Top 5 Christmas Baking Ingredients to Stock Up On
Stock Up On Baking Ingredients Before The Prices Skyrocket
We enjoy Christmas baking but we need to have the best baking ingredients stocked in our pantry but without the high costs.
Today I’m going to discuss with you which of those baking ingredients you WILL want to stock up on now or risk paying a heavier price closer to Christmas and New Years’.
The moment Halloween is over and done with the Christmas flyers and holiday sales start appearing just about everywhere.
Product sales throughout the year are orchestrated to perfection in chronological order because they know exactly what the consumer is looking to buy every month.
Come November any savvy grocery shopper knows that the grocery stores start pumping out baking ingredients for great prices.
Mrs. CBB and I don’t save money as a projected expense for Christmas baking ingredients so the money will come from our $235 monthly grocery budget or $25 stockpile budget.
Each week when we create our menu plan we know that we have to start incorporating some of these baking ingredients if we intend to whip up our famous holiday treats in December.
Most people don’t wait until the last minute to bake for Christmas especially if their baking is for gift-giving.
This is why you will see baking ingredients on sale in October and November.
If you wait to buy baking ingredients be prepared to pay a steep price for some of those well-known money busters like unsalted butter.
Many of you might shop at the Bulk Barn which is a great place to buy baking ingredients but you still have to compare prices because they aren’t always created equally.
One of the few reasons I would shop there is for variety and the $3.00 off when you spend $10 coupon they often have for customers online and in the weekly flyer.
Popular Christmas Baking Ingredients At Our House
Depending on what Christmas baking recipes someone uses baking ingredients will vary from person to person.
If you come from a Greek background or plan to bake Greek desserts you might invest in baking ingredients such as honey, flour, butter, nuts, and sugar while they are on sale in November.
Every culture has different types of signature treats for the holidays.
Stocking Up On Basic Christmas Ingredients
In our house, we bake a variety of Christmas balls which means we have to stock up on the basics.
- Butter (You can freeze butter so stock up when it’s on sale)
- Peanut butter
- Sugar
- Flour
- Baking chocolate
- Cream Cheese
- 35% Whipping Cream
- Large Eggs
Most of what we buy comes from Costco as we find they have the best bulk prices or from Amazon Canada.
- Nuts – Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts
- Pure Vanilla Extract
- Anise Extract
- Almond Extract
- Maraschino Cherries
- Dates
- Icing Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Condensed Milk
- Coconut Milk
Christmas Recipes At Our House
Some of our favourite Christmas recipes that we almost always bake every holiday are inexpensive and very popular with the family.
The great part is you don’t have to wait until November to stock up on baking ingredients for Christmas especially if you have a stockpile budget as we do.
Every month we have $25 to spend on items we need to stock up on if we are low in the pantry.
If you know what baking ingredients you will need it’s easy to watch for the flyer sales and coupons to help cut costs. I
f you can match baking ingredients with a sale, coupons, and coupon app rebate you are well on your way to spending much less for Christmas baking.
This will lighten the load come November when even more baking ingredients go on sale.
Top 5 Christmas Baking Ingredients To Stock Up
This is typically something we do a few months before Christmas however keep your eyes open for weekly flyer deals in December.
I know Christmas baking always ends up on the week before list just as buying Christmas gifts and that used to be us.
Now, we plan our Christmas baking and shopping so the last two weeks we’re wrapping and getting ready to enjoy the festivities.
Butter
Unless you don’t mind paying $6.99 lb for butter or you churn butter yourself you should keep your eyes open for a great sale in November or even earlier as butter will last up to 3 months or more in the freezer.
The lowest we’ve seen this year for butter is $2.88 lb for Lactancia butter which is amazing.
If you have the spare cash grab what you need and save some money and freeze it.
Flour Varieties
Every passionate cook who loves homemade food will have a variety of flour in the home.
There are many kinds of flour on the market so decide which one’s you’ll need and buy them.
Oh, and if you need yeast, for making any of your desserts or bread recipes stock up on that too.
- Whole Wheat flour
- Gluten-free flour
- Cake flour
- All-Purpose flour
- Coconut Flour
- Lupin Flour
- Almond Flour
Over the past months, I’ve seen a 10kg of All-purpose Robin Hood flour on sale for $6.99 compared to $14.00 a bag at regular price.
If the price is right before November and into December stock up on a bag or 2 to fill your pantry needs for the rest of the year.
Also, if you read the labels on many of the flours you’ll notice some need to be refrigerated such as the lupin flour and almond flour.
Various Types Of Nuts
Christmas baking with nuts is essential in many cultures which means finding the best deal on many varieties of nuts mainly almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, and cashews is important.
Nuts can skyrocket your grocery budget if you’re not careful but as I mentioned we’ve found the best deals on nuts at Costco.
Buying 2lbs of almonds for instance at the Bulk Barn will cost $12.99lb unless they go on sale for $8.99-$9.99lb.
