Supermarket costs
#31
Re: Supermarket costs
Originally Posted by Hangman
Some real time Supermarket prices.
Real Canadian Superstore this weeks flyer.
Pick a province and then choose a city. It should give some idea as to what to expect for pricing.
For those coming to Calgary here's a link to Calgary Co-op online shopping in the "New Users" box type in T3A 1S2 then click on "Check my service area" that should get you to the next screen then in the lower right corner choose "Browse as a Guest".
Plus here is a link for the Safeway Flyer in my neighborhood here in Calgary.
Cheers
Steve
Real Canadian Superstore this weeks flyer.
Pick a province and then choose a city. It should give some idea as to what to expect for pricing.
For those coming to Calgary here's a link to Calgary Co-op online shopping in the "New Users" box type in T3A 1S2 then click on "Check my service area" that should get you to the next screen then in the lower right corner choose "Browse as a Guest".
Plus here is a link for the Safeway Flyer in my neighborhood here in Calgary.
Cheers
Steve
Cheers Steve. Just done a "Guest Browse". I'm re-assured - food does seem generally more expensive, but by not as much as earlier posters to this thread suggest.
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: London Ontario
Posts: 998
Re: Supermarket costs
Originally Posted by ARH
So we are generally looking at about 50% higher than the UK then? That's very useful if I've got it correct - thanks.
I know everyone shops differently, so it's difficult to make judgements - if you're spending £1000 on food in Canada, but were spending £650 ish a month in the UK then that would stack up.
Does anyone else think that the 50% figure is about right?
I know everyone shops differently, so it's difficult to make judgements - if you're spending £1000 on food in Canada, but were spending £650 ish a month in the UK then that would stack up.
Does anyone else think that the 50% figure is about right?
Ontario are looking at $10 minimum rate - and they should.
FWIW - we spend $1.50 for a loaf - named brand. But you can get cheaper bread if need be. In the UK we spent about 75-80p on a loaf of equivalent quality. We could have got cheaper if need be again. Depends on your expectations.
Last edited by SANDRAPAUL; Nov 5th 2006 at 4:48 pm.
#33
Cynically amused.
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: BC
Posts: 3,648
Re: Supermarket costs
Originally Posted by ARH
That's double the cost then for Chicken!! I doubt if they are gold plated - difficult to cook and eat! I suspect they are special hand reared, endangered species, fed finest chicken feed made from the finest grains. I suspect it's better quality than the water injected rubbish we get in the UK! It better be for that price!
Edited to add: I'm in Ontario as of tomorrow for a week...and comparing food costs will be interesting, given the chunk of my income it represents.
Last edited by dingbat; Nov 5th 2006 at 5:25 pm.
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: London Ontario
Posts: 998
Re: Supermarket costs
The average household income in Canada and more particular London Ontario as we live here is approx $50,000. If the average household spent $2000 per month on food after adding tax at 26% as you need to earn money to spend it and the government will have their slice before you take it home, that would equate to around $30,000 of income. So the household is then left with say around $1300 per month when you do your sums (take out tax etc) on the outstanding. That does not happen in your average household. Are there large numbers of people waiting on street corners for handouts - not in London. Most of them are getting a double double.
It is a concern but one must put these things into perspective what you earn, which equates to what you spend and what you spend it on....and that will alter with time.
When you earn large sums you tend to spend large sums. Been there - done that - and got not as much as I thought I would to show for it!
Unless of course you do not need to worry about where it comes from.
It is a concern but one must put these things into perspective what you earn, which equates to what you spend and what you spend it on....and that will alter with time.
When you earn large sums you tend to spend large sums. Been there - done that - and got not as much as I thought I would to show for it!
Unless of course you do not need to worry about where it comes from.
#35
Cost of food
Hi there,
I've found the cost of food to be incredibly high in BC, compared to the costs found in e.g. Asda, Tesco etc.
If you are on a tight budget, I recommend:
* Scan the local supermarket flyers every week, and stock up on discounted items.
* Use recipe websites such as recipezaar.com for new ideas for the items you've stocked up on!
* Avoid purchasing chicken breasts and whole chickens - too expensive. We buy packs of chicken thighs and debone for curries etc.
* Avoid ready-meals. A nice one is $10, or you can buy a lot of ingredients instead.
* Learn to bake. Pre-packaged cakes and cookies are very dear - save them for a treat.
* Concentrate on locally produced food. For example, frozen whole salmon is very cheap here, so we eat lots of that.
* Buy all your spices at Dollar Store.
* Use ground (minced) beef in lots of different ways.
* Potatoes get cheaper, the larger the bag.
The cost of food in BC has forced me to be much more creative in my cooking. I didn't even consider that it would cost more than the UK before I arrived. By being very careful, our weekly food costs hover around $80-$100 for 2 adults. I don't know how people on welfare survive.
I should also mention that I'm in a geographically isolated location with 2 main supermarkets. But things don't seem much cheaper when we visit the lower mainland or Vancouver Island.
Sarah
PS. If you are used to gravy, bring containers of Bisto instant gravy. It is not routinely available in BC supermarkets. They only have individual servings in cans.
I've found the cost of food to be incredibly high in BC, compared to the costs found in e.g. Asda, Tesco etc.
If you are on a tight budget, I recommend:
* Scan the local supermarket flyers every week, and stock up on discounted items.
* Use recipe websites such as recipezaar.com for new ideas for the items you've stocked up on!
* Avoid purchasing chicken breasts and whole chickens - too expensive. We buy packs of chicken thighs and debone for curries etc.
* Avoid ready-meals. A nice one is $10, or you can buy a lot of ingredients instead.
* Learn to bake. Pre-packaged cakes and cookies are very dear - save them for a treat.
* Concentrate on locally produced food. For example, frozen whole salmon is very cheap here, so we eat lots of that.
* Buy all your spices at Dollar Store.
* Use ground (minced) beef in lots of different ways.
* Potatoes get cheaper, the larger the bag.
The cost of food in BC has forced me to be much more creative in my cooking. I didn't even consider that it would cost more than the UK before I arrived. By being very careful, our weekly food costs hover around $80-$100 for 2 adults. I don't know how people on welfare survive.
I should also mention that I'm in a geographically isolated location with 2 main supermarkets. But things don't seem much cheaper when we visit the lower mainland or Vancouver Island.
Sarah
PS. If you are used to gravy, bring containers of Bisto instant gravy. It is not routinely available in BC supermarkets. They only have individual servings in cans.
#36
Starting over ..
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Campbell River, BC
Posts: 69
Re: Cost of food
PS. If you are used to gravy, bring containers of Bisto instant gravy. It is not routinely available in BC supermarkets. They only have individual servings in cans.[/QUOTE]
They sell the old style Bisto powder in the supermarkets here (Campbell River,Vancouver Island), just add meat juices and water - just like mum used to make, lumps and all!
bad.andy
They sell the old style Bisto powder in the supermarkets here (Campbell River,Vancouver Island), just add meat juices and water - just like mum used to make, lumps and all!
bad.andy