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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11627880)
neither, other than the dairy - its just the way its worked out.
example is that competition & price match many items are cheaper, the ones that have escalated we stay away from. We buy mainly specials, stock up, divide up, freeze as necessary. Latest buys & have figured out the specials cycle that the supermarts roll with. Past week, 10 lb bag of onions $0.99, PEI spuds $1.29/5Ib, the goat $2.79/Ib, Cod $2.99/Ib, which goes into fish/veg soup as well as cod cakes, freeze both into meal size portions. Halal Veal liver $2.49/Ib cut & divided into 4oz portions. Red meat (mainly mince beef or pork) only if & when on special. Meat/pork into balls (on special or mark down) with sawdust filling & pasta, home made tomato sauce from marked down tomatoes, home made pasties, that would have ~20% meat filling add in with potato, onion, celery, carrot & frozen spinach on special. Make a bunch & freeze. From the on the markdown shelf, four pack red peppers $0.99 ~1kg, other similar items. No roast beef, no steaks or tenderloin or salmon Do you know about extreme couponing where savy shoppers can actually get their groceries for free or even a small profit? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11627778)
On another thread somewhere discussed previously, its time to update it - 'how much per month on groceries (food items only) do you spend' - just the dollar number & how many people does it feed, not what's in the basket nor household cleaning items or personal care - just the food items that would go into your stomachs?
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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11627884)
Yes it must do. At least all the big fish offset some of the cost.
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Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11627889)
So is it a kind of compulsion you have, simply to save money?
Do you know about extreme couponing where savy shoppers can actually get their groceries for free or even a small profit? A miser not, thrifty maybe, its just why pay more when it can be had cheaper. Then again since retiring its become more a hobby, replacing work as one of the things finding ways to keep the mind busy. Couponing is good if you need crap that you don't use or if you have a large consumption household, because 'not always' especially in my part of the country are things BOGOF or coupon discounted or that we would ever use items such as 10 bottles of ketchup, boxes of cereal etc. With a coupon for $0.10 off 'full price' name brand that is $2, when I can get it discount on special or price match for $1.50. I've tried couponing, it doesn't work for our lifestyle. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Oink
(Post 11627892)
To some degree, its more about having a shed that floats. :)
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Re: Groceries
I have a seperate budget for cleaning supplies and such, I don't count that in my grocery budget.
I only buy that stuff when on sale and stock up, so I have months worth at a time generally so can skip buying it when not on sale. There are certain things I refuse to buy at normal prices, soap, cleaning stuff, toilet paper, deodorant and the like. I also refuse to pay the inflated prices on razors at stores, absolute rip off. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11627909)
not so much about the money, more about 'being locked in a time warp' of when prices were so much cheaper & that 'look at the price things are today'
A miser not, thrifty maybe, its just why pay more when it can be had cheaper. Then again since retiring its become more a hobby, replacing work as one of the things finding ways to keep the mind busy. . |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11627843)
I have found a few smaller 'groceteria' that have mark down specials that beat the 'price match'
Our grocery 'food only' bill per month for two people is average ~$135/calendar mth. Milk & dairy usage is down ~50% from a year ago. |
Re: Groceries
Just looked at our spending. We are averaging about $1200 per month on groceries (food and cleaning stuff) ($300 a week). This is for a family of four including two teenage boys. We are in SW Ontario and use Superstore, Metro, Walmart and Foodland.
It is really expensive to buy meat and I am trying to make each bit go further but my OH cooks it like its going out of fashion. I always find that I have to buy ground beef or pork because it is the cheapest meat around unless something is on offer. I will buy chicken at Walmart because it is almost half the price of Foodland, but I feel sort of guilty because it must be pumped full of water or hormones or something to be that cheap. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by itsasmallworld
(Post 11627990)
Just looked at our spending. We are averaging about $1200 per month on groceries (food and cleaning stuff) ($300 a week). This is for a family of four including two teenage boys. We are in SW Ontario and use Superstore, Metro, Walmart and Foodland.
Then to add to that as applicable, is rent or mortgage, utilities, electronic gadget monthly fees, travel/transit expenses, insurance, maintenance & upkeep items, clothing & whatever else money you have left to spend on. |
Re: Groceries
Okay, so I just went through my credit card from the past month to get an idea about our monthly spend on groceries.