Even so, I don’t think Bulk Barn would beat Costco prices so I’d say start with Costco depending on how much you need.
If you don’t need a bulk amount of nuts then skip the grocery store and try Bulk food stores for the best prices.
Almonds at Costco for instance costs $17.99 for 1.36kg online and around $15.99 if you go to the store.
If you don’t want to chance it buying nuts at Costco is a way to save unless you have a nut wholesaler in your community that sells for less.
Chocolate
Chocolate types and prices differ all over the world depending on whose brand it is and the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate.
If you plan to buy semi-sweet chocolate chips to bake your best buy would be the biggest bag especially if they are on sale.
Even better is if you have a Costco Membership or shop on Amazon you might find it cheaper or on Amazon.
Bakers Secret chocolate squares are popular as are Canino organic chocolate squares which you can find in the organic section of your grocery store.
If you’re looking for sugar-free chocolate chips Lily’s makes an excellent product or Krisda.
Sugars
Although sugars such as icing sugar, brown sugar, and granulated sugar do go on sale from time to time that may change as time gets closer to Christmas.
I can typically find granulated for about $1.97 for a 2kg bag regularly.
I’ve also seen it for $1.44 which is a great stock-up price.
Come December you may or may not see some sugars go on sale so my suggestion is to get it while the price is hot.
The same goes for specialty sugars such as Allulose, Monkfruit, Stevia, and Erythritol.
CBB Fans Tell Us What Their Top Baking Staples Are For Christmas
What the fans are saying…
I asked my Facebook fans what 5 Christmas baking ingredients were stock-up items at their house?
- Nicola D. – Flour, icing sugar, brown sugar, lard, and baking soda.
- Christine W. – I’d say flour, sugar (white, brown, and icing), butter, eggs, and cinnamon.
- Colleen K. – Cocoa, sugar, flour, eggs, lard
- Beth Anne – Candied fruit for Christmas cake, suet for Christmas pudding and some for the freezer ’cause I can’t get it the rest of the year, butter, sugar, and flour, for most everything.
Remember if you are a Costco member November is another great reason to watch those sales. Buying in bulk at Costco has its advantages for some products but pair that with a sale price and you can pick up cheap baking ingredients.
Discussion: What 5 Christmas baking ingredients would top your must-have list to buy?
November Grocery Game Challenge posts
Update: The GGC was cancelled in 2018.
Join in the Grocery Game Challenge (GGC) fun and post your grocery shop in the comment section of each GGC blog post.
Here are the rules to get you started and if you have any questions feel free to email me.
If you missed any grocery game posts for the month I will post the line-up each week here for you so you don’t have to go looking for past GGC posts for the month.
This makes posting a bit easier although all you need to do is click on The Grocery Game Challenge on the homepage sidebar and you will see them all.
Free Money Saving Tools
Free Money Saving Downloads are lists created to get us working towards our budgeting goals.
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.
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.
For any new visitors or subscribers 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 at The Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide.
2015 Grocery shop results
Yearly grocery budget for two 2015: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $235 per year or $25 per month.
Points Overview (add any other sections you need to show us your savings)
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month:
$235.00$188.10
- Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs
$235.00$188.10
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $32.40
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $140.00
- PC Points Plus Earned to date: 54920
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0.98
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Snap Groupon to date: $28.00
- Zweet to date: $18.00
- Checkout51 to date: $6.00
Grocery Shop This Week
Food Basics
- 2 x 2% milk $3.97 each
- 1x 3.25% milk $4.97
- Tahini Sale $7.99
- Cheerios Sale $4.97
- Bananas $1.47
- 6 x Black Diamond Cheese bars $3.97 (stockpile) $23.82 (stockpile budget)
- Yogurt Astro $0.99 reduced Reg $2.99
- Prune Yogurt $1.99 reduced
- Red Cabbage $4.07
- 2kg Bag of Beets reduced to $0.99 on sale for $2.47
- 3 x Nano Yogurt $1.50 reduced from $2.99 each
Total Out-of-Pocket: $63.70-$23.82 stockpile budget $39.88
Freshco
- 2 x Peanut Butter 1kg $2.47
- 2 x large dozen eggs $2.74 each
Total Out-of-Pocket: $10.42
- Total to spend this month
$235$188.10 (overspend from October to catch up on)
- 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 $14.44+Aug $25.00+Sept $25.00+ Oct $25.00
- Stockpile budget used this month: $23.82
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $34.50
- Total in-store discounts this week: $8.98
- Total in-store discounts to date: $655.52
- Total spent this week: $50.30
- Total spent so far this month: $50.30
- Total over/Under spend this shop: under
- Total over/Under spend for the month: $n/a
- Total left to spend for the month: $188.10-$50.30=$137.80
- 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 $212.16+August $118.15+ September $130.37+ October $281.89+ November $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts)
We don’t need much this week but I picked up a few flyer specials including the peanut butter and cheese that was on sale.
There is a small grocery budget for this month although we don’t have much to buy.
We just don’t have the time like we used to bake.
