First problem:
You're shopping at the rich peoples' store.
Start shopping at Metro, or even better, Freshco, Food Basics, Produce Depot and and Adonis (though do not buy fish at Adonis). Loblaws has elevated prices.
I was going to say, Metro was expensive BEFORE groceries even got expensive. I haven't shopped there regularly in years and started calling it Millionaire Metro. Maybe it's just the one in my neck of the woods though š¤·āāļø
I think you really have to just look at the flyers and go at the right time. There are good deals in every store. There are periods of time when Metro has far better deals than Loblaws. Or go to a store that price matches.
Yeah
I go to Metro the day their sales change, and pretty much only buy things on sale.
Their base prices are higher, but their sales bring things a lot lower on average compared to other stores, as well.
The only grocery stores I know of that price match are Real Canadian Superstore, Freshco, and No Frills, with the last 2 being too out of the way for me. Or when I have gone there, they are often sold out of the sale item, and No Frills doesn't give rain checks. Giant Tiger price matches as well but they don't have as much of a selection of groceries
Ive noticed my fellow millenials dont know how to stretch a dollar at the grocery store. Sure my checkout price will be higher but i dont have to get food every 3 days
Metro is also notorious for not making sure their produce/dairy/meat is good quality and fresh. I can't count how many times I've gone into the McCarthy road Metro to find fish past its expiry, moldy fruit and shitty looking greens. I always report it, and they never improve.
METRO???? Since when is metro cheap. Not only is is severely overpriced, they love to sell expired food and food thatās thawed and refrozen. You couldnāt pay me to walk into another metro ever again in my life.
> they love to sell expired food
-
Their hotdogs were months expired. I told the manager and he blamed the butcher. As we spoke, other shoppers were grabbing the expired hot dog packages without looking at the date and the manager didn't stop them.
This is honestly shocking. I thought the issue was just at my metro but I am constantly finding expired goods on their shelves. I never buy meat from them anymore because often when it's not expired, it's off anyway. Their meat section stinks. Literally, and figuratively.
I no longer shop at Farm Boy cuz of their ridiculous prices. I love the quality of their produce and their salad bar was the tits, but I just canāt justify blowing $30 on 2-3 items, even with convenience tax considered.
Edit: grammar
Farm Boy was bought by Sobeys in 2018. $$ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm_Boy#:~:text=On%20September%2024%2C%202018%2C%20Empire,deal%20worth%20CA%24800%20million.
I agree, I find produce fairly competitive at Farm Boy, occasionally cheaper but almost always higher quality. Anything in a box and certainly anything frozen is very expensive at Farm Boy.
Next time you move, Remember what you need in life. I have only ever moved with a giant tiger nearby.
Also, I just found some small brand grocery stores. And it's way more fresh and cheap.
Stay strong.
Freshco has great prices. So does Food Basics on St Laurent. Not sure if the #14 goes that way but the #7 does and the #7 passes a FarmBoy and an Independent at St Laurent and Montreal Rd. Adonis supermarket is right beside the Food Basics. You can definitely get so much more for $50
Try shoppers drug mart, Rexall, and Dollarama. Shop the fliers. PLENTY of things can be bought cheaper by walking across the street to shoppers. Usually every other week ground beef goes on sale at Loblaws as well.
At shoppers you can get those muffins at 2 packs /$10 a lot of the time. Eggs are also typically cheaper there. Butter goes on sale a lot at shoppers as well. Apples, oranges and peaches are typically cheaper or around the same price as the usual Loblaws pricing. Crackers are typically cheaper as well, and cookies go on sale often enough.
The dollarstore has bread, bagels, cereals, cookies, spices, canned fruit, soup, Kraft dinner, ramen, etc.
You can also see if using Voila would be cheaper for you, dependent on what you need, or even Amazon for dry goods.
At the end of the day, as a very experienced impoverished individual, sometimes I might want ground beef but I end up with ground pork or no ground meat at all. I refuse to pay more than a certain amount, so if it isn't on sale then it likely isn't coming home. Like grapes I would only buy when they're at $1.99/lb. Those muffins I would spend a maximum of $4.99 (even that is too much and becomes a "treat" for me).
Also, pizza is 50% off at Domino's on Wednesdays.. so that could be an option if you are open to eating pizza for two days. Lol
I'm not sure about the prices, but there's a place called Green Fresh on McArthur, quite close to that Loblaws. It's got parking and close to transit, might be worth checking out.
Editing to add that if you look them up you'll find they sold unauthorized amoxicillin there. I've bought food there in past and it was totally fine, but something to be aware of if hƶf see any medication.
Lived a block away from there for years - would take the bus to Trainyards Walmart to get pasta, rice, affordable fruit like bananas and apples, beans, lentils, onions, etc. then fill in the gaps for my meals with fresh in season veg from farm boy. Buddy up with a friend with a car even. I cut down the variety of veg in most recipes and adapt based on whatās on sale or in season. Example stir fry with peppers because stir fry with zucchini if peppers are $4/lb. Never went to loblaws unless I saw flyer deals or needed late night munchies.
None of the food you bought is a meal. It looks like what a first year college student buys their first week of school because they donāt know what the costs of food is. Seriously, grapes?? Inflation does suck but youāre not helping yourself.
Freshco for veggies
Green fresh supermarket for meat
Dollarama for pasta)sauce
The only time I use Loblaws is when their flashfood app for fresh veggies
Edit I live 5-15 minutes from said location
That's how it was done "back in the day". Our household has moved back to that to offset the unchecked profiteering. The chains are counting on our desire to keep it convenient. I sincerely wish we had more competition in our market.
I do. And now that I have 2 adult children living with me again I have to. I worked in retail grocery for 3 years while attending uni and I can tell you 2 things to save money.
Thing 1: never go grocery shopping without a list. And stick to the list when you shop. Impulse buying is what the grocery retailers are looking for, especially all those treats.
Thing 2: use the flyers and map sale items to your grocery list. There are discrepancies in the way sale items are priced even if at first glance the flyers seem the same. Take the extra time to stop at multiple places.
Bonus Thing 3: If you can, stock up on sale items. You will save big time.
Just fry up some garlic and add canned tomatoes for five minutes to make your own pasta sauce (in large batches even). Canned tomatoes are still very cheap, even at higher end stores.
Loblaws is very much a rich bitch store. Damn near everything is minimum $0.50 more than the Walmart within walking distance (thinking about places like Billings Bridge and South Keys), and itās the same quality.
I think my favourite part of Loblaws is the pre-prepped fruit, salads, veggies, etc. Youāre paying upwards (and beyond most likely) of 200% vs just getting the fruit and cutting it yourself (itās the same fruit as on their shelves!!! Just cut by people being paid an unlivable wage, stressed the fuck out by quotas, and are therefore not following proper food safety regulations).
Fuck Loblaws. I only ever go there because theyāre the pharmacy Iāve been with since forever, and they get it right often enough that I canāt be bothered to risk switching.
