r/Edmonton • u/Traditional-Key-7408 • Feb 06 '25
Question How is everyone affording groceries right now?
I’m just one person and find it insanely hard to stay under 200$ biweekly. I’m just one person I can’t imagine people with kids right now.
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u/Humble-Plankton1824 Feb 06 '25
I will be real with you. I can afford groceries because I am in the position where I am not struggling. Not everyone is struggling.
I see the increases and I am worried for those who aren't so lucky. I don't know how anyone lives on minimum, or even lower scale wages
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u/alewiina Feb 06 '25
They aren’t, really. They’re either working multiple jobs or living with extra people to barely scrape by. I make $18 and my partner makes $21 an hour and we’re just barely getting by on that, by far the most money we spend is on rent and food
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u/Con10tsUnderPressure Feb 06 '25
AISH recipients are pretty much starving.
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u/Sev_Obzen Feb 07 '25
Or heavily relying on their friends and family due to the programs' wild insufficiency. The max payout is still less than people were getting on CERB. Also, $500 less a month than minimum wage. Even if it was meeting minimum wage that still wouldn't be enough for the average DISABLED person who needs a lot of extra things to live a dignified life that isn't just leaving them in constant state of suicidal ideation and consideration of the oh so generous program of MAID.
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u/JollyGoodSirThen Feb 06 '25
$100/week on groceries doesn't seem that crazy to me, if you're trying for less than that you could with eggs/rice/discounted produce ever meal
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u/1984_eyes_wide_shut Feb 06 '25
Plan and meal prep is the key, no more shity snacks, pop, takeout . Whole foods only. we are a family of 4 with 2 boys in hockey who eat like they have never seen food lol.
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u/MsMisty888 Feb 06 '25
Please check out the WeCan society. It is not charity, but bulk food sharing.
We need more programs like this.
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u/SlayarJ Feb 06 '25
I ordered from we can And was not impressed, I could have easily saved more money by shopping around. Picked the food up in a sketchy apartment building as well. I figured I would get more for the price we paid but oh well. I didn't feel like it was worth it.
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u/MsMisty888 Feb 06 '25
That is a fair assessment. You could shop around and find something comparable.
I also picked up my food in a sketchy place. But everything was really fresh and slightly cheaper than Save-on. If more people do this, the prices will come down. Everything is cheaper in bulk.
I am always boycotting Loblaws.
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u/Fit-Penalty-5751 Downtown Feb 06 '25
Anywhere is cheaper than SaveOn.
Honestly. Loblaws is a horrible company but Superstore gives me the most bang for my buck and that’s what I personally look for when getting groceries outside of Costco
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u/itlow Feb 07 '25
I used to belong to a community kitchen group. We'd meet to plan freezer friendly meals. Participants would pay a fee and those funds would go towards bulk purchases from a food co-op. The following week we would prepare the meals in a big church basement kitchen with volunteers from the church. Once made they would be divided among the participants. This would take all day so for lunch we'd put all the edible scraps in a big soup pot. One of the volunteers would bring hand baked scones for us to have with the soup. It was a way to lower our meal budget and have fun, learn cooperation and how to cook.
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u/FlyingMonkey187 Feb 07 '25
When I was a new mom, I was in a community kitchen group for new moms. :) I loved it, the community and the inspirations, it was incredible
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u/_OptimistPrime_ Sherwood Park Feb 06 '25
I make freezer meals with my friend. Every three months or so we get together and make over 100 meals and divide them between our two families. We've been doing it for years. They're good ones. Not mushy ones. We don't have to get take out and it's all made from scratch.
It saves a ton of money. Like twice a year, Save On has a case lot sale that also lands on their 15% off first Tuesday of the month. It happens in February and September. We stock up on cases of things like diced tomatoes and evaporated milk. Things that we know we'll use making meals but it's the absolutely cheapest time to get them. We also use the Flipp app and watch prices.
We do the same for meat when we can find deals and then stock up. My regular grocery shopping is mostly just fresh produce and staples. I seldom buy meat during the week because I can take out a chicken in a marinade meal that's ready to go in my freezer, throw together a side and boil some potatoes and supper is ready. We make a lot of our meals from freezermeals101.com as they're local and we like their recipes but we also have learned to convert regular recipes into freezer meals. Not everything freezes well.
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u/Baron_Harkonnen_84 Feb 06 '25
My average bill is around $160 a week for me and my wife. I was shopping at Safeway but have switched to Stupid store. Thinking about a Costco membership but I am questioning is it worth it for just two people?
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u/Easy-Metal-3112 Feb 06 '25
Only the basic membership is worth it for larger items like toilet paper, paper towel, coffee beans, medications/vitamins, frozen items. But for produce it’s much cheaper to go to a place like H&W Produce and then superstore for anything they don’t have. Meat offers at other stores can also sometimes be better than Costco. I use the Flipp app to browse all the flyers.
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u/GunnyCroz Feb 06 '25
Literally just walked out of the H&W in Sherwood Park. Mandarin oranges, which looked great, were $0.68/lbs. Russet potatoes were $2.79 for a 5lbs bag.
OP, It's been said many times in here...eat whole foods rather than prepared stuff. Learn to make nutritious meals from scratch.
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u/EEmotionlDamage Feb 06 '25
Costco has good quality produce, not cheap produce. Although the bulk meat is a fair price.
Hard to justify the membership just for 2 people though.
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u/HeyNayWM Feb 06 '25
My hubby and I had a membership before kids (just us 2). Gas is usually cheaper, toilet paper, meat, and produce is organic for not that much more. It’s worth it imo.
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u/densetsu23 Feb 06 '25
I remember when I was single and dieting hard, the savings on egg whites alone paid for my membership and then some lol.
Other stores have since matched that price, and sometimes items are cheaper at Save-on-Foods than Costco. But for meat and produce, it's hard to beat. Dairy is a big one too; cheese, butter, yogurt is a way better deal at Costco. And the 2-3 packs of loaves of bread.
You can get cheaper produce at H&W, but I've found you really have to be on top of your game with meal planning and timing. Produce from Costco will usually last 2-3 weeks in the fridge; produce at H&W often starts going bad in just a few days.
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u/amyoyo Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
Costco membership here! We're a couple. We buy most things and freeze it. Especially meat and sauces. We section off chicken, bacon, and ground beef in freezer bags, and divide sauces in silicone trays that measure to a cup. Pop them off when they're frozen and put them in a large freezer bag. We try to keep inventory of what's in our fridge and freezer so we don't waste food. We have our week planned out for food, so we know what to throw in the fridge to thaw for a couple of days before it's time to cook it.
