Re: Groceries
 

Even when a ski resort is long established like Whistler is, year round residents a lot of the time commute south to Squamish for groceries.

Whistler has 2 pretty decent grocery stores, but the prices are a wee bit high.


I flyer shop for a few things but generally, I just do all my shopping at Save On and collect their points, the free stuff I have gotten from points earned add to pretty decent savings per year.


Superstore (we now have one) is too frustrating an experience, and I find their points program utterly useless.

Re: Groceries
 

There are times it feels like my mum's xmas shop. :rofl:

Re: Groceries
 

I pay little attention to it. They send me a weekly email with 'personalised' offers.

The best bonus is usually on the coffee I buy. But it's only ever when it's full price and the value of the points equates to a $ or 2 off. It's better to buy a couple of tins when they're $5 or $6 off. That will see me through until the next time it's reduced by that much.

Re: Groceries
 

Presumably this will be in more than a months time then ;)



I'm loving this, I've fitted an SSD to my PC and trying to get my monitors working again coz they have given up the effing ghost but this is providing me light relief. :demon: I love you really Bristol :wub:

Re: Groceries
 

I've misunderstood nothing Bristol. I can't get flyers or newspapers where I live, so the only way to compare differing prices is by visiting multiple stores or picking up a newspaper in town then sitting in the car and ploughing through them.

I live and work in the same village, so don't travel to and from anywhere of note on a daily basis, so there's no time to be saved as per your hypothetical (and irrelevant) example. It's a dedicated 150km round trip to get groceries and a minimum half day out to run weekly errands, so to my mind it actually is pissing about flitting around stores to cross-reference prices, and also unrealistic in terms of time available.

I don't consider I live in the back of beyond, nor that NB is too, but Canada's a big place and silly to assume that the convenience you experience (and time on hands you have) is relevant to other's situations.

Re: Groceries
 

Blimey .. Shop wars.... Never new that it could be quite so divisive ! :cool:

Re: Groceries
 

Other than describing popping into a nearby supermarket following a doctor's appointment on one day, including a quick in and out to buy steak 50 yards away from work on another day, picking something up at one's call at the pharmacy on yet another different day etc as pissing about and flitting store to store. :lol:

Given I've repeatedly conceded that I have more time available than most and that I've repeatedly referenced the requirement about choices of stores I think it would be fair to say I don't assume everyone has it the same. Just most. ;)

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Haven't you seen the footage of Black Friday at Walmart? :rofl:

Re: Groceries
 

I thought all that stuff was made up at one time, but when I went to Eaton's on boxing day back in the 70's it was a zoo. I reached into a bin that had a crowd around it and picked up a sweater to look at it and an old woman grabbed it right out of my hand! :ohmy:

Re: Groceries
 

Why were you trying to buy an old lady's sweater?

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It wasn't, they were all mad.

Re: Groceries
 

Here's an example of why I pay little attention to Superstore points.

My latest email from them offers 200 points for every $ spent on fresh beef. If I buy 10lbs, that's 2,000 points towards the 20,000 that gets $20 off the next shop.

So buying 10lbs worth 'saves' $2.

Last week I saved about $9 on a 2lb pack of Sirloin steak. I was so impressed with it (the deal and the taste) that this week, when I had to buy a new printer in Staples, I popped in the nearby Superstore (almost next door) and bought two more packs, slightly bigger.

Around $30 saved on 7lb compared to $2 on 10lb.

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I get the personalised offers too. They need to rewrite whichever algorithm decides on these. Why do they alway put an offer on things you have just bought? If I buy something like washing powder or washing up liquid one week I'm not going to be buying it again the next, even if they offer extra points.

Re: Groceries
 

I get about ten a day about penis enlargement products. What's upsetting is that eight of them are from my girlfriend, although its the two from my nan thats really disturbing. :eek:

Re: Groceries
 

unusual for me, but we ran out of Olive Oil.

I usually buy several 1 litre bottles when they're on special in the $4 range.

Panicked last night, searched & couldn't find any below $5.99 1 litre

Special at today Gallo brand $4.88/litre. Picked some up - sorted

What type of oils do BE folks use?
.

