Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
Discover how to avoid overpriced items while grocery shopping. Don’t let temptation get the best of you, and stick to your budget.
https://canadianbudgetbinder.com/2016/01/12/calculate-monthly-grocery-costs
Overpriced Products Swallow Your Grocery Budget
We rarely go grocery shopping and consider buying a BBQ for the steaks we bought on sale from the meat department.
Some consumers purchase electronics, outdoor gear, toys, and anything else at a grocery store, most often because it’s there.
The biggest scam is when a consumer sees an overinflated price that is reduced, believing it’s a great deal.
Often, a buyer gives in to an overpriced product that can be bought for less somewhere else.
If you carry a mobile phone, this is the time you want to know what other stores charge for an item you might want to buy.
Triggers That Motivate You To Spend More
If you go grocery shopping when you’re hungry, they say you will spend more money.
If your mind wanders while you shop, you will spend more money.
Always handcuff yourself to your grocery list to keep costs low.
Most grocery stores stock everything and anything they can to bring in profits.
Stick to the perimeter when shopping if possible, but even this area is filled with marketing ploys.
I remember a Super Bowl display offering buns in the meat department.
On the bunkers were aluminum grilling pans, aprons, BBQ utensils, ketchup, mustard, relish, and a BBQ with a price tag.
Fall into that trap, and you’ll see your budget soar.
Shopping At One Store Is Costly
One-stop shopping has become a big deal for shoppers who don’t mind if the products are over-priced because they don’t have the time to shop around or go directly to the source.
It’s easier for someone to convince themselves to pay a few bucks extra for a product just because they are already shopping in the store.
Some grocery stores in Ontario are already stocking beer and ramping up their wine shops to keep the customers shopping.
Again, these are filler products to draw customers in the door. I’ll stick to the LCBO and Beer store to buy my beer unless the beer store begins to sell meat and produce. Ha!
Not all customers want to buy it all in one store.
Plenty of smaller businesses offer great deals and are specific, which means you’ll find better deals because they specialize in buying in bulk.
You wouldn’t wander into Sobey’s looking for cedar planks to finish your deck, would you? It would be not likely and just as mind-boggling as it would be if Home Depot were to add an in-store bakery to lure customers.
Oh, wait, almost all Home Depot stores have Subway. I see there is a marketing ploy everywhere!
Overpriced Yet Convenient Grocery Products
The grocery stores I will be talking about today are actual grocery stores, not stores such as Walmart, which I consider a department store that added a grocery section.
Do you remember when Zellers was around, and they started to add aisle after aisle of grocery products and a refrigerated section?
Despite not offering fresh foods, they were becoming the smaller version of Walmart to keep up with the competition.
It was a store filler or way to make money from over-priced products to balance out the deals offered in the weekly flyers or on products they must reduce to move them out of the store.
It is a balancing game to keep the store budget level.
Have you fallen prey to buying overpriced products at the grocery store?
Probably, we all have. Sticking to the list is the key to avoiding spending more money than you should be while grocery shopping.
Don’t buy it if it’s not on your grocery list.
If you needed it that bad, you would have put it on your grocery list, but you most likely didn’t think about it because the grocery store isn’t where you planned to buy it from.
If you find a smashing deal at the grocery store and know that you will save far more than any other store and need the item.
Don’t just buy stuff because you think about it and toss it in the grocery cart when you see it. You’re setting yourself up for some heavier grocery bills.
1. Clothing
Once in a while, when we are at Zehrs, we look around in the Joe Fresh clothing section for our son to see if there is anything reduced to 75% off that we could use for him to wear.
We’ve found hats, seasonal wear, and footwear on the odd occasion, but don’t expect it to last forever.
Related: Where can I sell my second-hand clothes?
I’m not a fan of cheaply made clothing because it just doesn’t feel comfortable, so my wife no longer buys me clothes for gifts.
I’d instead save up to buy a few lovely pieces and then buy lots of clothing that will fall apart quickly.
If you plan to resell any George or Joe Fresh clothing you buy at Walmart or Loblaws stores, be prepared to give it away practically.
Sadly, unless it is name-brand clothing, you won’t see much return unless it’s new or in mint condition.
You might as generously donate it to a family who could get more use out of it until it’s ready for dishcloths.
