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A weeks shopping
Hello turds:) Went 'virtual shopping' in Loeb, a big food store in Ottawa last week while we were there. I have no idea if it's a up market or low market food store but here we go...
My shop in the UK for a week costs us £140 on average, that's for 4 people, my kids are over 18 and eat more than we do so I count them as adults. I went round with a calculator and simply added the price of every item as if we were buying it in the UK without worrying about the cost, just like we do in the UK. Someone actually come up to me and asked what it was we were doing, I simply said I was English and he seemed ok with that and walked off. I got away with a lot of stuff by doing that. We bought all the usual stuff we would buy here, like spuds, bananas, other fruit and veg, minced beef, chicken breasts, pork chops, 4 different types of cheeses, breads, frozen veg, cleaning stuff, washing powder, magazine (they ARE expensive) and so on and so on. And it came to, wait forrrr iitttt..... $304.23 which at the time of purchase translates into £142.29. So there you go, a weekly shop for us would be no difference in costs than here. Mrs. steve666 who has a job when we get there in September is on half the wages she gets here for the same job, in fact she has more responsibilty. She did bring up the issue of "is it cos i am a lady", but he assured her that there are guys doing a similar job on less salary. So there you go, the Canadians (well in Ottawa anyway) are poorer and they have to spend the same money to live as we do. So if you're coming over for the cheap living don't bother. Restaurants are cheaper though. |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by steve666
(Post 5082760)
Hello turds:)
Originally Posted by steve666
(Post 5082760)
Went 'virtual shopping' in Loeb, a big food store in Ottawa last week while we were there. I have no idea if it's a up market or low market food store but here we go...
My shop in the UK for a week costs us £140 on average, that's for 4 people, my kids are over 18 and eat more than we do so I count them as adults. I went round with a calculator and simply added the price of every item as if we were buying it in the UK without worrying about the cost, just like we do in the UK. Someone actually come up to me and asked what it was we were doing, I simply said I was English and he seemed ok with that and walked off. I got away with a lot of stuff by doing that. We bought all the usual stuff we would buy here, like spuds, bananas, other fruit and veg, minced beef, chicken breasts, pork chops, 4 different types of cheeses, breads, frozen veg, cleaning stuff, washing powder, magazine (they ARE expensive) and so on and so on. And it came to, wait forrrr iitttt..... $304.23 which at the time of purchase translates into £142.29. So there you go, a weekly shop for us would be no difference in costs than here. Mrs. steve666 who has a job when we get there in September is on half the wages she gets here for the same job, in fact she has more responsibilty. She did bring up the issue of "is it cos i am a lady", but he assured her that there are guys doing a similar job on less salary. So there you go, the Canadians (well in Ottawa anyway) are poorer and they have to spend the same money to live as we do. So if you're coming over for the cheap living don't bother. Restaurants are cheaper though. I wish your shopping was double after that opening comment:eek::rofl: |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by steve666
(Post 5082760)
So there you go, a weekly shop for us would be no difference in costs than here.
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Re: A weeks shopping
Oh, well that's okay then. If restaurants are cheaper I won't bother with a cooker:rofl:
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Tisme
(Post 5082838)
Oh, well that's okay then. If restaurants are cheaper I won't bother with a cooker:rofl:
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Biiiiink
(Post 5082813)
Will you be my personal shopper then? Are you ginger - I want a ginger bloke to follow me round, just like Posh has.
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Biiiiink
(Post 5082813)
Will you be my personal shopper then? Are you ginger - I want a ginger bloke to follow me round, just like Posh has.
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Re: A weeks shopping
I've done everything 'virtually' I've bought a house, bought a car, insured both and done a weekly shop at Sobeys, plus others all on-line just to give me an idea about living costs etc.
Very interesting it was too, but then I live in the sticks so anything vaguely like interaction is to be appreciated....:eek: |
Re: A weeks shopping
Loebs is not the cheapest of the Loblaw group stores, thats for sure.