Re: Groceries
 

Olive oil. Gallo is usually the cheapest. Also Emma brand. No Name brand EVOO from the various Loblaw banners is ok too.

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We don't really use oil for cooking but we do have olive oil which we use for salads or hummus. If I'm doing an Indian I'll use ghee.

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eck!, I did not know that - thanks Shirtback :thumbsup:

All the same, I don't know if I could tell the difference in taste between a $9.99/litre brand & the Gallo.

Further research by me is needed on this;)

.

Re: Groceries
 

Gallo passes the taste test for me. As does Emma brand (but you need to be careful about labelling: they have an "inferior" version which is packaged exactly the same as their EV offering, and taste isn't quite the same, but it's even cheaper). I haven't found Emma brand in mainstream supermarkets : I get it from "Ethnic" or wholesale places.

No Name EVOO is produced & supplied by a "Big Name" brand, only I can't for the life of me remember which one ATM.

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EVOO is good but expensive. Freshco occasionally has a good one on offer, you just have to get ahead of the Italian couple who will buy every bottle on the shelf. They will let you have one bottle if you ask nicely though, especially once they've spent 15mins explaining how good it is...

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Cauliflower is "on special" this weekend at my local Maxi (No Frills): 2.97$.

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Now there's a coincidence. Just the other day I was trying to remember that name from our time in Longueuil.

Re: Groceries
 

thats a rip-off

My local ethnic store has them on for $1.88

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Boneless pork loin rib half on for $4.12/kg at No Frills, 2 plus garlic for $25.40. I can cut each into 3 pc and freeze them.

Re: Groceries
 

:goodpost:

perfect....

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Local ethnic store. Interesting concept! I miss corner shops, green grocers, and ethnic stores, I wouldn't expect to find any around here but even Peterborough doesn't really have any, there are a couple who sell dried goods, spices, frozen things but it's a long while since I've seen fresh fruit and veg piled up outside a store!

You local store might well be my nearest!

Re: Groceries
 

it's a long while since I've seen fresh fruit and veg piled up outside a store!

Lots of such stores in Toronto's ethnic areas. You've said in the past you don't like Toronto. I suspect you don't really know it.

Re: Groceries
 

What does my like or dislike of Toronto have to do with anything? Thanks fir the reminder I did see some fruit and veggies in Chinatown. Still don't think much of Toronto.

Re: Groceries
 

Since moving I am finding decent deals that one could only dream of in Squamish....

1 dozen eggs at Safeway 1.50 last week, bought 2 as that was the limit, should have went back later and bought 2 more, but got busy and forgot.

Would never see that in Squamish.


I am finding Safeway to actually have some pretty decent deals on certain things, and they mark things 30-50% off where in Squamish Save On never did, so have picked up meat several times 50% off, got a pork loin that I cut up and got 6 servings from for 2.20 after the discount.

Obviously have to cut up and freeze right away since they are near their sell by date, but no biggie.


Produce at Safeway has pretty decent prices as well, much of it on par with Wal-Mart but better quality and shopping experience.


Seems since Sobey's bought Safeway they have brought in low prices, Safeway used to be a total rip off place to shop.

Re: Groceries
 

Good to hear.
Also be prepared to have it (or some) the same day. Whatever you had planned originally can be postponed. This reduces the need to find freezer space and, maybe, forget what's in there.