Related: Is buying second-hand clothes worth it?
If you aim for higher-quality clothing, you’re likely better off going to a second-hand shop, Winners, online shopping, or Facebook auctions for deals on name-brand clothing with higher resale value.
I don’t suggest shopping at the mall; however, you can still find fantastic clothing deals that will give you years of mixing and matching.
Shop for mall deals at the end of the season and special occasions.
Mrs. CBB could buy the end-of-season winter clothing for $5, each regular price of $40 in the mall.
2. Convenience Foods
Everyone knows that if you buy anything pre-made for you, you’re paying for the extra labor, whether to slice, bake, catch, etc.
Baked goods from the grocery store bakery, such as most often, can be made at home for a fraction of the cost.
Related: Homemade vs. Store-Bought: Which is Cheaper?
A container of 6 large bakery-style muffins at the grocery store will run you anywhere from $5.99-$6.99 full-price, but you could make them for far less at home.
If you’re looking for baked goods where you can’t recognize the ingredients or there are additives and preservatives to extend shelf life, you may pay less, but it won’t compare to homemade.
Another example is buying a whole ham and slicing it at home or buying overpriced pre-packaged deli meats and getting far less product.
If you can use a knife or own a deli slicer, you can save money by doing the work yourself. The same goes for cheese and pre-made salads.
3. Batteries
Once I became a dad, I realized that batteries were needed for almost everything.
Any toy that walks, talks, dances, poops, and droops will need batteries.
Whenever we are at the grocery store, I keep my eye open for battery deals; however, it’s scarce.
Buying batteries at the Dollar Store has been a massive saving for us because we get far more life from them or even equal to when compared to name brand batteries that are overpriced at the grocery store.
Buying batteries at the grocery store is one of those grocery store filler products that someone might run into late at night because they need it for whatever reason.
We have also had many rechargeable batteries, but it’s a pain to charge them, especially when you need as many as most parents do with young children.
Tell your crying child they must wait 4 hours for a battery charge.
You’d rather tear your hair out.
4. Office and School Supplies
There is a significant markup on office supplies at the grocery store because these products are meant to be purchased in an emergency.
Do you know when your dog ate your entire pencil case, and you cannot stock it up at the grocery store?
No one says, oh, let’s run to Zehrs to grab pencil crayons and lined paper for school.
You will see the Back to School marketing, where they offer lined paper for $0.35 a pack, but beyond that, you’ll pay.
Save your money and go to the Dollar Store or Staples, where office supplies are sold.
Even then, Staples can be pricey unless you stick with the deals.
The Dollar Store hasn’t let me down in all my years of education.
5. Books and Magazines
I recently posted about buying children’s books at Value Village, garage sales, Facebook auctions, and free sites, but it’s much cheaper.
If the game’s name for you is “New Release” or “Brand New,” be prepared to pay the money for them.
A simple trip to Chapters, Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and any grocery store that sells books or novels will show an astounding price tag on the back or inner cover.
You’re better off waiting and buying used or possibly joining a book club or hitting up the library, where it will cost you nothing for new releases.
I recently watched a video online that showed how many articles were in a magazine compared to advertisements.
I remember being shocked, but not really because a magazine is simply another tool to advertise to the masses with filler crap articles on how to lose 10 pounds in two days.
Save your overpriced book expenses by having a bit of patience.
6. Seasonal and Holiday Decorations
A grocery store was meant to sell food, but these days, you’ll find bits and bobs of products to reel you in to spend more money than you anticipated.
When a grocery store offers fantastic deals on grocery products, they often take a loss on the product, hence the name loss leaders.
They use this opportunity once you are in the grocery store to bombard you with tonnes of products that are overpriced and in your face, especially seasonal decor and holiday decorations.
These grocery stores know that life gets hectic for just about everyone, so if they can fill their store with items that fill in the blanks for shoppers, they might buy them even if they are overpriced.
Just tonight, we found Halloween decor at Value Village for $0.99, which cost $11.99 at Zehrs.
Come next week, when Halloween is over, you’ll see the prices of these products drop so low you must question just how much the product was overpriced to begin with.
If decorations and seasonal items are what you are after, go to the Dollar Store or second-hand shops, buy used items online, or attempt to look at big box stores like Walmart, Home Depot, or Canadian Tire.
