Estimated reading time: 17 minutes
There are so many Canadian Grocery Stores that it can get confusing to figure out where to shop to get quality products while saving money to stretch those grocery dollars.
Then, some shoppers don’t care about saving money because they are committed to shopping at one grocery store.
Even if they have to pay more for products, they can spend less elsewhere.
Related: Are you a grocery store snob?
Canadian Grocery Stores In Your Neighbourhood
When I moved to Canada 8 years ago, I had no idea about Canadian Grocery Stores, let alone where to begin shopping.
Grocery store prices differ from shop to shop, resulting in product quality and availability differences.
Depending on where you live in Canada, you may be blessed with local markets like the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto or St. Jacobs Farmers Market in St. Jacobs.
Almost every nationality has a market/shop that sells products from the homeland, especially in Toronto, which is excellent for buying hard-to-find products for new recipes.
Related: How to Enjoy Gourmet Food on A Tight Budget
Outside any city, you will find farmers willing to sell their crops to customers who stop in to pick produce and fruits or buy ready-picked, which typically costs a bit more.
The great thing about picking your own is that you can bring the family, which tends to be an educational experience for the kids and one they likely won’t forget.
If you’ve got a green thumb, growing your garden is the next best thing to organic produce when it comes to the best produce around Canada.
We are fortunate to live in a country that offers many diverse options of where to get food.
Still, Canadians continue to make their number one shopping trips at traditional Canadian Grocery Stores, many of which are chain supermarkets.
First Time Shopping At Canadian Grocery Stores
Canada is home to many new Canadians, landed immigrants, and permanent residents unfamiliar with grocery shopping in a new country.
I was one of those shoppers who, for a while, looked like he was a lost boy with a shopping cart.
As a permanent resident, I prioritized learning about Canadian Grocery Stores while my wife was at work and I had spare time.
I miss those days when there was nothing to do when I came home from work.
Being a homeowner and a renter are two very different experiences, that’s for sure.
I was in charge of grocery shopping and preparing the grocery list, which I was okay with because it allowed me to explore what Canadian Grocery Stores had to offer.
Some of the questions I wanted answers to as a new resident of Canada:
- What Canadian Grocery Stores are best to shop at for budget-conscious shoppers?
- What Canadian Grocery Stores were in my area?
- What does each of these Canadian Grocery Stores have to offer?
Since we were renting the lower level of a house and didn’t have our kitchen, we hated going upstairs to cook where our landlord lived.
It always seemed odd cooking in someone else’s kitchen and going through their stuff.
Saving Money At Canadian Grocery Stores Paid Off
It took me about three months to grasp Canadian grocery shopping culture.
Then, another year to understand product prices and the best places to grocery shop that would save us the most money.
Our priorities back then were to save as much money as possible to put a sizeable down payment on a house.
The savings war was won since we paid our mortgage in 5 years.
Searching out food savings may not seem worth it to some people, but for others like us, it is worth the effort because the rewards are long-lasting.
In the early years of investigating Canadian Grocery Stores, I came across Canadian coupon sites that would mail them to the house.
Back then, Save.ca, Brandsaver, and Websaver gave us the savings kick-start, which we obsessed over.
Thankfully, we didn’t have much room, so hardly any stockpiling was happening.
We managed to save lots of money by shopping at the lower-end grocery stores where prices were the best that a chain grocery store would offer.
For example, shopping at No Frills is like shopping at any other Loblaws store, but without higher prices, you can price-match—Win-win in my books.
The downfall is you may not get the best quality produce, but if you have time to be picky, you can easily find the good stuff.
We often buy our produce at Metro or Zehrs if it’s cheaper than Food Basics and No Frills only because they offer Grade A products.
When not on sale, though the prices are enough to scare your budget away, the quality will often be there.
If you opt for organic, you know you’ll pay more no matter where you shop.
Buying Reduced or Imperfect Produce
These days, Loblaws stores sell the No Name “Naturally Imperfect” line of produce: vegetables and fruits that aren’t perfectly shaped but edible.
You’ll pay less to eat an apple with an odd shape than a perfectly round apple.
I never look for perfectly shaped produce, but some of you may.
We first hit the reduced produce rack to find some bargains.
Reduced Food Apps In Canada
There’s also the FlashFood App that Loblaws stores use to sell reduced products up to 75% off, sometimes more.
We use this service often, and if you refer a friend, you both earn $3.
See the code in my blog post, and if you use it, we both get cash to spend.
If you don’t mind reduced product, you’ll love FlashFood as we do.
Favourite Grocery Stores To Shop At
So, what are some of our favorite Canadian Grocery Stores to shop at?
Location dictates what Canadian Grocery Stores will be in your area to shop at, so you won’t find every grocery store in each city or town.
Most small towns in Ontario have Foodland, a division of Sobeys Inc.
Prices are always higher at Foodland; for example, as the shop will service a smaller area, costs are higher to transport food, and stock isn’t purchased in mass quantity like the giant Canadian Grocery Stores.
Still, Foodland is a great place to shop for homemade baked goods, top-notch produce, and meat.
We often shop at these five grocery stores only because they are in our area and offer products that fit our budget.
We hardly shop at Freshco, RCSS, Sobeys, or Walmart since they are far from our home.
Always Price Match When You Can
If we want products from those grocery flyers, we’ll price match if we have to at No Frills.
- Zehrs
- No Frills
- Food Basics
- Metro
- Shoppers Drug Mart *non-conventional
Every time we drive by Costco, we can be confident that the parking lot will be jam-packed.
After a recent trip to Costco, we realized that getting good deals was hit or miss, provided you know the regular retail cost at the big box Canadian Grocery Stores.
Costco is not considered a grocery store open to the public since you have to purchase a Club membership of $55 a year.
Canadians still enjoy shopping in bulk, meaning fewer grocery store trips.
Related: Is it worth it to shop at Costco?
Loblaws Chain Stores
Many stores fall under the Loblaws label, also known as President’s Choice stores.
President’s Choice products and services have quickly become our favorite since we bank with Simplii and have a PC Financial World Elite MasterCard, allowing us to earn more PC Plus Rewards Points.
Rewards programs seem to influence financially alert shoppers in Canada because they know the savings add up.
We’re huge fans of Loblaws stores for products and prices, from the lower-end No Frills shop to the higher-end Zehrs, Fortino’s, or mid-range Real Canadian Super Store, Provigo, and Atlantic Superstore.
Best Canadian Grocery Stores
If you want to learn about the complete list of Supermarket Chains in Canada, you will be shocked to see just how many grocery stores fall under each banner, many of which you may not ever hear of.
The list below only scratches the surface, but these are many of The Best Canadian Grocery Stores you’ll find.
