Grocery bargains
Jan 9th 2009, 8:27 pm
#61
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
Re: Grocery bargains
It funny because you're the voice of reason on here for new immigrants. You see a lot of people come on here and say that groceries are more expensive than the UK and if you shopped in a normal way like the UK (go into one shop and get your weekly shopping no matter what cost), then they're probably right. It takes a different mindset to grocery shop here and do it cheaper than the UK.... Of course there's some people who are loaded and don't care anyway...
Jan 9th 2009, 8:51 pm
#62
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Kamloops from London via New York
Posts: 456
Re: Grocery bargains
Not quite six. We're 4. It's our rice and pasta dishes that make enough for 6 or more.
It's also not the regular price - I paid $4 for some packs, each of which will do the four just a few days ago - but that list of meals was 'typical' as the main ingredients are typically available in any given week at one of the stores at that reduced price or (for example) that 3k box of chicken breasts will easily last until the next offer at the same fantastic price.
I'm not sure about NB groceries being cheaper. I was in Quebec before NB and I saw much the same prices. Bread was actually a better deal there than here. I also recall someone from another province - out west, I think - posting some flyer prices and they were less than here.
It's funny....in all the threads about grocery prices there seem to be three groups of people. Those who pick up bargains where they can, those who know they spend about $25 on a home cooked meal and those who don't think about it.
There are not many of us in the former group but we do seem to be concentrated in Atlantic Canada.
Yes-can-do in NS, I think it was, even posted about two dining out at a pub for $12 including a glass of wine.
I think if I was joining BE now, I'd call myself flyerman or something.
It's also not the regular price - I paid $4 for some packs, each of which will do the four just a few days ago - but that list of meals was 'typical' as the main ingredients are typically available in any given week at one of the stores at that reduced price or (for example) that 3k box of chicken breasts will easily last until the next offer at the same fantastic price.
I'm not sure about NB groceries being cheaper. I was in Quebec before NB and I saw much the same prices. Bread was actually a better deal there than here. I also recall someone from another province - out west, I think - posting some flyer prices and they were less than here.
It's funny....in all the threads about grocery prices there seem to be three groups of people. Those who pick up bargains where they can, those who know they spend about $25 on a home cooked meal and those who don't think about it.
There are not many of us in the former group but we do seem to be concentrated in Atlantic Canada.
Yes-can-do in NS, I think it was, even posted about two dining out at a pub for $12 including a glass of wine.
I think if I was joining BE now, I'd call myself flyerman or something.
Jan 9th 2009, 8:54 pm
#63
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Location: Kamloops from London via New York
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Re: Grocery bargains
I agree, it takes me about three hours to do the weekly shop at the moment, as I tend to plan menus as I go along, and I'm still not finding everything that easily yet. If I tried to use several supermarkets I dread to think how long it would take! I'm sure in time I will find the place with the prices and quality that suit though. I'm still very happy with how much better the quality and range of food there is here compared with New York.
Jan 9th 2009, 9:27 pm
#64
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Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
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Re: Grocery bargains
I'm looking at moving to New Glasgow and the same stores there look to be a few minutes apart. I researched other places in NS where the same seems to be the case.
Prior to moving here I lived in Longueuil, QC where SuperC, Maxi and Loblaws were all close.
Perhaps I assume that it's the same everywhere and that - especially if one drives - if one can get to one supermarket, there will be an alternative nearby. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that most people who can get to one can easily get to another and between the two save $30 in every $100 of regular prices.
That was a surprise. Lots of people have said choice is better in the US.
Jan 9th 2009, 9:35 pm
#65
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
Re: Grocery bargains
Perhaps I assume that it's the same everywhere and that - especially if one drives - if one can get to one supermarket, there will be an alternative nearby. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that most people who can get to one can easily get to another and between the two save $30 in every $100 of regular prices.
Parking, shopping, loading up, driving to another supermarket and going through the whole process again holds no appeal whatsoever. It must add 50% to the time it takes to shop standing in line twice at a check-out. Add in the extra fuel and drive time, and it's a no-brainer. My own time's worth more than the saving.
Jan 9th 2009, 10:00 pm
#66
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Stamford & Selly Oak.
Posts: 95
Re: Grocery bargains
Hi all
When I lived in Cyprus (3 years) I gave up on comparing to the UK because I wasn't buying in the UK and my math isn't quite what it used to be. However, I have to thank BristolUK for starting the thread because it gives you a basic idea of what you can expect to pay in Canada throughout the provinces. Nice one.