Oddly, someone is selling something they no longer need for rock-bottom prices.
7. Greeting Cards
Call me frugal or whatever else you want, but you won’t catch me spending $5.99 on a greeting card at the grocery store, Carlton, or Hallmark Cards.
I’m a Dollar Store guy for greeting cards. You can always write what you want to say in them anyway.
Besides, most people toss them in the garbage a week after any special occasion, some even the day after.
It’s not worth it, so stick to the Dollar store for greeting cards or look at second-hand shops.
Even better, make a card yourself.
8. Kitchen Utensils
If you must stock up on kitchen utensils at the grocery store, please consider spending your money at the Dollar store.
You will find the same quality products at the Dollar Store as at the grocery store.
Stock up on baking supplies, spatulas, rolling pins, and all sorts of stuff for your kitchen for a buck or two or three, but still less than the grocery store.
Mrs.CBB received a multi-purpose Jamie Oliver peeler for Christmas, and it was great to begin with, but it soon broke after a few uses.
The plastic pieces holding the blades broke down the drain, and the expensive gift disappeared.
Our Dollar Store peeler is still going strong and doesn’t come with any headaches.
Alternatively, any second-hand shop is loaded with utensils; you can even find some high-end products if that’s what you’re looking for.
Canadian Tire and Bed Bath and Beyond often have great deals on kitchen products such as cutting boards, knives, and high-end utensils.
Shop specifically for products you want to last for a long time or that will not waste your time.
9. Household and Car Accessories
We’ve all made our way down the grocery store aisle that sells air fresheners, motor oil, car wax, masking tape, paint, light bulbs, tools, and items you’d typically find at a hardware store.
Do You Need It?
Unfortunately, consumers will pay more at the grocery store for these products, and I’ve rarely seen them go on sale.
However, the end of the season may be the right time to snag a deal at the grocery store for seasonal items.
This is because these aren’t products bought in bulk because you and I don’t add these to our grocery list; they are fillers and costly.
Unless you live in a small town with one grocery store and nothing for miles, you might buy any of these items at the grocery store, and you’ll pay for them all right.
When I posed this question to my Facebook fans, many said they would not buy any of the below.
- Alcohol
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Pre-made cookies
I’m sure there are tons of other over-priced grocery store fillers that motivate shoppers to spend money they hadn’t anticipated spending.
However, that’s where the determination to succeed with your grocery budget should kick in.
Don’t be swayed by the convenience; be lured by the best price.
Discussion Question: What products can you think of that are likely overpriced at the grocery store?
Leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear what you won’t buy at a grocery store because you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
October Grocery Game Challenge
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 where you’ll also find a link for the updated 2016 GGC schedule.
Please feel free to download, save, and even print the schedule so it’s handy.
October Grocery Game Posts
- 12 Practical Ways To Afford Expensive Food For Less
- Celebrate Oktoberfest with Cheap Crockpot Recipes
- 15 Valuable Grocery Store Services For Customer Retention
- 5 Supermarket Annoyances That Cause You to Spend More Money
Our Weekly Grocery Shop
Zehrs
- 2 x Sealtest Milk 2% $4.27
- 2 x Granulated Sugar Sale $1.50 each
- Beatrice Sour Cream $2.99-50%
- Olympic Coconut Yogurt Sale $3.99-50%
- Cauliflower $2.50
- Hot House Tomatoes $0.98
- Tre Stelle Pearl Bocconcini $7.00-50%
- Ricotta Cheese $6.79-50%
- Procuitto and Parmesan Tortellini $8.99-50%
- Bananas $1.35
Total Out-of-Pocket $31.27
Monthly Grocery Shop Update
- Total to spend this month: $235.00-$8.38 overage from September= $226.62
- Stockpile budget 2016: $25.00
- Stockpile budget used this month: $25.00
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $15.36
- Total in-store discounts this week:$14.90
- Total in-store discounts to date: $503.74
- Total spent this week: $31.27
- Total spent so far this month: $232.50
- Total over/Under spend this shop: over
- Total over/Under spend for the month: -$5.88
- Total left to spend for the month: $25.39-$31.27= -$5.88 over
- Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $252.95 + Feb $249.46 + March $211.11 + April $248.11 + May $279.07 + June $231.96 + July $244.40 + Aug $201.30+ Sept $238.12+ October $
Weekly Overview
We’re already over by $5.88 this month, so a no-shop week is a must next week, which is the 5th and final week of the October GGC.