Did you also figure out which of those weekly staples incur sales tax here, its a bit of a surprise, and all a bit random as far as I can tell? My weekly shop at "no frills" (the cheapest store around here that still has veg you wouldnt mind eating) for 2 +2 small kids averages out at about $150ish a week. By the time you add on stops at the IGA for stuff that wasnt on the list, we probably spend about $200 a week on groceries. We were reminded on a recent return to the UK how cheap some of the packaged / dry goods stuff was there compared to canada, but there are no hard / fast rules, some expensive UK stuff is cheap here (like steak), and vice versa (chicken). Bread milk chicken, canned goods, all seem expensive here in Canada by comparison. |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by steve666
(Post 5082760)
Hello turds:) Went 'virtual shopping' in Loeb, a big food store in Ottawa last week while we were there. I have no idea if it's a up market or low market food store but here we go...
My shop in the UK for a week costs us £140 on average, that's for 4 people, my kids are over 18 and eat more than we do so I count them as adults. I went round with a calculator and simply added the price of every item as if we were buying it in the UK without worrying about the cost, just like we do in the UK. Someone actually come up to me and asked what it was we were doing, I simply said I was English and he seemed ok with that and walked off. I got away with a lot of stuff by doing that. We bought all the usual stuff we would buy here, like spuds, bananas, other fruit and veg, minced beef, chicken breasts, pork chops, 4 different types of cheeses, breads, frozen veg, cleaning stuff, washing powder, magazine (they ARE expensive) and so on and so on. And it came to, wait forrrr iitttt..... $304.23 which at the time of purchase translates into £142.29. So there you go, a weekly shop for us would be no difference in costs than here. Mrs. steve666 who has a job when we get there in September is on half the wages she gets here for the same job, in fact she has more responsibilty. She did bring up the issue of "is it cos i am a lady", but he assured her that there are guys doing a similar job on less salary. So there you go, the Canadians (well in Ottawa anyway) are poorer and they have to spend the same money to live as we do. So if you're coming over for the cheap living don't bother. Restaurants are cheaper though. |
Re: A weeks shopping
Last week in the UK we wandered around a couple of Tesco's marvelling at the cheapness and variety of goods. However I suspect that for us we would have a similar experience wandering round a Loblaws/Safeway etc in a larger city in 'mainland' Canada as it's the logistics of getting stuff to the Rock that drives prices and availability.
F'r example back in June I saw fresh locally grown Asparagus at $0.75 a bundle in Byward market, Ottawa. In the local Dominion (Loblaws) this week it's $4 a bundle! |
Re: A weeks shopping
Thanks for the reminder.
I'd forgotten about the monthly grocery price comparison for Calgary.;):) I take no responsibility for what is or is not on the list. :p Cheers Steve |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by landhouse
(Post 5083156)
I've done everything 'virtually' I've bought a house, bought a car, insured both and done a weekly shop at Sobeys, plus others all on-line just to give me an idea about living costs etc.
Very interesting it was too, but then I live in the sticks so anything vaguely like interaction is to be appreciated....:eek: I've never done it online, it's never the same...;) |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Notiaink...honest
(Post 5083163)
Leobs is not the cheapers of the Loblaw group stores.
Did you also figure out which of those weekly staples incur sales tax here, its a bit of a suprose, and all a bit random as far as I can tell? My weekly shop at "no frills" (the cheapest store arounf here that still has veg you wouldnt mind eating) for 2 +2 small kids averages out at about $150ish a week. By the time you add on stops at the IGA for stuff that wasnt on the list, we probably spend about $200 a week on groceries. We were reminded on a recent return to the UK how cheap some of the packaged / dry goods stuff was there compared to canada, but there are no hard / fast rukes, some expensive UK stuff is cheap here (like steak), and vice versa (chicken) |
Re: A weeks shopping
My point was that you cant just go by adding up the sticker price on the shelf like you can in the UK, there is often at least some tax to pay on top of that, especially if you buy a lot of processed or luxury foods.
