L milk = $5.99
reduced produce 6 @ $1.49 =$8.97
whole chicken $7.82
whole chicken $7.38
rolls reduced $2.79- $1.40= $1.39
Name Your Store: i.e. Dollarama (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Out Of Pocket: $1.15
2 candy bars –$1.00
Name Your Store: i.e. Sobeys (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $4.00
Total Out Of Pocket: $0
Gift card- $6.91
redeemed Airmiles- $20
8 canned vegetables – BOGO @ $1.19= $4.76
eggs 3 @ 2.99 ( 6 miles) = $8.97
ice cream sandwich 2 @ 6.49 BOGO =$6.49
10 lbs potatoes 2 @ 3.99 BOGO =$3.99
toothpaste 4 @ $2.49 BOGO = $4.98
Name Your Store: i.e. Stirling Fruit Market (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Out Of Pocket: $3.00
apples – $2.00
vegetables- $1.00
Overall for the month of August
$4.15 out of pocket
$18.52 coupons (coupon and star bucks fuel vouchers)
$86.07 gift cards (I use my PC points and Air miles to buy them )
$140.00 PC points and Air miles redeemed
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 $
Total Gift Cards used to date: =$76.08+$6.46=(25-31 May)=$82.54 + $50.39 (month of June)= $132.93= $86.07 (July) = $219.00
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: $18.52
Total coupons used to date: $9.73+24.23 (month of June) =$33.96+$18.52 (month of July) =$52.48
Total in-store discounts this week: $0.00
Total in-store discounts to date: 0.00
Total spent this week: $0
Total spent so far this month: $4.15
Total over/Under spend this shop: $
Total over/Under spend for the month $216.67-$4.15 (July) =$212.52
Total left to spend for the month : $353.02+$216.67 June=$569.69-$36.90 (spent in June)=$532.79+ $216.67 –$4.15 (spent in July ) =$745.31
Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) $730.33+ $36.90 ( month of June)=$767.23+ $4.15 (month of July) =$771.38
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts): a lot of the same things went on sale this month…and we took advantage of it Smile
I find that separating discounts from regular price too difficult..so have decided not to worry about it.
Because of our stockpiles, the average has been reduced from $75 week (last month) to $50 a week (this week) …for the 2 of us (my husband and myself)
Hi kathryn,
You must love peanut butter! You picked up a great deal. My wife LOVES peanut butter. I don’t mind it baked into something but I’m not a fan of eating it on my own. We didn’t grow up with it like my wife did. You managed to score some great reduced prices this week. Do you pick a certain time of day or day of the week to shop in order to find deals or is it all hit or miss? It’s hit or miss for us although some stores we know when they reduce items. I was just posting to Christine how it has been hard to find potatoes on sale this summer as she paid $4.99 for 10lbs. You got a great BOGO deal. I wish I could find them that cheap. So you’ve lowered your grocery budget a bit due to your stockpile. Good for you. That means you’re getting the hang of saving your money rather than just spending it at the grocery store like so many people do. Well done Kathryn. You get ballot 7. MR.CBB
In our house, it is my husband who eats the majority of the peanut butter.
The grocery store usually has some produce on sale, but I haven’t figured out when they do the ‘big spread’. Might be early evening…so yeah, still hit and miss, at this time.
Giant Tiger had potatoes advertised for $2.99 for 10 lbs this week…but we are just finishing up the rest of our potatoes first. I don’t like Sobeys as much as Atlantic Superstore, but Sobeys BOGO deals were great.
I made up 5 jars of jam last week too. Using the little bits of berries that I froze…used apple juice to bump up the juice requirements to make the jam/jelly. I looked at my Certo…it was best before 2005 (still worked fine)
Haha, that’s awesome. Best Before 2005. Sometimes I think they have an expiry so people don’t hang onto the product for years because they know it will still work making them less money.
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults and 2 cats 2015 -$7800.00
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $235 per year or $25 per month.