These are some of the popular Loblaw chain Stores across Canada
- Zehrs Markets
- No Frills
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Atlantic Superstore
- Your Independent Grocer
- Fortino’s
- Maxi (Quebec)
- Extra Foods
- Provigo (Quebec)
Metro Divisions
Metro is the higher-end store offering online coupons and rewards along with Air Miles.
Most Metro stores have a wine shop, deli, bakery, floral shop, fish counter, and an extensive line of health products.
Some Metro stores are now selling Beer, Food Basics, and Zehrs.
Food Basics is a grocery store division of Metro that sells lower-priced items and many of the same things you’ll find at Metro.
There is no deli, floral shop, fish counter, etc., but you can buy limited amounts of these products at Food Basics.
You can buy Beer or wine at Food Basics. Update 2023
Random Canadian Grocery Stores
Sobeys Chain Stores
FreshCo is a super-savvy grocery store, so if you’re looking for savings, this is a grocery store that you will want to hang out in. Plus, they price match.
Foodland and Sobeys are the higher-end grocery stores in this division, as can be Safeway.
Thrifty Foods has an array of fresh products and an in-store registered dietitian.
Thrifty may all be in the name here, so shopping the sales may be competent. Use your Air Miles card!
Your best defense to learning about grocery shopping is to click the links below and read about each store, like when I knew what Canadian Grocery Stores had offered us.
Other Non-conventional Canadian Grocery Stores
These shops sell grocery items, so they aren’t a dedicated grocery store.
Walmart such as is the ultimate all-in-one shop where Costco and M&M meats are for bulk shoppers.
M&M Meats offers a Max rewards program, so the more you shop, the more you save.
IKEA has a small grocery selection where you can buy International products after you shop for your home.
Shoppers Drug Mart, a Loblaws-owned pharmacy, is also home to a beauty boutique, electronics department, and grocery on a small scale.
The best part about Shoppers Drug Mart is the ability to get Shoppers Optimum Points, similar to PC Plus Points.
London Drugs is not in Ontario, but if you’re lucky to live out West, this Canadian Pharmacy also offers food items, and you can stack coupons.
Stacking coupons means you can use more than one coupon per product as long as the UPCs differ.
The savings here are huge if you are a stacker!
Giant Tiger and Dollarama offer food products, with Giant Tiger having an enormous grocery selection and produce, dairy, and bakery items for less.
You can also buy clothes and home-related items at Giant Tiger.
Explore your city to see what little shops you can find that are not associated with the big box grocery stores.
Many of these shops are family-owned and sell many homemade or international products.
Shop at the corner convenience stores, and you’ll find limited grocery items, and you’ll pay almost double what you would in a grocery store unless they have a sale.
- Walmart
- Giant Tiger
- Dollarama
- IKEA
- Costco Wholesale
- Jean Coutou Group
- Shoppers Drug Mart
- M&M Meats
- London Drugs
- Local Asian markets
- Various other International grocery stores
- Convenience Stores
Fan Feedback
I don’t claim to know everything about all the Canadian Grocery Stores since I’ve only lived in Ontario, so I asked a handful of my Facebook fans what their favorites were.
Most of what I’ve learned about grocery stores outside of Ontario comes from websites, the Grocery Game Challenge, and you, the fans!
This is what some of my awesome fans say:
Beth Anne– Costco for quality in bulk, Thrifty Foods (a division of Sobey’s) for service, quality and specialty foods.
Christine W– I would have to say No Frills or Food Basics for price. For me Foodland is the store for location but that is because it’s across the road.
Pat C– My favorite stores are Giant Tiger for basic groceries and clothing and No frills for the rest.
Mary C– I don’t get to shop there very often as it’s an hour away but I do absolutely love Whole Foods for the freshness and diversity in their produce section.
When I was in Atlantic Canada, I adored the Halifax Atlantic Superstore and shopped there for the entire duration of our trip.
Locally, I pick up my fish and seafood or bison at Bruce’s Country Market in Albion for fresh items. We use M&M Meats for frozen fish supplies.
In the summer I trek out to Howard Wong’s Farm Market in Abbotsford for my locally grown produce.
I don’t have a favorite chain of stores but if I am buying meat, I prefer either Safeway or Thrifty Foods when they have a good sale.
Our local RCSS is regularly out of stock on advertised specials so it frustrates the living daylights out of me to try to shop there plus they don’t give rain checks.
I will shop at Save Foods but not for meat – I don’t care for their supplier.
I will get ham on their BOGO sales but never purchase their beef or chicken.
The pork tenderloin are fine if they are on a good sale but I can do just as well at Walmart.
Della F– My favourite store is RCSS due to price matching and it being a mid-price store.
Juanita P– Sobeys, Walmart and Superstore are my staple stores here in Edmonton.
But I also shop the sales at Co-op, Shoppers, Save on foods, No frills, London Drugs, McGavin’s bread basket and our local discount produce store.
Everything is within a ten minute drive so we are lucky enough to have a selection to choose from.
I always recommend for people to not shop during peak hours or days especially if they hate shopping.
Christine T– I unfortunately like the stores that are more expensive as I cannot usually find products in regular stores due to what I can eat.
In Toronto I like the Big Carrot and I Recently found this store Herbs and Nutrition.
For vegetables I usually go to either No Frills, Adonis (middle eastern store), Al Premium (Asian market), St Lawrence Market and Metro to get cat grass.
(It’s a good price and most importantly my cat loves it) and Costco for staples (only a few things I get there)
All Canadian Grocery Stores Are Unique
No matter where you choose to do your grocery shopping, every Canadian grocery store will have its good days and bad days.
That means you will find higher prices, lower prices, good produce, irregular produce, excellent customer service, crappy customer service, and convenience.
Related: Price Matching In Canadian Grocery Stores
Prices will always vary depending on where you choose to do your groceries, or you can price match to reduce travel time.
Unfortunately, many Canadian Grocery Stores don’t price match, so you are pushed towards a specific shop even if it’s not your favorite.
Loblaws stores allow price matching at No Frills and RCSS but not Zehrs Markets. Listen up, Zehrs… we want to price match!!
Overall, what I’ve learned about Canadian Grocery Stores is that everyone who shops at them does so for a reason.
I also now know that each grocery store offers me something different, likely part of the marketing plan to keep us returning to the grocery shop.
Related: How much should my grocery budget be?
Overall Thoughts
The best Grocery Stores in Canada are where you are willing to shop, which works for your grocery budget.
That means shopping where you get the best savings and quality products, even if that means shopping at a few Canadian grocery stores to get what you need on your grocery list.
Discussion Questions:
Which Canadian Grocery Stores do you prefer to do your grocery shopping at?
Did I miss any important points about the grocery stores I listed that I should add?