We may end up dipping into our PC points and possibly some Shoppers Optimum points unless we can pull off a no-shop week next week.
The most we would need is milk, so fingers crossed that we can do this.
I’m sure there is enough food around the house to be eaten.
Thanks for reading,
Mr.CBB
OCTOBER – Week #4 of 5- Oct 24-30, 2016
2016 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
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REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This week we did a little shopping but the budget is still very much intact! Most of what I picked up has been set aside for our Christmas holiday enjoyment. 🙂
I just can’t seem to get in the mood to grocery shop these days nor do I give a fig what’s on sale! I think a good chunk of the reason is that the weather has shifted and it’s been just miserable. Who wants to be loading groceries into the trunk in the pouring rain? That’s a better time to hunker down, make a pot of soup with whatever is in the pantry & enjoy a good book IMHO.
On top of that, there’s only 8 weeks of GGC left in 2016 after this…56 days total and 27 of them, we are on vacation… even if we are at home. We eat differently during vacation times. There’s more socializing involved (especially in December), lunches out with friends/family & I make a lot more soups/stews/chilis so that can just meals can be heated up quickly when we eventually get in from our running around.
This year I want to attend the Celebrate The Night festivities & fireworks uptown on Sunday, do a day trip to Harrison Hot Springs if we get a nice sunny day, see lots of pretty Christmas lights, check out a couple of Christmas parades, meet the CPR Christmas Train & enjoy the live entertainment, attend a whole bunch of holiday craft fairs (just to snoop…we don’t Christmas shop), go to a live holiday comedy locally, enjoy a few coffee/tea dates with my sweetie & schedule some visiting with our families.
I am also anxious to start my marathon of Christmas movies and books. I’m such a sucker for a happy ending and hallmark kicks off there Christmas schedule this coming weekend. I will start this year’s reading enjoyment this coming weekend – I have my first book all picked out! 🙂 Who has time to shop when there’s movies to watch and books to read? LOL
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OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
LEPP FARM MARKET – ABBOTSFORD –
1 Sweet Mustard Pickles $11.99
1 Mixed Headley Hot Pickles $11.99
1 Pickled Carrots $11.99
Total Holiday Grocery OOP: $35.97 << Stock up for Christmas & New Years
—————————————————————–
RCSS – Pitt Meadows –
1 x 1.36Kg Green Salad $4.98 << we sure enjoyed our Southwest salads!
Total Regular Grocery OOP: $4.98
** Earned 0 PC.Plus Points on this shop **
** SAVED $0.00 in Rain Check/ Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
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OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
OUR NEXT USA SHOP WILL BE IN NOV. 2016.
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2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $36.76 + Feb $160.96 + Mar $27.00+ Apr $117.96 +May $55.61+June $8.50+ July $46.99+ Aug $13.85+Sept $0.60+Oct $0.00 = $468.23
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $20.46+ Mar $1.00 +Apr $5.23 + May $10.68 + June $0.00+ July $0.00 + Aug $0.00+ Sept $0.00 Oct $6.32 = $43.69
•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 = $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 10 + Feb 182 + Mar 3 +April 48 + May 96 + June 0+ July 573 + Aug 208 + Sept 11 + Oct 23 = 1,154 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 6 + Feb 43 +Mar 182 + April 32 + May 24 + June 3+ July 0 + Aug 0 + Sept 0 + Oct 0 = 268 Air Miles
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 1800 + Feb 5000 +Mar 5200= April 3,100 + May 0 + June 2,600+ July 0 + Aug 6,600 + Sept 0 + Oct 0 = 24,300 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 0 + April 0 + May 0 + June 40+ July 0 + Aug 40 + Sept 20 + Oct 30 = 130 Points
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2016 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $196.78 + Feb $193.74 + Mar $182.77 + April $255.43 + May $143.05 +June $182.79 +July $188.72+ Aug $171.07+ Sept $195.65 + Oct ($30.00+$70.00+$2.94+$1.00+$7.69+3.98+2.29 +$18.00+$35.97-$35.97 Trf from Xmas Reserve+$4.98= $140.88) = $1,850.88
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $190.00+ Feb $190.00 + Mar $190.00 + April $190.00 +May $190.00 + June $190.00+July $190.00+Aug $190.00 +Sept $190.00 + Oct $190.00= $1,900.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $49.12 AVAILABLE
