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Re: Groceries
1. Is the marked down produce thing y'all talk about an Eastern thing? Anyone on the west coast see it on a regular basis? We shop at Save On and I have never seen marked down produce once. I do know they donate to the food bank, so maybe they donate vs marking it down.
I have seen marked down produce at Superstore, but we don't shop there as well there isn't one, and I don't find their overall prices very good. 2. I make soup using a cooked chicken from the store, the breast of the chicken serves as a meal itself when bought, and the remaining meat goes into a soup. For whatever reason the cooked chickens are cheaper than the raw ones, and the less I have to cook the better. A whole raw chicken is normally $13 and up, vs 8.99 for the cooked one. I don't add any veggies to my soups as there are very few vegetables I like cooked, and the ones that you'd normally place into a soup like carrots are so gross cooked..... I have no issue with carrots, raw broccoli, raw celery, but cook them, and the texture and taste just changes too much, especially with carrots. I actually like potatoes, but as said earlier, they are not something I can eat, which sucks as they are pretty good overall and very versatile. I think overall we must pay more out here, because some of the prices not to old mentions makes me go :eek: as they are so low. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11846734)
Nope.
I'm just questioning the need for it to be raw.. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846741)
along those lines, that works also.
Could it be the British way being brought up to eat prepared foods, foods out of packets or cans, crap snacks, down to it must be 'roast beef, sausage, pork anything with spuds & peas' or fish & chips or a pork pie - anything else or other methods of cooking doesn't look right. Do most British folks not indulge in fresh anything natural foods? Growing up, my son had very little pre-prepared food, 90% of what he ate was prepared from scratch and came from a variety of cuisines with an emphasis on good nutritive values. His favourites were a simple stir fry or a curry. It's funny that you should say 'the British way' because my son had arguments with his Canadian girlfriend over this - she would insist on buying packet or canned pre-prepared sauces, soups etc., whereas my son wanted to make them from scratch. I don't think it's a case of where you were bought up, more a case of what you are given yourself - you learn by example perhaps? :) |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846741)
Could it be the British way being brought up to eat prepared foods, foods out of packets or cans, crap snacks, down to it must be 'roast beef, sausage, pork anything with spuds & peas' or fish & chips or a pork pie - anything else or other methods of cooking doesn't look right.
Do most British folks not indulge in fresh anything natural foods? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11846746)
My mother in law does that. She adds a bit of pork belly to it for her own baked beans as well.
79c a lb? :ohmy: Maybe I should move to your neck of the woods. Are you near Cobourg? :lol: Maybe you should consider moving from NB down to this part of the country just for the lower cost groceries, better winters, higher property prices & higher property taxes. Jsmith also moving down to this part of the world, likely won't get the health subsidy they get in BC, will pay higher rents - no guarantee that a living wage is doable to pay for rent & the lower cost groceries. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Siouxie
(Post 11846751)
Everything I ate growing up was prepared from scratch, nothing in our meals were 'pre-prepared' convenience foods although we did have the odd packet of biscuits and at Christmas would get to have twiglets and crisps. The leftovers from a sunday joint were minced using a hand cranked mincer and made into shepherds/cottage pie or sliced and eaten cold with left over potato and cabbage/other veg fried up as bubble and squeak.
Growing up, my son had very little pre-prepared food, 90% of what he ate was prepared from scratch and came from a variety of cuisines with an emphasis on good nutritive values. His favourites were a simple stir fry or a curry. It's funny that you should say 'the British way' because my son had arguments with his Canadian girlfriend over this - she would insist on buying packet or canned pre-prepared sauces, soups etc., whereas my son wanted to make them from scratch. I don't think it's a case of where you were bought up, more a case of what you given yourself - you learn by example perhaps? :) Kids learn a lot of their eating habits by what they eat and learn growing up. I never learned much about food growing up, my parents worked a lot so cooking from scratch wasn't the norm at home. What I know how to cook now is largely just from making stuff up as well as a couple easy Mexican foods (tacos, burritos, enchilada's) that I picked up from my step mom when I lived with my dad and her in my early 20's as she cooks a lot from scratch, she never taught me directly, just seeing her cook helped me pick up how to do certain things. I've heard the first 5 years of a kids life is the best time to teach them healthy habits, and getting them too eat a varied diet, but no idea how true that is. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846765)
an hour from Cobourg.