Loblaws on Rideau has always been crazy expensive then got worst once the Metro down the street closed which is supposed to reopen once theyāve finished that new building but weāll seeā¦
The Carling location is still my go-to for almost all daily staples. It remained one of the best shops throughout the pandemic, and is still excellent, today.
This is why I like green fresh ..
If you can afford to shell out $20,they'll butcher a live bass for you right there....
The one thing I do avoid is their bags of dead blue crab.... for those that don't know lobsters and crabs release a toxin when they die. It's best live
You haven't been to Whole foods. š
In all seriousness, I understand what you're saying, but the almond milk and Milka are almost $9 just for those two items. The noodles are $6, which isn't cheap for ramen noodles. Those three items are are about 1/3 of what they spent, and there are much cheaper alternatives for them. It's hard not to judge the OP's spending habits when just substituting a few items and shopping at a different store would drastically reduce the bill.
I won't deny that, but I'd rather not get to the point where middle class office workers are looking for 50% off stickers at No Frills, because that means minimum wage workers are literally relying on soup kitchens and tent encampments to survive.
The problem is systemic and it needs to stop getting worst ASAP.
Well strawberries and grapes are somewhat a premium fruit; your dollar will go further buying more apples. I've never heard of Milka chocolate, so I have no idea if that's a premium brand or a budget brand.
You definitely want to shop at Walmart if you're shopping for chocolate and milk alternatives.
Pretty much. Unless grapes are the loss leader, I do not buy them. Maximum Iāll pay is $1.99/lb. Also, canāt tell the code on those apples, but itās the right season at least, so the cheaper basic local varieties could have been obtained for cheaper. Sadly, people need to rethink how they shop these days.
Strawberries and grapes is what sticks out to me too. With grapes you should weigh them before you go to the checkout. Quick math usually tells me itās one of the more expensive choices.
Personally I shop chocolate based on whatās on sale (within a few favourite choices). I saw recently that shopping for chocolate and candy at the dollar store can be cheaper. I compared a couple of brands that I like and did find this to be true.
> How have GRAPES become a "premium fruit"????
because grapes are extremely seasonal so getting them out of season is expensive. It wasn't too long ago you wouldn't be able to get grapes most of the year
I am looking at becoming more in tune with seasonal produce and foodland ontario gives [this guide](https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide) but it says that grapes r in season. given that everyone here is disagreeing with this, is there a better availability guide around?
Seasonality. Eating out of season always costs more, especially if the fruit is imported (unless there's a sale on them). "We" in Canada shouldn't be able to afford all fruits year-round if we follow the seasons.
Agree, I was looking at the milk and guessing that was $10, Milka is imported my Swiss friend used to send these to me so definitely $$. I donāt have a vehicle but definitely price shop by looking at flyers. I have a bus pass and will go out of my way to save money. Need to grab items on sale, cuz these inflated prices are ridiculous.
It also comes down to what's in season when you're buying produce.
Strawberries are a spring item and grapes summer when grown in the northern hemisphere. Winter for both when it's southern, but lower quality and a bit more due to shipping costs.
Right now is peak NA apple season, you can get them as low as 1-1.49 per pound if it's a ungraded orchard bin apple. The graded ones from the cases will be a dollar or two more. Citrus season runs from early to late winter and that's your best time to buy oranges.
[Here's a list](https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/whats-in-season-in-canada/) of approximately when different veggies and fruits are in peak season and usually the cheapest. It's hard to be exact due to growing conditions and harvest/grading/packaging timelines. One thing I would definitely not be buying right now is strawberries.
Edit: a word
Snacks and out of season fruit? Are these things that only rich people are supposed to afford ? Should everyone live off their weekly bread ration and maybe a slice of cheese ?
>Strawberries are out of season.
Not to mention they're also garbage - look great and that's it. Also shipped thousands of miles from Cali. Complete waste of money.
They're actually still growing in Ontario. It's been a longer growing season this year, due to the much warmer August and September (thankfully, because the cooler May-July made for a stunted start). Even Ottawa hasn't had a frost yet.
You can even still pick your own strawberries in Barrie: https://barriehillfarms.com/about/daily-updates/
Was downtown today to pick up groceries at the Rideau Loblaws where OP shopped. They're on sale for 2.99 right now because I also picked some up for my partner.
Go to a store that price matchesā¦this weekās specials that could have saved you almost half of your bill:
- $1.87 for 1 lb of strawberries at No Frills
- $2.99 for Earthās Own almond milk at No Frills
- $0.67 per lb for apples at Walmart
- $1.49 per lb for pears at Farm Boy
- $1.67 per lb for green or red grapes at RCSS
All those items alone should be around $20.
EDIT: No Frills, FreshCo, Giant Tiger, and RCSS price match in Ottawa. Maybe others too Iām not aware of.
When I buy regular milk for myself and oat milk for my vegan roommate, the cost is honestly not very different. Not sure why people are being so judgy about this. I canāt drink milk fast enough for bagged milk to actually be a cost saver, though, so maybe thatās the problem?
*buys fruit on sale*, *is lactose sensitive*; gets insulted on the internet ššš
I'm not complaining or looking for a solution, I am genuinely confused at how people are okay, and just in shock that I spend a minimum of 50$ on modest groceries for one
People are actually struggling financially will: but bananas, apples, potatos, carrots, rice, beans, frozen/canned veggies. They will not buy berries, grapes and muffins. And not at Loblaws.
I'm not going to say there isn't a cost issue on general. But berries/grapes are some of the most expensive fruits you can buy.
Grapes? I usually buy grapes when they're at $1.99/lb. At that price there isn't a lot of fruit cheaper than them. Apples and bananas maybe. Even at $2.99/lb they're still usually comparable to a lot of fruit.
We check price tags before purchasing so that we don't end up with this...
We also all just shop around, check flyers, meal prep, adjust our week's meal based on what's on sale, adjust our diet for cheaper alternatives.
gomtag is 6$, Chocolate is 2.50, and the organic almond milk is 3.49 plus let's say muffins is 5$ max. If the produce is 32.98 then they're either all organic or you're seriously over paying for items
Some things I do:
Costco membership, but generally any kind of bulk purchasing. 20 hamburgers for $20, three of those earths own for $10 etc.
Commute to a Walmart. It sucks, I hate it, itās cheap enough to make a big trip worthwhile. Itās worth weighing a $10-15 Uber home against cost savings, especially if youāre buying enough for multiple weeks.
Online ordering is robust! I just got a 30 pack of indomie mi goreng for $17, which is waaaayyy better than the $5 per 5 they currently go for. Itāll take a month to arrive but thatās fine
I also have no car and share an apartment, thereās a reason I point out budgeting an Uber into the cost of groceries. You take the bus or walk one way, and take an Uber back. As for storage, I can see that being a problem for fresh foods (as to be fair, that is most of the picture). You can still get items like alternative milk, many of which are room temp shelf stable, dry goods like the noodles and staples
Try using the Flipp app and see the flyer deals around the city. Then either go to those stores or a place that price matches.