At grocery stores (Metro, Longos, Fortinos, etc) I spent $380. A bit of that would have been stuff for stock (e.g., I know my Fortinos trips include usually 24 bagels which then lasts 2 months, but I stock up when I'm there as it's a bit out of the way), and one shop was because I knew some stuff was on sale like 12-packs of pop an tinned beans and whatnot. So I'd guess probably $300 of that shop was on food that was actually consumed and not put into stock. In addition, another probably $100 was purchased at Costco for the stuff I buy there... SOme stuff gets eaten like normal groceries, like milk, eggs, yogurt, etc. So I'd guess that our monthly grocery bill is about $400-450 or so. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628009)
Okay, so I just went through my credit card from the past month to get an idea about our monthly spend on groceries.
At grocery stores (Metro, Longos, Fortinos, etc) I spent $380. A bit of that would have been stuff for stock (e.g., I know my Fortinos trips include usually 24 bagels which then lasts 2 months, but I stock up when I'm there as it's a bit out of the way), and one shop was because I knew some stuff was on sale like 12-packs of pop an tinned beans and whatnot. So I'd guess probably $300 of that shop was on food that was actually consumed and not put into stock. In addition, another probably $100 was purchased at Costco for the stuff I buy there... SOme stuff gets eaten like normal groceries, like milk, eggs, yogurt, etc. So I'd guess that our monthly grocery bill is about $400-450 or so. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628009)
Okay, so I just went through my credit card from the past month to get an idea about our monthly spend on groceries.
So I'd guess that our monthly grocery bill is about $400-450 or so. added after I posted:shard beat me to the question I know this wasn't part of the original question for what folks spend on grocery food items - was there any added cost involved eating out or takeaway that could have been eliminated or reduced that may have increased your grocery bill? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Shard
(Post 11628017)
I'm thinking your monthly eating out bill is not peanuts.
We also went out for dinner 3 times last month... well, twice together, once I was out with a friend without Mr Schnooks. All other breakfasts and dinners would have been at home. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628022)
No, I should have included that usually we both end up buying lunch at work, so you can tack on a reasonable amount for that.
$150-$200/mth for the two of you a reasonable number? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628023)
$150-$200/mth for the two of you a reasonable number?
So our total bill is in the $550-600 range when you include lunches. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by itsasmallworld
(Post 11627990)
Just looked at our spending. We are averaging about $1200 per month on groceries (food and cleaning stuff) ($300 a week). This is for a family of four including two teenage boys. We are in SW Ontario and use Superstore, Metro, Walmart and Foodland.
It is really expensive to buy meat and I am trying to make each bit go further but my OH cooks it like its going out of fashion. I always find that I have to buy ground beef or pork because it is the cheapest meat around unless something is on offer. I will buy chicken at Walmart because it is almost half the price of Foodland, but I feel sort of guilty because it must be pumped full of water or hormones or something to be that cheap. On a side note, why doesn't Canada have food programs like the US does? The US is pretty generous overall when it comes to food stamps for poor, disabled, poor families with kids etc. I'd imagine if my sister and her kids lived here, they wouldn't eat much, no clue how people with kids can manage to feed their kids. Do schools in Canada have hot lunches for students? |
Re: Groceries
We spent according to debit records, 23 dollars in the last 30 days on fast food/eating out.
I venture since most are Tim's, it is the wife getting a bagel and coffee before work on the weekends. I take food to work to eat, but overall I barely eat during my 8 hours shifts. They are overnight shifts, and frankly I am not hungry in the middle of the night. I eat 1 larger meal a day, and then pick at food the rest of the day, some carrots here, some bread there. My wife is the 3 square meals a day person in the house. |
Re: Groceries
Okay, so I found a recent Costco bill in my purse.
Most of this is stock stuff, but I'd be interested in some price comparisons. 1lb unsalted butter - $3.69 6 large cans of salmon - $9.59 1kg jar of pickles - $4.99 1kg bag of sugar - $1.59 1kg bag salad topper (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries) - $9.59 4L milk - $4.49 (we get the PurFiltr milk as it lasts longer and we like it more) 1kg havarti cheese - $13.99 big block of 2yr Balderson cheddar (can't remember the weight) - $14.99 6 months worth of parmesan, 1.25kg or so - $23.08 11oz box of baby spinach, organic - $3.99 24 Omega3 eggs - $5.99 3 loaves Dempsters 12-grain bread - $6.89 15 pots (140g ea) greek yogurt - 11.99 2.5kg lean ground beef - $19.43 |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628040)
Okay, so I found a recent Costco bill in my purse.
