Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
October and November are a useful time to plan your December meals and holiday baking. Start with what you already have, compare current prices and stock up gradually on foods you will actually use.
Current Canadian Price Examples: October 2026
Prices checked October 2, 2026, in Canadian dollars. These are listed online prices, not a promise of the lowest price or a forecast for December. Walmart examples reflect the displayed Mississauga Heartland, Ontario location; Ambrosia is an Ontario retailer. Prices, promotions, stock and local checkout totals can change. Delivery charges, deposits and applicable taxes are additional. Check your local store before shopping.
| Staple | Brand and package | Price checked | Retailer and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | Great Value, 2.5 kg | $3.77 | Walmart Canada product listing |
| Almond flour | Bob’s Red Mill, 453 g | $17.29 Different brand and size from the former Costco example. | Ambrosia product listing |
| Chocolate chips | Krisda No Sugar, 285 g | $14.79 | Ambrosia product listing |
| Granulated sugar | Redpath, 2 kg | $2.77 | Walmart Canada product listing |
| Salted butter | Great Value, 454 g | $5.96 | Walmart Canada product listing |
| Bacon | Great Value Naturally Smoked, 375 g | $3.97 Rollback displayed when checked; end date not provided. | Walmart Canada product listing |
| Cheese | Great Value Marble Cheddar, 400 g | $5.48 | Walmart Canada product listing |
| Pop | Coca-Cola, 12 × 355 mL | $6.94 Promotion displayed when checked; end date not provided. | Walmart Canada product listing |
Use these examples to start your own price book. Compare the same brand and package size, or calculate the price per 100 g, kilogram or litre. A smaller sale package can cost more per unit than a larger regular-price package. Buy only what your household will use and what your budget and storage space allow.
A Simple October-to-December Stock-Up Plan
October: Take a pantry and freezer inventory, choose your holiday recipes and start a small shopping list. Watch local flyers for flour, sugar, baking chocolate, canned vegetables and other items you already use.
November: Compare unit prices and top up gradually when a genuine saving fits your budget. Label and date freezer items, check package storage instructions, and leave room for holiday meals.
December: Shop from your inventory first. Buy fresh ingredients closer to when you need them and avoid buying extra just because it is on sale. Holiday savings come from planning and reducing waste; seasonal discounts are never guaranteed.
Retailers may run seasonal promotions, but prices do not all move in the same direction. Check your local flyers and compare the same package over time rather than assuming everything will cost more in December.
Coincidentally, many items may need to be cooked or baked throughout the year.
Stock Up On The Grocery Savings While Available
Getting ahead of holiday grocery shopping means spreading purchases across your budget and avoiding last-minute waste. You do not need to buy everything at once.
A pantry inventory and a short recipe list help you focus on ingredients you need. Buying early is useful only when the price, available space and expected use make sense for your household.
Have you ever bought an ingredient on sale, then seen the same package return to its regular price? A small supply can help, provided you will use it before it loses quality and the purchase fits your budget.
We have, and those are the moments we are happy that we took advantage of a sale to put those savings towards other foods that will help bulk up our savings for the season.
Often, for those who don’t plan, it may mean doing without or buying a similar product, but not the one you wanted.
Often, products that aren’t on your radar may not taste the same, so you settle for something only because of price.
It doesn’t have to be that way if you plan your grocery shopping according to monthly sales and stock up when possible.
Mrs. CBB and I made a mistake several times because we didn’t consider the aftermath of bringing home what we would stock up on.
Having much experience with couponing and extreme sales over the years, we’ve had to ask ourselves a few questions before leaving the house or even creating our grocery list.
You will often find what you need in the local grocery flyer for sales to plan accordingly, but sometimes you see “stock me now” products or lose out on a fantastic deal.
Our older stockpile budget example used $25 a month. Treat that as a historical household example, not a recommended 2026 amount. Set a limit that fits your own current grocery budget.
Affordability
Can you afford it?
A stockpile budget is an excellent way to stock up when the prices are correct but outside your weekly grocery budget.
Inventory Status
How much of it do you already have?
You need to understand just how much food you need and can have before it goes off, because even foods in the freezer can become freezer-burnt.
Nothing lasts forever.
Food Storage Area
Do you have the space to stock extra food products?
We built shelving in our cold room and shelves in the basement to keep products organized.
Freezer Space
Are your freezers empty or full?