Maybe you should consider moving from NB down to this part of the country just for the lower cost groceries, better winters, higher property prices & higher property taxes. Jsmith also moving down to this part of the world, likely won't get the health subsidy they get in BC, will pay higher rents - no guarantee that a living wage is doable to pay for rent & the lower cost groceries. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11846747)
Is the marked down produce thing y'all talk about an Eastern thing? Anyone on the west coast see it on a regular basis? We shop at Save On and I have never seen marked down produce once.I have seen marked down produce at Superstore, but we don't shop there as well there isn't one, and I don't find their overall prices very good.
Superstore is generally quite a bit less than Sobeys but great savings can still be had in Sobeys. I'm never impressed with Walmart really. But all have stuff marked down for the dates. Sometimes it really needs cooking 'today' or freezing. It's easy enough to change plans if there's no room in the freezer. Whatever you were planning originally will last in the fridge overnight. For whatever reason the cooked chickens are cheaper than the raw ones Having said that there are still cheaper ones when on sale. Quite often only from buying a pack of two and the last pair I bought were both bigger than the cooked ones and they were $15 for two. I roast them together and we have the leg/thigh each (4) with leftovers available for sandwiches/wraps, curries, fried rice, chicken&mac salads, soup whatever. After we'd had our roast chicken dinner from the pair, the next day we had 'club' style sandwiches in our half price (baked earlier but still fresh) bread from Superstore and the day after I made a chicken curry and something a bit like a curry but not curry for the non curry eaters. :lol: that provided another 8 meals. I know prices vary across the country but whenever I look at flyers from Loblaws, say, for other provinces, the specials do seem to be the same price. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11846775)
I know prices vary across the country but whenever I look at flyers from Loblaws, say, for other provinces, the specials do seem to be the same price. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11846775)
Our co-op was bought out (and closed) by Sobeys so it's mostly just them, Walmart and Superstore now. But there are a ton of grocery items at Shoppers and various small independent stores - albeit spread about presenting difficulty in getting to more than a couple.
Superstore is generally quite a bit less than Sobeys but great savings can still be had in Sobeys. I'm never impressed with Walmart really. But all have stuff marked down for the dates. Sometimes it really needs cooking 'today' or freezing. It's easy enough to change plans if there's no room in the freezer. Whatever you were planning originally will last in the fridge overnight. Yes, that is odd. It's one advantage for Walmart as they charge just under $8 for cooked. Having said that there are still cheaper ones when on sale. Quite often only from buying a pack of two and the last pair I bought were both bigger than the cooked ones and they were $15 for two. I roast them together and we have the leg/thigh each (4) with leftovers available for sandwiches/wraps, curries, fried rice, chicken&mac salads, soup whatever. After we'd had our roast chicken dinner from the pair, the next day we had 'club' style sandwiches in our half price (baked earlier but still fresh) bread from Superstore and the day after I made a chicken curry and something a bit like a curry but not curry for the non curry eaters. :lol: that provided another 8 meals. I know prices vary across the country but whenever I look at flyers from Loblaws, say, for other provinces, the specials do seem to be the same price. I am not sure what the Super Wal-Marts sell chickens cooked for here, well in the Vancouver area. Our local store is an old style Wal-Mart without the grocery store, so we have a limited selection food wise, I don't even bother with going there. When I lived in Vancouver, I would buy a few things at Wal-Mart, but their meat always seems smaller and not as nice as other stores, I think they use some low quality suppliers meat wise. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846765)
Maybe you should consider moving from NB down to this part of the country just for the lower cost groceries, better winters, higher property prices & higher property taxes.
But we have plenty of room for downsizing to negate part of that. Snow clearance could save a few hundred a year. My medical costs overall would shrink. If it wasn't for our new drug plan for all citizens in NB, they would have reduced massively. The two major differences would be halving the snow and visits to Toronto with more convenience than visiting London from Bristol used to have. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846692)
on special this week at No Frills is Campbells soups, 2 cans for $0.88 - varieties of Vegetable, Chicken noodle, Mushroom.
s |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11846795)
Well that's not fresh soup, it's canned soup. Fresh soup is sold in the chilled department.