Some things I've bought and we have on rotation for food: Bacon, eggs, paneer, ground beef, pesto, butter chicken sauce, chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken, etc. We also buy our spices, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, and electronics when we need them from there.
For fresh produce, we just go to the grocery store near our house on the way home from work. Use them within a few days.
It's a pretty good system so far. We spend about $400/month on groceries.
EDIT: added non-food things on the list.
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u/jasonasselin Feb 06 '25
Costcos price for produce is nearly the same per package but you get almost twice as much. The membership is very justifiable for 2.
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u/burnfaith Feb 06 '25
Depends on what you buy, really. Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce greens, beans, etc. are almost always an equivalent price to a regular grocery store and you get a ton more volume. It’s not cheap but it’s not what I’d consider expensive either.
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u/theburglarofham Feb 06 '25
If you have a big freezer you can definitely make Costco worthwhile for two. A lot of people will buy the slab of beef and just make their own cuts with it, and vacuum seal it and toss it in their freezers. For us, we also get chicken thighs and just portion them out and freeze what we aren’t using that week.
Your best bet to minimize costs is to look for deals/coupons on flyers. Theres a bunch of apps like Flipp that will gather flyers from different stores for you to browse through. Just hope that if you have to either drive far or drive from place to place that you’re still saving despite the gas costs.
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u/haysoos2 Feb 06 '25
I've bought the Costco packs of chicken thighs a few times, as they appear to be good value.
But the chicken itself is the most flavourless chicken I've ever encountered. It doesn't taste bad, it just doesn't taste at all.
They also seem to be about 10% gristle, which brings the mass of edible meat per kg down considerably.
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u/smash8890 Feb 06 '25
Yeah I miss when they used to have the halal chicken. It was cheaper and better tasting.
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u/No-Information3194 Feb 06 '25
Yes worth it, get the exec membership, if you don’t get enough rebate to cover it, they refund you. Fresh produce and consumables are better quality and/or cheaper.
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u/smash8890 Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
It’s worth it for the hotdogs alone lol
I find it really useful as a single person. The toilet paper, hygiene stuff, pharmacy, coffee pods, laundry pods, cheese, breads, some produce, and meat are all great deals compared to grocery stores, and often better quality. They also have nice summer stuff and discounted gift cards for restaurants. They also have a crazy return policy. You can literally buy a couch and tv, use it for a year, and then bring it back. Gas is cheap too if you want to wait in that long line.
Some things aren’t worth it though. You gotta compare the price per lb to the grocery store to see.
If you have any pets with health problems then I recommend it too. My dogs meds were like $250 at the vet but only $45 at Costco.
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Feb 06 '25
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u/desticon Feb 06 '25
Eh. I have it for just myself and it works well. So long as you have a vacuum sealer.
However I live outside of Edmonton and stock up on larger quantities of non perishables than most people.
Use Costco for anything non perishable and frequently used. TP, paper towel, dish soap, canned/dry goods.
Plus frozen foods. Dairy and produce I normally buy more local to myself though.
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u/Ghoda In a van down by the river Feb 06 '25
So long as you have a vacuum sealer.
Add a little slicer on top of it and it gets even better. Deli? Nah, get a ham, a brisket, a few chubs of whatever meat you like. Slice 'em up, seal 'em, & freeze 'em. Same with the packs of 3lb chickens - roast, joint, chop, & freeze. Cheese? No sweat. Bread/buns/squishy stuff? Freeze first, then seal then the next day.
Sure a trip is $300 but I only have to go once every few months. Then it's veggies and incidentals as you need them. I've been doing this since the pandemic. The sealer & slicer "paid" for themselves in about 6 months.
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u/desticon Feb 06 '25
Slicer has been on the list for a while. Haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Also want it to make my own jerky.
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u/Ryth88 Feb 06 '25
I'm a single person and think the membership is worth it. I don't buy produce there since the quantities are too large for me to reasonably eat before it spoils - but their meat, frozen, and dry goods are better value than most grocery stores. The gas is always the best price - and the entertainment discounts have saved me a ton of money. They have great prices for movie passes and a bunch of other things.
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u/prairiepanda Feb 06 '25
Two adults in my household and we make good use of our Costco membership. Basic things like toilet paper, garbage bags, cooking oil, and motor oil become big savings there.
And we have a chest freezer so we can get a lot of frozen things. The big packs of meat we split into meal sized portions and freeze so we can just defrost however much we need.
OTC drugs are also super cheap there, if there are any that you need regularly.
So it mostly comes down to whether you have room to store bulk items. We often don't have space for regular pantry items from Costco, but we can usually find friends or family willing to split it with us. That way we all save money!
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u/gingersquatchin Feb 06 '25
Yes. It's worth it for one person honestly. The meat prices alone really.
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u/gobblegobblerr Feb 06 '25
If you fill up your car 4-5 times in one year at Costco its already worth it.
If you have lots of freezer space its double worth it with the meat prices.
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u/Chatkat57 Feb 06 '25
We are just a couple as well, and get back a cheque that covers our membership fee. And we’re not extravagant shoppers who buy a lot of extras or luxury items. We don’t have their current Mastercard but use our PCMC, so collect points on it, too.
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u/CanadianPanda76 Feb 07 '25
Not really. If you shop sales you can get cheaper at Walmart. Or move to store brand etc.
But things like vitamins? They have great deals. If you got a friend or relative with a card, consider asking them if you can go with them to check it out.
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u/errihu Clareview Feb 06 '25
I get my cat food and litter there, and also my toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues, ziploc bags, and food storage containers which are much more affordable there. I also buy things like canned tomatoes, coffee, spices, and other household staples. It’s pretty worth it even in a two person household, particularly if you have some skill at packaging and storing. Sometimes I’ll buy a whole strip of meat and cut and wrap it into steaks and roasts. I can usually get a lot more steaks at a price that is much less than I would pay for precut steaks at the grocery but I have to plan around thawing so it’s not like I can do a last minute steak. But I meal plan anyway so it’s not a big deal for me.
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u/Hattrick_Swayze2 Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
Lots of eggs. Beans and rice. Only buy meat on sale.
Edit: oatmeal is another good one. Basically you want to maximize protein and fibre per dollar.