Let me know, and I’ll add in the details.
March Grocery Game Challenge Posts 2016
Join in the 2016 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 you’ll also find a link for the updated 2016 GGC schedule.
I use a random online generator to pick the winning ballot every month.
If you missed any grocery game posts for the month, I will post the line-up each week below for you so you don’t have to go looking for past GGC posts for the month.
Alternatively, click on the “Gro”ery Game Challenge” ta” on the blog sidebar to see past posts.
March Grocery Game Posts
Free Money Saving Tools
I blast you every way I can on this blog about my free money-saving tools because I want you to take advantage of them being FREE.
So many people pay for budgets and tools on the internet to help them save money. Honestly, you don’t need to. Even a paper and pen will do the trick.
This budget brought us to debt freedom in 2013, and now I’m offering it to all of you for FREE.
Don’t pay someone for these services; I’ve done the work for you, along with some help from other fabulous bloggers.
You can download the FREE Canadian Budget Binder Budget Spreadsheet in Exce.
We use it to budget and, in large part, a reason we could pay our mortgage off in 5 years; check it out!
Free Money Saving Downloads are fantastic lists created to get us on track to reach our budgeting goals, and now we are sharing them with you.
Get organized with a FREE freezer inventory, meal plan, shopping list, price comparison list, and much more, all for FREE.
Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide
Everything you want to know about grocery shopping in Canada is packed into this fantastic FREE guide that has taken over four years to create.
The Ultimate Grocery Shopping guide is ongoing, with new informative money-saving posts added every month.
Even if you don’t live in Canada, some excellent budget-saving tips will help put you on the path to more savings at the supermarket.
Share this guide with your friends and tell them about the Canadian Budget Binder, especially if they struggle with their grocery budget.
The time is NOW to get started saving money on groceries, so please enjoy the many money-saving posts in The Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide.
2016 Grocery Shop Results
Yearly grocery budget for two + 1 Toddler 2016: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $300/year or $25/month.
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: $217.05
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $50
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
- PC Points Plus Earned to date: 106779
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP)to date $0
- Shoppers Optimum: Over 700,000 points (I will update this twice a year)
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Snap Groupon to cash out: $6.50
- Zweet to cash out: $18.25
- Checkout51 to cash out: $7.00
Food Basics
- Cauliflower $1.88
- 1lb Mushrooms $1.88
- 2 x 1lb Butter $2.88
- 2 x Astro Coconut Yogurt $1.99
- Radishes $1.27
- Spinach $4.97
- Red Onion $1.75
Total Out-of-Pocket: $21.49
Metro
- Fennel $1.99 (previous week’s last-minute item)
- Maple Leaf Ham (half) $6.99
Total Out-of-Pocket: $8.98
No Frills
- Strawberries $1.77
- Bananas $1.95
- 4 x Granulated Sugar $1.47
- 2 x Seedless cucumbers $0.88
Total out-of-pocket $11.36
Zehrs
- Nielsen Cream $2.99
- Nielsen Whipping Cream $2.99
- 2% Milk $4.27
- Homo Milk 4L Sealtest $5.27
Total out-of-pocket $15.52
SDM
- 2 x dozen eggs $2.49 each
Total out-of-pocket $4.98
- Total to spend this month: $235.00-$32.41 over Jan = $202.59
- Stockpile budget 2016 ($25.00-$1 overage= $24.00)
- Stockpile budget used this month: $26.64 (over $2.64 per month)
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $4
- Total in-store discounts this week:$0
- Total in-store discounts to date: $155.97
- Total spent this week: $62.33
- Total spent so far this month: $111.27
- Total over/Under spend this shop: over
- Total over/Under spent for the month: $ under
- Total left to spend for the month: $91.32
- Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $252.95+ Feb $249.46+March $
Weekly Overview
Nothing much interested us in the grocery flyers this week, so we didn’t purchase too much apart from produce and a few other bits.
Sometimes, there are weeks when grocery shopping isn’t in the cards, and this week, we almost called it a no-shop week.
How was your grocery shopping week?
Coupons and Coupon Apps
Here are some great places you can find Canadian Coupons!
We’re finding fewer and fewer coupons in the stores these days.
Are coupon apps taking over paper coupons?
Sign up for the Nielsen Canada Home Scan Program, and you can earn rewards points fast to redeem for excellent products or gift cards.
I did this in the UK and loved it!!
Other Coupon Portals
Plus, check out these other hidden areas online to get more coupons!!
- Clorox Coupons: Sign up to print coupons in the Clorox family, including Greenworks, Glad, etc.
- Kraft Canada: Sign up and receive recipes and coupons by email
- MySavings.com Printable Smart Source Coupons
- Walmart Canada Printable Coupons
- Proctor and Gamble PandG Sign up for printable coupons
Grocery Game Challenge 2016 FAQ’
- When does the Grocery Game close each month?: The Grocery Game Challenge closes at midnight on 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.
- Does your Grocery Budget include health, beauty, and laundry products?: No, our Grocery Budget includes shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap, etc.
- Best Coupon Apps: Coupons are slowly fading, with mobile coupon apps being the biggest rave. Just recently, the popular coupon site Save.ca, which mailed coupons to households, has gotten involved with adding a new mobile Save.ca app, joining forces with the many other coupon apps available.
- What is the Best Flyer App- We use Flipp on our iPhone, so if you want to have all your flyers in one spot, download Flipp from the Apple Store or get it on Google Play.
If you’ve just joined The Grocery Game Challenge 2016, get ready to look at your grocery budget by learning.
If you want to learn everything I know about grocery shopping in Canada check out my Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide!
You’ve decided to take control of your grocery budget.
Now show me your shops, and let’s get started!
Welcome to The Grocery Game Challenge 2016!