As I said up thread, to each their own kitchen & grocery lifestyle. Now, back to my dinner for tonight which is a pickled Ham cottage roll on special (marked down end of date by one day) for $0.99/ib - 3lb weight (cooked in the pressure cooker), served with cabbage & mashed potatoes. Save the goodness from the pot that the cottage roll was cooked in . |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846779)
Bristol, are you still considering a move to this 'neck of the woods'?
Need to sell the rental, take a European trip then re-evaluate. A number of things might change. NB used to be the only province without catastrophic drug coverage. Two years ago one was introduced but it was to be compulsory in its second year and completely unaffordable for most people without coverage already or those covered by assistance programs. On a change of government, the Liberals made it affordable ($16 monthly premiums and $5 per prescription for me) but who knows what will happen on the next change of government. If it reverts back to the original proposed cost it would be $80 a month and $30 per prescription. That alone would present me with an extra couple of thou to pay at least.. Staying on and having to find an extra $20k or more over 10 years could make me want to move regardless of other things. :nod: |
Re: Groceries
If anyone is interested here's my receipt from aldi, still finding life a bit more affordable in blighty.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9le2bnp5.jpg |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by transatlantic
(Post 11846812)
If anyone is interested here's my receipt from aldi, still finding life a bit more affordable in blighty.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9le2bnp5.jpg I notice, lots of prepared foods, canned stuff Other than the prepared 'breaded ham, mince beef & pkg sausage rolls' - 'where is the beef' You are definitely a pasta meal person? Did you do a beef, pork, chicken & fish shop some place else? . |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by transatlantic
(Post 11846812)
If anyone is interested here's my receipt from aldi, still finding life a bit more affordable in blighty.
http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9le2bnp5.jpg I am almost tempted to take that receipt to the store and add up what it would cost out of curiosity.....:lol: I noticed the carrots for 500g, that is cheap no matter what, the same size package here runs around 3 dollars. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by BristolUK
(Post 11846802)
Not ruling it out.
Need to sell the rental, take a European trip then re-evaluate. Staying on and having to find an extra $20k or more over 10 years could make me want to move regardless of other things. :nod: 1 euro = ~$1.50 Canadian. UK state pension is indexed in Malta GP1947 - Gozo Prime Properties GP1922 - Gozo Prime Properties Free health coverage for British citizens http://gov.mt/en/Services-And-Inform...pplication.pdf Financial Qualifications as self-sufficient http://homeaffairs.gov.mt/en/mhas-in...20form%20j.pdf Applicants must produce documentary evidence of their self - sufficiency which would allow a high standard of living.The whole amount declared is not required to be brought into the country For self sufficiency, its satisfy either capital or income requirement - you must have health cover under either, not necessarily insurance - the amounts are capital of at least €14,000 or a weekly income of €84.95 or, in the case of a married couple, a capital of €23,300 or a weekly income of €93.10 Tax Rates https://ird.gov.mt/services/taxrates.aspx#2016 Grocery stores & prices There are several chains there including Aldi & Lidl http://www.lidl.com.mt/en/online-leaflets.htm As well as to get an idea of prices http://www.maltasupermarket.com/cate...list&listid=24 . |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846840)
55 quid worth ($110 cdn) - how long will that lot last you & for how many people?
I notice, lots of prepared foods, canned stuff Other than the prepared 'breaded ham, mince beef & pkg sausage rolls' - 'where is the beef' You are definitely a pasta meal person? Did you do a beef, pork, chicken & fish shop some place else? . |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11846841)
So that is like $110 Canadian at the current exchange.... Not sure you could get that variety of food in Canada for $110.