I guess the general point here is that if you eat out as a visitor in canada, you might be lulled into thinking that grocery shopping must be cheaper too, which it isnt, so at least you are doing your homework the right way. |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Notiaink...honest
(Post 5083458)
My point was that you cant just go by adding up the sticker price on the shelf like you can in the UK, there is often at least some tax to pay on top of that, especially if you buy a lot of processed or luxury foods.
I guess the general point here is that if you eat out as a visitor in canada, you might be lulled into thinking that grocery shopping must be cheaper too, which it isnt, so at least you are doing your homework the right way. That's why I added $30 to the bill at the end, but don't tell anyone:) |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by steve666
(Post 5083535)
That's why I added $30 to the bill at the end, but don't tell anyone:)
My god man how high do you think the taxes are here? :confused::rofl::rofl: Actually the vast majority of grocery items are GST exempt.;) Yes I know the $30 was more of a fudge factor. :) |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Steve_P
(Post 5083568)
You added $30 to a $270 bill for estimated taxes. :eek::eek:
My god man how high do you think the taxes are here? :confused::rofl::rofl: Actually the vast majority of grocery items are GST exempt.;) Yes I know the $30 was more of a fudge factor. :) |
Re: A weeks shopping
My problem is I'm an ethical shopper. I buy all Fairtrade (have to, living in the world's first ever Fairtrade town!!), organic and British produce. Local as much as possible too. I pay a little more but I know my kids aren't going to grow 2 heads because of all of the DDTs and Paraquats on the vegies.
How likely is this in Canada? I know NS have some great Farmers Markets but how ethically can you shop there? |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Notiaink...honest
(Post 5083163)
...some expensive UK stuff is cheap here (like steak), and vice versa (chicken).
Is anything else really expensive ? I never knew about the chicken prices. Frankie Zee |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Frankie Zee
(Post 5084379)
Why is chicken so expensive then ? :frown: I barbecue loadsa chicken here, nearly live on the stuff actually. Just checked and so far I haven't grown wings.
Is anything else really expensive ? I never knew about the chicken prices. Frankie Zee I find bread ludicrously expensive, and any sort of curry related imports. Wine isnt cheap either, and you generally have to head to the LCBO to get it in Ontario. |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by landhouse
(Post 5084294)
my kids aren't going to grow 2 heads because of all of the DDTs and Paraquats on the vegies.
How likely is this in Canada? |
Re: A weeks shopping
chicken is expensive because of the Canadian Food & Drug inspection agency... heck back in the early 90's my bf's parents used to cross border shop their groceries (cross border meaning driving into the USA for anyone not getting that term *lol*) because the US standards were so low on meats & perishables that they could sell really cheap industrial meats & produce.... sadly Canadian govt if more concerned about consumers health concerns and scrutinize imports * own brands with a much stricter set of rules then most 'western' countries... which in Canada seems to mean mostly the US & Mexico as thats where most imports come from for 'fresh' food.