Mar 11 – 17, 2016
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points = 600
Total Out Of Pocket: $33.16 (including stockpile)
Human
5 Minute Maid Frozen Fruit Punch = 5/$3.00
2 kg Lantica White Sugar – $3.89 (PM No Frills @ $1.47) = $1.47
1 kg Lantica Brown Sugar – $2.27 (PM No Frils @ $1.97) = $1.97
2.24 Kg NN Oats – $4.98
454 g Tender Flake Shortening – $2.69 (PM No Frills @ $1.97) = $1.97
130 g Pam – $4.29 (PM No Frills @ $2.97) = $2.97
Oatmeal Crisp – $4.97 (PM Sobeys @ $2.99) = $2.99
Lucky Charms = $2.88
Eggs – $2.78 (PM Shoppers Drug Mart @ $2.49) = $2.49
Bananas – 2.215 kg (600 PC Points) = $3.28
2 – 10 Tortilla = $5.16
Name Your Store: Food Basics
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $2.90
Human
1 lb Selection Butter = $2.90
Name Your Store: Sobeys
Total Coupons Used: $0
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $3.00 (Stockpile)
Human
4 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup – 4/$3.00 = $3.00
Cats
No shop
Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the 2 Adults ($1890.00, for the pay period – $70.00)
Total Human (Adults) this Week Period: $19.70
Over/Under this week:
Left for the Month: $70.96
Total Human (Adults) to Date: $362.08
Total Grocery Budget for the 3 Cats ($364, for the pay period – $14.00)
Total Cats this Week Period: $
Over/Under this week:
Left for the Month: $28.00
Total Cats to Date: $82.46
Total Grocery Budget for Stockpile ($520)
Total Stockpile this Week Period: $19.36
Total Stockpile to Date: $73.37
Total Grocery Budget for the Personal Hygiene ($182)
Total Personal Hygiene this Week Period: $
Total Personal Hygiene to Date: $91.36
Total Grocery Budget for Wholesale Meat ($500.00)
Total Wholesale Meat this Week Period: $
Total Wholesale Meat to Date: $96.97
Total Grocery Budget for Canning Produce ($400.00)
Total Canning Produce this Week Period: $0
Total Canning Produce to Date: $0.00
Total Coupons Used this Week Period: $
Total Coupons Used To Date: $4.00
Total Discounts/SCOP this Week Period: $
Total Discounts/SCOP to Date: $4.09
Total Checkout 51 rebates this Week Period: $0
Total Checkout 51 rebates to Date: $10.00
Total Snap rebates this Week Period: $0.00
Total Snap rebates to Date: $1.00
Total Price Match for this Week Period: $7.03
Total Price Match to Date: $68.96
Total PC Points Received this Week Period: 600
Total PC Rewards Points Used this Week Period: 0
Total PC Rewards To Date: 29670
Overview: I’m slowly making a dent in the overage. Most of what was needed is the staples which is hard to ignore but I lucked out and picked quite many of them on sale.
Hey Dee,
You picked up some of the same deals we did this week too. I agree it was more about stocking up on staples this week. The sugar is a great deal. Will you be baking now that you are stocked up on ingredients? 🙂 You get ballot 10. Have a great week Dee. Mr.CBB
I leave the baking to my daughter even though I do bake some. Starting this Saturday, I’m back at the market so my weekends will be limited as to what I do around the house.
We might make a trip to check out the market this year. What are the hours of the St. Jaccob’s Market and what days are best to go?
From mid-June to end of August, there are 3 days (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The rest of the year it’s open Thursday and Saturday. The hours are:
Tuesday – 8:00 – 3:00
Thursday – 7:00 – 3:30
Saturday – 7:00 – 3:30
As far as the best day, we’ll Saturday will have all the outdoor vendors but can be very busy. Tuesday is the best day to see the products but not all the outdoor vendors are there. Thursday is right in the middle for how busy it is but again not all outdoor vendors are there.
All the indoor vendors are there year round. I can’t say what the best day is for you because it depends on how much you want to experience and want to see. If you want to see all that it offers, I would say Saturdays. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds, then Tuesdays or Thursdays would be better.
Thanks for the info for the St. Jacobs market Dee. I want the full on experience with a toddler lol… I’m guessing we may come during the week then. I’m looking forward to going.
I’ve always found Price Chopper to be significantly less than Zehrs/A&P/Sobeys.
My tip though it to buy some items at Costco, where you will find prices on many items that cannot be touched by any traditional grocery store. Some items you must buy in bulk, however other items like Milk, cream, and bread are just plain less expensive.
Costco is awesome for so many reasons, but what first attracts one to the store is the food prices.
We’ve been going to the store closest to us more lately out of convenience even though it’s a little bit more expensive on some items. With twin toddlers though we just have to take what we can get sometimes.
About 14 years ago, I changed grocery stores from Zehrs to No Frills (back when I shopped only one store.) I saw an immediate decrease in my bill of $50 per week. I wondered if it was due to not having all those specialty items in my cart!
Two years ago I visited No Frills exclusively and didn’t find the need to go anywhere else. I was happy with my experience.
Today, I go to No Frills first, but I’ve added other stores to my shopping experience. I’m more aware of prices, and balance sales with quality and variety. My other favourite stores are Shoppers, Giant Tiger, Walmart. Occasionally, I visit Zehrs, Metro, Food Basics and Foodland for items not available at the first stores.
It’s a lot to do, and I drive to each location; but I’ve learned to do the in and out. In with the list, out with what I need. No Frills here doesn’t price match stores other than other local grocery stores, and sometimes they don’t have the same product in stock, such as stewing beef and ground beef/pork. If I want to cut down the stops, it’s No Frills then Walmart (who price match everyone, even out of town retailers.)
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults 6000
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $ 500
Grocery Shop This Week
Nofrills
• old cheddar – 9.47
• 2 L Milk- 3.47
• PC pasta sauce -2 X 3.19
• Bananas- 2.63
• Organic Arugula – 3.97
• Spinach- 2.47
• Italian sausage- 6.00
• Frozen peas- 1.97
• Frozen Butternut squash- 2.47
• Rice- 3.97
• Oats- 2 X 1.99
• PC Coffee- 11.97
• Barilla Pasta- 3 X .97
• PC Orange juice- 2.97
• Butter 4 X 2.97
• Frozen broccoli and cauliflower- 2.49
• Oranges- 3.97
• Grapefruits – 4 X .50
• Sourdough bread- 1.99
• Rye bread- 2 X 1.77
GROCERY SHOP THIS WEEK (add any other sections you need to show expenses and savings)
• Total coupons used this week: N/A
• Total coupons used to date: $14.75
• Total in-store discounts this week: N/A
• Total in-store discounts to date: $220.91
• Total spent this week: $ 92.74
• Total spent so far this month: 291.19
• Total under spend for the year: 145.15!
• Total left to spend for the month: $ 208.81
• Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include pet foods, paper or personal) Jan $1036.97
• Total Airmiles this week = NA
• PC Points this week= 1800
• Checkout 51 this week= NA
• Shoppers Optimum this week= NA
• Weekly Overview : Good PC points deal this week! Butter was a great price, my store was out of the sale butter so I asked if they would substitute the No name butter for the same price, they did, and I got PC points for the No name brand! I also received PC points for my favorite 4 cheese PC pasta sauce. Pasta was a good price too.
My meal planning consists of me making a list of meals based on what I have in the freezer and pantry. Then as I make the meals I cross them off the list.
So we had : Vegetarian Tomato sauce with pasta with Garlic bread and salad, Chicken, chickpea, spinach curry and rice, Macaroni and cheese and spinach salad, Salsa crock pot chicken and rice, with broccoli, Vegetarian chili, ham & mushroom quiche and salad, Chinese fried rice and oriental salad. I also made banana bread and coconut oatmeal cookies.