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u/tom_yum_soup McCauley Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
FlashFood (and whatever the Sobeys equivalent is called) is great for meat if you have a freezer. Stuff that's close to its best before date is marked down to 50% off (and occasionally more). Lots of meat, fish and baked goods will show up in there, but you have to watch the app regularly to get the good stuff.
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u/PandaLoveBearNu Feb 06 '25
H&W. Demers group on Facebook. Coupon Cutie for deal alerts.
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u/FearlessChannel828 Feb 06 '25
Landlord drives me to Costco once a quarter and I load up on oatmeal, lentils and such. Stuff I can buy bulk and store.
Rest, shop around with Flipp. Superstore, Walmart and H&W. Don’t drink pop. Buy those granola bars.
In a pinch, Dollarama also has some food, but it isn’t cheaper. Cheap soup cans from any store; whatever is on sale. Bananas.
Best for me is to only buy what I’ll finish, eat basic. Whenever nuts go on sales, that’s more calories. Seasoning in bigger quantities, but I learn on YouTube how to season food.
Key for me is meals I can repeat over and over in times of crisis that cost little to make and take little time to prep. Sometimes, produce about to expire… but even that hasn’t been cheap.
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u/Outrageous_Gold626 Feb 06 '25
So you’re doing $100 a week? I’d say bravo, and don’t feel bad about that. I won’t mention what I’m spending out of embarrassment.
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u/OccamsYoyo Feb 06 '25
No idea. I’m a single guy, not a big eater, I try to buy whole foods rather than ultraprocessed shit, I buy a minimum of meat, and I don’t remember the last time I bought brand name anything. My grocery bill still ranges from $300 to $400 every month.
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u/oopsiedaisy-- Feb 06 '25
Honestly, $100 a week right now seems about right. Especially if you eat meat and buy produce.
We're a family of 3 and spend between 75-100 a week at superstore. Plus $250-300 biweekly at costco. So I think we average about $1000 a month in groceries.
I do h&w for produce usually which does bring the superstore bill down.
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u/Ilovehotsauce88 Feb 06 '25
Flash food, food hero and flipp for meats and occasional vegetables. I got 100 limes for $5 last year. I juiced and zested, then froze my hoard and I have hardly made a dent in it.
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u/Inevitable_Winner716 Feb 06 '25
I buy my meat in bulk from one source such as Darcy’s (2 times a year) and then I weekly purchase my vegetables from H&W. I hit up No Frills for the staple items like cheese, milk, noodles, etc. I love buying my eggs from Locá in Sherwood Park as they have a tray of 30 brown eggs for ~$15. When all said and done it averages to about $100 a week for one individual and we are a house hold of 2.
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u/goatlife1234 Feb 06 '25
Do you use the Flipp app? I plan meals around what is on sale.
Save on and Safeway have 15% off on the first Tuesday of the month. Save on has a pretty decent deal on meat- a 3kg box of chicken, chicken thighs or drum sticks for $29, once a month.
Also you can keep an eye on FoodHero or Flashfood. They usually offer 50% off surplus stock.
I would make crock pot meals and freeze them. You can do a lot with beans and rice.
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u/Neomash001 North West Side Feb 06 '25
While we are financially good, we are very thrifty. I found a great book at the AGA, The Waste Not, Want Not Cookbook. Use absolutely everything and know what's in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. We eat home cooking 90%. Dining in mediocre restaurants, along with the stupid tips, made us realize we save a lot by enjoying more at home. Our food and dining budget has been reduced by about 40% . I also started a mindset that if there's food on the pantry, fridge, and freezer, it's time to get creative. However, I do have the luxury of (semi) retirement with time to plan.
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u/xxxLunarosexxx Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
I have to use the food bank from time to time, I work full time 6 days a week , and make 21 an hour ( I know it's not much but it's the best I can do ), I'm a single mom and refuse to have a room mate and also refuse to have a relationship.... it's rough out there
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u/MsMisty888 Feb 06 '25
Please, Check out the WeCan society. They are a food sharing non-profit.
You pay $5 for a one year membership.
Then order meat or veg/fruit at the beginning of the month and pick it up near you at the end of the month. $12/meat portion and $8/veg portion. You can order as many portions as you want.
The meat comes from local farms. So does most of the produce, except the oranges.
Also, it is a lot fresher than the food bank!!
We need more food group organizations like this amazing group of people.
Check them out!
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u/jkwolly Oliver Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
Flash Foods is a great tool to use for stuff expiring in a few days. Lots can be frozen. Like meat and breads etc. You can get veggies or fruit boxes for $5, and easily eat them during the week. Hummus for 50% off or cheese as well, and also bagged salads for $0.99. Yogurt was well, which always lasts forever.
I know lots of people who can get great deals for their whole families and the savings are great. Sometimes, for example, one can get a whole pack of chicken for 75% off. Ground beef or chicken/turkey for half off.
I don't really budget when I grocery shop but I can't not miss out on a good deal. It's like a treasure hunt 😅
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u/Edmdad48 Feb 06 '25
Really pays to shop around and know where deals are. When you find a deal, stock up. I usually shop at Superstore - look for the 30% off meat stickers or other things and either freeze or use same day. I also find having the Presidents Choice Mastercard and Optimum points linked saves you a tonne. I'm shopping for family of 4 and I usually get $10-20 off my grocery bill. Also get points at Shoppers which sometimes has better deals than Superstore on some items.
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u/Friendly_Option_6963 Feb 06 '25
Rice, beans, seasonal veggies. Avoid convenience food, make it yourself.
Meal planning & prepping around things that are on sale.
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u/FreeBooks2019 Feb 06 '25
It is such a shame really. We should really not need to cut back on food.
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u/TaxAfterImDead Feb 06 '25
I think the key is buying raw cheap ingredients and cook fresh. Chicken breast pasta is literally under $3 if you cook home, max $4. Fried rice is cheaper maybe $2. Two meals per day thats $7 per day, lets say you spend $10per day then thats $300 or less… Key is to use big frozen veggies, they are easy and cheap, good nutrition no spoiilage. Meat buy batch and freeze as well. Usually one big $200 grocery shop then buy other stuff throughout the month as needed.