Canadian Coupons Found
Here are some great places you can find Canadian Coupons!
We’re finding fewer and fewer coupons in the stores these days.
What are your thoughts? Are coupon apps taking over the paper coupons?
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 anymore. It’s just one way to help cut your budget to save money.
- Canadian Coupons: Where can I find Canadian Coupons?:
- 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 has gotten involved with their new mobile Save.ca app joining forces with the many apps that are already out there.
- What is the Best Flyer App- We use Flipp on our iPhone to have all of our flyers in one spot download Flipp from the Apple Store or get it on Google Play.
- 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.
Cleaning Up Your Grocery Budget
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 to stick to your grocery budget to make it work.
Nobody is perfect, heck we struggle with this part of our budget as 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 want to learn everything I know about grocery shopping in Canada check out the Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide!
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.
Join in and become money savers and take control of your grocery budget.
-Mr.CBB
- Check out my new Free Recipe Index
- If you like FREE then click this link for my FREE Excel Budget Spreadsheet and all my Free Money Saving Lists.
I go into the store every 2-4 days as hubby has to have his bananas and he drinks a lot of milk so I’m having to buy more rather often. The 4.99 Cheerios boxes were the big ones then the following week the smaller boxes are on so I grabbed some more. Unless he gets piggy with them I should be good for a while with his Cheerios. I don’t go specifically for the meat stickers but I do look the counter over pretty good while I’m there for any good deals there!! I have a friend or two that don’t shop across the street often enough to make collecting the turkey bucks so if they get any they pass them my way…no argument form me there!!
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults and 2 cats -$7800.00
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $235 per year or $25 per month.
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
Total Gift Cards used to date: $10.00
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 21250
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: $.75(25.75)
Checkout51 to date: $2.25(25.50)
Grocery Shop This Week
Foodland #1
2 Folgers coffee @7.99, 3.00 WUB2 coupon
1 jug water -5.49
2 large Cheerios @4.99
1 OCean Spray cranberry juice -4.49, 50% AM discount
3 cases pop @3.49
1 yogurt -2.99
1 apple sauce -1.79
2 cans pasta sauce @1.50
1 lb butter -4.99
2 4l milk @4.88
1 doz large eggs -2.99
4X1l chocolate milk @.99
4 frozen meat pies @.99
Bananas -.84
1 pack turkey franks -4.99, 50% sticker
1 raisin bread -3.99
Tax -1.36
Total OOP -$83.28, 3.00 coupon &$4.75 discounts. 3 turkey bucks
Foodland #2
1 jug water -5.49
1 6pack Royale tissues -3.99
1 Cheese Whiz -3.49
1 Kraft peanut butter -3.49
2 Cheerios @2.99
1 corn starch -2.49
1 pack pasta -1.79
1 can pineapple tidbits -1.59
1l beef broth -1.49
2 4l milk @4.88
2 yogurt @3.99, 2X1.00 peelie
10 lbs potatoes -4.99
Bananas -1.49
1 pack boneless chicken breasts -10.26
2 packs sausage @5.99, 50% stickers
1 pack maple/blueberry sausage -4.10, 50% sticker
1 pack sausage buns -2.50
2 W/W bread @2.50, 1 loaf was a 50% discount from AM
Tax -1.56
Total OOP -$86.11, $9.30 discounts &2.00 coupons. $2.00 turkey bucks
Total to spend this month $650.00
Stockpile budget 2015 ($25.00): Jan $22.20+ Feb $24.50+ (Mar $22.18+ April $18.32+ May $40.95+ June $$24.15+ July $45.32+ Aug $32.92+ Sept $22.43+ Oct $0
Stockpile budget used this month: $0
Total coupons used this week: $5.00
Total coupons used to date: $135.64
Total in-store discounts this week: $12.80
Total in-store discounts to date: $157.85
Total spent this week: $161.40
Total spent so far this month: $161.40
Total over/Under spend this shop: over
Total over/Under spend for the month: $n/a
Total left to spend for the month: $488.60
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+ August $674.89+ September $610.32+ October $646.30+ November $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts)Not a bad start but could be better. If this was a four week month I would be just under for the week, but it’s a five….the butter was an air miles deal and I got 4 air miles from it which translates to $2.00 cash to use later as I have my AM on a 50/50 split between cash and miles. I have 9 turkey bucks so far. The cash register spits out a paper saying how many you get each time and I’m wondering if it keeps track and works it out as you accumulate spending as it does with the air miles as it isn’t making much sense in what I’m getting for them. I still have lots of room in the budget so far for the month and hubby has lots of his Cheerios…