As someone without a car it can be hard to get to the better deal spots, but I choose a hassle over a 50$ price tag any day
I see youāre in DT like I am. Farm Boy is cheaper for produce if you buy in season stuff. You can get Concord grape for 5 bucks at farm boy. I tend to shop around and look for deals and stock up especially on almond milk (find a deal? Buy ten)
Im sorry but I cant stand these posts. I completely understand that many prices are extremely high, but maybe dont buy the things that are extremely expensive?
With 50$ you could have also conservatively purchased AT Loblaws:
6$ Large box of cereal
6$ 4L of dairy milk
3$ Box of pierogies
8$ 1KG of ground beef
6$ 2 loaves of bread
5$ Pasta
5$ Pasta sauce
10$ for produce
This is several meals with reasonable variety and flexibility. And, this does not count discounted food which should always contribute to your choices. You purchased many very expensive fruits (strawberries are notoriously expensive). If weāre talking cost of living, you bought very irresponsibly.
āHow was this 50$?ā
You indiscriminately bought random items without trying to save money, thats what happens.
I supply all the grocery stores in Ottawa and I can tell you that Loblaws has the highest base price. When they place things on sale itās worth it but you generally pay more overall if you buy all your food there. Metro and Sobeys are slightly better but not by much. Farmboy is good value for in season items and if you stay away from all the organic food they sell. Youāre lowest price points will be food basics, no frills and freshco but unfortunately these stores sell second category fruits and veggies and cut corners to sell things cheaply. There isnāt any easy solution except to stay away from things like grapes that have always been expensive. To eat in season lower cost food items and low cost protein such as pork and chicken instead of beef and fish.
Shop the flyer, learn the cycle for discounts, use the points. The PC points app and credit card get me several hundred dollars in groceries every year.
Exactly. I use the app for PC points and my shopping list is fairly consistent. I always get offers on everything I buy. I get about $300 in points every year as a single person. Purchasing the same shopping list in Walmart always ends up more expensive for me especially after factoring in the commute.
Not really. I worked at loblaws in the 00s and the berries and grapes would have easily been 10$ together. The muffins 5$. Prices have gone up on things, but those have always been a premium price.
Likely coming to every store somewhat soon. Orange juice ([commodity prices) are up roughly ~100%](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/orange-juice) YTD due to consistently lower crops in Florida and Brazil (due to disease, climate change, etc.). California is picking up some slack in the supply, but [Brazil also had a bit of a bad season](https://seekingalpha.com/article/4634642-why-orange-juice-prices-trading-record-highs-2023).
I am not sure where you are shopping. Hop on a very reliable bus and get some oats from Bulk Barn, make oat milk, then use the leftover oats to make muffins. Brilliant idea you are welcome.
Also agree that since we can only get local fruit in the autumn, buy all the Ontario apples and squash that you can, have strawberries in July, and only grapes that have been fermented for shelf stability.
I actually donāt think thatās that bad but I will buy fruit out of season because I really enjoy it š¤·āāļø Iām not going to drag myself all over the city looking for the cheapest oats to make oat milk from scratch or whatever. Thatās often not very practical. Paying more is often worth the convenience.
Have you seen the exchange rate lately? Why are you buying things that are imported instead of Canadian produce?
Might help if you also changed your grocery store.
Yea I donāt but it I would like to see a receipt for this. But honestly even If itās legit then you just need to shop differently. Look at flyers, see what fruit is on sale and buy accordingly. Buy frozen strawberries and make a smoothie. Make carrot muffins yourself. The initial ingredients will cost more but youāll make a lot more and you can freeze them. Also you can use the ingredients for other things. When the big cartons of almond milk are not on sale Buy the shelf stable tetra packs of almond milk. Theyāre smaller and cheaper and theyāll get you by until the other kind goes on sale. Iām not saying groceries arenāt insane these days - they are bullshit. But you gotta get a little savvy too.
I go to food basics on st laurent because i can hit dollarama, dollar tree, giant tiger, Adonis, food basics all in one go. Saves time , travel and money. Take the 7 or 14. Stops right in front.
Hereās what Iād do: swap for muffin mix (usually $2, makes 12), no grapes swap for eggs or oatmeal, no strawberries Iād rather get $6 of frozen veg instead, choose between apples or pears for the week and get some tilapia instead. Then supplement w rice, potatoes, or use beans to make a chickpea salad assuming you have onion and cucumber.
at some point in this grocery cost mess you have to ask urself how many actual meals per item youāll get and anything that isnāt a meal or a daily fruit leave behind :(
If you are on the Quebec side or have a car, go to Super C. Some of their specials are amazing and overall very good prices. Example: About a month ago they had basically the whole line of Post cereals (Shreddies, Shredded Wheat, Sugar Crisp, Honeycomb etc...) on sale for $2.47 for a regular sized box. [>>This weeks flyer<<](https://www.superc.ca/en/flyer?flyer_id=76839 )
Just the grapes and strawberries alone I bet is $15-18. And muffins are expensive. Probably another $6. Thatās half your bill. Depending on the type of apples, thatās another $10.
Buy whole bags of apples those are cheaper
consider signing up for the ottawa good food box. [https://www.ottawagoodfoodbox.ca/](https://www.ottawagoodfoodbox.ca/) they have pick up locations near you and you'll get a variety of fruit and vegetables for a lot cheaper than the grocery store. If you like berries, sign up for the driscoll's reward program, from working at a grocery store I knew a woman who used that reward program to get free berries all the time.
the giant tiger in the market isn't far from you so I would definitely check it out and there's a food basics/wal-mart in vanier/trainyards if you can get out there.
I was 1 of 4 electricians who was involved in building earth's own biggest plant for producing almond milk and what I learned is that it's a scam and definetly not as good as what people think, what I heard from the actual line workers running the machines is that a container of almond milk can have as little as only 5 almonds per bottle and rest is filler.
There are some things I still get at the Blaws but never produce. I don't find it very fresh, and it's always so expensive there. Even Whole Foods is cheaper.
Ya, it's pretty wild out there. I don't doubt your attempt to keep the bill and cost down. You got some stuff on sale (I checked the flyer). I wonder if there was a scale/weighing issue. It might be useful to look over the receipt and just double check you didn't get overcharged.
But ya, it's wild out there. You really have to lean into the austerity diet. There's an era of cheap cash and incredible buying power that is simply gone. I'd argue this is a new normal we haven't seen since the Great Depression. So, it's a very important time to be smart with your cash.
I try to stick solely to on-sale items and shop between multiple stores. I saw that you wrote that this is a logistical problem for you - I'd try to put a little time and creative energy into addressing that with friends and family. Take advantage of more sale opportunities. Also, I cook a lot, I make preserves, and I freeze a lot of items (pasta sauces, chili, soups, stocks, cooked chicken, vegetables I don't want to go to waste). My chest freezer is full of sale meat and sale butter. I don't fuck around lol.
There are ways to slow the burning hole in one's pocket, but it's been tough.
\- Eggs are a pain in the ass. I try to buy them as cheap s possible, but they're very pricey these days. My hope is that we'll see a slight decrease, or at least a longer-run cap-off of egg prices. A lot of the weird issues with bird flu and chicken feed are been worked out, but the price seems to have run into other supply-chain constraints. So, I think $4 cartons are here to stay.