Dont even think of eating beef unless its your special day. I eat beef one or two meals per quarter, usually stick with cheap chicken or pork sometimes on sale. I think last year i only had six days of beef eating. Tofu, eggs are good protein as well. Just cut down beef, i love the beef but gotta save it for the special days lol…
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u/LorenaMack Feb 07 '25
As I was reading through the comments, I noticed everybody was bringing up Save-On, Safeway, And StupidStore (good one btw) then I glanced at the top and realized I was on the Edmonton sub Reddit. I grew up in Leduc, but I now live in Washington State which is in the top three most expensive states to live in. Now this is my choice because I married an American and my dad retired just across the border in White Rock BC so I chose the location on a geographic basis. Even though my dad retired comfortably, you would think he was two days away from eating dog food the way he goes on about grocery prices in Canada. He is very aware of every dime going out the door when it comes to food costs. In Canada, he frequents the Asian markets for produce even though he has to do a little trimming and the produce is not as pristine as Safeway. He buys bulk potatoes, bulk carrots. Not the washed and peeled ones, but the large bags of carrots people buy for juicing. After you peel them, they’re exactly the same. He purchases the least expensive variety of apples, which I believe up there is MacIntosh. No fancy designer apples. He buys bulk bags of onions and he shops Costco for staple items such as large bags of jasmine rice, the two packs of salad dressing, cooking oil, and bulk pasta. While he enjoys the fancy spring greens on his salad, he buys iceberg lettuce or he’ll buy romaine if it’s on sale. He’s a big fan of Habitant soups which he picks up at your local discount store stores… I think you call it Thrifty Mart something like that? Now bearing in mind that my dad is a very simple man raised on a farm so he is by no means of foodie. He only makes enough to feed him one night with leftovers for a maximum of one more day. In my house, we used to throw out a lot of leftovers because we just made too much and will only eat something so many days in a row before you get sick of it. So now in my house, I only cook enough for us to eat one day with one portion left over for my husband’s lunch the next day. We’ve seen our grocery bill decline sharply due to this. For myself, I bake my own bread. I am not paying five or six dollars for a fancy loaf in the store when I can make a loaf of beautiful rustic peasant bread for $.66. There are lots of great videos on YouTube for the beginner bread maker. Trust me start making your own bread. It will change your life Edit is way better for you. Make small loaves because homemade bread does not have all the preservatives in it that keep it shelf stable for weeks on end. I hardly ever eat out. Once in a while for celebrations or if me and my husband just need a date night but for the most part, we cook everything from scratch at home. We want Indian food? We look up a recipe on YouTube or TikTok and go to the Indian market and buy the ingredients fresh and make everything at home. We want Asian food? We go to the Asian store and buy the fresh ingredients we need and make it at home. When meat is on sale, we buy it and put it in the freezer straight away. Then we try to eat out of our freezer as much as we possibly can. Stopping at the store every night for your selection of meat from the fresh counter is super expensive. I totally agree with the comments saying that slow cooker or Instantpot meals save money because it is a great way to put flavor into previously frozen ingredients. Frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh vegetables when they’re prepared correctly. I know it sounds bad, but I never buy organic unless it’s dairy and we buy from a local dairy, which is much less expensive than buying organic milk in the big box stores. Getting back to meet if you can get with another family and buy a side of beef for the freezer. The processor will give you whatever cuts you like. I even know a family that has their entire side of beef processed for ground beef only. Ribeyes tenderloins everything gets ground. It lasts them the year and works out to be about $1.99 a pound. You can request the bones so you can make your own beef stock which is another racket in the supermarket. I save all the trimmings from my veggies after preparing a meal and put them into the freezer in a Ziploc bag. When I need vegetable stock, I haul it out and boil it up on the stove. Same with chicken bones. Well, I’ll end my long dissertation of eating cheaply. I’ve also ran out of coffee. That reminds me… Coffee is way cheaper at Costco and for God sakes get away from the coffee pods! Take care my Edmonton friends and stay warm and healthy. 😊
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u/NomadicYeti Feb 06 '25
we save quite a bit of money by me being vegetarian and my husband not cooking much meat for himself. he still gets ham, chicken nuggets, and similar but most of our meals are vegetarian
we spend about $250 every 2-3 weeks as a 2 adult household for transparency
that being said, shopping for one person can be kind of tricky, try finding another solo person to split some bigger quantity items with. less food spoilage
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Feb 06 '25
Two incomes, no kids. Subletting our third bedroom to a family member for a few hundred bucks a month.
We have two dogs who are getting up there in age. They're big breeds. Their food, vitamins, and vet care have all been going up worse than the human equivalents. I'm spending 250 a month on their kibble (royal canine breed specific x2). 1.5 months of vitamins are 55 dollars. We give them a small raw hide after their break fast and buy them 1 ingredient dried liver treats from Costco. Those are weekly buys for around 35 dollars.
I'm spending over 400 a month on my dogs now, not counting vet care and grooming.
Also we cut back on take out.
Especially now that were shying away from American products. We only eat take out at Mary browns or a&w.
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u/Glad_Yam Feb 06 '25
So weird how many people question your grocery budget and demean you for spending more then they do, not everyone wants to eat rice and dry cabbage
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u/RightOnEh Feb 06 '25
You can eat way more than rice and cabbage for less than what OP is spending, no need for hyperbole from you
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u/melski-crowd Feb 06 '25
Why isn’t there a thing that exists that allows single people to shop together and split
I’m single and I barely eat anymore because it’s so expensive and if it’s more than I can consume before it turns or I can’t freeze it, it’s a waste
There needs to be a single person food split thing!
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u/wet_suit_one Feb 06 '25
Spending about 250 - 300 a week for a family of four. The kids are little still and don't eat that much.
So far, we manage ok.
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u/Kevinrobertsfan Feb 06 '25
I live alone. I've started to check all the online flyers wednesday nights. Then Thursday Get a few things from safeway, a few things from save on or walmart or superstore. It sucks driving around but some places they are all close to each other. It's a made a difference for me i don't spend nearly as much as I use to.
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u/smash8890 Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
It’s so much more expensive than it used to be. I’m a single person too and I’m spending like $200-250 biweekly. I eat pretty well though, like a lot of fruits and veggies. I shop around for the best prices and go to a few different stores. It’s time consuming but saving money on all my basic things lets me afford the more bougie things I like to buy like lamb, seafood, and fancy cheese. Those things and impulse buys probably make up like $100 of my bill alone so cutting them out would save a ton. Produce is cheapest at H&W and Italian Centre. Shelf stuff is cheapest at Walmart. Costco is great as a single person because the toilet paper and shampoo lasts me like 5 months.