This is very important and includes your refrigerator/freezer in the kitchen, or if you have a second one in the home.
Always conduct a freezer inventory list so you know what you have, and take a look to see how much space you have available so you can buy accordingly.
Processing Bulk Foods
Will you have time to process all the meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables you buy?
This is a big one because they can waste so fast, and typically, it should be done the same day you buy what you get for optimal storage and preservation.
If the meat and fish you buy in bulk must be portioned into smaller packages, you must do this before freezing them.
Products to Stock up on in October and November
After Thanksgiving and Halloween, you will find loads of sales on various Halloween or Fall vegetables brought into the stores in mass quantities.
These are the sales you want to jump on.
Let’s look at the foods you should stock up on before the holidays, and then again have enough to get you through to the next big seasonal sale in the Spring.
Look For Seasonal Pumpkin Savings
You may find discounted whole pumpkins after Halloween. Choose undamaged pumpkins intended for cooking; do not use carved or outdoor display pumpkins for food. A clearance price is useful only if you can prepare and store the pumpkin safely.
Roast pumpkin pie and freeze the flesh for up to one year to use in many recipes.
Potatoes
There is always room for potatoes in the cold room if we want to stock up, so having a few bags on hand to get through the Winter is ideal, especially if the price is right.
The grocery stores won’t hang on to them forever, so they may flog them off cheaply if they have an overstock from Thanksgiving.
Keep an eye out for sweet potatoes, yams, and other root vegetables, typically in high demand during October and November, but then taper off afterward.
Various Types Of Flour
This one is hit or miss, but if you like to bake, whether it’s gluten-free or not, stock up when you see the sale happening in October and November.
A current example is Great Value Original All-Purpose Flour, 2.5 kg, at $3.77 at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026). Compare your local flyer and unit prices; December sales and future prices are uncertain.
For a current almond-flour example, Ambrosia lists Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour, 453 g, at $17.29 (checked October 2, 2026). This replaces our older Costco price example; it is a different brand and package, so compare the cost per kilogram rather than the bag price.
Related: Complete Costco Keto Guide With Photos
Stock Up On Chocolate
Chocolate and winter wine are in hand as they are comfort foods that most people like to have linger in their mouths.
At least I do.
If you want a particular kind of chocolate, whether it’s for eating, melting, or baking, now is the time to stock up, especially after Halloween, when the shelves are flooded with chocolates left over from October 31.
Mrs. CBB uses Krisda chocolate chips. As a current reference, Krisda No Sugar Chocolate Chips, 285 g, are listed at $14.79 by Ambrosia (checked October 2, 2026). Check the ingredients and your recipe before substituting baking chocolate.
It’s rare, but we may find that chocolate sales will start ramping up before the Christmas holidays.
Clearance baking chocolate can be useful, but check the best-before date, package condition and unit price. Our old clearance anecdote is not a current advertised offer.
Spices
Fall and Winter are fantastic in abundance for comfort food cooking and baking throughout Winter.
This is when you will want to find any herbs that your family recipes include that you use more than average seasonally.
For example, we go through lots of cinnamon in the Winter and stock up if we find a sale, especially on the cinnamon sticks.
We like to fill the house with a cinnamon smell, so we boil the sticks on low with some cloves, and it’s beautiful.
Having a spice list handy always helps to know what you have on hand.
Sugar and Substitutions
No matter what kind of sugar you use, grab it while you can if you see it on sale now.
You may not want to bake for the holidays just yet, but if you get that urge, it’s best to have it on hand without paying premium prices.
A current comparison is Redpath Special Fine Granulated Sugar, 2 kg, at $2.77 at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026). Compare like-for-like sizes before stocking up.
Canned or Frozen Vegetables
You might have noticed in October that canned and frozen vegetables are on sale quite a bit, and that’s because root vegetables are at their peak, and everyone is buying them up.
If you can, take the opportunity to stock up and have a nice stash of vegetables for the Winter.
Compare current prices on canned and frozen vegetables. A promotion can help, but a higher December price is not guaranteed.
Canned and frozen are just as good as fresh when they’re economical.
Cranberries Can Be Frozen
Just after Thanksgiving, in October, you will want to buy fresh cranberries from the grocery store’s produce section and freeze them.
I made these delicious Cranberry Orange Muffins, which are keto-friendly with no sugar.