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2016 POINTS REDEEMED RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $4.69+ Feb $5.19+ Mar $0.00+ Apr $0.00 + May $4.69 + June $0.00+ July $0.00 + Aug $0.00+Sept $0.00 + Oct $0.00= $14.57
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2016 US GROCERY RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $0.00+Jan $45.00+Feb $45.00+ Mar -$59.58+ Apr $45.00+ May -$22.79 + June -$48.42 + July $45.00 + Aug $45.00+Sept $112.62 + Oct ($70.00-$26.12=$43.88)= $168.12
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2016 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $217.50+Jan -$49.65 + Feb -$140.69 + Mar $25.48 + Apr +
-$5.29+May -$9.70 +June $15.00+July -$41.81 + Aug $17.93+Sept $15.00 + Oct $30.00= $73.77
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2016 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
2015 Fwd $81.51+Jan $15.00 + Feb $11.61 +$15.00+ Apr $15.00 +May $20.00 + June $15.00+ July $15.00+ Aug $15.00+Sept $15.00 +
Oct ($-15.19-$35.97 = -$51.16)= $166.96 + $130 worth of RCSS POINTS
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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+Apr $15.00 + May -$51.21+ June $3.23 +July $7.62 +Aug (15.00-30.21=-$15.21)+ Sept $15.00= $638.54
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• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 1,900.00 Grocery Budget JAN-OCT
$ 14.57 Redeemed Points to Purchase Groceries
($ 413.59) ADDITION TO: Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
$ 434.86 REDUCTION TO: Misc Reserves (Re-Stocking, Xmas & Summer)
($ 250.71) Trf to US Grocery Reserve Net of 2016 Spending
($ 14.57) Set in reserve to offset Redeemed Points
($ 1,621.44) Actual CASH SPENT
$ 49.12 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
$ 4.69 Skim Milk- 3,100 MORE Pts – MAY
$ 14.57 Total $ Value of Points Redeemed
THE VALUE POINTS REDEEMED will be added to our Holiday Reserve next Christmas.
So far $1,900.00 has been budgeted Y-T-D for 2016 and we have recorded $888.47 of these funds as “spent” and in fact they have been “saved”:
$ 73.77 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$ 166.96 Holiday Season Fund + $130 PC Plus Avail.
$ 638.54 Summer Season Fund
$ 168.12 US Shopping Reserve
$ 14.37 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,061.76. This means the $936.51 that we carried forward from 2015 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $888.47 that we have added in 2016, LESS $763.22 that we have drawn out for use in 2016.
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The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
None!
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This week’s BREAKFAST menu plan:
HUBBY: Earl Grey Tea with Lemon Juice + Bagels/English Muffins with fat free cream cheese spread, peanut butter or Cheez Whiz, toaster waffles, hot cross buns OR Rice Krispies cereal with skim milk
MYSELF: Tetley Tea with Skim Milk & Equal + yogurt, apples, bananas or hard boiled eggs
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This week’s LUNCH menu plan:
MON: Velveeta Ultimate Penne and Cheese for hubby / Carrot-Celery-Apple-Walnut Salad for me
TUES: Egg Salad Sandwiches & Carrot and Celery Sticks for hubby / cucumbers in vinegar for me
WED: French Onion Soup with Cheese Stuffed Onion Bagels for hubby / just the soup for me
THURS: Ham Salad Sandwiches & mini donuts for hubby / Apple-Celery-Onion salad for me
FRI: Leftover Creamy Tomato Soup with California Rolls for hubby / just the soup for me
SAT: Cheese Omelette and Toast
SUN: Gingerbread Pancakes
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This week’s DINNER menu plan:
MON: Take-Out Chinese for hubby / just a glass of Fresca for me
TUES: Wonton Soup with BBQ Pork and a Fried Egg Sandwich
WED: Brown Sugar Oatmeal with Maple Cinnamon Apples
THURS: Creamy Tomato Soup with Cheese Toast
FRI: Slow Cooker Ham, White Bean and Vegetable Soup
SAT: Creamy Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole with Steamer Veggies
SUN: Nine Vegetable Hot & Sour Soup
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Hi Mary,
I love a good fried egg sandwich. Do you put anything else on it? Tomato sauce, cheese? I want to make a creamy tomato and bacon soup topped with parmigiana shavings. I think that will be my next soup unless I get the chance to make the French Onion Soup. Your Saturday meal sounds nice. OMG now I want a cheese stuffed onion bagel. It’s been ages since I’ve had a bagel. We don’t eat much bread around here these days. Oh the gingerbread pancakes sound nice. WOW Larry sure is lucky to have a lovely wife to cook all this amazing food. I’d be in heaven. Those mustard pickles sound nice. I’ve never had anything like that before.