I suspect you may have been at the most convenient grocery store as thats not necessarily the cheapest... not saying you tried for the most expensive but that you may have picked the 'Sainsbury's' or 'M&S' to compare against Asda or Tesco... never hear of that 1 before anyway.... Loblaws, Metro & IGA are the big three in Quebec, dont know about the rest of Canada but know Loblaws is cross country. Anyway, my experience in Montreal was that Loblaws had more ogranic & specialty (vegetarian and the like) selection then the other two. Metro was the cheapest for meats and fresh vege & fruit, IGA was best for the more 'unique' items such as Marmite & Vegemite thats hard to find at the other two in Montreal's West Island. If you have 'bulk' items like toilet roll, frozen ready meals and the like that make up a significant portion of your grocery bill, you should have a look to see if there is any Costco (warehouse style bulk shopping) that you can get a membership with for things like fizzy drinks, loo roll, soaps and the like that are non perishable, it may be worth the yearly membership fee for a family of 4 adults :) My mum was paying $300 a week when all of us 4 kids were living in her house for her weekly shops & she thought THAT was expensive... keep in mind we were very lable driven and HAD to have Coca Cola, not the store brand stuff *lol* Wages ARE lower in Canada full stop.... its a hrash reality but unless you improve your skills or remain dedicated to a company for over 5 years or be in a really large demand industry like IT for example, you will be taking a pay cut... its not nice but at the same time, look around you and all the other savings your making! If you rent, you dont need to pay the municipal or federal taxes on the property your renting and dont have to pay any school, water or emergency services taxes! You don't have to pay a TV tax, although the tv in Canada is shite compared to the wonderful dry comedy in the UK admitedly. You dont have to worry about where to park when visitng most of your friends (unless they all live in city centers *lol*) you can have a fabulous 3 hour + night out with your mates for under £40 including food and drink. You can get a mortgage for 25 years and still be able to pay it off before retirement... said house does not need to be connected to adjoining neighbour... you can have a proper front & back yard with room for a *gasp* pool if you can afford it! There's alot of shitty things about any country and alot of positives, the only difference is what matters to each of you more individually! Personally I'll miss the un-PC humour and frankness/honesty of UK TV, commercials & mini movies. I'll miss the pictureque country side with rolling green hills and beautiful rustic homes & buildings. I'll miss the variety of song birds that twitter me awake in the morning. I'll miss the beautiful array of colours the spring bloom brings all across the UK. I'll miss having a relatively temperate climate all year round. I'll miss not having to do my own personal taxes every tax year. I'll miss not being able to know the exact price I'm going to pay at the cashiers till when purchasing something. I'll miss not having my birthday on a public holiday weekend *lol* ;) What I WONT miss is being called a bloody American for the 500th time! *lmao* |
Re: A weeks shopping
I find that we can save a lot of money on our grocery bill by eating out at sushi restaurants.
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Daedra
(Post 5085102)
Personally I'll miss the un-PC humour and frankness/honesty of UK TV, commercials & mini movies. I'll miss the pictureque country side with rolling green hills and beautiful rustic homes & buildings. I'll miss the variety of song birds that twitter me awake in the morning. I'll miss the beautiful array of colours the spring bloom brings all across the UK. I'll miss having a relatively temperate climate all year round. I'll miss not having to do my own personal taxes every tax year. I'll miss not being able to know the exact price I'm going to pay at the cashiers till when purchasing something.
Wow that's a big list. I think I'll miss Tesco, the local market and Rashi's curries. Why are you moving then :confused: and will you miss cheap chicken cos I think I will. Hmmm chicken :wub: Frankie Zee |
Re: A weeks shopping
I find I spend the same here as I did in the UK, you shop around and look at the flyers that come through the door each week, the meat I find is so much better than in the UK....yes u pay for the comforts of home when u run down to the Brittish shop and Buy a can of BAKED BEANS,,, to think we ate that when poor at the end of the week, now we see it as a treat...lol:rofl:
How life changes... would we go back to the UK.... NEVER..:angry_smile: |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Frankie Zee
(Post 5085258)
Wow that's a big list. I think I'll miss Tesco, the local market and Rashi's curries. Why are you moving then :confused: and will you miss cheap chicken cos I think I will.
Hmmm chicken :wub: Frankie Zee Oh no dont get me wrong, I'll miss the cheap frozen chicken I get here in the UK... but keep in mind that the rest of the world has been warned off British Chicken because of the whole avian flu contravesy... much like the British Hoof & Mouth controvery before in N.A before I moved over to the UK. Canadian food & inspection agency arer VERY picky on what they allow in as 'cheap imports' which consequently means higher prices on perishable food stuffs... on the one hand, its nice that they are looking after the general health of Canadians, on the other hand, it raises the prices and some retailers end up taking the blimey piss with their prices.... the happy medium is finding the big franchise supermarkets that dont take the piss with their markups. For me personally it involved going to the local farmers market stores (for meats & imports) and going to the nearest big chain 'Maxi' grocery for the non perishanbles & bulk/regular items.. dont know if it was the cheapest, but to me always seem to be the best combination of fresh produce & meats alongside ready meals ;) |
Re: A weeks shopping
hi Steve, looks like I am on a posting spree.:lol: anyway, what I want to tell you is that I am alone with 3 kids ( 2 teens and a 9 nine yr old) . I would easily spend $300.00 one week on food , but the other week i only buy fruit and veggies . Know what I mean? So one week , an expensive grocery and the second week a cheaper grocery. i would say I spend about $700-800.00 per month on groceries which would include lunch and snacks for school etc.. infact,it;s the snacks that kill me.They can really add up... ever been to Waitrose ?? I find them really expensive. Groceries are much cheaper in Toronto than they are here, but Toronto is much more expensive to live in than here so it all evens out in the end I guess.