You can freeze cranberries for later use according to the package guidance. If preserving sauce in jars, use a tested canning recipe and method; putting homemade sauce in a jar does not make it shelf-stable.
Stock Up And Freeze Butter
Butter is useful for holiday baking, but there is no guaranteed seasonal price jump. Compare local prices and buy only what you can store and use.
For a current reference, Great Value Salted Butter, 454 g, is listed at $5.96 at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026). Use the price per 100 g to compare other brands and sizes.
We don’t use margarine in the house; if we had to, we’d do without.
Follow the butter package’s storage instructions, wrap it well if freezing, and thaw it in the refrigerator. Consult Health Canada’s food safety guidance for safe handling and storage.
Always Stock Up On Dried Beans
Dried beans last a long time, so if you know you like to eat lots of hummus or chickpeas as part of your daily diet and you see a sale in October and November, stock up.
Dried beans are useful for winter soups and stews. Compare prices per kilogram with canned beans, allowing for preparation time and the meals your family enjoys.
Buy extra only when the unit price is a saving and you have a plan to use it.
Turkey/Ham
Buy it now before Thanksgiving if you find a sale, or after Thanksgiving when the grocery store tries to get rid of them.
We bought a spiral ham for 50% and had it ready.
Stock Up On Bacon
Bacon is great for appetizers, brunch, and any meal, especially if you eat a keto diet, as Mrs. CBB does.
Bacon is pricey and can get even more expensive when you need it.
Great Value Naturally Smoked Bacon, 375 g, is listed at a $3.97 rollback at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026; no end date shown). Compare package weights and follow the label’s refrigeration and freezing instructions.
Related: Keto Diet Staples We Stock Up On
Building A Cheese Stockpile Is A Must
No matter what time of year, cheese is always expensive, so we constantly search for deals but don’t always find them when we want them.
That means we either pay premium prices or go without.
We’d rather have our cheese as we love it, and everything tastes better with cheese, right?
A current example is Great Value Marble Cheddar Cheese, 400 g, at $5.48 at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026). Buy an amount you can use within the package’s date and storage guidance, rather than assuming many bars will keep for months.
Freezing can change cheese’s texture, so it may be better suited to cooked dishes afterward. Follow the manufacturer’s storage and thawing guidance.
Nuts Are Expensive, So Stock Up
Compare nut prices by weight and check freshness before buying a larger package. Buy only the varieties and quantities your recipes need.
If you use cashews, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, or any other pricey nuts, take advantage of sales or coupons combined with a sale that may offer you grocery savings.
We tend to freeze our nuts; however, read the package to see how to keep them once opened.
For example, a bag of almond flour, once opened, should be refrigerated.
Dried Fruits
We don’t use dried fruits as much, but as the winter months approach, many people ramp up their holiday baking, where dried fruits are used quite a bit.
Check the amount of dried fruit your recipes need and compare unit prices. Seasonal demand does not guarantee that every product’s price will rise.
Stock up if you find a sale; they will last a while since they are dried.
We stock up on dates so I can make my impressive Date Squares, and then I freeze them.
I’ll eat the entire pan if I’m left alone with them.
Stock Up On Beverages
Beverages aside from the food can get costly during the holidays and throughout the seasons, so stock up when you get a good sale.
Coca-Cola, 12 cans of 355 mL, is listed at a promotional $6.94 at Walmart Canada (checked October 2, 2026; no end date shown). Compare the price per can or litre, and include any applicable deposit in your budget.
Please watch for sparkling water juices (pineapple, cranberry), especially as they are great for mixed drinks.
You might even get lucky and find deals at the local LCBO and Beer Store on beer, wine, and spirits that you can buy before gatherings, so you’re not paying premium prices.
Remember that if milk is on your list of beverages, you can freeze it, which we do since we go through so much of it.
If you use loyalty offers, check the current terms, eligible products and minimum spend. Compare the shelf price with other stores before deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Points are a possible benefit for a future redemption, not cash off today’s bill unless redeemed. Buying more than you need to reach an offer threshold can cancel out the saving.
Related: How We Grew Our Optimum Points Over Six Million
Don’t Be A Last-Minute Shopper: Stock Up
Going for the stock-up isn’t for everyone, but if you have a grocery budget that you are trying to balance and know you can save today for tomorrow,
The best part is you won’t have to cringe when you see the product you need at an inflated price.