So For next week I have a choice of- curried chicken and rice, spaghetti, macaroni, Lentil soup, sausage and peroghies, Chicken stirfry, Arugula and bean salad + potato salad.
Hi Rose,
I never thought to ask if they would substitute the butter instead of getting a rain check. That’s a good tip. Do you buy dry chickpeas? We do and hydrate them in the crockpot. I like how you meal plan with what you have in the freezer. Your coconut oatmeal cookies sound great. Do you just add coconut to a basic oatmeal cookie? I’d like to try making tthem one day. Well done this week. You’re doing awesome!! PC Points are awesome! 🙂 You get ballot 11 Mr.CBB
Because of time restraints I try and stick to one grocery shop per week. I alternate between No Frills and Safeway per week. Safeway can have very good prices when you focus on specials combined with their on line deals. I also prefer their meats and produce.
I often say shop where you are most comfortable with the price and product quality.
I am a coupon user and this has helped me in lessening the grocery expenses. Thanks for sharing the link for free coupons. Yay! The most products are what I buy.
Week 2 – March 13 – 19
• Grocery budget to work with in March: $200
• Total coupons used this week: $0
• Total coupons used to date: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used this week: $0
• Total RCSS gas coupons used to date: $7.20
• Total Giant Tiger Enviro bag credit this week: $0
• Total Giant Tiger Enviro bag credit to date: $0.09
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed this week: $0
• Total value PC Plus points redeemed to date: $40
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used this week: $0
• Total gift cards/certificates/gifts used to date: $25
• Total Neilsen Homescan Visa rebate cards used this week: $0
• Total Neilsen Homescan Visa rebate cards used to date: $15
• Total student discounts this week: $3.07
• Total student discounts to date: $19.03
• Total tax savings RCSS this week: $0
• Total tax savings RCSS to date: $0
• Total spent this week: $46.50
• Total spent so far this month: $64.85
• Total left to spend for the month: $100
• Carry over: $0
• Total in carry over jar: $0
• Total overspent to make up in future months: $47.10
• Total Spent To Date 2015: $597.10
RCSS: Black forest ham 2 x 5.98: Total paid 11.95 rounded down 1 cent
Shoppers: Milk 1 x 4.27: Total paid 4.25 rounded down 2 cents
Giant Tiger: Potatoes 10 lb 1 x 2.97: 2.95 rounded down 2 cents
RCSS: Eggs 1 x 2.49 (PM), PC frozen blueberries 2 x 2.97 (PM), Highliner fish 3.97 (PM), Mandarins 3.98, grapes 2.30 (PM), celery 1.49 (PM), bananas 1.75, English cucumber .87 (PM), grape tomatoes pint 1.77 (PM), Schneiders reduced salt bacon 2 x 2.50, pitas .88 (PM), less student discount 3.07: Total paid 27.35 rounded down 2 cents
A bigger week than we have had in a while, but we needed plenty and some great deals. We haven’t had ham in so long, this will be lovely, it was half price and the perfect size for us. Lots of fresh stuff and price matches. We also were out of bacon and it’s nice to have two packages again.
We didn’t spend 3.50 this week and that comes off of the overspend we are still working on eliminating. Step by step we are getting there.
However, as the week has gone on, we didn’t have enough fresh foods. Kiddo was looking for more bananas by Friday and the mandarins were gone very quickly. Tomatoes and grapes were used in lunches and gone quickly. Oh well, hopefully I will target it better this coming week. Getting apples will be a big help if I can. Since we were out of apples, everyone was reaching for bananas quicker.
Hi Angela,
Our son loves ham but it can be pricey at times… so when a deal comes up grab it for sure. You got a great deal on the bacon. My wife would have been over the moon if she saw that price. Do you find one week you may pile through the veg/fruit and then you buy more the next and it goes slower? We find that happens sometimes even if we meal plan. Do you pick apples at the orchard in the summer? They last long if you keep them in a cold, dry space. Great shop.. and deals. You get ballot 13. Mr.CBB
GCC 14/03/16
Total Yearly Food Budget for one adult (combined Grocery and Stockpile Budgets): $1200.00
Yearly Grocery Budget: $720.00
Monthly Grocery Budget 2016: $60.00 ($15.00/wk/4wk month or $12.00/week/5wk month)
Total Carried Over From Last Month: $11.91
Total Spent This Month Previous To This Shop: $0.00
Total spent this week: $14.52 (under $0.48)
Total spent so far this month: $25.83
Total left to spend for the month: $11.91+ ($15 – 11.37) + ($15-14.52) + $30 = $40.06
Total Grocery Budget Spent To Date 2016: (Jan $75.68) (Feb $52.41)
Yearly Stockpile Budget: $480.00
Monthly Stockpile Budget 2016: $40.00
Total carried over from last month: – $1.11
Total Spent this week: $5.88
Total spent so far this month: $36.65
Total left to spend for the month: -$1.11 – $36.65 + $40 = $2.24
Total Stockpile Budget used to date: (Jan $21.10) (Feb $39.99)
This weeks shop
Food Basics
$1.33 Bananas
Loblaws
$5.88 Maple Leaf ham (800g)
Herb and Spice
$1.35 Samosa
Metro
$3.98 All Bran cereal (2 x $2.99 – 2 x $1.00 coupons) ($1.50 claimed from Checkout51)
Farm Boy
$0.99 Lettuce
Independent Grocer
$5.35 Bulls Eye barbecue sauce (6 x $0.99 – 10% student discount) (stockpile)
$0.89 Kraft Miracle Whip ($0.99 – 10% SD)
Comments
Really trying to concentrate on using fresh and frozen things up. Going to need space in the fridge and freezer for entertaining my extended family of 12 for Easter.
Hi Mimsie,
You’re amazing that you can walk in a store and buy one item. I struggle with this because the marketing talks to me the minute I walk through the grocery store doors. We’re also working on getting through the freezer. What will you be serving for Easter? We won’t be celebrating this year as there is no where to go. Sweet deal on the All Bran cereal. Great shopping this week. Self-control.. is good! You get ballot #14 Mr.CBB
MARCH – Week #2 of 4- March 14-20, 2016
2016 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:
This is my favorite holiday of the year…St. Patrick’s Day! And celebrate with lots of wonderful dishes we will! I just need an excuse for all things potato, corned beef and cabbage. 🙂
This is hubby’s first grocery shop in the US for 2016. Most of what he went for was vitamins and medications so the groceries are less than usual.