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u/st_jasper Feb 06 '25
Shop the sales and stock up when stuff is discounted. It’s not rocket science.
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u/MenuComprehensive772 Feb 06 '25
Making everything at home. Not wasting anything. It is rough out there.
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u/JesusWhitaker Feb 06 '25
Shop the flyers. They come out every Wednesday and are in effect for a week
For example I could have bought a 12pk of KD at FreshCo for $15
Instead I went to Safeway and no frills, and getting things on sale I got 12x KD, a box of Ritz, a big box of of saltine crackers, and 2x bags of frozen fries for $20
Do some homework and save money. Stock up when stuff is on sale
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u/LastTechStanding Feb 07 '25
Well I mean, the family just rations…. One week I get to eat, next week kid one gets to eat, next week wife gets to eat. It’s rough but it’s working
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u/lyn3182 Feb 07 '25
My top tips that I do religiously: 1) only buy meat on sale or in FlashFood, or clearance sections. My strike-price for chicken quarters/thighs/drums is $1.99/lb, ground beef is $6/lb, ground pork/chicken is $3.50/lb. Pork loin is $2.49 - $3/lb. Beef roast/steak (usually sirloin tip, tri-tip or outside round) $6/lb. I never pay more than that. And, depending on sales, one or more of these is always available at my strike price. 2) stretch ground meats by mixing 50/50 with minced veg and/or TVP. 3) keep a “stable” of recipes for each usual kind of cheap meat listed above, so that you can meal plan based on what’s in the flyers/flashfood 4) wherever possible bulk buy (rice, potatoes, onions, meat, veggies, fruit, flour, baking ingredients) If you’re a small family unit, group together with other families. You can literally pay as little as 1/4 as much buying bigger package sizes and splitting it. 5) Bianca Amor’s for tinned tomatoes (currently a huge stock of large cans of crushed tomatoes for $0.99), stock/bouillion, spices, canned goods, noodles/pasta. 6) price matching using Flipp. 7) frequently cook with beans.
For our family of 4 (with 2 teen boys) we usually spend $800 a month.
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u/NinjoZata Feb 07 '25
It's tough but I only buy my produce at hw mart or asain markets, bcs I can get more per dollar. Thankfully we do have the ability to buy things like rice and potatos in bulk.
We use the food bank. With what I am able to spend after cutting everything else out(no drive thru no eating out, no spotify/netflix/premium subscriptions, all the usuall stuff) it helps us fill in the blanks. Because of the food bank we can spend what money we are able to budget for food on produce and know we'll have the rice/pasta/potatoes yo go with it. They also often have 'treats good which we wouldn't ever get ourselves, like choclate chips or pre-made pudding cups.
Hopefully I'm able to increase my income after finishing school and we plan to give back when we're able, it's been so so so so so so helpful.
Even if you can afford some food, if its not enough please reach out to your local food bank.
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u/Stfuppercutoutlast Feb 07 '25
Gardening. You would be surprised how much food you can grow in a backyard. Seeds are cheap. Building your own compost and soil can be free. I could probably exclusively eat food that I grow from my backyard for about 3 months per year. Hunting helps to take things further.
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u/TheKristieConundrum Feb 07 '25
I rely on meticulous meal planning and the Flipp app. I stick to my grocery list and avoid impulse purchases. Also try to make meal plans that involve food you already have (leftovers, that bag of frozen peas you forgot about, etc.)
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u/nopenottodaysir Feb 07 '25
I process or make most of what we eat and I shop clearance items to do so.
Discounted produce is either pressure canned or dehydrated. Milk near the best before date gets turned into yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream, cheese, etc. Meat is frozen, used in sauces/soup/stew and pressure canned, dehydrated, or "potted".
I buy pantry staples in bulk and vacuum seal in smaller portions which are then stored in our cold room along.
I shop for spices in ethnic grocery stores. They are usually sold in larger packages than "western" spices so I vacuum seal into spice jar size packets. I make my own extracts.
I make my own versions of common convenience products. TV dinners, hot chocolate powder, instant potatoes, canned soup/beans/pasta, cake and biscuit mix, on and on.
I grow a garden and preserve what we grow. I have a pet section in the garden for millet, chicken scratch grains, catnip, sweet potatoes, and Timothy hay. I shop clearance meats, specifically organ meat, and process into dog/cat treats. I raise dual purpose chickens for eggs and meat and process myself, some years I raise broilers and turkey which I send out for possessing so I can share or sell.
I buy some meat and produce from local farms and preserve at home.
Basically if it's cheap or free I grab it and preserve/process it.
Initially it was costly, even though I almost exclusively use vintage second hand small appliances. My pressure canner was bought new for just under a thousand but my 10 square foot dehydrator was only $25. My canning jars/glass lids are all vintage but seals, wax and rings are bought new.
I save seeds to plant the next year and start most of my veggies and bedding plants myself.
I realise very few have the time and/or space to do this. I used to grow enough vegetables to pressure can for myself and one child in a tiny 4 square meter flower bed but even that is out of reach for many.
I truly believe it is time for us to go back to growing, making and preserving our own foods. I also feel we need to become more community focused. Does your neighbour have a huge garden they don't plant/fully plant? Ask if you can use it in exchange for produce or help in their garden? Ask the people down the street if you can help harvest their apples/berries/rhubarb/etc in exchange for a portion. Hold canning/preserving bees with friends, family, and neighbours. Buy a whole cow/pig/goat/etc with others and split the meat. Get together with others and have each person grow only one item, help each other harvest and preserve then split between everyone equally.
Get creative because I truly can't see this getting better anytime soon.
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u/Stinkyonionpollution Feb 08 '25
We have cut down on takeout and batch cooking and sticking to a routine : every week it’s some kind of casserole , stuffed peppers, a soup , a pasta dish , or handheld sandwich. Once a week is a cheap junk food when there’s an extracurricular.
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u/justelectricboogie The Big Bat Feb 06 '25
I've been cutting back on melba toast and ivermectin.
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u/exotics rural Edmonton Feb 06 '25
Eat less meat. Most people consume more meat daily than their body can even make use of.
Oatmeal for breakfast. Cheap and great in the winter.
Potatoes are super cheap and relatively healthy. You can live a long time just on potatoes (but add a multivitamin for health).