:) |
Re: A weeks shopping
hey hey, another brit expat in Montreal... fan effing tastic, my OH will love shooting the breeze with other expat Brits once we're back in MTL next year I bet... now to make sure I remember all the MTL Brit expats... oh please hold the wine for the next 11 months *lol* :p
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Daedra
(Post 5085463)
hey hey, another brit expat in Montreal... fan effing tastic, my OH will love shooting the breeze with other expat Brits once we're back in MTL next year I bet... now to make sure I remember all the MTL Brit expats... oh please hold the wine for the next 11 months *lol* :p
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Re: A weeks shopping
Groceries are much more expensive in BC than Ontario as well, so for those of you headed this way, add a bit more to your bill, especially if you eat little in the way of packaged foods.
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by dingbat
(Post 5087673)
Groceries are much more expensive in BC than Ontario as well, so for those of you headed this way, add a bit more to your bill, especially if you eat little in the way of packaged foods.
:confused: Frankie Zee |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Frankie Zee
(Post 5087815)
Wow, like how expensive ? Is it even more expensive on Vanny Island cos I had Nanaimo in mind. I only eat fresh grub, mainly barbecued and salads, no frozen or supersized fast food. I thouight $500 a month would be plenty (there's only me to look after and I'm a skinny old thing).
:confused: Frankie Zee |
Re: A weeks shopping
Oh man this is killing me. I eat heaps of fruit, organic when ever I can.
Is fruit expensive too ? :curse: Can you get kokonuts in Vanny Island ? Frankie Zee |
Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by dingbat
(Post 5087825)
...particularly since fruit costs went through the roof last week.:mad:
But I guess it's a bit early yet for most of the Okanagan fruits other than cherries. |
Re: A weeks shopping
I'd reackon yes to coconuts, they were wrapped in plastic and sold at almost every supermarket or farmers market that sold fruits & vege in Montreal, dont see how it would be any different in BC :huh:
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Re: A weeks shopping
1 Attachment(s)
So anyway, didn't finish my story, I fell in love with with the shop girl, left the wife, and am now living here with her.
We go cycling every day together, because it's so flat in Ontario, no achy legs. The wife's in the blue bin (don't tell the police). |
Re: A weeks shopping
Yes put is your path still clear of weeds? :D
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Re: A weeks shopping
Originally Posted by Steve_P
(Post 5088051)
That doesn't seem fair does it with the Okanagan right next door?
But I guess it's a bit early yet for most of the Okanagan fruits other than cherries. |
Re: A weeks shopping
I wonder if these costs could be brought down if we grew our own fruit & vege... only mentioning it cos I've just got into it over the past 2 years and found it helps with grocery costs having my own home grown tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, courgettes and cucumbers as well as herbs. I must say though, I think the growing season in Canada would be far hotter but over quicker then here so dont know how much success I will have when I return to Canada next year :confused:
Well I intend to give it a good old go anyway, get those propogaters set up for seeds in March or Feb & pot them when they're big enough. Some things dont grow well in pots but there's so many things that can totally suceed so long as you fertilize & water them properly... got my first couple of sweet corn & courgettes/zuchini's growing on my plants now.. so exciting! *lol* Oh and the reason for my aversion to anything but potted plants... I am EXTREMELY squemish about creepy crawlies and slithery things *lol* :D |
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