Discussion: What other products do you stock up on in October and November for your meal planning?
Mr.CBB
Archived October 2018 Grocery Game Challenge
Historical diary: The grocery shops, receipt prices, totals and household budget figures below describe October 2018. They are preserved as a record of what we spent then and are not current 2026 prices. For current comparison examples, use the dated table near the top of this article.
Join the 2018 Grocery Game Challenge (GGC), but before you do, read The Grocery Game Challenge Rules and print the 2018 Schedule, which includes new prizes!
Last Shop from September–
- 5 Pointers To Find The Best Prices At The Grocery Store
- Freebies We Get From Our Favourite Canadian Grocery Stores
2018 Grocery Shop Results
Yearly grocery budget for two + 1 Toddler 2018: $3600 or $300/month (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 or that you would like to track on your own.)
- Total Grocery Budget for this Month: $300
- Total Grocery Budget with any carry-overs: $300
- Total Gift Cards used to date: $0
- Total Rewards Points redeemed this week: $0
- Total Rewards Points used to date: $0
- PC Optimum Points to Spend: 3,500,000
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) to date $0
Coupon Apps (add any other apps you use to save money)
- Zweet -$0
- Checkout51– $1.50
Our Grocery Shop This Week
Zehrs
- No name sour cream $2.49
- Large Eggs $2.27
- Lactancia Cream Cheese $3.49 x 2 $6.98
- Iceberg Lettuce $1.99
- Radish 1lb $2.49
- PC Kale Slaw $3.89-50%= $1.95
- PC Mushrooms x2 $2.79-50%= $2.80
- PC Field Greens $6.99-50%= $3.50
- 3-pack English cucumbers $3.88
- Spaghetti Squash $4.48
- Tomato $1.10
- Red Cabbage $0.99
- Ground Chicken $6.23-50% $3.12
- Ground Chicken $6.20- 50% $3.10
- PC Split chicken wings $6.10 – 50%=$3.05.
- Pork Bellies $10.89-50%=$5.35
- Inside round sandwich beef $6.42-50%=$3.21
- Veal Cutlets $12.63-50%=$6.32
- Chicken Split Wings $11.44-50%=$5.72
- Boneless Chicken Thighs $10.08-50%=$5.04
- Boneless pork center chops $8.48-50%=$4.24
- Honey Garlic Sausage Meat $3.73-50%=$1.87
- Top Sirloin Roast $29.13-50%-$14.57
- PC Shrimp bags x 2 $19.99×2 -50% = $19.99
- 6 x Saputo Marble Cheddar Reg $6.99 Sale $1.00 for 200 grams shredded
Total Out-of-Pocket $113.97
Month To Date
Note: All totals below have already been tax factored into them.
- Total to spend this month: $300.00
- Stockpile budget 2018: $25.00/month
- Stockpile budget used this month: $17.08
- Christmas Reserve Fund: $35/month $305 Saved
- Total coupons used this week: $0
- Total coupons used to date: $1
- Total in-store discounts this week: $115.87
- Total in-store discounts to date: $318.29
- Total spent this week: $113.97
- Total spent so far this month: $176.92
- Total over/under spend this shop: over
- Total left to spend for the month: $123.08
- Total Spent To Date 2018: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $323.04+Feb $169.42+March $228.70 + April $337.84+ May $275.79 + June $271.88 +July $257.76 +August $342.74 + September $255.69+ October $+ November $ + December $
Final Thoughts
We only made this one of those unplanned shops because we knew deals would be available before Thanksgiving.
In light of that, we made no grocery list but had somewhat of a budget for how much we could spend.
Considering all the deals we found, which saved us $115.00, mainly on meats and cheese, we had a significant stock-up.
We did pick up a few staples, but for the most part, our meals this week will be based on what we purchased for 50% off.
See you next week!
MR.CBB
Note: All totals below have already been tax factored into them.
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Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide
Everything you want to know about grocery shopping in Canada is packed into this fantastic FREE guide that has taken six years to create.
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.
Welcome to The Grocery Game Challenge!
-Mr.CBB
OCT – Week #2 of 5- Oct 8-14, 2018
2018 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 MONTH:
It’s getting dark earlier, raining more frequently and just not my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving is behind us now so next up…we’ll be celebrating our wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe another year has flown by!