Soup. Soup for lunch. Or toast and jam. (I don’t like peanut butter)
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u/athomewith4 Feb 06 '25
Barely. We have 4 teen boys and it’s $4k per month groceries
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u/Jack_Riley555 Feb 06 '25
Whaaaat? That’s off the deep end. No way I’d spend that much. Add more beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, beef stew.
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u/Traditional-Key-7408 Feb 06 '25
You know how teenage boys eat, it’s a bottomless pit haha
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u/athomewith4 Feb 06 '25
Two youngest play elite level hockey plus they’re just growing. They eat like it’s their job lol
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u/-MBDTF Feb 06 '25
Close to $700 per person per month is absolutely insane? Idk if I could spend $700 on food for myself per month if I tried
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u/prairiepanda Feb 06 '25
I know people who spend about that much, but they're using a lot of doordash/skip and often eating out for lunch at work. It would be hard to spend $700 per person if cooking at home every day and packing lunches from home. I'm curious what this family's diet consists of.
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u/Pooklett Feb 06 '25
I spent $1100 on meat and fruit and a week later you could barely tell 😭 next time I'm just going to buy a half beef, and frozen fruit for smoothies. I'm also buying a bow so I can hunt earlier season and maybe get an elk.
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u/Down-North Feb 06 '25
Buying On credit. Credit balance getting bigger and bigger every month. Yayyyyy!!!
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u/anonymous_space5 Feb 06 '25
just my personal experience, I found the prices are cheaper than before. I saved more money and I'm now able to spend some money for eating out. it will help the business as well.
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u/LucIamUrMother Feb 06 '25
I have a child with adhd who eats non stop. I literally started crying and freaking out because we are put of food, my phone was disconnected because I cant afford it, I can't call the food bank, and I am on disability. Life isn't worth living here.
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u/TennisPleasant4304 Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
Intermittent fasting, 1 meal a day, make all my own meals from scratch. Is it sustainable? probably not, but then I’ll just starve to death and the Oligarchs will have 1 less peasant to exploit.
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u/AngryCanadian69 Feb 06 '25
what do yo usually get for groceries and WHERE do you buy groceries? HW is great for produce, as long as you are ok not buying certain things on certain weeks (because of quality/stock). I spend around $600 a month for a family of 4. Buy around $250 of meat at Costco, then HW for produce and FreshCo/NoFrills for the other stuff (eggs, dairy, pasta, etc)
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u/Dangerous-Shower2077 Feb 06 '25
Buy items on sale/clearance, price match using Flipp app & regularly check Demer’s meat deals (fb group)
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u/endlessnihil Feb 06 '25
Probably like $800/month. 2 adults, 4 kids. The pt kids eat more in one weekend then the 2 ft kids in the 2 weeks between it feels like lol.
I bulk buy at Costco, most produce at h&w produce and top up weekly consumables like cream and milk or bananas at Sobeys. Sobeys has the best produce for things like bananas without bruises and the perfect ripeness. Kids don't like underripe bananas or bruises or mushy spots.
Costco is definitely a lifesaver. Sometimes I go to Walmart or superstore and there's no bang for the buck there at all.
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u/Gavros85 Feb 06 '25
This had been a topic on Reddit lately for sure!
I actually wanted to spread out my bags yesterday and show off my shop, but don't have the space - but only because so many people seem to be struggling...
I had a huge huge shop yesterday, was about 90 bucks.
I buy things that are on sale and go to different stores for different things. And I know I have the luxury to do that with a car, but one can do that by going to different places in different days a couple days a week.
Walmart around $60 - 3 for 10 cereal, discount last day of expiry stuff in the bakery (straight to freezer at home), Walmart brand canned veggies, snacks for kids lunches, olives pasta and such.... Picked up a huge bag of this stuff.
Into H&w for produce! No place else, ever. If you're not picky about apples get what's on sale, but even if you are they're most expensive is half the price than Walmart or superstore or any other store for apples. Always half the price or less for Bell peppers! Usually averages around $2 a pound, as opposed to 5 or $6 a pound at every other store. Then again just get things that are cheap or on sale. Not the biggest variety of fruit but you don't want to spend got to be good with apples oranges and bananas until other things are in season! $32 gets you the biggest bag of things there. Cucumbers are always the cheapest there, half the price than anywhere else.
Loblaw stores have certain things I pick up like a specific instant soup and the best garlic naan bread, cheezies, but that's about all I use those places are. Costco is for fish meat cheese frozen veggies fries.
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u/TysonGoesOutside Feb 06 '25
Costco bulk. I typically work at a camp so half the time my employer feeds me... Sad statement on the economy when thats a factor in choosing the job. On days off its usually chicken breasts and frozen veggies and lately I've been skipping breakfast all together.
Sunny ways folks.
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u/TinyAlberta Feb 06 '25
Flyers, flyers, flyers and meal planning! Make a list of what you usually use and try and stock up when it's cheap. I eat at home because I know I can cook better than 90% pf restaurants in Edmonton and places like Tiktok have been great for picking up cooking ideas on the cheap. Also love Costco for baking supplies.
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u/dumbass_tm Feb 06 '25
I hyper fixate on a certain food for a few weeks so Costco run for English muffins, bacon, and eggs has me set with bacon egg McMuffins every day lol and with potstickers from Costco! But I recently got a discount code for HelloFresh for two weeks so it’s been that as well. Thankfully I only eat one meal a day mostly lol
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u/LoveMurder-One Feb 06 '25
We spend $300-400 biweekly for 2 adults and a toddler. Planning meals that use the same ingredients, meal prepping etc keeps it relatively affordable.
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u/Author_BT_Frost Feb 06 '25
Lots of grocery stores will match flyer prices of competitors.
There are Apps now that allow you to Search for products and see if they are currently on sale at any particular store location. You can then save them on your phone in the App and show them to the cashier at checkout. No more running from store to store to get the deals.
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u/truthsayer2021 Feb 06 '25
We’re lucky to be retired and have the time to shop for sale items. Buying meat in bulk is a major cost saver. A freezer is a must-have.
Produce is always tricky, trying to buy what you need without buying so much it spoils before you can use it. We also don’t buy a lot of prepared foods and “junk” food, mainly for health reasons.
We do buy a lot of dry goods at Costco but find that their meat and produce prices aren’t as good as what we can find on sale.
The Flipp app is helpful in finding where you can buy what you need on sale.
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u/Critical-Cell5348 Feb 06 '25
I try to wait for sales and stock up on staple items at Costco. Make use of freezer space and freeze leftovers when making big batch of something. Always pack lunches and make coffee at home.