Foodland#1
2 Whiskas dry cat food@ 9.49, BOGO coupon worth 8.99
1 Rice Krispies -5.99
1 case Crush pop -5.49
1 jug wTer -5.49
2 packs pasta @2.99
1 jar Compliaments dressing -2.98
1 jar relish -1.99
4 cans soup @.99
2 4l milk @4.88
1 lemonade -1.49
1 green pepper -1.51
Bananas -.75
1 pack lean ground beef- 6.10
1 sausage -3.54
1 raisin bread -3.49
Tax -3.37
Total OOP -$71.88, 8.99 coupon
Foodland #2
1 72count Tetley teabags -4.99
1 jar pickles -1.79
1 pack reduced napkins, Cars -.79
1 grated Parmesan cheese -4.72
Total OOP -$17.17
Jackson’s Pharmacy-Stockpile
1 Pantene shampoo -2.99
1 Pantene conditioner -2.99
2 Olay body wash @2/5.00
Total OOP -$10.98, Stockpile
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 $539.34
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: 11250
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: $23.75
Cart Smart to date: $0
Checkout51 to date: $19.50
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
Total to spend this month $650-110.66(over June) -$539.34
Stockpile budget 2015 ($25.00): Jan $22.29+ Feb $24.50+ Mar $22.18+ Apr $18.32+ May $40.95+ June $24.15+ July $45.32
Stockpile budget used this month: $45.32
Total coupons used this week: $8.99
Total coupons used to date: $113.39
Total in-store discounts this week: $0
Total in-store discounts to date: $93.12
Total spent this week: $89.05
Total spent so far this month: $552.91
Total over/Under spend this shop: under $45.78
Total over/Under spend for the month: $13.57 over
Total left to spend for the month:-$13.57
Total Spent To Date 2015: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $640.13+ Feb $572.63+ Mar $786.52+ April $515.95+May $621.33+ June $760.66+ July $552.91
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts) so close!!! I almost made it!! I only have $13.57 left to make up in August! I will have to go easy on the stock pile amount as that really took a beating this month. I got those deals at Jackson’s that were so good. I spent $10.98 but with the sale prices I saved $14.98!!! Shampoo, conditioner and body wash are items used daily here. All in all I’m happy with this month, I tried really hard to get things back under budget and I came so close!!
Hi Christine,
I bet it was nice to have that coupon for the cat food. How much do you spend each year on your pets? Awesome job and you thought it would be worse than it is. You only went over by $13.57 which is nothing really considering how much you bought. You will sort it out in August, you’ll see. We struggle just like you. We’ve been trying to catch up for months now. It seems every time we make it we mess up the next month again. The good part is that we are tracking it and not just leaving it to chance which is where most people will find they spend a fortune. Great month Christine. You get ballot 14. Mr.CBB
Yes that coupon for the Whiskas was nice to have!! I wish I had more in the budget to stock up more on it. Stuart and Molly average two weeks a 2kg bag. I get the kitty litter at Canadian Tire, store brand, and the big box. Can’t remember off hand what I pay but I do try to get that sale priced as well. Toss in a few packs of Temptation cat treats and it does add up. I don’t really separate the cat food from ours as they are considered family members. They get a few Temptations for a bed time snack and for being good kitties while getting their claws trimmed. Molly gets a couple too, when we have to trim out mats in that long fur of hers, boy does she ever hate getting those trimmed out!!!
August will be interesting as it is a five week month…might have to break down and hit No Frills for a stock up run….