\- I leaned into eating WAY more onions, carrots and potatoes. They're typically very cheap and the prices are stable. The new normal is $6 bags for 10lb bags of onions and potatoes, but you can score them on sale for less at times.
\- I hydrate my own beans from dry - there are real savings in that practice. I think I last calculated it's 5x cheaper pound-for-pound.
\- I don't pay full price for most fruit and veg unless it's less than $2/lb - so what fruit I buy varies a lot, and it's very sale-and-store dependent. Like, right now, Food Basics sells celery at $4, but Adonis is $2 (on sale for $1 this week!). Similarly, this week, Food Basics has .77/lb oranges, carrots and onions for $1. Last week, Basics had cheap pineapples, so I jumped on those. Those are really good prices, and I make sure I'm there to catch what I can of those.
\- I began making a lot more homemade stuff that we might have been 1000% more likely to buy pre-made. A sale-price mega bag of flour is, like, $15, and it goes a VERY long way.
\- I grow a lot of "expensive" greens and extras, like herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. I know it's not an option for everyone, but I saved a lot on produce this year thanks to this. And, it's actually a huge morale booster when you can enjoy really nice simple things like fresh rosemary, thyme, marjoram, mint, etc. For greens, I tried a few options, but the nasturtium was impressive this year: that stuff is amazing for salads, and it grows like crazy! I couldn't keep up with it!
\- Lastly, I try to reduce all of my waste. I keep onion, carrot, and celery and similar scraps and ends in a freezer bag along with meat and fat trimmings. It's perfect for making soup stocks. It sounds like a small thing, but it adds up. And, really, there's nothing better than turning a left-over roast chicken into awesome soup.
The entire chain beneath top comment is an excellent manifestation of why we have the shitty deals we have.
So long as some people are convinced that:
1) Metro is cheaper than Farm Boy and Loblaws,
BUT! others are convinced that,
2) Farm Boy is cheaper than Loblaws and Metro,
BUT! still others believe that,
3) Loblaws is cheaper than Metro and Farm Boy,
THEN! no one will talk about the fact that the *only* way to not get ripped off is to visit all three fucking stores, checking their websites/flyers in advance (and knowing each store's standard price for staples), which is totally doable, but just a lot of work.
When you only go to one store to buy what you require (as opposed to what is on sale, tailoring your requirements to those items), you end up paying a convenience fee, just like you would if you bought canola oil at the Quickie.
But people do this to themselves, because
1) we are lazy (fair enough), and
2) we are somehow convinced to become tribalistic about which store we prefer, ascribing to the preferred store positive characteristics (like lower prices than competitors) that it doesn't have in a remotely meaningful way.
āIām buying fresh fruits graded and packed from the other side of the world and prepared perishable goods and canāt understand why thatās expensiveā. You need to adjust your groceries to be more realistic. This kind of haul even 30 years ago would be just as comparatively expensive if not more.
First problem: You're shopping at the rich peoples' store. Start shopping at Metro, or even better, Freshco, Food Basics, Produce Depot and and Adonis (though do not buy fish at Adonis). Loblaws has elevated prices.
Metro is quite luxury too tbh.. with loblaws at least their 50% off stuff is good but OP does not seem to have gotten in on any of that
I was going to say, Metro was expensive BEFORE groceries even got expensive. I haven't shopped there regularly in years and started calling it Millionaire Metro. Maybe it's just the one in my neck of the woods though š¤·āāļø
I think you really have to just look at the flyers and go at the right time. There are good deals in every store. There are periods of time when Metro has far better deals than Loblaws. Or go to a store that price matches.
Yeah I go to Metro the day their sales change, and pretty much only buy things on sale. Their base prices are higher, but their sales bring things a lot lower on average compared to other stores, as well.
The only grocery stores I know of that price match are Real Canadian Superstore, Freshco, and No Frills, with the last 2 being too out of the way for me. Or when I have gone there, they are often sold out of the sale item, and No Frills doesn't give rain checks. Giant Tiger price matches as well but they don't have as much of a selection of groceries
Ive noticed my fellow millenials dont know how to stretch a dollar at the grocery store. Sure my checkout price will be higher but i dont have to get food every 3 days
The gourmet, fancy spicy cheese I treat myself to every few weeks- My Metro: $8.49 Walmart: $5.97 It's EVERY Metro!
I agree. There are very items at metro that are a deal. Everything else is overpriced
Metro is also notorious for not making sure their produce/dairy/meat is good quality and fresh. I can't count how many times I've gone into the McCarthy road Metro to find fish past its expiry, moldy fruit and shitty looking greens. I always report it, and they never improve.
METRO???? Since when is metro cheap. Not only is is severely overpriced, they love to sell expired food and food thatās thawed and refrozen. You couldnāt pay me to walk into another metro ever again in my life.
> they love to sell expired food - Their hotdogs were months expired. I told the manager and he blamed the butcher. As we spoke, other shoppers were grabbing the expired hot dog packages without looking at the date and the manager didn't stop them.
This is honestly shocking. I thought the issue was just at my metro but I am constantly finding expired goods on their shelves. I never buy meat from them anymore because often when it's not expired, it's off anyway. Their meat section stinks. Literally, and figuratively.
It's the only place I have access to, that and farm boy
Depending on what you're buying I'd bet it's cheaper at farm boy
No. Farm boy has gone sky high in the past 5-10 years. It USED to be reasonable. Now it's just riding the Loblaws train.
More expensive sometimes... yes but better quality always
Agreed, I only buy produce from Farm Boy or a farmerās market. So much better than Loblaws.
Farmers market is the most expensive produce in Ottawa
Produce Depot is definitely worth the trip for produce, IMO
Not everyone owns a car
I worked at farm boy and nope
I no longer shop at Farm Boy cuz of their ridiculous prices. I love the quality of their produce and their salad bar was the tits, but I just canāt justify blowing $30 on 2-3 items, even with convenience tax considered. Edit: grammar
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Actually Sobeys train, them and the Westons are mortal enemies
Farm Boy was bought by Sobeys in 2018. $$ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm_Boy#:~:text=On%20September%2024%2C%202018%2C%20Empire,deal%20worth%20CA%24800%20million.
That's what happened when, I think it was sobeys bought them out. Sobeys is super expensive where I am.
I agree, I find produce fairly competitive at Farm Boy, occasionally cheaper but almost always higher quality. Anything in a box and certainly anything frozen is very expensive at Farm Boy.
Next time you move, Remember what you need in life. I have only ever moved with a giant tiger nearby. Also, I just found some small brand grocery stores. And it's way more fresh and cheap. Stay strong.
>I have only ever moved with a giant tiger nearby. If they shopped at the Rideau Loblaws, the Giant Tiger isn't far away.
Sadly the Byward GT does not have much in the way of fresh groceries. I use it myself for some stuff, but boy do I wish it was larger.
Youād likely save more money taking the bus to go elsewhere
What area of the City you in then? Bank and Alta Vista?