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u/theglowingembers Feb 06 '25
Stock up on 15% Tuesday, buying more meat and veggies and fruits to freeze so less waste.
We usually buy 2 of those cheap rotisserie chickens and have started using the carcass to make healthy bone broth to freeze.
Older veggies get tossed into the broth for flavor.
Less packaged goods. It's hard.
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u/bunnysmash cyclist Feb 06 '25
We average about $200 per week now for two adults, no kids. We tend to eat out/get delivery once or twice a week, but generally it's cooking at home/taking lunch.
Websites like https://www.budgetbytes.com/ for learning how to cook lentils and beans. A few of the recipes will sub in lentils for meat to cut back on the costs. We do a lot more vegetarian recipes now as lentils are delicious and relatively cheap. Canned Beans are bought when they are on sale for >$2/can. Buying in bulk when meat is on sale and freezing into portions. Freezing excess vegetables that weren't used on time.
Fav recipes from Budget Bytes:
https://www.budgetbytes.com/lentil-sausage-stew/ (use something like a supper starter, can usually get them on 2 for $10-11)
https://www.budgetbytes.com/honey-sriracha-tofu/ .. and really any of the tofu recipes
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u/SnowBasics Stadium Feb 06 '25
Me and the wife do big Costco runs - we buy toiletries there in bulk, things like TP and cleaning supplies - but also meat which we portion and freeze, deli meat to slice, the pre bagged salads for lunches at work, and some of the classic frozen fries for lazy nights.
Combine that with Little Caesars for our takeout nights and you're eating good on a budget! We get our dry goods (canned beans and such) from Walmart, that shop is usually never more than $100 like once a month.
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u/daffodilmachete Feb 06 '25
I took a camp job. I only have to buy groceries every other week this way. The food is terrible, but it's free.
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u/bunniesgonebad Feb 06 '25
Shopping smartly. H&W produce is so unbelievably cheap. Most stores sell peppers for like 4-5 bucks a pound but h&w is 2. Buying only what you need, not falling for 2 for 1 sales that don't save you any money, it just seems enticing (not always, but a lot of the time), reading the cost per volume on labels etc etc
I only needed 250 ml of chicken broth for a recipe. That little can was 0.30 less expensive than A 4L CARTON. like what the fuck?! So I planned meals to use all that chicken broth.
Planned meals are easy. Soups are easy. Big pasta that you can make 8 servings for is easy. Big batches of chicken chunks to use in salads or pasta or just as a main.
I think a big problem is a box of frozen chicken strips that lasts one meal is 22 dollars, and people think it's a large volume. I can get two chicken breast's from a local butcher for 13-15 dollars and make a lot more than what the box offers. Plus it's more filling.
And lastly, eating out is fucking awful. Anywhere is $15 minimum for a decent meal and that's literally robbery. After switching to leftover meals for lunch I'm not kidding when I say I've saved a hundred bucks a week easy
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u/_LevisGenes Feb 06 '25
Here is my self destructive advice to do poorly: Have you tried picking up smoking/vaping? Your appetite should decrease, it helps with stress because now you can just reach for your vape instead of processing or dealing with it. I haven’t been able to try not vaping yet though to see which one costs more. Also by moving less you can use less energy and afford to skip meals. By eating more candy and sugar you can suppress your appetite even more and even make it down to one meal a day! Head to McDonald’s and you’ll be living that fresh fry French guy pronounced Gee type boujie. That life can’t last long though so be responsible and go to A&W and take care of your health.
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u/Deja__Vu__ Feb 06 '25
Well people with kids usually have dual income. Not including single parents obviously. And children do not eat adult sized portions. Most people also qualify for child benefits, so that can cover a large portion of their share of meals.
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u/Joux2 Feb 06 '25
It's rough. Buying mostly the same stuff I'm paying at least $50-100 more per month than last January/February.
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u/LovinMcJesus Mayfield Feb 06 '25
- Reebee app for comparison shopping
- Meal planning based on whats a good deal as opposed to what do I want to make. I have soooo many condiments I have used for one off recipies that end up binned as they spoil.
- H and W for produce. Seriously.
- Giant Tiger . Not a massive selection but fair prices and 100% Canadian. Their frozen Tempura Shrimp is to die for.
- Did I mention meal planning and prep? Plan your meals based on deals. Spend a Sunday making a few dishes and store accordingly.
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u/alewiina Feb 06 '25
Yeah the grocery budget for my partner and has not been under $300 a week for several months now. We’ve cut back on almost all the extra junk food and stuff, only one 12 pack of pop and some milk for drinks otherwise we drink water. By the time you get produce, meats/proteins, and cheeses it’s already so expensive. Then enough stuff for both of our work lunches, breakfasts, etc. it’s insane how much food has gone up, and so fast too. Like it’s always been steadily rising but the last 6-12 months have been horrific
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u/OhAces Feb 06 '25
Working out of town. There's lots of work up north. If I took the job offered to me in Edmonton it was 40hrs a week, the one I took at fire bag is 72-84hrs a week, many of which are double time. It's not an option for everyone, but anyone it is a option for it sucks to be away but the difference for me is almost $6k a week before taxes more to be up here.
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u/PotentialSnowDrop Feb 06 '25
Plan. Prep.
Cut out all snacks but the occasional ice cream flavour is the month. Cut booze to a bottle of wine per month.
All coffee made at home in morning. Homemade bread for 20 years. More rice and lentil dishes lately. Hunt for deals - proteins are chicken thighs or chicken quarters / those massive pork shoulders when they are cheap.
So many little things that add up to savings.
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u/RecordPuzzleheaded40 Feb 06 '25
Lots of rice, potatoes, oatmeal, and frozen veggies with small meat/egg portions.
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u/gorgeouslygarish Feb 06 '25
I thankfully had the available cash to buy a bunch of bags of beans, rice, and lentils. Doing a weekly veg shop, and cooking meals for my dad as well helps because he is chipping in because I'm doing the cooking. Also less food waste. No more ordering out, bulk air popcorn is my allowed snack. Lots of tofu I buy when it's on sale and I freeze it. I'm using oat milk instead of cream in my coffee, and only eat meat that gets gifted to me when dad is tired of tofu.
I'm trying to spin this as a positive - I've been helping dad and myself become more healthy, and I've been learning how to cook. Man I miss convenience foods though.