Oh crap is it a 5 week month? I better look. That means we definitely will have a no-shop week. If I were you I would track your turkey bucks to make sure you are getting what you are supposed to be getting. Errors can happen and if you are missing out you should be compensated for them. I love all the 50% off stickers you go this week. You know some PC stores only give 30% off and not the 50%. That would suck if it happened at our store. I like my 50% off pink stickers lol. The Cheerios were a great price if they are the jumbo boxes for sure. We aim for $3.99-$4.99 a box now that we know how much he loves them. The PB was on sale last week for $2.47. It’s such a pity that your grocery store won’t let you PM. Ah well…. awesome shopping. Do you find living across the street you tend to go into the store and wander around looking for those deals on meat or do you just go in once a week and that’s it? If It were me I’d go in every day to look around. lol. You get ballot 6. Mr.CBB
Week 1 – November 1 – 7
• Grocery budget to work with in November over 4 weeks: $200
• Total coupons used this week: $3.50
• Total coupons used to date: $136.41
• Total RCSS gas coupons used this week: $.52
• Total RCSS gas coupons used to date: $19.71
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed this week: $0
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed to date: $360
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used this week: $0
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used to date: $63.76
• Total student discounts this week: $4.12
• Total student discounts to date: $206.83
• Total tax savings RCSS this week: $0
• Total tax savings RCSS to date: $13.60
• Total spent this week: $49.15
• Total spent so far this month: $49.15
• Total left to spend for the month: $150
• Carry over: $.85
• Total in carry over jar: $74.10
• Total Spent To Date 2015: $2,645.90
RCSS: Nestle full size bar 8 pk Halloween clearance 4.94, Pumpkins 3 x Free, tax .64: Total Paid 5.60
RCSS: Ragu 2 x 1.00 (PM), Aylmer tomatoes 2 x .97 (PM), PC Diet cola 18 pk clearance 3.24, PC Peanuts Mustard/Mesquite clearance 2.24, Catelli sauce 2 x 1.00, Kraft Peanut Butter 3 x 2.47 (PM), Hellmans mayo 3.77 – 1.00 coupon (PM), eggs 2.4(PM), milk 3.97, Black Diamond cheese block 3.97 – 1.00 coupon (PM), organic popcorn kernels 5.14 less 30% (1.54), iceberg lettuce 1.49 (PM), Potatoes 10 lb 1.48, Renees dressing 3.98 – 1.50 coupon, bananas 1.93 less 30% (.58), less student discount 4.12, less gas superbucks .52, plus tax .64: Total paid 37.45 rounded up 2 cents
Dollarama: Mini marshmallow bag 1.00, coffee grounds 1.00, tax .13:Total Paid 2.15 rounded up 2 cents
Walmart: Rice Krispie mini Halloween treat clearance 3.50, tax .46: Total Paid 3.95 rounded down 1 cent
Week 1 of November and we came in under budget. Yes, there is Halloween clearance on it. Full size bars were a decent price and the rice krispie treats are handy on the go for hockey days. Better to have a few snack items than hit the drive thru every time. The pumpkins were a nice score at RCSS on Nov 1. They were just giving them away, no limit. First come, first served. We only took three, basically what our family could use as puree after I had already pureed my son’s jack-o-lantern. Feeling pretty good about it. We’ve already made two batches of pumpkin apple fruit leather with the apples I got from my in-laws two weeks ago. Mostly stock up items. I am hoping that we have stocked up enough so that we can buy ground beef next week, fingers crossed. It would be nice to have a burger to go with the buns in our freezer. Regardless, caffeine has become a major issue lately. I know hubby and I are reliant on caffeine, and I have been cutting back a great deal. I drink far less than I ever used to. Unfortunately, we were practically out of it all – coffee, pop and tea. Hubby has been suffering so much that he feels ill. So, this week I made getting some caffeine a priority. I can’t have hubby sick over the lack of caffeine, he is the only breadwinner right now, and going into the flu season in retail, if he gets run down, then the flu hits our house hard. I still am keeping my intake reasonably low, but at least he is feeling a bit better now. Another great deal on peanut butter again this week. Yay, we have five jars on our shelf now, we had been out for almost a month. Peanut butter and eggs are our bigger sources of protein right now, so it’s a huge score. The popcorn is one of our snacks we have (not frequently), but when we run out, I like to replace the kernels immediately. I couldn’t believe the prices of the popcorn kernels since I had last purchased (spring or last winter, I’d have to look back). Wow, crazy expensive. Hard to believe the organic was a better bang for the buck. Yes, it was clearance, but the regular prices of the PC kernels was 3.99 and the Orville Redenbachers was 4.50. And, the containers were smaller than the organic one. We haven’t tried it yet, but I am thankful that I found a bit better deal with a good expiry date – they must have been changing the planogram. Anyhow, I hope next week to be a little lighter on the pocketbook, but if I find some items to stock up on again, I will have to just in case hubby’s hours get cut after the Christmas season. Not a lot of choice or meat in the freezers right now (there is loads of pumpkin puree and shredded zucchini), but at least the pantry is looking better.