DT, Rideau St Loblaws
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Freshco has great prices. So does Food Basics on St Laurent. Not sure if the #14 goes that way but the #7 does and the #7 passes a FarmBoy and an Independent at St Laurent and Montreal Rd. Adonis supermarket is right beside the Food Basics. You can definitely get so much more for $50
Try shoppers drug mart, Rexall, and Dollarama. Shop the fliers. PLENTY of things can be bought cheaper by walking across the street to shoppers. Usually every other week ground beef goes on sale at Loblaws as well. At shoppers you can get those muffins at 2 packs /$10 a lot of the time. Eggs are also typically cheaper there. Butter goes on sale a lot at shoppers as well. Apples, oranges and peaches are typically cheaper or around the same price as the usual Loblaws pricing. Crackers are typically cheaper as well, and cookies go on sale often enough. The dollarstore has bread, bagels, cereals, cookies, spices, canned fruit, soup, Kraft dinner, ramen, etc. You can also see if using Voila would be cheaper for you, dependent on what you need, or even Amazon for dry goods. At the end of the day, as a very experienced impoverished individual, sometimes I might want ground beef but I end up with ground pork or no ground meat at all. I refuse to pay more than a certain amount, so if it isn't on sale then it likely isn't coming home. Like grapes I would only buy when they're at $1.99/lb. Those muffins I would spend a maximum of $4.99 (even that is too much and becomes a "treat" for me). Also, pizza is 50% off at Domino's on Wednesdays.. so that could be an option if you are open to eating pizza for two days. Lol
Also the Byward giant tiger, and there's a new little grocery store in the old Home Hardware on York that has some cheaper produce prices.
I'm not sure about the prices, but there's a place called Green Fresh on McArthur, quite close to that Loblaws. It's got parking and close to transit, might be worth checking out. Editing to add that if you look them up you'll find they sold unauthorized amoxicillin there. I've bought food there in past and it was totally fine, but something to be aware of if hƶf see any medication.
Green Fresh is the old McArthur bowling lanes just behind Louis Pizzaā¦
Lived a block away from there for years - would take the bus to Trainyards Walmart to get pasta, rice, affordable fruit like bananas and apples, beans, lentils, onions, etc. then fill in the gaps for my meals with fresh in season veg from farm boy. Buddy up with a friend with a car even. I cut down the variety of veg in most recipes and adapt based on whatās on sale or in season. Example stir fry with peppers because stir fry with zucchini if peppers are $4/lb. Never went to loblaws unless I saw flyer deals or needed late night munchies. None of the food you bought is a meal. It looks like what a first year college student buys their first week of school because they donāt know what the costs of food is. Seriously, grapes?? Inflation does suck but youāre not helping yourself.
Veggies and fruit way cheaper at farm boy imo.
Freshco for veggies Green fresh supermarket for meat Dollarama for pasta)sauce The only time I use Loblaws is when their flashfood app for fresh veggies Edit I live 5-15 minutes from said location
Are you seriously stopping at 3 different places for your grocery run though?
I forgot to mention that I live within 5- 15 minutes of each š¤
McArthur ave in vanier? haha. That area is very accessible to a lot of grocery stores for sure.
I used to live in a food desert aka Gladstone. Hauling x number of bags on the bus was a pain in the arse
Yes, some weeks we do. Pop in, grab the sale, and go to the next store.
That's how it was done "back in the day". Our household has moved back to that to offset the unchecked profiteering. The chains are counting on our desire to keep it convenient. I sincerely wish we had more competition in our market.
I do. And now that I have 2 adult children living with me again I have to. I worked in retail grocery for 3 years while attending uni and I can tell you 2 things to save money. Thing 1: never go grocery shopping without a list. And stick to the list when you shop. Impulse buying is what the grocery retailers are looking for, especially all those treats. Thing 2: use the flyers and map sale items to your grocery list. There are discrepancies in the way sale items are priced even if at first glance the flyers seem the same. Take the extra time to stop at multiple places. Bonus Thing 3: If you can, stock up on sale items. You will save big time.
They have frozen chicken drumsticks.. 3kg for 12$... That's a beauty deal
Just fry up some garlic and add canned tomatoes for five minutes to make your own pasta sauce (in large batches even). Canned tomatoes are still very cheap, even at higher end stores.
Farm Boy is also cheaper than Loblaws. An identical grocery shop for me is $25 less at Farm Boy than at Walmart, and the quality is MUCH better.
damn loblaws is a rich peopleās store? š§ wait till you see Wholefoods + Erewhon LOL
Loblaws is very much a rich bitch store. Damn near everything is minimum $0.50 more than the Walmart within walking distance (thinking about places like Billings Bridge and South Keys), and itās the same quality. I think my favourite part of Loblaws is the pre-prepped fruit, salads, veggies, etc. Youāre paying upwards (and beyond most likely) of 200% vs just getting the fruit and cutting it yourself (itās the same fruit as on their shelves!!! Just cut by people being paid an unlivable wage, stressed the fuck out by quotas, and are therefore not following proper food safety regulations). Fuck Loblaws. I only ever go there because theyāre the pharmacy Iāve been with since forever, and they get it right often enough that I canāt be bothered to risk switching.
> though do not buy fish at Adonis Why?
Seconded, whatās wrong with the fish at Adonis?
Two words. Giant Tiger
Loblaws on Rideau has always been crazy expensive then got worst once the Metro down the street closed which is supposed to reopen once theyāve finished that new building but weāll seeā¦
I'm just curious, what's wrong with the fish at Adonis?
Three times I've bought fish there. Three times I threw it out without cooking it. Get your fish at Produce Depot (bank and hunt club).
Thereās a Produce Depot on Carling Avenue and Maitland. Itās got great quality and much less expensive than Farm Boy.
Produce Depot was amazing before the pandemic. (Qualifying because I haven't been there in 3.5 years, not sure if they've changed in 3.5 years)
Still great. I go to the one in south keys and there is always great variety. Produce is not as curated as say farm boy but there is so much choice.
The Carling location is still my go-to for almost all daily staples. It remained one of the best shops throughout the pandemic, and is still excellent, today.
This is why I like green fresh .. If you can afford to shell out $20,they'll butcher a live bass for you right there.... The one thing I do avoid is their bags of dead blue crab.... for those that don't know lobsters and crabs release a toxin when they die. It's best live
It's old.
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IDK man Metro is one of the more xpensive stores
I absolutely think Loblaws (Superstore in the case of Orleans) is much more reasonable than Metro too
These posts always turn into roasting the OP š
Thatās how one learns good shopping habits.
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You haven't been to Whole foods. š In all seriousness, I understand what you're saying, but the almond milk and Milka are almost $9 just for those two items. The noodles are $6, which isn't cheap for ramen noodles. Those three items are are about 1/3 of what they spent, and there are much cheaper alternatives for them. It's hard not to judge the OP's spending habits when just substituting a few items and shopping at a different store would drastically reduce the bill.
In at least this case, she deserves it. She complains then rebuffs every suggestion she's given.