I know what you mean about the change in season. After Halloween is done tonight everything will shift to Christmas for most people and again for the rest after Remembrance Day for us. We also tend to make more soups and stews and grocery shopping in the winter will likely consist of myself as it’s too much hassle bringing the boy out in the cold. It’s all miserable if you ask me. I agree, I’d stay in and have a cuppa tea, movie or read a book.
Enjoy your week Mary…. Another year is coming to a close. We’ve almost made it yet again…yay! You get ballot #15 MR.CBB
Most cleaning products, shampoo and paper goods ,ex. toilet paper are more expensive at the grocery store. Watch for very good sales, buy no name or buy at discount stores.
Bandaids! So expensive. I always buy the ‘heavy duty fabric’ ones at the dollar and they’re fine. For $1.25 instead of $5 or so.
That’s a good point! We started buying them at the Dollar store because our son has a boo boo for everything.
The bandaids from Walmart, their generic brand, is not good at all. Will try the Dollorstore one. The prices at Dolorama is mostly same as Walmart though.
Week 43 – Oct 21 – 27, 2016
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $
Total Points =
Total Out Of Pocket: $8.85
Human
4L 2% Milk = $4.27
2 Wonder WW Bread = $4.58
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: $8.85
Left for the Month: $59.24
Total Human (Adults) to Date: $1190.34
Total Grocery Budget for the 3 Cats ($364, for the pay period – $14.00)
Total Cats this Week Period: $
Total Cats to Date: $241.40
Total Grocery Budget for Stockpile ($520)
Total Stockpile this Week Period: $
Total Stockpile to Date: $204.31
Total Grocery Budget for the Personal Hygiene ($182)
Total Personal Hygiene this Week Period: $
Total Personal Hygiene to Date: $230.16
Total Grocery Budget for Meat ($500.00)
Total Meat this Week Period: $
Total Meat to Date: $344.80
Total Coupons Used this Week Period: $
Total Coupons Used To Date: $27.96
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: $
Total Price Match to Date: $273.67
Total PC Points Received this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards Points Used this Week Period:
Total PC Rewards To Date: 25808
Overview: Didn’t need much as we are still going thru what we have on hand. We’ll see what next week holds. We came really close to having a “no shop” week 🙁
Hi Dee,
This is what our grocery shop better look like next week, lol. We need to get back to the no-shop week in our house just to make things easier plus it opens up more free time for the family. We tend to grocery shop together because we don’t get much time out of the house as a family so we do it when we can. Do you have grocery stores in walking distance of your house or do you drive? Sometimes I think the close they are the more we spend. lol. You get ballot #17. Happy Halloween Dee!! Mr.CBB
The grocery store that I go to most often is within walking distance but I drive as I don’t want to lug the groceries back on foot. We typically do grocery shopping together for 2 reasons, 1) gets us in and out quickly and 2) gets my kid out of the house.
I also hit the dollar stores for greeting cards. I’ve been trying going to ethnic stores, some of them are cheaper than American grocery stores. =)
That’s a good point Lila… we’ve found all sorts at the ethnic stores for much cheaper than the grocery store. Thanks for that reminder. Mr.CBB
Total grocery budget for 1 adult
12×190 = 2280
Total stockpile budget
12×50 = 600 (my stockpile counts anything that lasts me more than a week) my freezer is tiny so I can only stock up my pantry.