I am almost tempted to take that receipt to the store and add up what it would cost out of curiosity.....:lol: I noticed the carrots for 500g, that is cheap no matter what, the same size package here runs around 3 dollars. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by transatlantic
(Post 11846878)
That's for four of us, usually do a small top up later in the week.
seems a lot of money without adding some chicken, fish, meat in there BTW, the hamburger (regular ground beef) seems more pricey in the UK than it would be in Canada? When I was in the UK at the end of November 2015, I found the veggies to be cheaper, yet the meat almost double in price |
Re: Groceries
1 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846884)
wow, is it less than what you were paying for what you bout on this side of the pond?
seems a lot of money without adding some chicken, fish, meat in there BTW, the hamburger (regular ground beef) seems more pricey in the UK than it would be in Canada? When I was in the UK at the end of November 2015, I found the veggies to be cheaper, yet the meat almost double in price It's for lean, but I just found the least expensive ground beef on offer which is the lean, the extra lean is 7.71 for 500g. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846884)
wow, is it less than what you were paying for what you bout on this side of the pond?
seems a lot of money without adding some chicken, fish, meat in there BTW, the hamburger (regular ground beef) seems more pricey in the UK than it would be in Canada? When I was in the UK at the end of November 2015, I found the veggies to be cheaper, yet the meat almost double in price |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by transatlantic
(Post 11846898)
Probably spent about $150 / week in Canada. Minced beef at aldi was £1.75 for 500g so im not sure how that compares. I buy my burgers from the butchers because they're delicious if a little more expensive.
sorted |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846856)
As a suggestion, at some point in your life consider something along the lines of the following - no snow.....Malta...
I was actually a couple of years away from enrolling in Spanish classes with a view to learning the language and then early retiring in Spain, when fate stepped in. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by transatlantic
(Post 11846898)
Probably spent about $150 / week in Canada. Minced beef at aldi was £1.75 for 500g so im not sure how that compares. I buy my burgers from the butchers because they're delicious if a little more expensive.
|
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846741)
along those lines, that works also.
Could it be the British way being brought up to eat prepared foods, foods out of packets or cans, crap snacks, down to it must be 'roast beef, sausage, pork anything with spuds & peas' or fish & chips or a pork pie - anything else or other methods of cooking doesn't look right. Do most British folks not indulge in fresh anything natural foods? We were never terribly well-off (despite a few occasions of unexpected affluence) & went through some periods of downright poverty, but I grew up with food always prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients. It took me years, well into adult life, to learn/accept that there are some prepared/pre-packaged shortcuts that are actually tasty/cheap/okay. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11846741)
along those lines, that works also.
Could it be the British way being brought up to eat prepared foods, foods out of packets or cans, crap snacks, down to it must be 'roast beef, sausage, pork anything with spuds & peas' or fish & chips or a pork pie - anything else or other methods of cooking doesn't look right. Do most British folks not indulge in fresh anything natural foods? Oh yes, cucumber $3 each today, tomatoes $6 a punnet thingy. Cauliflower still too pricey. 40 minutes from Cobourg. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by bats
(Post 11848310)
Font the way I was brought up either or shop now. Your comment us interesting considering you're saying that chicken in condensed soup is a recipe! I'm amazed by North American recipes that contain so much canned and dried food. I understand the origins of canning and preserving food to last you through the winter but seriously cake recipes that start with "take a packet of yellow cake mix" , and main course dishes that involve Campbell's soup and or Liptons onion soup are the norm. Do most Canadian folks not indulge in fresh anything natural foods?
Oh yes, cucumber $3 each today, tomatoes $6 a punnet thingy. Cauliflower still too pricey. 40 minutes from Cobourg. I wouldn't be able to make pasta say from scratch for 1.00 which is what a package of dry stuff goes for much of the time for generic brand. As for cake mixes, same thing, they are cheaper, you can get boxed cake mix on sale for as low as 1.00 for generic and even sometimes name brand. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11846892)
With the exchange rate it comes to about 3.53 for 500g where locally here to me, 500g at Save On the cheapest offered is 6.79 Canadian$.
It's for lean, but I just found the least expensive ground beef on offer which is the lean, the extra lean is 7.71 for 500g. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by bc2015
(Post 11848386)
Last week I got the Club Sized pack of extra lean mince in Real Canadian for 11.68/kg (5.84 for 500g). I have the PC Points card on my phone which gave me 20% back in points for that, so basically ended up paying about 10.50/kg for extra lean. Lean was even cheaper. I got a 2.something kg slab of it, most of it is in the freezer and it will do for 4-5 meals.
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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11848711)
I don't eat ground meat, so never something I buy, but the family size bulk was cheaper at Save On as well. I was just trying to do a direct comparison to the same size as the receipt in the other reply.