Most of this is stock stuff, but I'd be interested in some price comparisons. 1lb unsalted butter - $3.69 6 large cans of salmon - $9.59 1kg jar of pickles - $4.99 1kg bag of sugar - $1.59 1kg bag salad topper (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries) - $9.59 4L milk - $4.49 (we get the PurFiltr milk as it lasts longer and we like it more) 1kg havarti cheese - $13.99 big block of 2yr Balderson cheddar (can't remember the weight) - $14.99 6 months worth of parmesan, 1.25kg or so - $23.08 11oz box of baby spinach, organic - $3.99 24 Omega3 eggs - $5.99 3 loaves Dempsters 12-grain bread - $6.89 15 pots (140g ea) greek yogurt - 11.99 2.5kg lean ground beef - $19.43 Are other kinds of milk cheaper? We pay 4.79-4.99 for 4 liters, but I don't think there is anything fancy about it, just typical milk in a jug. Organic milk is about 8 dollars and some change normally. Can get 30 normal eggs for about 5.99 here, but anything else is more, 5 to 7 for 12 of the omega eggs or free range eggs. Normal 12 eggs run about 3 bucks. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628040)
Okay, so I found a recent Costco bill in my purse.
Most of this is stock stuff, but I'd be interested in some price comparisons. 1lb unsalted butter - $3.69 expensive 6 large cans of salmon - $9.59 (pink or red sockeye - 170g or 213g?) 1kg jar of pickles - $4.99 1kg bag of sugar - $1.59 high 1kg bag salad topper (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries) - $9.59 4L milk - $4.49 expensive 1kg havarti cheese - $13.99 big block of 2yr Balderson cheddar (can't remember the weight) - $14.99 6 months worth of parmesan, 1.25kg or so - $23.08 11oz box of baby spinach, organic - $3.99 why buy a box when you can buy it in a bag & save $2 24 Omega3 eggs - $5.99 decent price .... but 3 loaves Dempsters 12-grain bread - $6.89 15 pots (140g ea) greek yogurt - 11.99 2.5kg lean ground beef - $19.43 comments highlighted above |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628047)
wow, what a grocery bill;)
comments highlighted above The salmon is a good deal in my view considering 1 can is pushing 3 bucks around here and that is the store generic. That sugar price is actually cheap, I spent almost 3 dollars for the same amount as it was not on sale when I needed it. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by HGerchikov
(Post 11627708)
Not wanting to rub it in in any way, but we have two within a 20 mins drive.
On the earlier subject of cheese, we find proper cheese is available in some of the Farm Shops round here or otherwise Granville Island (where Wensleydale and other rarities can be found, along with lots of smelly French and Italian stuff), the latter only makes sense if 'in town' and also because someone else pays for the vehicle, gas and tolls! Vacuum sealers are essential for bulk buying, otherwise you just end up throwing freezer burnt stuff out. Walmart have much cheaper rolls of 'bag' that the Foodsaver ones. They also have other brands of machine as well. The vac-seal reuseable bags are good for preserving costly cheese too! |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11628053)
Her butter price is on par with what we pay.
The salmon is a good deal in my view considering 1 can is pushing 3 bucks around here and that is the store generic. That sugar price is actually cheap, I spent almost 3 dollars for the same amount as it was not on sale when I needed it. Sugar was noted as 1kg, was it suppose to be 2kg - if its 2kg, then the $1.59 is a half decent price Canned Salmon , is it pink or red, 170g or 213g. That makes a difference to the price. If & I mean if I bought canned salmon it would be on special cloverleaf or store brand 'wild red sockeye omega 3' (never the pink stuff) which it has been around here for $2.49 for a 213g can |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by withabix
(Post 11628054)
Vacuum sealers are essential for bulk buying, otherwise you just end up throwing freezer burnt stuff out. The vac-seal reuseable bags are good for preserving costly cheese too! |
Re: Groceries
My usual shop is Freshco, and my top of the head comparison:
1lb unsalted butter - $3.69 $4 6 large cans of salmon - $9.59 I'm a tuna guy- $1.20 a can 1kg jar of pickles - $4.99 $2 I think for a 850g 1kg bag of sugar - $1.59 Don't buy! 1kg bag salad topper (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries) - $9.59 Don't buy! 4L milk - $4.49 (we get the PurFiltr milk as it lasts longer and we like it more) Same but it's not the pur filter 1kg havarti cheese - $13.99 $6 for 500g marble big block of 2yr Balderson cheddar (can't remember the weight) - $14.99 Pukka cheese I pay $6 for 250g. I bought some of the nice stuff from Costco, got it home, the pack was split! No quibble cashback but I couldn't be bothered to queue to replace. 6 months worth of parmesan, 1.25kg or so - $23.08 stopped buying this... 11oz box of baby spinach, organic - $3.99 wut? 24 Omega3 eggs - $5.99 12 eggs $3.50 I think? 3 loaves Dempsters 12-grain bread - $6.89 $2.50 a loaf, shop for a deal 15 pots (140g ea) greek yogurt - 11.99 400g Mediterranee, $3.50 2.5kg lean ground beef - $19.43 3 500g frozen tubes for a tenner So some you win, some you don't. It annoys me that that yoghurt is consistently a buck cheaper in walmart. |
Re: Groceries
On oil, which is it - is it olive oil, light or regular, or do you use canola, vegetable oil, other?