October week #4 /24-31
Calculated budget 49 €
Name Your store Spar
Total OOP 1.89
Whole Grain sandwich 1.89
Name Your store Hofer
Total OOP 21,95
Bulk 2,58
2pck avocados 1,49 sale instead of 2,19
Tomatoes 1,49
750g frozen spinach 1,59 (b)
2lbs pears 1,29
3x sweet potato 1,17
Cauliflower 0,79
Parsley 0,89
2x turkey ham 1,95
Instant yeast 70g 0,99 (b)
Creme de cuisine 15% 0,79
Dominosteine 1,49 (cookies)
Lettuce 0.99
2x hard boiled eggs 1.49
Gouda cheese 250g sliced 1,49
5 bananas 0,71
Name Your store Natur& Reform
Total OOP 5,02 (2,19 b)
750g oats 2,19 (b)
You peach mango yoghurt 4 pack 2,99
-3% discount of 5,18 €
Name Your store Denns
Total OOP 11,35
Bulk 4,38
2x mango apple sauce 1,39 (b)
GF rice noodles ginger&pumpkin 2,99 (sale instead of 3,99)
Organic Smoked tofu 2,59
Pukka 3 Cinnamon tea 2,99 (-25% from original price 3,99) (b)
Name Your store Hofer
Total OOP 5,77
Bulk 1,79
Oranges 4lbs 1,79 (b)
Spread 1,19
Frozen fish 2,79
Total budget for bulk 50
Total spent this month 11, 35 +0 +0 + 10,94 =22,29
This week 10,94
This month under
Left to spend 27,71 (goes straight to savings )
Bulk to date August 72.42, September 70
Total groceries this week 35,04
Calculated 49
This week UNDER
Total spent this month 48,12 + 31,79 + 3,79 + 35,04 =118,74
Total left to spend this month 71,26 (went straight to savings )
Total spent to date July 235, August 170.34, September 148.94
Final thoughts
I think the last time I had a bill that low was in college 🙂
Although my meal plan this week did not work out (I forgot the national holiday where I went to the family ), I am really happy with the outcome this month. I think week #1 of November (1-6) will be a low spend week again.
For next month and despite the upcoming holidays I’m lowering my grocery/bulk section to 190 combined (160+30), let’s see how that works for me.
Good Morning Christine!!
I love that I read this was one of the lowest bills since you’ve been to College! It’s always nice to read that. It’s important as you go along with the GGC that you reward yourself for your hard work. Tracking your numbers will certainly give you that pat on the shoulder or that kick in the butt (that’s mostly what I get, lol) The fact that we get to challenge our shops every week is motivating and so are the savings and end of year figures.
Many of us who have been posting since day 1 anticipate the end of the year to see whether or not we beat the Grocery Game Challenge. It’s fun to know that our hard work pays off or we may find we need to tweak it or work a bit harder. At the end of the day we are all successful because we have taken the first step to control our financial health in the grocery department.
The mango applesauce sounds great. I never thought to make it as an applesauce. How do you enjoy your gouda? I’m thinking a nice apple and gouda grilled cheese sandwich, mmm.
When you say 2x hard-boiled eggs do you mean only 2 eggs or 2 dozen eggs?
I was wondering the same for the avocados. When you say 2 pack do you mean only 2 avocados or 2 pks of 5 (that’s what we buy typically for $3.99 or $2.99 on sale. If we buy organic they are about $1.49 for 1 avocado.
Well done,
You get ballot #18. Happy Halloween Christine,
Mr.CBB
The hard boiled eggs are 2x 6 eggs, the avocado is 2 pieces in one bag 🙂 I’m too lazy for grilled cheese , normally I’m on the run out of the door and grab a slice of cheese with toast, which holds me over till lunch. I know that may sound weird but I love mango apple sauce with granola. This is a perfect snack for me.
Happy Halloween for you too!
Haha… that’s my lazy food the grilled cheese. How do you like your avocado? Have you ever baked an egg in it or even put it in the frying pan with butter, then crack an egg in it and put the lid on to cook … so good.
Hi! Is THIS where we are supposed to post the store we shopped at and how much we spent, etc. to join in the game? It doesn’t look like anyone else did? So confused…
Hi Jo-Anne,
Yes this is where you post your grocery shop. I moderate all of the comments and try to do my best and read them once a week from top to bottom and comment on each one. Once I moderate them you will start to see them there. 🙂 Feel free to ask any questions. Don’t worry if you make an error we will all help you out. It’s a great team of GGC posters here. 🙂 Welcome.