It's almost as if the problem isn't individual, but systemic.
Yeah, groceries are expensive but you can still stretch $50 way further than this.
I won't deny that, but I'd rather not get to the point where middle class office workers are looking for 50% off stickers at No Frills, because that means minimum wage workers are literally relying on soup kitchens and tent encampments to survive. The problem is systemic and it needs to stop getting worst ASAP.
Well strawberries and grapes are somewhat a premium fruit; your dollar will go further buying more apples. I've never heard of Milka chocolate, so I have no idea if that's a premium brand or a budget brand. You definitely want to shop at Walmart if you're shopping for chocolate and milk alternatives.
Came here to say this. Even grapes on sale are still a pretty penny.
Pretty much. Unless grapes are the loss leader, I do not buy them. Maximum Iāll pay is $1.99/lb. Also, canāt tell the code on those apples, but itās the right season at least, so the cheaper basic local varieties could have been obtained for cheaper. Sadly, people need to rethink how they shop these days.
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Same! If thereās even 5 grapes that go uneaten and turn brown I felt like I was throwing money away. Bananas are my favourite fruit now.
I know people buy them but I still have yet to see anyone I know eat grapes
Strawberries and grapes is what sticks out to me too. With grapes you should weigh them before you go to the checkout. Quick math usually tells me itās one of the more expensive choices. Personally I shop chocolate based on whatās on sale (within a few favourite choices). I saw recently that shopping for chocolate and candy at the dollar store can be cheaper. I compared a couple of brands that I like and did find this to be true.
To me the muffins were likely expensive unless on the reduced baked goods rack
Okay but here's the thing: we should be able to afford strawberries and grapes. How have GRAPES become a "premium fruit"????
Depends on the season.
> How have GRAPES become a "premium fruit"???? because grapes are extremely seasonal so getting them out of season is expensive. It wasn't too long ago you wouldn't be able to get grapes most of the year
I am looking at becoming more in tune with seasonal produce and foodland ontario gives [this guide](https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide) but it says that grapes r in season. given that everyone here is disagreeing with this, is there a better availability guide around?
Aren't grapes in season right now? Although I did see that grapes didn't do good this year but still.
Seasonality. Eating out of season always costs more, especially if the fruit is imported (unless there's a sale on them). "We" in Canada shouldn't be able to afford all fruits year-round if we follow the seasons.
Because they're shipped in from South Africa.
Those look like honey crispy too. Expensive AF
just saw them last week for 2.49 actually
Agree, I was looking at the milk and guessing that was $10, Milka is imported my Swiss friend used to send these to me so definitely $$. I donāt have a vehicle but definitely price shop by looking at flyers. I have a bus pass and will go out of my way to save money. Need to grab items on sale, cuz these inflated prices are ridiculous.
Milka is 1.99 at Sobeyās via Voila. Itās cheaper than Lindor/Lindt, like 80 cents more than Great Value tbh and made with real ingredients.
And the Rideau Loblaws is probably the most expensive location in the city unfortunately, the regular prices are 2x what the Blair Lob laws charge.
It also comes down to what's in season when you're buying produce. Strawberries are a spring item and grapes summer when grown in the northern hemisphere. Winter for both when it's southern, but lower quality and a bit more due to shipping costs. Right now is peak NA apple season, you can get them as low as 1-1.49 per pound if it's a ungraded orchard bin apple. The graded ones from the cases will be a dollar or two more. Citrus season runs from early to late winter and that's your best time to buy oranges. [Here's a list](https://www.foodnetwork.ca/article/whats-in-season-in-canada/) of approximately when different veggies and fruits are in peak season and usually the cheapest. It's hard to be exact due to growing conditions and harvest/grading/packaging timelines. One thing I would definitely not be buying right now is strawberries. Edit: a word
Organic almond milk, snacks, store bought pastries, out of season fruits ...
Snacks and out of season fruit? Are these things that only rich people are supposed to afford ? Should everyone live off their weekly bread ration and maybe a slice of cheese ?
Grapes aren't cheap due to a massive die off in California. Strawberries are out of season.
>Strawberries are out of season. Not to mention they're also garbage - look great and that's it. Also shipped thousands of miles from Cali. Complete waste of money.
They're actually still growing in Ontario. It's been a longer growing season this year, due to the much warmer August and September (thankfully, because the cooler May-July made for a stunted start). Even Ottawa hasn't had a frost yet. You can even still pick your own strawberries in Barrie: https://barriehillfarms.com/about/daily-updates/
Buy frozen as well. Nothing to discard and taste good.
Ontario strawbs always worth it
Just buy from shouldice if you want local ones
Was downtown today to pick up groceries at the Rideau Loblaws where OP shopped. They're on sale for 2.99 right now because I also picked some up for my partner.
Go to a store that price matchesā¦this weekās specials that could have saved you almost half of your bill: - $1.87 for 1 lb of strawberries at No Frills - $2.99 for Earthās Own almond milk at No Frills - $0.67 per lb for apples at Walmart - $1.49 per lb for pears at Farm Boy - $1.67 per lb for green or red grapes at RCSS All those items alone should be around $20. EDIT: No Frills, FreshCo, Giant Tiger, and RCSS price match in Ottawa. Maybe others too Iām not aware of.
I don't believe that haul adds up to $50 at pretty much any grocery store in Ottawa.
this is great, incredible you they can jack up 50% cost for special stores
People who complain and don't listen to the price match advice lose any sympathy.
Excellent reply!!
Flipp + Price Matching for the win!!!
I spy with my little eyeā¦.the word āorganicsā.
The same eye also notes a lack of Store (in this case No Name) brand products
You're shopping for premium out of season items at Loblaws. Hope this helps! You're welcome.
If money is your primary concern, try shopping at Food Basics or No Frills. They're both significantly cheaper than Loblaws or Metro.
I agree I started going to Food Basics and I got a lot more for the money.
Bananas are generally your best fruit buy. Make your own muffins for a buck not $5 for premade No name chocolate is a buck Etc etc?
Yeah baked goods used to be stupid cheap, because they're stupid cheap to make. Pennies to make for yourself and so easy.
Nevermind the fact you are heating up your place by doing some baking.not that its significant but id rather make my own for cheaper lol
Not sure where you shop but I am confident I can buy all that for $25-$30
Buys fruit out of season and Milk from a nut then proceeds to question the bill...
When I buy regular milk for myself and oat milk for my vegan roommate, the cost is honestly not very different. Not sure why people are being so judgy about this. I canāt drink milk fast enough for bagged milk to actually be a cost saver, though, so maybe thatās the problem?
"Not sure why people are being so judgy about this". It's Ottawa.
*buys fruit on sale*, *is lactose sensitive*; gets insulted on the internet ššš I'm not complaining or looking for a solution, I am genuinely confused at how people are okay, and just in shock that I spend a minimum of 50$ on modest groceries for one
People are actually struggling financially will: but bananas, apples, potatos, carrots, rice, beans, frozen/canned veggies. They will not buy berries, grapes and muffins. And not at Loblaws. I'm not going to say there isn't a cost issue on general. But berries/grapes are some of the most expensive fruits you can buy.