Hi Angela,
Great shopping this week and It’s nice to hear you are stocked up a bit in the pantry. The peanut butter was a great deal for $2.47 considering i’ve seen it at $7.99 regular price at some shops. If your guy needs caffeine he needs it. Trust me when I say I would be a mess if I didn’t have my morning fix. We used to buy our black tea at the dollar store as it was great tea. Maybe with that GC you won you can buy a big honkin can that will last you both a long while. 🙂 It’s nice to hear you being much more positive and I agree it’s important to keep healthy because loss of work really can put a dent in anyone’s budget if the employer doesn’t pay for sick days. Keep up the great shopping. Mr.CBB You get ballot. 4.
Peanut butter and eggs tend to be our biggest source of protein, it’s a shame meat is so pricey, but I scored as much ast the budget would allow, it used to rarely go on sale two years ago, now it does from time to time. However, in the end, the caffeine that I bought hubby wasn’t good either. This diet brand didn’t do wonders for his stomach. Bummer. Oh well, I will keep trying. The dollar store coffee was dreadful, however hubby liked it better than I did. I wish he would drink black tea, he sticks to mostly herbal. I can go without coffee, but I would love some early grey or earl grey with vanilla and then I’m all set. We got the gift card in the mail this week, I do plan to use it my next RCSS Tuesday shop. I look forward to it since I actually went to the butcher and got almost $10 of ground beef. And every bit of it is already gone and it was so good – that will show up on next week’s shop.
I just bought a bag of flour for here at No Frills, the no name stuff works just fine. I will stock up if I find a good deal on it any time of the year!! I will be watching for the Bakers chocolate squares to go on sale as I use those for my Naniamo squares, all three kinds. Where you make the balls at Christmas I make squares and a couple of fruit cakes. I will be double checking my recipes and my supplies so I have a good idea what I still need to get on sale!! I’ve got three pounds on unsalted butter in the freezer but I still watch for deals on butter. If I can get hold of a coupon for there I think I might check out Bulk Barn for my candied fruits this year, I think the one in Stratford is off Ontario St…….
Oh ya it works just as well. It’s probably all from the same manufacturing company as the brand name anyways. lol. The squares are pricey but if you watch you may find a coupon and a sale at the same time bringing them to around $2.99 each.
Name Your Store: i.e. Superstore (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $8.39 (superbucks)
Total Out Of Pocket: $1.46
Gift card- $35.54
PC points redeemed—$
plastic bag rebate- $0.02
month of Oct 1-31 2015
340g cranberries- $1.46
coffee mate –Hazelnut –(700 PC pts)- $3.99
coffee mate- Caramel Vanilla-( 700 PC pts)- $3.99
4L milk – $5.99
mushrooms – $2.79 (reduced) =$1.39
fresh tomatoes =$2.99 (reduced) =$1.49
Cantaloupe(reduced) =$1.49
bananas= $1.46
butternut squash= $1.85
Honey ham= $6.99 (reduced) =$3.49
Garlic sausage 2 @ $5.99 (reduced)=$5.98
pork riblets $4.89 (reduced) -$2.44
whole chicken- $8.09
honey garlic sausage – $4.61 (reduced)= $2.30
Name Your Store: i.e. Shoppers Drug Mart(Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Out Of Pocket: $28.55+15.16
4L milk 2 @ $5.39= $10.78
doz eggs 2 @ $1.99 = $3.98
ASA –500 ct- $11.99
4L milk – 2 @$5.59=$11.18
doz eggs – 2 @$1.99= $3.98
Name Your Store: i.e. Giant Tiger(Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Out Of Pocket: $17.29 +$2.97
Idaho scalloped potatoes 2 @ $0.99=$1.98
secret deodorant 2 pk- $2.50
chocolate bar 2 @ 2/$1.00= $1.00
400 ml mustard- $1.00
2 lbs carrots 2 @ $0.79= $1.58
3 lbs sweet potatoes – $2.97
2 lbs onions -$0.79
10 lbs potatoes 2 @ $2.47=$4.94
Idaho scalloped potatoes 3 @ $0.99=$2.97
Name Your Store: i.e. Bulk Barn (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $6.34+$3.00+$3.00
Total Out Of Pocket: $15.94+18.58+$24.22+7.11
gift card- $5.00
Baking Pwd-$2.20
sweet flake coconut- $2.48
ground walnuts- $2.56
Honey roasted peanuts- $2.58
semolina – $0.52
turkish apricots- $5.21
(with a $15 purchase receive a $5 gift card)
molasses-$0.85
graham crumbs=$5.60
mac &cheese sauce pwd=$2.33
ju jubes-$1.46
hickory smoked almonds-$3.41
vacuum yeast-$7.09
macaroons- $3.48
walnut halves-$4.31
pretzels-$0.29
jelly beans – $1.07
macaroons-$1.92
pistachios- $8.97
pumpkin seeds-hulled- $2.00