Re: Groceries
 

This month, I decided to be an absolute tightwad on grocery shopping. For two of us (adults) eating three good meals a day, I spent $175 and I still have lots of food left to start next month's spree of stinginess. I don't bother checking flyers because most of the things on sale aren't stuff we'd eat anyway but here are a few of the rules that have propelled me into the higher realms of Scroogedom.
1. I buy foodstuffs with the least packaging by shopping at The Bulk Barn or the bulk bins at Superstore.
2. I invested a few years ago in a set of Kuraidori Vacuum Canisters from Home Hardware. Tomatoes, celery, lettuce, any other kind of greens keep far longer in these so there's no waste if there are only two of you and you've bought the biggest items sold as $x "each".
3. I don't buy any ice cream, soft drinks, cakes, cookies, pies or other obviously sweet stuff. Fruit juice only when on sale. Yoghurt for dessert - always some kind on sale but I don't buy any with sucralose or any other artificial sweetener.
4. Lots of stand-by dry goods in the pantry such as pasta and rice, dried split peas and my favorites - oatmeal for porridge and veggie burgers, and lentils which are a great source of protein, cook fast, and can be used for a lot of different soups and a very tasty kind of "meatloaf".
5. I buy huge bags of apples that don't fall within the store's parameters of acceptable appearance. Not overripe, bruised, or diseased, just the wrong size or shape.
6. The cost of other big bargain bags of things such as onions or potatoes I sometimes split with a neighbour or neighbours.
7. I check the unit cost on everything. It's usually on the price tag but if not, just do the math otherwise you can't compare packages of different sizes.
8. We have fresh free range eggs at breakfast every day but if perchance I do buy any eggs at a grocery store, I weight them on the produce scales and figure out the best deal. (To get the most for my money, I do this also with anything else sold as $x each,)
9. When buying spices and other small, light weight bulk items, I just tie up the top of the bag. The plastic tags can add about 10% to the weight of things that are quite expensive to start with.
10. I never go shopping when I'm hungry and I make sure I have something ready in the fridge that I can warm up fast when we get home.
We do eat a lot and and often have fish or chicken but they're not the centrepiece of most meals.
OK, so I'm a grocery store owner's worst nightmare but you can at least be one of his bad dreams. What are your strategies for the ultimate dime-squeezing? Do tell.

Re: Groceries
 

What about the booze, oh wait, I just read back and saw "meatloaf" .. If we're all in a plane crash and have to resort to cannibalism you and Jsmith are going first. :lol:
Edit: Maybe not Jsmith, depends how long until we're rescued I suppose.

Re: Groceries
 

$175/mth, not too shabby :thumbsup:

Outside of the booze, do you eat or consume any red meats, dairy (milk or cheese), what about breads (gluten free or other),Tea or coffee, spreads (butter, Margarine, almond or coconut substitutes) & oil - what type of oil do you use?

Do you brown bag lunches for the two of you every day, or do you spend money on food & drinks at work?

Detergents, laundry, cleaning products, paper towels, toilet paper - do you include these in your grocery basket $175

Re: Groceries
 

walked into my No Frills this morning & they had a store special on that 'pork loin' piece at $0.99/Ib ($2.18/kg). Don't know if its a sell off, but they had a whole bunker full, or whether it'll be in this next flyer?

Bought two of them for a combined total of $14.89, cut up into chops ... pork festival:thumbsup:

I figure each chop cost approx $0.30 each

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March 1st is National Pig Day. One thing I really like if I can get it all together is the Cuban Sandwich, roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, dill pickle and mustard on baguette/sub bun/Cuban bun/rye.. in Florida I've seen it offered on everything. Lacking a sandwich press I used the bottom of a cast iron pot, works a charm.

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Should be a national holiday. :thumbup:

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It began in the US as a day to pay tribute to the animal that sustained the pioneers and homesteaders, etc, but over time deteriorated into an orgy of smoke and bbq sauce, in St Pete's the smoke is hazardous. It's hard on the pigs.

Re: Groceries
 

coming to your area soon - would you shop at one?

New Danish supermarket sells food that is always past its sell-by date
WeFood in Copenhagen strikes a blow against food wastage by selling discounted produce that is past its sell-by date - but still edible

New Danish supermarket sells food that is always past its sell-by date - Telegraph

I shop at the one in Ajax Ontario that sells items past their 'sell-by date' or 'best before date' along with its other fresh 'best before or sell-by date'

.

Re: Groceries
 

Depends what it is, how it's packed and whether I had put it in suspended animation - the freezer.

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Depends on what I want to use it for and when, for example I don't normally eat yoghurt so don't keep it in the fridge but if I want to make curry today or tomorrow and I see some with a half price on it's due date I'll buy it. Even if I don't use more than half and have to throw it out in 2 weeks at least it was cheap. Ditto sour cream. At Christmas when I find eggnog on half price I save on eggnog but the rum bill goes up.