I will buy olive oil on super special in the less than $4 range, sometimes below $3. One Litre will last at least 3 months |
Re: Groceries
As for Salmon, we're just finishing the last of 2014's Sockeye.
The last batch was $50 for three fish which weighed just short of 20kg total, so $2.50 per kg including head, tail and bones. Based on about 45% fillet recovery, that's still only about $5.50/kg of fillet and we use all the trimming to make Pate and make fish stock too. Salmon caviar is worth a bash at making too, although it is an acquired taste. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by withabix
(Post 11628079)
As for Salmon, we're just finishing the last of 2014's Sockeye.
The last batch was $50 for three fish which weighed just short of 20kg total, so $2.50 per kg including head, tail and bones. Based on about 45% fillet recovery, that's still only about $5.50/kg of fillet and we use all the trimming to make Pate and make fish stock too. Did you use the head, tail & other bits to make soup with or chucked it out? |
Re: Groceries
Alright, in the interest of comparison, I went onto Grocery Gateway and compared their prices, which is roughly in line with Longos. The second price is the Longos price in my list below. Where I had multiple brands to pick from where I'd otherwise bought just the Kirkland brand or whatever, I picked the cheapest one.
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628040)
Okay, so I found a recent Costco bill in my purse.
Most of this is stock stuff, but I'd be interested in some price comparisons. 1lb unsalted butter - $3.69 ; $4.29 (yes I know you can get marg for cheaper and such, I tend to use it mostly in baking though, so I have to get the proper butter.) 6 large cans of salmon - $9.59 ; I think it was pink, and the cans were larger than the standard 150g cans from the grocery store. a 150g can of pink salmon at Longos is $2.69 though, so I think I'm up on the deal. 1kg jar of pickles - $4.99 (it's actually a 2L jar!) ; $3.99 for a 1.5L jar 1kg bag of sugar - $1.59 (this was icing sugar!) ; $3.29 for the same size and brand 1kg bag salad topper (pine nuts, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries) - $9.59 ; can't really find an equivalent 4L milk - $4.49 (we get the PurFiltr milk as it lasts longer and we like it more) ; $6.29 for the same PurFiltr stuff; $4.49 for the normal milk 1kg havarti cheese - $13.99 ; $5.49 for a 180g wedge of the same brand big block of 2yr Balderson cheddar (can't remember the weight) - $14.99 ; $7.53 for 250g (I think my brick from Costco was 800g) 6 months worth of parmesan, 1.25kg or so - $23.08 ; $7.18 for 220g 11oz box of baby spinach, organic - $3.99 *I usually get the bag for cheaper, but I was making a new recipe for friends for dinner that specifically called for baby spinach and the bag was normal spinach... usually I get the giant bag of regular spinach and I think that's $2.99, I think it's a 1kg bag 24 Omega3 eggs - $5.99 ; $4.29 for 12 3 loaves Dempsters 12-grain bread - $6.89 ; $3.69 per loaf 15 pots (140g ea) greek yogurt - 11.99 ; $4.49 for 4x100g of same brand (Liberte 9%) 2.5kg lean ground beef - $19.43 ; $7.04 for 375g |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by SchnookoLoly
(Post 11628081)
Alright, in the interest of comparison, I went onto Grocery Gateway and compared their prices, which is roughly in line with Longos. The second price is the Longos price in my list below. Where I had multiple brands to pick from where I'd otherwise bought just the Kirkland brand or whatever, I picked the cheapest one.
I think Costco wins on everything I buy, which is actually encouraging as I've never compared the prices before! My wife buys margarine for her toast and bread. I never use the stuff for anything. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628080)
good deal
Did you use the head, tail & other bits to make soup with or chucked it out? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11628085)
Baking is why I buy butter. Margarine just doesn't work well for baking.
My wife buys margarine for her toast and bread. I never use the stuff for anything. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11628085)
Baking is why I buy butter. Margarine just doesn't work well for baking.