peek freans cookies- $0.65
pretzel sticks- $0.26
chow mein noodles- $0.28
hickory smoked almonds- $6.90
turkish figs- $2.30
instant yeast $4.99
rolled oats- $2.22
onion pwd- $0.43
garlic pwd- $0.77
chili pwd- $0.95
sweet basil- $0.19
candy-sweethearts – $0.49
Name Your Store: i.e. Sobeys (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Out Of Pocket: $
Gift card- $3.17+$5.99+$1.00
redeemed Airmiles- $10+
4L milk –$5.39
4L milk-$5.39
fresh cranberries 340g- $2.49
4L milk- $5.99
canned tomatoes- $1.00
Name Your Store: i.e. Stirling’s Fruit Market (Canada)
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Out Of Pocket: $4.50
10lbs apples-$ 4.50
Overall for the month of Oct
$135.78 out of pocket (does not includes the $200 gift card I paid cash for, as I will deduct as I use it)
$20.73 coupons (coupon and star bucks)
$ 5.00 gift cards
$ 10.00 redeemed to pay for the groceries
$35.54 (I use my PC points and Air miles to buy them )
$10.16 (Sobeys gift card that I purchased from cash)
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+$60.64 (Aug)=$279.64+$24.21 (Sept)=$303.85+$15.16 (Oct)=$319.01
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: $9.73+24.23 (month of June) =$33.96+$18.52 (month of July) =$52.48+$32.92 (Sept)=$85.40+$20.73 (Oct)=$106.13
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: $145.94
Total over/Under spend this shop: $
Total over/Under spend for the month $
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+$216.67-$149.53(spent in Aug)=$812.45+$216.67-$313.05 (spent in Sept)=$716.07+$216.67-$145.94(spent in Oct)=$786.80
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+$149.53 (Aug)=$920.91+$313.05 (Sept)=$1233.96+$145.94=$1379.90
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts): This is our spending for the month of October.My fridge and freezer is sooooo full, I can’t get any more in it. I expect in Nov, our spending will drop even more. I make our bread, in the bread machine. I’ve found the best price for yeast is at Bulk Barn @$7.09 (454g). Then I noticed in another area of the store ‘instant yeast’ for $4.99. I did a google, and they are interchangeable. So I bought it….can’t tell any difference, except I saved $2.10.
Hi Kathryn,
You scored some great meat deals this month especially the ham. Do you use the Bulk Barn coupon as well? So the vacuum yeast is for the bread machine? I might look into getting one of these bread machines if they work so well. I love homemade bread but I don’t often get the time to make it. I do make my own bread on occasion and have posted many recipes on the blog. Are you doing some baking for the holidays? Well done this month Kathryn, you certainly are one smart shopper. Do you see your grocery budget going up, down or staying the same for the new year? You get ballot 3. Mr.CBB
NOVEMBER – Week #1 of 5- Nov 2-8, 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:
Before we start our NOVEMBER off though, I am going to make my “reserve” transfers for the month:
Grocery:
$ 190.00 for the month
($130.94) Overage from October
( $0.00) trf to borscht reserve- normally $12.50
($ 0.00) trf to re-stocking – normally $17.50
($ 0.00) trf to holiday reserve–normally $10.00
($ 0.00) trf to summer reserve–normally $10.00
($ 0.00) trf to US Reserve –normally $50.00
Grocery Balance $59.06 for NOVEMBER
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
Well, this month is going to be really, really tight! I see lots of vegetarian meals and soups coming our way in order to get our budget back on track before December hits with all the holiday shopping. I am well stocked with our gluten free flour, brown sugar and icing sugar. I do plan to watch for sales on white sugar and mincemeat plus we’ll pick up more unsalted butter when we head to the US when hubby is on vacation. Maybe I had best plan on 3 “No Shop” weeks here in Canada this month…except of course if I spot a Christmas baking sale. I have a reserve set up to take advantage of the sales this month.
This week we needed milk but I have managed to contain the grocery shopping to just that item and we used points to get it! No cash out of our pockets…woohoo! 🙂
============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Save On Foods – Maple Ridge –
1 x 4L Skim Milk (3,100 Points Redeemed to cover $4.69)
Total OOP: $0.00
** Earned 0 MORE Points on this shop **
** SAVED $0.00 in Rain Check Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
OUR NEXT USA SHOP MAY BE in December while hubby is on vacation.