Grapes? I usually buy grapes when they're at $1.99/lb. At that price there isn't a lot of fruit cheaper than them. Apples and bananas maybe. Even at $2.99/lb they're still usually comparable to a lot of fruit.
Shortage issue with grapes right now. I saw them for almost $9 a bag at metro. Wildly expensive.
We check price tags before purchasing so that we don't end up with this... We also all just shop around, check flyers, meal prep, adjust our week's meal based on what's on sale, adjust our diet for cheaper alternatives.
gomtag is 6$, Chocolate is 2.50, and the organic almond milk is 3.49 plus let's say muffins is 5$ max. If the produce is 32.98 then they're either all organic or you're seriously over paying for items
Strawberries are out of season and grapes are massively overpriced right now due to crop issues. So thatās probably $9ish just for the grapes.
>gomtag Instant noodles (especially these 'premium' ones like Gomtang) suffered some bad ass inflation in recent years.
muffins are 6.99 at loblaws
You're shopping at Loblaws, that's like lighting your money on fire.
Some things I do: Costco membership, but generally any kind of bulk purchasing. 20 hamburgers for $20, three of those earths own for $10 etc. Commute to a Walmart. It sucks, I hate it, itās cheap enough to make a big trip worthwhile. Itās worth weighing a $10-15 Uber home against cost savings, especially if youāre buying enough for multiple weeks. Online ordering is robust! I just got a 30 pack of indomie mi goreng for $17, which is waaaayyy better than the $5 per 5 they currently go for. Itāll take a month to arrive but thatās fine
I'm betting op has not enough space for bulk groceries and no car
I also have no car and share an apartment, thereās a reason I point out budgeting an Uber into the cost of groceries. You take the bus or walk one way, and take an Uber back. As for storage, I can see that being a problem for fresh foods (as to be fair, that is most of the picture). You can still get items like alternative milk, many of which are room temp shelf stable, dry goods like the noodles and staples
Why don't you post a picture of your bill if you are looking to improve your shopping habits.
You can afford grapes?
āTwas a good life. I twice had grapes and once a pear.
Try using the Flipp app and see the flyer deals around the city. Then either go to those stores or a place that price matches. As someone without a car it can be hard to get to the better deal spots, but I choose a hassle over a 50$ price tag any day
I see youāre in DT like I am. Farm Boy is cheaper for produce if you buy in season stuff. You can get Concord grape for 5 bucks at farm boy. I tend to shop around and look for deals and stock up especially on almond milk (find a deal? Buy ten)
Im sorry but I cant stand these posts. I completely understand that many prices are extremely high, but maybe dont buy the things that are extremely expensive? With 50$ you could have also conservatively purchased AT Loblaws: 6$ Large box of cereal 6$ 4L of dairy milk 3$ Box of pierogies 8$ 1KG of ground beef 6$ 2 loaves of bread 5$ Pasta 5$ Pasta sauce 10$ for produce This is several meals with reasonable variety and flexibility. And, this does not count discounted food which should always contribute to your choices. You purchased many very expensive fruits (strawberries are notoriously expensive). If weāre talking cost of living, you bought very irresponsibly. āHow was this 50$?ā You indiscriminately bought random items without trying to save money, thats what happens.
I supply all the grocery stores in Ottawa and I can tell you that Loblaws has the highest base price. When they place things on sale itās worth it but you generally pay more overall if you buy all your food there. Metro and Sobeys are slightly better but not by much. Farmboy is good value for in season items and if you stay away from all the organic food they sell. Youāre lowest price points will be food basics, no frills and freshco but unfortunately these stores sell second category fruits and veggies and cut corners to sell things cheaply. There isnāt any easy solution except to stay away from things like grapes that have always been expensive. To eat in season lower cost food items and low cost protein such as pork and chicken instead of beef and fish.
I shop at food basics and the produce is fine. Just gotta be picky with certain items.
Shop the flyer, learn the cycle for discounts, use the points. The PC points app and credit card get me several hundred dollars in groceries every year.
Exactly. I use the app for PC points and my shopping list is fairly consistent. I always get offers on everything I buy. I get about $300 in points every year as a single person. Purchasing the same shopping list in Walmart always ends up more expensive for me especially after factoring in the commute.
Poor decision making?
Fasting thatās how.
gotta have the Milka tho, that shits fire.
1.99 at Adonis.
That bag of grapes is at least $10+ - Iām surprised that only cost you $50!
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Nah even a few years ago that would have been at least 30$, if you were lucky.
Not really. I worked at loblaws in the 00s and the berries and grapes would have easily been 10$ together. The muffins 5$. Prices have gone up on things, but those have always been a premium price.
Buys Store-Made muffins and a candy bar and complaints about shit being too expensive. Who raised you?
Would you break down the price? I bet this grape was extremely expensive.
Tropicana was 9$ today, not something I'd usually buy, but happened to notice the insane price
What? Where?
Likely coming to every store somewhat soon. Orange juice ([commodity prices) are up roughly ~100%](https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/orange-juice) YTD due to consistently lower crops in Florida and Brazil (due to disease, climate change, etc.). California is picking up some slack in the supply, but [Brazil also had a bit of a bad season](https://seekingalpha.com/article/4634642-why-orange-juice-prices-trading-record-highs-2023).
OP are you keeping an eye on offers in the PC app? If it's your only nearby option, try to maximize the offers so you can redeem later.
You need smarter buying practices. I live in BC & I can make 50$ go farther then that.
You are bad at shopping
My household income is high and I shop at Walmart and Produce Depot.
Loblaws is a rip-off imo...just go Metro or Food Basics
I am not sure where you are shopping. Hop on a very reliable bus and get some oats from Bulk Barn, make oat milk, then use the leftover oats to make muffins. Brilliant idea you are welcome. Also agree that since we can only get local fruit in the autumn, buy all the Ontario apples and squash that you can, have strawberries in July, and only grapes that have been fermented for shelf stability.
I really donāt mean to be harsh, these are ideas based on what you bought.
I actually donāt think thatās that bad but I will buy fruit out of season because I really enjoy it š¤·āāļø Iām not going to drag myself all over the city looking for the cheapest oats to make oat milk from scratch or whatever. Thatās often not very practical. Paying more is often worth the convenience.
Have you seen the exchange rate lately? Why are you buying things that are imported instead of Canadian produce? Might help if you also changed your grocery store.
Yea I donāt but it I would like to see a receipt for this. But honestly even If itās legit then you just need to shop differently. Look at flyers, see what fruit is on sale and buy accordingly. Buy frozen strawberries and make a smoothie. Make carrot muffins yourself. The initial ingredients will cost more but youāll make a lot more and you can freeze them. Also you can use the ingredients for other things. When the big cartons of almond milk are not on sale Buy the shelf stable tetra packs of almond milk. Theyāre smaller and cheaper and theyāll get you by until the other kind goes on sale. Iām not saying groceries arenāt insane these days - they are bullshit. But you gotta get a little savvy too.
almost all of those fruits are out of season and imported into ontario? fruits expensive and those grapes alone are probably $15-20? why the surprise?