My wife buys margarine for her toast and bread. I never use the stuff for anything. to each there own, yet there are alternatives to using 'butter' for baking - light olive oil, marg, even coconut oil on special is cheaper than butter. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628059)
we dont eat/use butter, its imperial marg on special $0.99/454g tub, buy enough till the next special rolls around
Sugar was noted as 1kg, was it suppose to be 2kg - if its 2kg, then the $1.59 is a half decent price Canned Salmon , is it pink or red, 170g or 213g. That makes a difference to the price. If & I mean if I bought canned salmon it would be on special cloverleaf or store brand 'wild red sockeye omega 3' (never the pink stuff) which it has been around here for $2.49 for a 213g can Sockeye runs between 4.88 to 5.88 per can depending on brand. Pink is 2.57. 3 pack of sockeye is 12.88 0.79 if you want salmon cat food. These are the stores online prices, they may vary up or down inside the store. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by withabix
(Post 11628054)
IKEA: Same in these parts, although the Richmond one seems rather pointless compared to Burnaby.
On the earlier subject of cheese, we find proper cheese is available in some of the Farm Shops round here or otherwise Granville Island (where Wensleydale and other rarities can be found, along with lots of smelly French and Italian stuff), the latter only makes sense if 'in town' and also because someone else pays for the vehicle, gas and tolls! Vacuum sealers are essential for bulk buying, otherwise you just end up throwing freezer burnt stuff out. Walmart have much cheaper rolls of 'bag' that the Foodsaver ones. They also have other brands of machine as well. The vac-seal reuseable bags are good for preserving costly cheese too! The freezer on the main fridge is so small, not possible currently to stock up. Why do they make the damn fridge section so big, and the freezer section so small, I need freezer space not fridge space..... |
Re: Groceries
We are quite picky when it comes to buying our food, especially meat. we get our food from the local delicates and online grocers (spud) which costs us $100 - $150 a week. admittedly we dont have steaks every week (which is my favourite, however unfortunately for me my OH dont like it!), but we have chicken (my 2nd fav!), mince, and bacon!.
We tend to get a whole roast chicken simply because it is cost effective. I can make it last 3 - 4 meals - have a breast each for one dinner with veg or use them to make a big coconut curry, use the remaining meat to make a big pot of roast chicken risotto which normally do for 2 evenings dinner, and finally use the carcase to make a soup / stock out of it. So at $9.99 for the roast chicken ($3.33 / dinner), it is not three bad. mince at ~$5 or ~450g, will do for 2 dinners (cottage pie) bacon $10.99 for 455g, or 15 thickish slices (streaky kind mind you, which we prefer btw), can do us 2-3 dinners, i.e carbonara, bacon + yam hash, etc. Lunch can sometimes be the left over from the above, quinoa salad, avocado salad etc. So, that was this weeks menu, we do mix it up a bit so the dinners & lunch dont get boring or same same. Although we eat well, we do eat less in general ever since we got here, especially snacks and treats, simply because they dont taste the same, and unlike in the UK the labelling here is not so transparent so we just dont trust majority of the stuff in supermarkets. But hey thats our choice and thats the way we are - your worst dinner guests!!! :D jokes, we are not that bad, or 'maniacs' as my mate used to say before he himself became one (and worse) and went complete vegan!! |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628092)
understood ...
to each there own, yet there are alternatives to using 'butter' for baking - light olive oil, marg, even coconut oil on special is cheaper than butter. I've got oil too, canola and olive and an olive oil spray. Wife makes some sort of vinegar/oil dressing with it. 946 generic canola on sale right now for 4.44, doesn't say what the normal price is. Name brand is 6.88 but 1.42 liters. Olive Oil is 8.79 to 10.88 for 500ml depending on brand. |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by not2old
(Post 11628020)
two adults?
added after I posted:shard beat me to the question I know this wasn't part of the original question for what folks spend on grocery food items - was there any added cost involved eating out or takeaway that could have been eliminated or reduced that may have increased your grocery bill? |
Re: Groceries
Originally Posted by Jsmth321
(Post 11628106)
Butter isn't a weekly thing, only when I am going to bake something, so the extra every so often isn't much.
I've got oil too, canola and olive and an olive oil spray. Wife makes some sort of vinegar/oil dressing with it. 946 generic canola on sale right now for 4.44, doesn't say what the normal price is. Name brand is 6.88 but 1.42 liters. Olive Oil is 8.79 to 10.88 for 500ml depending on brand. I use canola spray when I need something non-stick, like pancakes or whatever. I use canola oil in normal stirfrys and whatnot (it works better than olive because it can withstand higher temperatures), and I use extra virgin olive oil when I actually need the oil for the taste, like in hummus or salad dressing or whatever. I buy the big jug form costco, and just decant it into a reasonably-sized one I got from I don't even remember where - for both canola and olive. No idea of prices at Costco off the top of my head. I can rememeber to have a look when I go next week, though... |
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