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $3.58+ Feb $0.00 + Mar $14.54 + Apr $15.76 + May $0.00 + June $5.68 + July $0.00 + Aug $35.63 + Sept $138.97+Oct $65.17 +Nov $0.00= $279.34
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.00 + Apr $0.00 + May $0.00 + June $14.00 + July $0.00 + Aug $0.00 + Sept $88.75 +Oct $7.79 +Nov $0.00 = $110.54
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 +Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.00 + Apr $0.00 + May $0.00 + June $0.00 + July $0.00 + Aug $0.00 + Sept $0.00 + Oct $0.00 +Nov $0.00= $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 22 + Feb 45 + Mar 140 + Apr 12 + May 6 + June 12 + July 0 + Aug 160 + Sept 84+Oct 29 + Nov 0= 496 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 + Mar 1 + Apr 1 + May 322 + June 0 + July 0 + Aug 4 + Sept 176 + Oct 72 + Nov 0= 576 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 1200 + Feb 900 + Mar 900 + Apr 1,500 + May 0 + June 1800 + July 0 + Aug 900 + Sept 2,200 + Oct 1,411 + Nov 0 = 10,811 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 30 + Feb 40 + Mar 0 + Apr 0 + May 0 + June 20 + July 0 + Aug 0 + Sept 0 + Oct 0 + Nov 0= 90 Points
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $199.31+ Feb $180.69 + Mar $274.41 + Apr $105.59+ May $237.00 + June $171.34 + July $53.25 + Aug $319.00 + Sept $117.32 + Oct $373.03+ Nov (trf $0.00 Xmas Reserve+$0.00 to Summer + $0.00 trf to Re-Stocking Reserve + $0.00 trf to Borscht Reserve + $0.00 trf to US-$0.00 trf from Christmas Reserve+$4.69 Trf to Unused re Reward Point Redemption = $4.69) = $2,035.63
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $190.00+Feb $190.00 + Mar $190.00 + Apr $190.00 + May $190.00 + June 190.00+July$190.00+Aug $190.00 + Sept 190.00 + Oct $190.00 + Nov $190.00= $2,090.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $54.37 AVAILABLE
============================================================================================
2015 CANADIAN UNUSED RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $0.00+Jan $0.00+Feb $3.83+ Mar $32.09 + Apr $4.99 + May $4.69 + June $9.38 + July $4.69 + Aug $0.00 + Sept $9.38 +Oct $4.69 + Nov $4.69= $78.43
============================================================================================
2015 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $325.00+Jan $22.50+Feb $22.50 + Mar $17.50 + Apr $18.44 + May $17.50 + June $6.56 + July $20.00 + Aug $20.00 + Sept ($17.50-$120 – $167.50= – $270.00) + Oct $17.50 + Nov $0.00= $217.50
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D BORSCHT RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $412.50+Jan $12.50 + Feb $12.50 + Mar $12.50 + Apr $0.00 + May $20.00 + June $30.00+July $0.00 + Aug $12.50 + Sept $12.50 + Oct $12.50 + Nov $0.00 = $537.50
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $110.00+Jan $10.00 +Feb $10.00+ Mar $10.00 + Apr $10.00 + May $25.00 + June $10.00 + July 15.00+ Aug 15.00 + Sept $10.00 + Oct ($25.00 – $64.88 trf to US Reserve – $8.82 trf to groceries- $15.00 trf to groceries = -$63.70) + Nov $0.00 = $161.30
============================================================================================
2015 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:
2014 Fwd $90.00+Jan $10.00 + Feb $10.00 + Mar $15.00 + Apr $15.00 + May $35.00 + June $36.44 + July $13.56+Aug $21.31 + Sept ($9.85-$106.16 = -$96.31) + Oct $17.09 + Nov $0.00= $167.09
============================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 2,090.00 Grocery Budget JAN-NOV
$ 73.74 Redeemed Points to Purchase Groceries
($ 0.02) Hiding Spot Cash – SPENT
($ 13.45) 2014 Costco Rebate Chq – SPENT
($ 145.49) Trf to Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Borscht, Xmas, Summer)
($ 201.81) Trf to US Grocery Reserve
($ 73.74) Set in a reserve to offset Redeemed Points
($ 1,674.86) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 54.37 AVAILABLE FOR Y-T-D SPENDING
• 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
$ 4.99 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – APR
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAY
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JUNE
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JUNE
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JULY
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – SEPT
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – SEPT
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – OCT
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – OCT
$ 78.43 Total $ Value of Points Redeemed
So far $1,900.00 has been budgeted Y-T-D for 2015 and we have recorded these funds as “spent” and in fact they have been “saved”:
$217.50 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$537.50 Borscht Fund
$161.30 Holiday Season Fund
$167.09 Summer Season Fund
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,083.39… that is a $937.50 carry-forward from 2013 & 2014 and $145.89 in NEW 2015 savings after spending $597.93 of the reserves in SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER.
This also means that with $190.00 to start NOVEMBER less $130.94 overage carried forward from OCTOBER less $0.00 transferred to the various savings reserves less $0.00 transferred for Points Redeemed = $59.06 plus an additional $0.00 saved in our US grocery reserve, we opened the month of NOVEMBER with $59.06 available to spend on the Canadian side of the border LESS the funds we have spent of $4.69 on our groceries (cash & points) so far this month and have $54.37 AVAILABLE for the month of NOVEMBER.
We have groceries that have been purchased using points redeemed, rather than the budgeted cash in the amount of $78.43. Available as an offset, we currently have $78.43 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 $110.21 IS AVAILABLE for our next US shop!