Week 4 – July 26 – August 1
• Grocery budget to work with in June: $240
• Total coupons used this week: $8.75
• Total coupons used to date: $89.24
• Total RCSS gas coupons used this week: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used to date: $11.52
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed this week: $0
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed to date: $300
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used this week: $0
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used to date: $38.76
• Total student discounts this week: $6.72
• Total student discounts to date: $147.61
• Total tax savings RCSS this week: $0
• Total tax savings RCSS to date: $11.98
• Total spent this week: $58.45
• Total spent so far this month: $244.00
• Total left to spend for the month: $-4.00
• Carry over: $-4.00
• Total in carry over jar: $52.25
• Total Spent To Date 2015: $1831.35
RCSS: Classico Sauce 4 x 1.99 (PM), Heinz 1.5L 2 pack Ketchup 6.98, Clover leaf tuna 8 x .88 (PM), Catelli pasta 2 x 1.99 – 2.00 coupons (PM), Ritz crackers 2 x 1.88 (PM), Lipton instant soup 2 x 1.25, Hellmans mayo 2.99 (PM), Eggs 2.29 – .25 coupon (PM), milk 3.97, amooza twists 297 (PM), Chapmans 3 x 1.97 – 4.00 coupon (PM), Blueberry pints 3 x 1.47 (PM), watermelon 3.98, celery .97 (PM), grapes 3.19 – .25 coupon (PM), romaine lettuce 2 x .77 – .25 coupon (PM), lean ground chicken Maple Leaf – 2.00 coupon, student discount 6.72: total paid 54.95 rounded down 2 cents
Dollar Tree: Pizza sauce squeeze bottle 1.25, clearance large chips 4 x .50, tax .26: total paid 3.50 rounded down 1 cent
Ok, so I went over $4 this month. And, I have taken it out of the carry over jar. And, the jar has a decent amount left in it. I refuse to feel bad. It is our wicked month of the year where we have always had the biggest expense. So, all in all, I am ok with it and I still have a $25 gift card on standby that my sister gave me after her visit mid-month. As mentioned on one of my other posts this month it is difficult when her family visits as their eating needs are more expensive than ours based on allergies. It isn’t really that we have four extra people in the house, it’s the other things that are needed. And, I am ok with it. I had challenged our family to make the budget work just above what we normally do because in all past years our food costs used to double in July. So, only increasing our weekly average by $10 per week to reach $60 when we used to spend $100, I am thrilled. Excited even. Makes me confident that in future years we can at least match it or do it within our regular budget.
And, with this week, we bought a lot of stock up items like pasta sauce and tuna. We won’t have nearly as many tomatoes this year, so I am trying to snag some sauce on sale for decent prices and build up the pantry. We hardly ever run low on tuna, but we were down to two cans on the shelf and I had been waiting for a sale. I can live with .88 a can. We also needed snack items to make sure we have things on the go for swimming days and meets upcoming like crackers and cheese strings. The clearance chips were a whim at Dollar tree because they were the big bags with short expiry and a nice treat for the beach or an evening movie. It will make hubby happy to have something other than tortillas.
Hi Angela,
See you did awesome this month considering all that you were able to stock up on. That’s awesome! I could sense your emotion in the last GGC post and I can sense it hear again. You did wall so pat yourself on the back. Now that you know what you need to do you can create your budget so you have enough money for the month of July. There’s no reason why you can’t do a projected expense and save the extra you need every month until July. If we buy tomatoes in the big cans $0.88 would be a great deal so yes you scored a deal.
I think most people have cheese, crackers, fruit tray, veggie tray, tostitos and dips in the summer for a party of pool party.
Does your Dollar store have a clearance rack? You get ballot 9. MR.CBB
Our Dollar Tree periodically puts a few things in a cart by the cash if expiries are close or after holidays items they don’t want to pack away. It isn’t often we score something in it, but I always look. We are in occasionally for spices that I don’t grow and dry, canned peanuts and pizza sauce bottles. Those prices are rarely beat. The peanuts occasionally during super bowl time.
The first time I brought my baby to grocery was really fun or it wasn’t really too bad. I admit that the hardest part is getting in and out of the car. My baby was getting really good at being in stores, and I don’t mind making silly voices and goofy faces to keep him entertained while shopping. This was a fantastic challenge because it did get me to do something.
I did all of the things you mentioned at one time or another. It’s amazing just how much you can pack into the stroller and around the little one when you have too!! With our oldest, when he was born he had newborn jaundice so we, not only stayed in hospital an extra couple of days but he had to keep going back to the hospital lab for blood work for a week after we left!! I got over worrying about him and germs fast! As I nursed all three of my kids, they all got my immunities that way. At least as long as they were nursing.
I always tried to do a feed and go, whether it was leaving to visit relatives, shopping or a doctors appointment. For shopping, unless I had the stroller I placed the kids lying in the toddler seat wrapped in a blanket for protection until they were big enough to sit up on their own. One hand on the cart handle at all times!! If I was using a baby carrier like yours I put the baby in there before going anywhere and put baby and carrier in the car seat. Remove baby, tie on carrier and go. Very handy if the little one fell asleep on the way there, less fuss to wake him up.
Parenthood is the biggest on the job training program around, we all work at it!! Enjoy your little one while you can…..
Most parents will not get fussed if they hear some one elses’ child cry while shopping, we have all been there……
This is my two week GGC posting.