Shaun
When I lived in Cyprus (3 years) I gave up on comparing to the UK because I wasn't buying in the UK and my math isn't quite what it used to be. However, I have to thank BristolUK for starting the thread because it gives you a basic idea of what you can expect to pay in Canada throughout the provinces. Nice one.
Shaun
Jan 9th 2009, 10:03 pm
#67
The /wortley`s
Joined: Dec 2006
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Jan 9th 2009, 10:05 pm
#68
The /wortley`s
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Posts: 186
Jan 9th 2009, 11:44 pm
#70
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,284
Re: Grocery bargains
No internet shopping in Pbro. Lakefield is a very nice place to live, Buckhorn is prettier but Lakefield is a better place to live. We stayed with friends near Young's Point when we first arrived. Bridgenorth is also a good place to live.
Lindsay is OK but is a little "downmarket" rough in places, bit like Peterborough... We can recommend an excellent realtor, Andrew Galvin. He's just how realtors should be, excellent help.
PM me if you want to know anything more.
Jan 9th 2009, 11:47 pm
#71
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Re: Grocery bargains
All the major supermarkets are located within a few minutes of each other here. I just don't live close to them - not everyone's a city dweller.
Parking, shopping, loading up, driving to another supermarket and going through the whole process again holds no appeal whatsoever. It must add 50% to the time it takes to shop standing in line twice at a check-out. Add in the extra fuel and drive time, and it's a no-brainer. My own time's worth more than the saving.
Parking, shopping, loading up, driving to another supermarket and going through the whole process again holds no appeal whatsoever. It must add 50% to the time it takes to shop standing in line twice at a check-out. Add in the extra fuel and drive time, and it's a no-brainer. My own time's worth more than the saving.
As for time spent inside, yes it will be a bit longer. But not by much because it will be a targeted shop. I'm in two stores for about an hour total instead of one store for 45 minutes.
The latest flyers are advertising chicken breasts @ $17.60 a kg in one store while they're on offer in the other @ $9.30 a kg. That's a big saving by anyone's standards. Thing is though, because we pay attention to the flyers, I bought the same thing last week @ $20 for THREE kilos.
So the 6 kilos I bought has saved $16 against the best price this week and $66 against the regular price.. Even if I didn't buy the 3kg boxes when I did knowing they're a great deal and just bought a couple of kilos this week, it would have saved me over $16 by buying at the 'right' store. For an extra 15 minutes. And that's just on one product.
I wish my time was worth that sort of money.
Jan 10th 2009, 12:39 am
#72
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Re: Grocery bargains
The poster could have been referring to manhattan New York, which probably doesn't have huge supermarkets downtown.
Jan 10th 2009, 1:20 am
#73
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Re: Grocery bargains
I thought the cereals were a tad expensive....until I saw that was for 12 packets. Who buys that many in one go?
No jokes about cereal killers please.
No jokes about cereal killers please.
Jan 10th 2009, 1:26 am
#74
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Location: Windsor, ON
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Re: Grocery bargains
That's the other thing that we've noticed are much cheaper and there's a greater range.... I
Chex cereal, yet to see them here though - they sell about 5 different types in the US 
Jan 10th 2009, 1:50 am
#75
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Re: Grocery bargains
The choice is far better in the US, where we might have a couple of alternatives of the same thing, they could have 4 or more. Prices on the whole are similar, except for dairy (in Ontario at least), which is MUCH cheaper in the US (Michigan anyway) and the knock on effect of anything containing dairy e.g. pizza, ice cream. If you're feeling particularly bored - take a look at the flyers for Kroger (www.kroger.com) and Meijer (www.meijer.com) use zip code 48030, these are the two main chains in metro Detroit.
The poster could have been referring to manhattan New York, which probably doesn't have huge supermarkets downtown.
The poster could have been referring to manhattan New York, which probably doesn't have huge supermarkets downtown.
Anyway, no I wasn't in Manhatten, but on the edge of Queens. If I'd been prepared to drive half an hour or so into Long Island I could have reached Trader Joe (very nice, expensive) or Whole Food (very organic/whole food, ridiculously expensive). The two local supermarkets were disappointing, crowded and more expensive than we had expected. I have been pleasantly surprised here, I've been cooking much more, made lots of nice Christmas stuff, and only had one or two things I couldn't find.