Of the outstanding US Shopping Reserve $110.21:
$113.07 is carried forward from 2014
$252.50 is new 2015 Y-T-D savings
Less $115.57 that we’ve transferred back to the grocery funds
PLUS $64.88 transferred from our Christmas Reserve funds
Less ($9.98+$5.00+$15.32+$34.58) = $64.88 Christmas spending in the US
Less ($10.00+$71.86+$57.93) = $139.79 that we’ve actually spent in 2015
= $110.21 US Reserve Available
============================================================================================
The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Thrifty Foods –
12 x 14 oz Compliments NO SALT Diced Tomatoes @ $1.00 ea – good until Dec 27/15
6 x WW Bread @ $1.00 ea – good until Dec 29/15
============================================================================================
Hi Mary,
I love how you buy your milk on points all year, smart! How much does that save you on average each year? If you can pull of the no-shops and use your reserve to buy what you need for Christmas items etc. you’ll be fine. It’s always hard trying to catch up. I know the feeling as we are doing that this month with not much to work with. The good thing is we are stocked up now. How much is butter in the USA? You get ballot 2. Mr.CBB 🙂
Mr CBB, this is the first year that I have used points for milk. So far it has left $78.43 in our pockets that would not have been there if we had paid in cash. I don’t remember the exact price on the butter, but it’s a couple of dollars less than Canada AND it’s wrapped in 1/4 pound sticks. I particularly like that. 🙂
I like the butter wrapped in the sticks myself however I’m not paying the price they want in Canada for it. If you can grab it cheaper you might as well. That is a big savings on milk for the year back into your pocket. Don’t you just love points? 🙂
My GGC for the past 2 weeks.
Oct 23 – Nov 5, 2015
Name Your Store: Shopper’s Drug Mart
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $20.35
Human
Nyquil = $13.99
2 – 4 Pack Halls = $4.01
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points = 9
Total Out Of Pocket: $19.67
Human
4 L Skim milk = $3.97
Minute Rice = $5.79
Cats
4 Cans Friskies Soft – $0.79 (PM No Frills @ 4/$2.00) = $2.00
1.5 kg Friskies Savoury Hard = $6.77
Name Your Store: Shopper’s Drug Mart
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $26.94
Human
Nyquil = $13.99
3 – 4 Pack Halls = $6.03
2 – 4 Pack Gum = $3.82
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 800
Total Out Of Pocket: $20.19
Human
2 PC Mushrooms – (800 PC Points) = $3.94
10 lb Potatoes = $1.48
Old Mill Raisin Bread (30% Pink Sticker) = $1.40
Wonder WW Jumbo = $5.48
Cats
18 kg NN Cat Litter = $6.98
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: $12.25
Total Discounts/SCOP this 2 Week Period: $0.00
Total Discounts/SCOP to Date: $10.19
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: $0.80
Total Price Match to Date: $461.64
Total Meat this 2 Week Period: $
Total Meat to Date: $514.17
Total Produce this 2 Week Period: $
Total Produce to Date: $272.31
Total Adhoc Stockpile this 2 Week Period: $
Total Adhoc Stockpile to Date: $444.30
Total PC Points Received this 2 Week Period: 800
Total PC Rewards Points Used this 2 Week Period: 0
Total PC Rewards To Date: 16420
Total Over/Under spend this Human shop: $over
Total Left to Spend for the Human Month: $56.08 over
Total Spent To Date – Human: Jan $234.85; Feb $130.22; Mar $146.35; Apr $186.85; May $187.95; Jun $156.49; Jul $137.58; Aug $174.29; Sept $194.80 ; Oct $198.63 ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $1,748.01
Total Over/Under spend this Cat shop: $over
Total Left to Spend for the Cat Month: $0.65 over
Total Spent To Date – Cat: Jan $47.65; Feb $22.08; Mar $33.69; Apr $21.35; May $26.96; Jun $29.06; Jul $16.91; Aug $41.06 ; Sept $48.82 ; Oct $26.83 ; Nov $ ; Dec $ = $314.40
Overview: 1st week – I would have been fine if my daughter didn’t get sick and needed more cough medication. Next year, I’m going to be taking these types of items out of the food budget so that I can truly see what is food related purchases versus everything together. I realize that I have another week left in this month but I’m definitely going to try and keep things down to a minimum so not much carry forward is needed.
Overview: 2nd Week – I’ve been looking the amount left in my food budget and if I wipe the slate clean, I’ll still have enough to make it to the end of the year. I’m going to try and clear off this balance by cutting back but I’m not sure how feasible that it be.
Hey Dee,
I was going to say you sure were loading up on the cold meds. I was sick too and had to spend money on buying the same things including the Halls. We took ours out and have it in health and beauty because we wanted to see exactly how much we were spending on food alone. The only thing you can do is try and see what happens. There is no harm in giving it a shot and seeing what you can do with it. Well done! Oh… are your pink stickers only 30% off? You get ballot 1. Mr.CBB
I do want to see what my food value is only and currently can’t do that since things like this is part of the value. My budget is work in progress but I’m hoping that next year it will slow down a bit so I can use it as a benchmark for future years. Yes, the pick stickers at my RCSS is only 30% 🙁