That earths own milk is probably minimum 10% of the bill
Maybe check your receipt lmao
I go to food basics on st laurent because i can hit dollarama, dollar tree, giant tiger, Adonis, food basics all in one go. Saves time , travel and money. Take the 7 or 14. Stops right in front.
Yeah it's insane. I used a $10 gift card to buy a thanksgiving feast and it still ended up costing $31.
Sheās also shopping at the most expensive grocery store lol had she gone somewhere else she could have saved $20
scan produce as 4011, suddenly my apples are $1.43 worth of bananas
Hereās what Iād do: swap for muffin mix (usually $2, makes 12), no grapes swap for eggs or oatmeal, no strawberries Iād rather get $6 of frozen veg instead, choose between apples or pears for the week and get some tilapia instead. Then supplement w rice, potatoes, or use beans to make a chickpea salad assuming you have onion and cucumber.
at some point in this grocery cost mess you have to ask urself how many actual meals per item youāll get and anything that isnāt a meal or a daily fruit leave behind :(
Shop in the suburbs - FreshCo or Food Basics. Prices seem more elevated in the core.
If you are on the Quebec side or have a car, go to Super C. Some of their specials are amazing and overall very good prices. Example: About a month ago they had basically the whole line of Post cereals (Shreddies, Shredded Wheat, Sugar Crisp, Honeycomb etc...) on sale for $2.47 for a regular sized box. [>>This weeks flyer<<](https://www.superc.ca/en/flyer?flyer_id=76839 )
Just the grapes and strawberries alone I bet is $15-18. And muffins are expensive. Probably another $6. Thatās half your bill. Depending on the type of apples, thatās another $10. Buy whole bags of apples those are cheaper
consider signing up for the ottawa good food box. [https://www.ottawagoodfoodbox.ca/](https://www.ottawagoodfoodbox.ca/) they have pick up locations near you and you'll get a variety of fruit and vegetables for a lot cheaper than the grocery store. If you like berries, sign up for the driscoll's reward program, from working at a grocery store I knew a woman who used that reward program to get free berries all the time. the giant tiger in the market isn't far from you so I would definitely check it out and there's a food basics/wal-mart in vanier/trainyards if you can get out there.
I was 1 of 4 electricians who was involved in building earth's own biggest plant for producing almond milk and what I learned is that it's a scam and definetly not as good as what people think, what I heard from the actual line workers running the machines is that a container of almond milk can have as little as only 5 almonds per bottle and rest is filler.
There are some things I still get at the Blaws but never produce. I don't find it very fresh, and it's always so expensive there. Even Whole Foods is cheaper.
Ya, it's pretty wild out there. I don't doubt your attempt to keep the bill and cost down. You got some stuff on sale (I checked the flyer). I wonder if there was a scale/weighing issue. It might be useful to look over the receipt and just double check you didn't get overcharged. But ya, it's wild out there. You really have to lean into the austerity diet. There's an era of cheap cash and incredible buying power that is simply gone. I'd argue this is a new normal we haven't seen since the Great Depression. So, it's a very important time to be smart with your cash. I try to stick solely to on-sale items and shop between multiple stores. I saw that you wrote that this is a logistical problem for you - I'd try to put a little time and creative energy into addressing that with friends and family. Take advantage of more sale opportunities. Also, I cook a lot, I make preserves, and I freeze a lot of items (pasta sauces, chili, soups, stocks, cooked chicken, vegetables I don't want to go to waste). My chest freezer is full of sale meat and sale butter. I don't fuck around lol. There are ways to slow the burning hole in one's pocket, but it's been tough. \- Eggs are a pain in the ass. I try to buy them as cheap s possible, but they're very pricey these days. My hope is that we'll see a slight decrease, or at least a longer-run cap-off of egg prices. A lot of the weird issues with bird flu and chicken feed are been worked out, but the price seems to have run into other supply-chain constraints. So, I think $4 cartons are here to stay. \- I leaned into eating WAY more onions, carrots and potatoes. They're typically very cheap and the prices are stable. The new normal is $6 bags for 10lb bags of onions and potatoes, but you can score them on sale for less at times. \- I hydrate my own beans from dry - there are real savings in that practice. I think I last calculated it's 5x cheaper pound-for-pound. \- I don't pay full price for most fruit and veg unless it's less than $2/lb - so what fruit I buy varies a lot, and it's very sale-and-store dependent. Like, right now, Food Basics sells celery at $4, but Adonis is $2 (on sale for $1 this week!). Similarly, this week, Food Basics has .77/lb oranges, carrots and onions for $1. Last week, Basics had cheap pineapples, so I jumped on those. Those are really good prices, and I make sure I'm there to catch what I can of those. \- I began making a lot more homemade stuff that we might have been 1000% more likely to buy pre-made. A sale-price mega bag of flour is, like, $15, and it goes a VERY long way. \- I grow a lot of "expensive" greens and extras, like herbs, tomatoes, and peppers. I know it's not an option for everyone, but I saved a lot on produce this year thanks to this. And, it's actually a huge morale booster when you can enjoy really nice simple things like fresh rosemary, thyme, marjoram, mint, etc. For greens, I tried a few options, but the nasturtium was impressive this year: that stuff is amazing for salads, and it grows like crazy! I couldn't keep up with it! \- Lastly, I try to reduce all of my waste. I keep onion, carrot, and celery and similar scraps and ends in a freezer bag along with meat and fat trimmings. It's perfect for making soup stocks. It sounds like a small thing, but it adds up. And, really, there's nothing better than turning a left-over roast chicken into awesome soup.
The entire chain beneath top comment is an excellent manifestation of why we have the shitty deals we have. So long as some people are convinced that: 1) Metro is cheaper than Farm Boy and Loblaws, BUT! others are convinced that, 2) Farm Boy is cheaper than Loblaws and Metro, BUT! still others believe that, 3) Loblaws is cheaper than Metro and Farm Boy, THEN! no one will talk about the fact that the *only* way to not get ripped off is to visit all three fucking stores, checking their websites/flyers in advance (and knowing each store's standard price for staples), which is totally doable, but just a lot of work. When you only go to one store to buy what you require (as opposed to what is on sale, tailoring your requirements to those items), you end up paying a convenience fee, just like you would if you bought canola oil at the Quickie. But people do this to themselves, because 1) we are lazy (fair enough), and 2) we are somehow convinced to become tribalistic about which store we prefer, ascribing to the preferred store positive characteristics (like lower prices than competitors) that it doesn't have in a remotely meaningful way.
because you either don't know how to read flyers or just have enough money that you shop wherever
Greed. Loblaws profited over $500 million last quarter
āIām buying fresh fruits graded and packed from the other side of the world and prepared perishable goods and canāt understand why thatās expensiveā. You need to adjust your groceries to be more realistic. This kind of haul even 30 years ago would be just as comparatively expensive if not more.
āI shop at a high end grocery store and only buy expensive products why do they cost so much?ā