=========================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
RCSS – Pitt Meadows –
1 x 12-pack Kaiser Buns $2
Total Regular Grocery OOP: $2.00
Total Re-Stocking Grocery OOP: $0.00
** Earned 0 PC.Plus Points on this shop **
** USED $0.00 in Rain Check/ Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
—————————————————————
Safeway – Maple Ridge –
1 x Hot Cross Buns (12’s) $2.99 – hubby’s Easter treat!
Total Regular Grocery OOP: $2.99
Total Re-Stocking Grocery OOP: $0.00
** Earned 0 Air Miles on this shop **
** USED $0.00 in Rain Check/ Coupons **
** SAVED $1.70 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
=========================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Walmart:
1 Hormel Pepperoni = $2.98
1 x 4.5 lb Corned Beef = $8.30
1 x 4.5 lb Corned Beef = $8.45
14 Yogurt @ $0.58 ea = $8.12
1 Apple slices – large = $4.98
• US Grocery OOP: $32.83
—————————————————————–
Costco:
2 x 2-pack lemon juice @ $5.79 ea = $11.58
2 x 4lb butter @9.49 ea = $18.98
• US Grocery OOP: $30.56
—————————————————————–
Fred Myers:
9 multigrain English muffins – 6 pack @ $1 ea = $9.00
1 sourdough English muffins – 6 pack @ $1 = $1.00
8 Kroeger’s Dry Roasted Lightly Salted Peanuts @ 2 for $5 = $20.00
2 Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer @ $2.50 ea = $5.00
• US Grocery OOP: $35.00
—————————————————————–
Franz Bakery Outlet
6 Loaves WW Bread $6.19
• US Grocery OOP: $6.19
=========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $36.76 + Feb $160.96 + Mar $20.60 = $218.32
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $20.46+ Mar $1.00= $21.46
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 + Mar $0.00 = $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 10 + Feb 182 + Mar $0.00= 192 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 6 + Feb 43 +Mar 182= 231 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 1800 + Feb 5000 +Mar 5200 = 12,000 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 0= 0 Points
=========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $196.78 + Feb $193.74 + Mar ($25.48+$15.00+$45.00+$43.39+$25.55+$2.00+$2.99 = $159.41) = $549.93
•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: $20.07 AVAILABLE
=========================================================================================
2016 POINTS REDEEMED RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $4.69+ Feb $5.19+ Mar $0.00= $9.88
=========================================================================================
2016 US GROCERY RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $45.00+Feb $45.00+ Mar ($45.00-$104.58)= $30.42
=========================================================================================
2016 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $217.50+Jan -$49.65 + Feb -$140.69 + Mar $25.48 = $52.64
=========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $81.51+Jan $15.00 + Feb $11.61 +$15.00= $123.12
=========================================================================================
2016 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $100.00+ $537.50 Trf from Borscht Fund+Jan $15.00 + Feb $11.61+ Mar$0.00= $664.11
=========================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 570.00 Grocery Budget JAN-MAR
$ 9.88 Redeemed Points to Purchase
Groceries
($ 123.70) ADDITION TO: Misc Reserves
(Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
$ 220.34 REDUCTION TO: Misc Reserves
(Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
($ 30.42) Trf to US Grocery Reserve
($ 9.88) Set in reserve to offset
Redeemed Points
($ 616.15) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 20.07 AVAILABLE Y-T-D SPENDING
• VALUE POINTS REDEEMED Y-T-D:
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – JAN
$ 5.19 Whole Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – FEB
$ 9.88 Total $ Value of Points Redeemed
THE VALUE will be added month to month to our Holiday Reserve for next Christmas.
So far $570.00 has been budgeted Y-T-D for 2016 and we have recorded $268.58 of these funds as “spent” and in fact they have been “saved”:
$ 52.64 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$123.12 Holiday Season Fund
$664.11 Summer Season Fund
$ 30.42 US Shopping Reserve
$ 9.88 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $880.17. This means the $936.51 that we carried forward from 2015 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $268.58 that we have added in 2016, LESS $324.92 that we have drawn out for use in 2016.
=========================================================================================
The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Safeway:
2 Pork Loin Roasts @ $3.88/lb – Good until April 28/16
4 Ground Beef @ $3.88/lb – Good until April 28/16
2 Whole Fryer Chickens @ $1.99/lb – Good until May 4/16
12 Motts Clamato Juice 945-960 ml @ $1.00 ea – Good until May 6/16
12 Motts Clamato Juice 945-960 ml @ $1.00 ea – Good until May 8/16
2 dozen Compliments Large eggs @ $1.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
2 dozen Compliments Large eggs @ $1.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
———————————————————————————————-
Thrifty Foods:
6 Island Bakery WW Bread @ $1.00 per loaf – Good until April 22/16
6 Island Bakery WW Bread @ $1.00 per loaf – Good until April 25/16
1 x 2-pack BC Fresh Whole Fryer Chickens @ $2.49/lb – Good until April 27/16
1 x 2-pack BC Fresh Whole Fryer Chickens @ $2.49/lb – Good until April 27/16
2 x 3-packs Romaine Hearts @ $2.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
2 x 3-packs Romaine Hearts @ $2.50 ea – Good until May 16/16
=========================================================================================
This week’s BREAKFAST menu plan:
HUBBY: Earl Grey Tea with Lemon Juice + Croissants with fat free cream cheese spread, peanut butter or Cheez Whiz OR Rice Krispies cereal with skim milk
MYSELF: Tetley Tea with Skim Milk & Equal + yogurt, apples, bananas or hard boiled eggs
=========================================================================================
This week’s LUNCH menu plan:
MON: Tuna Salad Sandwiches with Apple-Bacon-Tomato Soup
TUES: Imitation Crab Wraps with Apple-Bacon-Tomato Soup
WED: Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, Tater Tots and thermos of Chocolate Milk
THURS: Egg Salad Sandwiches with Apple-Bacon-Tomato Soup with Wheat Thin Crackers
FRI: Ham Salad Wraps, Bread and Butter Pickles and Apple-Bacon-Tomato Soup
SAT: Caesar Salad
SUN: Mary at home having Leftover Creamy Tomato Soup / Larry in the US having lunch out
=========================================================================================
This week’s DINNER menu plan:
MON: Greek Salad on a bed of mixed greens + a side of tater tots lightly seasoned
TUES: Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup with roast beef sandwiches
WED: Corned Beef Sandwiches with Steak Fries
THURS (St. Patrick’s Day): Corned Beef Sandwiches with Green Salad
FRI: Hamburger patties with mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus
SAT: Creamy Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread
SUN: Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetable Rice Bowl