Yearly grocery budget for 4 adults and 2 cats -$7800
(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 this Month: $650
Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs $650
Total Gift Cards used to date: $165
Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
PC Points Plus Earned to date: 49310
Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
Zweet to cash out : $12.75
Checkout51 to cash out : $30.25
Our Grocery Shop This Week
Foodland #1
1 jug water -5.49
1 Cheerios -4.99
1 case ginger ale -4.99, $2.00 coupon
1 Royale TP 4.44
1 cranberry juice -3.19
1 yogurt -2.99
1 plum sauce -2.98
1 gherkins -2.49
1 Thompson raisins -2.29
1 Temptations cat treats -1.99, .50 coupon
2 4l milk @4.77
1 lb butter -4.19
4 Swanson meat pies @4/5.00
Bananas -1.16
1 box chicken nuggets -6.99
2 W/W bread @2/5.00, AM discount on one -.60
Tax -2.13
Total OOP -$71.74, $2.50 coupons, .60 discounts
Foodland #2
1 case ginger ale -4.99, $2.00 coupon
3 Chez Whiz @3.33- Stockpile
2 Kraft peanut butter @3.33 -stockpile
4 cans soup @.59
2 4l milk @4.77
4l chocolate milk @.99
1 bag frozen fruit -3.99
Bananas -1.04
3lb bag onions -.99
1 pork roast -6.84
Tax -.65
Total OOP -$32.36+$16.65 stockpile =$49.01
Total to spend this month : $650
Stockpile budget 2016 : $25.00
Stockpile budget used this month: $23.29
Total coupons used this week: $4.50
Total coupons used to date: $113.62
Total in-store discounts this week:$.60
Total in-store discounts to date: $159.35
Total spent this week: $104.10
Total spent so far this month: $506.85
Total over/Under spend this shop: under
Total over/Under spend for the month: $
Total left to spend for the month: $143.15
Total Spent To Date 2016: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $579.69+ Feb $628.96+ March $605.28+ April $584.23+ May $475.36+ June $747.58+ July $631.00+ Aug $683.19+ Sept $568.28+ October $
Weekly Overview (your final thoughts)
Under again for the week plus I got some Chez Whiz and peanut butter added to the stockpile so that will help later. I even have a nice little cushion for that last week of the month!! So I am happy with how it’s going right now. All those meals from the Thanksgiving turkey and there are more in the freezer!! Looking good at this point to finish the year under budget. Next run into town is Nov 7 and London is Nov 10. Have to see how those go for the rest of the year.
Hi Christine,
I love how you are always under budget most weeks. I wish I was that lucky, but we’re still working on it or we’ll be increasing the budget come January. I agree your turkey went a long way which helps to fill up days in the month which means less expenses. That’s the beauty of stretching meals isn’t it? I’m not a fan of Cheese Whiz but you did score a great price as it’s expensive. How do you use the Cheese Whiz?
The peanut butter was also a good deal. Now that we know our son loves it we’ll be on the hunt for similar deals. So you have $143 left to spend for the month.. wow that’s some shopping Christine. Considering you have one of the most expensive grocery stores to shop at I’d say you’re killing it in the grocery game. Well done… You get ballot 19. Mr.CBB
The boys and hubby like putting the Chiz Whiz on things like a meat pie or shepherds pie, I find it too salty. I also add macaroni to KD so I scoop a little in there. I keep an eye out for those sales here too and grab what I can when I see them.
I know Foodland is a higher end store but the Your Independent Grocer is worse for price across the board. I do the best I can with what I have to work with. We have a trip into town coming up so I can do a stock up run at No Frills on my way out of town. I don’t get groceries in London as it is a longer drive home, especially for the perishables.
Haha.. the Chiz Whiz.
I suppose in the winter as well it’s just too far. I don’t think I’ve been to an IG before.
Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs and Valu-mart are the high end of the Loblaws suite of stores so I’m not surprised about that. When I lived in Ailsa Craig, my dad would go grocery shopping either in London or St. Mary’s, depending on what he was looking for.