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
This is a LOW SHOP WEEK! I had intended it to be no shopping but I came down sick just in time for Thanksgiving & we ended up picking up a fresh turkey breast after all…because we weren’t going out for the Senior’s Special the way I had planned. I already had a pumpkin pie, potatoes, oodles of fresh veggies, cranberry jelly and a ham in the house so all we needed was some turkey. Hubby found a small all white meat turkey breast and I can hardly wait to have a sandwich…it’s my favorite way to enjoy turkey. 🙂
===========================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING:
Save On Foods – Maple Ridge –
1 fresh turkey breast $14.50
Total Holiday Grocery OOP: $14.50
** Earned 15 MORE Points on this shop **
** SAVED $0.00 in Rain Check Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
===========================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING:
OUR NEXT USA SHOP WILL BE IN 2019!
===========================================================================================
2018 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year: $264.06
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks Used This Year: $0.00
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year: $0.00
•Total More Points Earned This Year: 11,094 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year: 398 Air Miles
•Total PC Optimum Points Earned This Year: 15,300 Points
===========================================================================================
• SUMMARY OF FUNDS Y-T-D:
$ 2,280.00 Grocery Budget JAN-DEC
($228.56) NET RESERVE TRANSFERS
($ 2,047.85) Actual CASH SPENT
$3.59 AVAILABLE Y-T-D GGC SPENDING NOT INCL RESERVES
• RESERVES Y-T-D:
$ 512.51 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$ 283.09 Holiday Season Fund + $280 PC Optimum Points ($230 Mary + $50 Larry) + $10 Dream Air Miles
= $573.09
$ 675.04 Summer Season Fund
$ 307.42 US Shopping Reserve
$ 147.92 GGC Savings Reserve
$ 0.00 Points Redeemed Reserve
OUR CURRENT TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES ARE $1,925.98. This means the 1,761.30 that we carried forward from 2017 PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1,818.86 that we have added in 2018, LESS $1,654.18 that we have drawn out for use in 2018.
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Hi Mary,
We had a small Thanksgiving dinner as it’s only my wife and I eating although our little guy did nibble on a piece of ham for like 2 seconds. He made us take the orange stuff off his plate or he wouldn’t touch it but he at the cucumbers. I made British Apple Pie bars but just a small batch *for me and Mrs. made pumpkin cheesecake for her. It was a lovely weekend this way. Sorry to hear you weren’t feeling so well. I love turkey sandwiches the next day too. Perhaps I might see if I can pick a small one up on sale. Our Anniversary is coming up as well too in Dec. 🙂 Mr.CBB
I think your first entry for PC split chicken wings cost should be $3.05 not $6.10. I am also surprised that you would spend $100 for 6 pkg of shredded cheese LOL
Just want to comment that the veggie box I have beeen receiving for total of 18 weeks has not only kept us almost completely in fresh veggies since the beginning of June but it has challenged us to try new varieties and recipes and has given me a healthy stock in the freezer of tomatoes kale squash cabbage and mixed peppers for winter soups and stews. It has also allowed me to share with my daughter and her kids and a friend. I will definitely do this again..
Thanks Mary, That’s what I get for rushing my numbers at the end. I’ve adjusted it to $1.00 not $100 lol. Mrs. Would kill me if I did that. How much do you pay for your veggie box? Has there been anything you don’t care for in it?
I have been in Canada since 1970
Completed the 40 yr working cycle
My daily combined pension:_ CPP, OAS GIS and pitiful overseas pension
is $ 52 /day
the PP, Finance Min Munroe, and newly appointed Senior Min Tessi do no not help
Best country in the world?
My tuches.
I’ve only just started reading this blog but my first time in the grocery store after reading some of your tips I started saving immediately!!! I checked out the coupon board and found $4 worth that I could use; I suddenly noticed the glowing pink reduced signs like never before; noticed HUGE bags of carrots, beets and potatoes on for super cheap (your ‘What to look for in October’ tip and actually started to pay attention to prices of things. In just one week I’ve saved about $12 in reduced prices and coupons. Wow! i’m impressed. I always thought I was a good shopper, but realize now I can be much more savvy when picking up groceries.
Thanks so much for running this blog. It’s a lot of work, but so worthwhile to so many people.
I don’t think I’m ready to set a new monthly grocery goal just yet, but I find just paying attention to what I spend weekly, as opposed to monthly (which I’ve always done) is already working. And I’ll take it slowly from there. Thanks! Sue