=========================================================================================
Hi Mary,
Your menu plan looks awesome this week. I like Tues and Wed for sure. I don’t what it is but I don’t often eat sandwiches but when I start I crave them. WOW your rain check stash is huge!!! Your US Shop is great especially the corned beef. You wouldn’t find those prices in Canada. I also noticed the price of yogurt is cheaper as well. Are they larger cups than in Canada? The lemon juice you picked up at Costco are they the large bottles? If so that’s a great deal. I’ve never tried sour dough english muffins before but they sure do sound good. Awesome shopping this week and your meal plan always makes me drool. Love the variety. You get ballot #15 Mr.CBB
The yogurts are the single serve size but flavors we don’t get here in Canada. The lemon juice is almost twice the size of the Costco 2-packs here in Canada and a really good deal but more important…it will last until hubby’s next US shop. The corned beef is always really cheap in the US the weekend following St. Patrick’s Day. By getting two briskets, we have one for 6 months from now and one for next St. Patrick’s Day at a cheap price. Then we’ll re-stock again next year. 🙂
Turkeys and hams are super cheap this week here at home but I have no room in either the fridge or the freezers so we’ll be making non-traditional dishes for Easter this year. I do have about 8 half hams in the deep freeze though so it’s not like we don’t have ham…just no turkey at the moment. We’ll catch the next big Walmart sale. Maybe we’ll do turkey for Thanksgiving? 🙂
Our weekly budget is $125 a week making this month $625
Walmart
$5×4-$2Cx4 oliveri fresh pasta
$2.97 1lb strawberries
$1.12 sobe drink
.97 cucumber
$1.98 chocolate bunny – for my son for easter 😉
$2.97×9-$2.50Cx9 maple leaf bacon
$2.97×3-fpc wub3sch/ml ready crisp bacon
$23.40 total oop
$39.41 total coupons
H&W Produce
.43 tomato
$1.99 grape tomatoes
$1.19 iceburg lettuce
$5.68, $4.21 asstd coloured peppers
$13.50 total oop
Save on foods
$1×2 cake mix
$2 total oop
Superstore
$1.50 bananas
No frills
$4.97 10kg bag four
$4.95 total oop
Co-op
.89×3 doughnuts
.59×6 cheese bagels
$2 blackberries
$4.99-freew/theapp lucky charms
$8.35 total oop
$4.99 total coupons coupons
Sobeys
$149 chips
$3.29 dip -hubbys treat
$2.33×3 2L homo milk
$4.99 key lime sherbet
$4.99 strawberry ice cream
$1.89×2 bread
$3.79×2-$1Cx2 greek yogurt
$7.26, $7.21 chicken breasts – clearance
$99.35 weekly total oop
$46.40 weekly total coupons
$324 monthly total oop
$459.45 monthly total coupons
Great week on stocking up on clearance chicken breasts again.
Also peppers were $1.88lb!!!! Sliced them all up and got them into 2 lg freezer bags!
Ice cream was for my girls bday cake 🙂
Bacon stash in the freezer is awesome!! Some people have 50-200 that they have gotten for free or .50C a pack!
Hi Juanita,
Get out of town.. where did you get the maple leaf coupons? That’s insane the savings. I never find coupons like that here. People got that many free? Whatttt!! We’re jealous of that one. What a brilliant shop this week. How long do you prep for your grocery shop every week with coupons? You get ballot 17 MR.CBB
Hey Mr.CBB
My Maple leaf/Scheinder rep at work gave me a bunch of coupons that go on the packaging that people were quote unquote stealing. He told me to make sure take a bunch for myself and anyone else in the dept that wanted them. A lovely perk of work! The price of bacon is going up .50c-$1 per package May 1 so better stock up now if you see a great sale.
I have a tonne of coupons in my wallet that are my go to or my want to use while shopping if I see a great deal. So some are always in there good to go and sometimes I carry a few extras in my purse. I probably spend 30 minutes to an hour every week looking at flyers, writing my wish list and prepping coupons- not too bad when it really pays off.
I do wish I had more space to organise all my coupons instead of the dining room table that we eat at so I am always moving things around.
Thanks for the heads up about the bacon. It’s already pricey as it is and 375g doesn’t go too far as opposed to the 500G packs. PC still carries 500g. Awesome you get coupons!! I think I saw that peelie on the pre-cooked bacon?
Hey Mr.CBB
Yes the peelies are on the maple leaf ready crisp bacon and prime stuffed chicken breasts
The maple leaf rep told me last week they will be running another coupon promo soon of buy2get1free to help ease the rise in bacon prices.
Juanita
Yearly Grocery Budget For 2016: $8,400 (5 people)
Points Overview:
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $700
Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs: $700
Total Gift Cards used to date: $93.18
Total Rewards Points used to date: $30.00
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 17,000 + 35,444 (MC)
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date: $1.00
Grocery Shop This Week: March 11 – 17, 2016
Superstore
Robin Hood Large Flake Oats $3.29
4L Spring Water $1.49 + .10 deposit = $1.59
Lime Juice $3.49
Fresh Garlic 3 for $0.99
Sandwich Bread 4 x $3.69 – (50%) = $7.36
Rice Vinegar $3.29
Excel Gum 2 x $3.00 = $6.00 (8 packs)
Danone Greek Yogurt $5.49 – (50%) = $2.74
Sub Buns $3.69 – (50%) = $1.84
Hamburger Buns $4.29 – (50%) = $2.14
Lay’s BBQ $3.49 (FREE)
Ruffles All-Dressed $3.79 (FREE)
Smartfood Popcorn $2.99 (FREE)
Pepsi $10.97 + $2.20 deposit = $13.17 (FREE)
Can Corn 4 x $1.25 = $5.00
Christie Crackers 5 x $1.88 = $9.40
Vermicelli Rice Noodles $2.49
3lbs. Carrots $2.99
Green Onion $0.99
Bean Sprouts $1.99
4pc. Chicken Tenders $5.07
Total Out-of-Pocket: $ 61.44
Costco
4L Milk 2 x $6.35 = $12.70
Cottage Cheese $2.99
2L Choc. Milk $3.56
Sandwich Bread $7.49 (3 loaves)
10lbs. Oranges $10.99
Blackberries $3.49
Blueberries $5.99
Cooking Spray (2) $6.99
Real Lemon Juice (2) $4.69
6lb. Bananas $3.98
Cucumbers (6) $5.98
Walnuts $18.99
Cranberry Juice (2) $4.99 + .20 deposit = $5.19
Pita (3pk) $3.89
Total Out-of-Pocket: $ 138.49
Sobeys
OXO Cubes $2.99
BBQ Sauce 2 x $1.50 = $3.00
Total Out-of-Pocket $5.99
Wal-Mart
Peanuts $5.00
Kraft Cheese 2 x $4.47 = $8.94
Green Pepper $1.11
Lemon $0.67
Green Gapes $6.67
Chocolate Raisins $3.00
Kale 2 x $3.47 = $6.94
3lbs. Red Onion $3.97
Cilantro $1.47
Celery 2 x $1.97 = $3.94
3lbs. Granny Smith Apples $5.97
Avacados $3.97 (5pk)
Sweet Potato $3.22
Total Out-of-Pocket $55.91
Total to spend this month: $700
Total coupons used this week: $ 26.20
Total coupons used to date: $62.98
Total in-store discounts this week: $ 17.63
Total in-store discounts to date: $210.62
Total spent this week: $ 261.83
Total spent so far this month: $ 441.33
Total over/Under spend this shop: OVER $86.83
Total over/Under spend for the month: OVER $91.33
Total left to spend for the month: $258.67
Total Spent To Date 2016: Jan $706.52 + Feb $816.19
Weekly Overview:
Getting ready for our trip to Cole Harbour this weekend. I baked 2 batches of muffins, banana bread, Rice Krispie Squares. I made popcorn chicken bowls, hamburgers, veggie burgers, huge veggie lentil soup, batch of pinto beans, quinoa burgers, pad thai & granola..We also had fresh fruit & veggie juices/smoothies.