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Re: Groceries
Our local supermarket has a sign up saying "All our fresh chickens are exclusively 100% Canadian." I can't image that's going to send a very welcoming message to 25 Syrians Canada is taking in.
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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by caretaker
(Post 11848779)
If we were stranded after a shipwreck or plane crash and we had to resort to cannibalism to survive you'd be in a real can of trouble. :lol:
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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11848369)
Cheaper generally to used canned broth then to make it from scratch.... Most people shop based on price, not necessarily what is healthiest, tastiest or best.
I wouldn't be able to make pasta say from scratch for 1.00 which is what a package of dry stuff goes for much of the time for generic brand. As for cake mixes, same thing, they are cheaper, you can get boxed cake mix on sale for as low as 1.00 for generic and even sometimes name brand. Pasta from scratch us an indulgence You don't need cake or cookies if you are on a budget. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by bats
(Post 11849432)
Stock cubes are cheaper than canned or boxed broth but I was talking of those vile "cream of" condensed soups that figure in so many recipes. My wife occasionally does a slow cooker recipe which is essentially that. A slow cooker can be a useful tool in ensuring that a decent meal is ready when everyone comes in from school/work but the mushroom soup based recipes do make me gag a little.
Pasta from scratch us an indulgence Never done pasta from scratch. We do buy fresh prepared pasta from Costco for quick meals. You don't need cake or cookies if you are on a budget. I agree with your post upthread on the truly crappy nature of some NA recipes in terms of use of processed food. We generally cook from scratch using actual vegetables & proteins. I often have a different experience in reading some recipe, perhaps Jamie (off topic but Jamie Oliver is to this generation what Delia was to mine) referring to free range chicken or bacon, or going to you butcher for a cut of lamb and think "Yeah. But in Newfoundland, I can't get those things" and substituting industrially farmed meat instead. Ho Hum, I did find that my local sobeys now stocks Creme Fraiche so I can stop using sour cream in some recipes so it's not all bad. ;) |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by bats
(Post 11849432)
Stock cubes are cheaper than canned or boxed broth but I was talking of those vile "cream of" condensed soups that figure in so many recipes.
Pasta from scratch us an indulgence You don't need cake or cookies if you are on a budget. I do use the little cubes myself, dollar store usually has them, but if not they are only a couple bucks at the normal stores, but we don't use many so the little pack lasts us a long time. I do make cookies from time to time, but I do it from scratch as I do generally have basic baking stuff, but I wouldn't say its frequent. Few times a year. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat
(Post 11849450)
You are Marie Antoinette reincarnated and I claim my five euro!"Don't let them eat cake"
I agree with your post upthread on the truly crappy nature of some NA recipes in terms of use of processed food. We generally cook from scratch using actual vegetables & proteins. I often have a different experience in reading some recipe, perhaps Jamie (off topic but Jamie Oliver is to this generation what Delia was to mine) referring to free range chicken or bacon, or going to you butcher for a cut of lamb and think "Yeah. But in Newfoundland, I can't get those things" and substituting industrially farmed meat instead. Ho Hum, I did find that my local sobeys now stocks Creme Fraiche so I can stop using sour cream in some recipes so it's not all bad. ;) We have not been eating much meat as of late, tonight's dinner was steamed broccoli & zucchini with melted cheese. One of my favorites. |
Re: Groceries
Just to be different...I use cream of mushroom soup for padding and thickening some things I make. :thumbup:
I once made a curry (back in the UK) that was too strong and by adding a small can of...I can't think what it was called, but I believe it was used for vol au vents....it took the edge off with no loss of flavour. Cream of mushroom soup is now an ingredient rather than thickening with flour or cornstarch. |
Re: Groceries
Called at my local meat and everything else store today.
Chicken leg pieces (drumsticks minus the handle) $1.49lb. They also sell something they call 'ends' which are usually just misshaped things or the end pieces of cooked meats with plenty of meat if you don't mind a little fiddle. I bought a pack of Pork Chop ends - quite often they make perfectly adequate pork chops anyway. But today I cut all the meat off and used it for a vindaloo and a non curry meat dish. $2.69 worth of meat and with onions and mushrooms it made 8 meals (to add to rice). VH Vindaloo jar for $1.99 and a drop of leftover wine, oregano, garlic and cream of mushroom :p for the other. |
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