July 17 – 30, 2015
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 1,000
Total Out Of Pocket: $36.26
Human
1 L PC Ketchup = $2.48
4 L Skim Milk = $3.97
1.6 L Breyers Ice Cream – $5.49 (400 PC Points) (PM No Frills @ $2.97) = $2.97
750 g NN Frozen Corn = $2.78
Delissio Pizza – $5.99 (PM No Frills @ $3.33) = $3.33
Banana – .990 kg @ $1.26/kg = $1.25
Green Onion = $0.99
Celery Stalks = $1.99
Cucumber – $1.27 (PM Frescho @ $0.69) = $0.69
Red Pepper – .280 kg @ $7.65/kg = $2.14
Schneider Bologna – $5.49 (PM Giant Tiger @ $3.48) = $3.48
2 WW Wonder – $2.87 (600 PC Points) (PM Walmart @ $2.28) = $4.56
Cats
1.4 kg Purina Stuffed Morsels = $4.98
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 600
Total Out Of Pocket: $57.59 (includes $10 from stockpile)
Human
2 NN Mushrooms = $2.38
Real Mayo – $3.48 (400 PC Points) (PM Zehrs @ $2.99) = $2.99
2 Margarine (ICINB) – $2.97 (PM Frescho @ $0.97) = $1.94
4 L Skim Milk = $3.97
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls = $1.97
Chapmans Ice Cream – $2.99 (PM No Frills @ $1.97) = $1.97
10 lb Potatoes = $3.98
Bananas – 1.270 kg @ $1.26/kg (200 PC Points) = $1.60
NN Weiners = $2.99
Xlean Ground Beef = $25.18
Hot Dog Buns = $2.99
Cats
1.5 kg Friskies Chef’s Blend = $4.98
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: $9.25
Total Discounts/SCOP this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Discounts/SCOP to Date: $9.59
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: $8.95 + 5.51
Total Price Match to Date: $340.38
Total Adhoc Stockpile this 2 Week Period: $10.00
Total Adhoc Stockpile to Date: $417.87
Total PC Points Received this 2 Week Period: 1,000 + 600
Total PC Rewards Points Used this 2 Week Period: 0
Total PC Rewards To Date: 20285
Total Over/Under spend this Human shop: $7.41 under
Total Left to Spend for the Human Month: $102.42
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 $11.23+58.66+17.83+6.84+7.74+3.96+28.58+23.51; May $90.90+18.36+3.94+45.75; Jun $41.920+61.15+28.90+24.52; Jul $43.63+21.36+30.63+41.96 ; Aug $ ; Sept $ ; Oct $ ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $1,180.29
Total Over/Under spend this Cat shop: $3.74 under
Total Left to Spend for the Cat Month: $28.09
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 $9.58+11.77+1.96; May $10.15+9.20+5.65; Jun $10.15+7.89+2.00+18.61+(-9.59); Jul $5.65+0+5.63+5.63 ; Aug $ ; Sept $ ; Oct $ ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $197.70
Overview: 1st week – On vacation this week and didn’t do much cooking this week so another roll over for next week’s meal plan.
Overview: 2nd Week – Changed the weekly meal plan this coming so this resulted in additional ingredients that I haven’t bought in quite a bit being purchased. This still resulted in still being under budget for this two week period.
Hi Dee,
Great job with the price-matching. I have found peppers and potatoes to be pricey this summer. Not once have I seen any great sales on either. It’s great when you come in under budget. I wish I had your willpower. Does the store you are price matching at give a rain cheque to you for the PM price of a product if they are out of stock? Hmm, never thought to ask that one before. You get ballot 6. MR.CBB
I have never asked for a rain cheque as they have always had the item that I wanted except once. The product was a special (so they said). They gave me a reduced value on the next size smaller
When my daughter was a baby, I would (and have to) grocery shop by myself. I had stocked up on clothes and diapers so much before she was born, I didn’t need much until she started solid foods. The village that I lived in at that time had a grocery store so I would walk, I would use her pram and put the groceries around her. If I drove, then her car seat went into shopping cart itself. The 1st time I took my daughter out in public was also when she a week old…as like your wife, I was in the hospital for a week but I went to Zellers with my dad and step-mother. I’m the last person to give advice about child rearing (unless it’s about my grandchildren) so I’ll keep my comments to myself about how to grocery shop when young kids.