Hi Lori-Lynn,
You picked up some great deals this week especially 50% off bread and yogurt. Were the free coupons from the Superbowl promo? How do you make your veggie burgers? Your trip is going to be filled with some awesome food. I love reading about people going away and preparing their meals. This is just great. You get ballot 19. Mr.CBB
Hi Mr. CBB,
Yes, the coupons were from the Superbowl Promo. Our veggie burgers are Squash Chickpea Kale Veggie Burgers. They are a little time consuming to make but worth the effort! I make a double batch and freeze them. I didn’t bring much food for meals with us on our trip. I brought the snacks and we ate out for our meals.
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults and 2 cats -$7800.00
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $300/year or $25/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: $30.00
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 26200
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP)to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
Zweet to cash out : $3.75($25.75)
Checkout51 to cash out : $12.75($25.50)
Grocery Shop This Week
Foodland #1
1 jug water -5.49
4 cans pasta sauce @4/5.00
2 Chez Whiz @3.99
2 Cheerios @2.99
1 kg brown sugar -1.79, 50% AM discount, .90
12 cans soup @2/1.00, 4 tomato, 4 chicken noodle and 4 veggie
2 4l milk @4.88
1 Natrel butter -3.99
1 yogurt -3.49
2 frozen fries @2.00
Bananas -.74
1 pack bacon -3.99, AM discount -50% -2.00
1 Apple onion sausage -3.84, discount -1.15
1 grated Parmesan cheese -4.40
1 W/W bread -3.29
Total OOP -$65.69, 4.73 discounts
Foodland #2
1 jug water -5.49
2 Chez Whiz @3.99
1 Cheerios -2.99
1 plum sauce -2.98
4 pasta sauce @4/5.00
2 1kg icing sugar @1.79
12 cans soup @2/1.00, 4 Tomato, 4 chicken noodle, 4 veggie
2 4l milk @4.88
1lb Natrel butter -3.99
Bananas -1.86
2 packs bacon @3.99, 2X$2.50 coupons
1 garlic bread -2.29, 50% discount-1.15
Total OOP -$53.75, $5.00 coupons, $1.15 discount
Guardian Drugs
1 Olay body wash -3.99
Total OOP -$3.99, Stock Pile
Total to spend this month $650.00
Stockpile budget 2016 -$25.00
Stockpile budget used this month: $8.99
Total coupons used this week: $5.00
Total coupons used to date: $16.00
Total in-store discounts this week:$5.20
Total in-store discounts to date: $62.72
Total spent this week: $119.44
Total spent so far this month: $218.20
Total over/Under spend this shop: under
Total over/Under spend for the month: $ under
Total left to spend for the month: $431.80
Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $579.69+ Feb $628.96+ March $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts) I came in under but still managed a few stock ups. I am good for body wash but it was on sale and there was a grocery rebate for it too! The bacon was on sale so I scored there with an Air Miles discount for 50% on one but I had a couple of sweet coupons from Juanita so I got 3 packs for less than $2.99 each!! All 3 packs are in the freezer right now waiting for the right time to have them. I foresee happy boys and hubby soon!!
Hey Christine,
What do you make with Cheese Whiz? We have a jar we got free from a testing company but don’t know what to use it for. I know people put it on celery. That was nice of Juanita to send you the coupons for the bacon. I’m sure the boys will be very happy. Everyone loves bacon and it’s costly these days. Great shop… You get ballot #23 Mr.CBB
The Cheeze Whiz gets added to KD here to make it cheesier and the boys like it on baked potatoes. I’m not that big a fan of it, too salty, but I get outvoted so I buy on sale.
Smart thinking…. I would never have thought to do that!!
When I was a kid I loved a school lunch sandwich of cheese whiz and bread and butter pickles. I haven’t bought it in years, but if it were in the house I know I’d be putting it on a saltine with a slice of pickle on top and enough of them would count as lunch. Just add a mug of home made soup if all that fake cheese is making you feel a little guilty…
While I agree the low end stores like food basics and no frill sell meat and produce at discounted prices, you should keep in mind that most of this is products that they are higher and parent companies do not want I have found that a head of lettuce bought from no-frills will be back in a week while the same head of lettuce book from metro or Sobey’s or Longos stays fresh considerably longer so really miss you eat it fast you’re not saving any money because it’s going to be garbage
You forgot Super C under Metro Revisions. It’s the equivalent of Food Basics in Quebec. Also, instead of Air Miles you have the Metro & Moi program in Quebec.
I meant Divisions, not revisions.
OMG! I spend more in a month than all of you do in a year! Mind you I’m fussy about buying organic and eat a LOT more meat than you guys. Any tips for a long haul truck driver? I have to shop where ever it’s convenient to park the rig, and I can only get small items because of storage space limits. Thanks for enlightening me on how foolish I’m being, I guess I’ll get the shopping guide.
The SuperStore asked me to comment on how I felt about shopping at the SuperStore (SS).
Some day people will realize your real motivation for pushing pick-up or delivery, its got nothing to do with “customer service”, talk about turning the wolves loose in the grocery cart. The majority of your prices are ridiculous, and obvious gouging. I used to do the bulk of my shopping at the SS, now WM (better but not great) is where I do the majority of my food shopping, I only go to the SS for a few specific items or sale items. The idea of trusting you to pick my groceries is hilarious, I wouldn’t trust you to pick a sunny day over a rainy day. You must own “BrandSpark”, nobody believes your fantasy claim of being the most trusted grocery store, well maybe in North Korea. Should you put in place a store brand character, for accuracy make it a “weasel”.