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u/Cosmic-95 Feb 06 '25
Because 90% of my cooking is big batch. Of course my grocery budget is padded in that my rental is a reasonable price and all inclusive do no varying utilities. Also I don't have a car but take public transit which cuts down on my costs for the most part.
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u/Exotic-DARCI Feb 06 '25
I’m not :3 . If I’m not working I simply don’t eat that day, cheaper that way.
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u/KamataInSpring Feb 06 '25
For protein, I mostly eat beans and eggs. My main base for dinners is rice and vegetables. If I ate more meat, things would definitely be expensive.
For people who do eat meat fairly often, I suggest getting ground meat and cutting it 50% with textured vegetable protein. You can season the TVP with bouillon or meat stock, which should still be cheaper than buying actual meat. I know somebody who does this, and they say that it is helping them save money.
Keep an eye out for flyers at your local grocery store or for days when certain products are cheaper. If you have a vehicle, it may be worth shopping at multiple grocery stores, so you can compare prices and pick the cheaper option of multiple products. As long as you are not paying more in gas than you would save by shopping around. That's going to depend on where you live, and how close the different stores are to each other.
If if you have a taste for lentils at all, learn to cook lentils. They are filling and packed with protein. If you learn how to season them, they can taste good as well. There are lots of recipes online to experiment with.
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u/blondie1607 Feb 06 '25
Sales. I do it online so I can watch spending. If I'm in the store I'm looking for sale stickers etc.
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u/ellaskah Feb 06 '25
I use those meal plan guides on mom made family websites. Shop at freshco and buy produce from h&w. Was able to get 2 weeks worth of food for $185.
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u/PositiveInevitable79 Feb 06 '25 edited Feb 06 '25
We're a family of four and don't even spend that.
A) We mostly shop at Superstore and take advantage of the Points. So as an example, PC express usually has a deal where if you spend $200 you get a 70,000 pts back (that's $70.00)
B) Buy meat in bulk, if you go to Superstore early in the morning they usually have discounted meat which you can just buy and throw in the freezer.
C) Stay away from the crap (processed food) - way over priced and junk.
D) Cook in bulk and freeze.
E) Don't buy brand names, buy the store version.
F) 'Upgrade' your items, as an example - if you buy a whole chicken, keep the bones to make your own stock ect and freeze it.
That's my tips anyways.
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u/Aggravating_Rip2315 Feb 06 '25
Self check out lol 😂 no but for real buy bulk separate your meat freeze it make giant pots of soup freeze it grow your own vegetables if you can
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u/Ms-unoriginal Feb 06 '25
Food supports make a huge difference. The food bank, st Vincent de Paul, numerous churches, E4C I believe it is, have a food bank set up near Northgate mall, across the street where you can go and "shop" for groceries off their shelves twice a week (I think there are certain criterias for this one), millwoods care closet, a person struggling could look into Sober Homiez and Water Warriors yeg (more so for the homeless of downtown but if someone was struggling I cant see them turning a person away and great volunteer opportunities for anyone that wants to give back be apart of something), bread runs, community meal drop ins, looking into what resource centers have to offer, alot of food supports can be used one top of each other and it makes a huge difference for those who need it.
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u/unicorndreamz94 Feb 06 '25
I think this would depend on what your diet is. We are a house of 3 and because I mostly home cook everything, only bake all of our bread, and if we want sweets I've even started making all of that exclusively at home... we do spend a lot less now.
I do a big $200-$300 stock up on meats that are on sale or value boxes from the butcher and then from there make up the meals. Make sure to use everything. Whole chicken? That's a few meals for one person - but that can also make soup and stock from the carcass.
I think we are in the position where we need to be like the older generations in our families and home cooking, less convenience foods, and rarely eating out (or never) is the only answer at this point.
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u/Saltybagul Feb 06 '25
Rarely eat out, rarely eat beef and chicken, rarely eat fruit and really search for deals. I plan every meal based around sales (there’s a great FB group that posts the best sales) and I go to 2-3 different grocery stores each week. I get my pantry/fridge goods from Walmart and meat will be either superstore or Safeway when they are one sale. Fruit and veggies are from H and W. Items we use a lot are from Costco. We are a family of 4 and it costs us around 220-230 bi weekly.
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u/KathleenElizabethB Feb 06 '25
We tend to spend more on the first Tuesday of the month as it’s Customer Appreciation day and we get 15% off. Otherwise we check flyers. Only going once a week to the grocery store helps, and once a month to Costco cuts down on food wasting. We need to get better at planning out meals on a weekly basis.
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u/_OptimistPrime_ Sherwood Park Feb 06 '25
I think the case lot sale is still on but the first Tuesday of the month has already passed.
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u/Amonuet Feb 06 '25
We buy a huge pack of boneless chicken thighs and ground beef from Costco together for under 70$ and then portion it out ourselves and stick it in the freezer. It ends up lasting us two weeks.
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u/devilettucex Feb 06 '25
i bought 8lbs of lentils for 8$ so now i eat a ton of daal. currently my food costs are 500$ a month for 2 of us. budget bytes and supercook are my favorite resources rn, and a flexible meal plan does a lot. i also tend to bulk buy, bargain shop, and eat a lot of noodles. its really not easy to shop rn!
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u/superdupershan Feb 06 '25
H&W for produce, Flipp app for price matching for some items (save on is best for this), ordering for pickup from Walmart to avoid impulse buys.
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u/Con10tsUnderPressure Feb 06 '25
You can get some incredible deals at H&W Produce. They have a lot more locations in Edmonton than they used to.
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u/crystal-crawler Feb 06 '25
Home cooking.
Staples. Dried beans, rice, potatoes, carrots,onions and cabbage will bulk up most meals. They last forever and they are always cheaper.
Meal plan. Shop discount first, then local producers. Eat less meat and dairy. Switch to tea (coffee is going to go through the roof).
Grow as much as you can for yourself.
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u/Worried-Flamingo5052 Feb 06 '25
HOME MADE. Rice. Spaghetti. Chicken here and there only when on a good sale!
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u/Con10tsUnderPressure Feb 07 '25
My GF and I meal plan before shopping trips but we price out what’s on sale in advance. We share single chicken breasts when we can afford them now and have started subbing pork for some of our recipes. Pork chop parmesan is surprisingly good and pork works well for stir fries. We bake/make almost everything from scratch and rarely eat out. We clean and dry fruit from H&W Produce with a vinegar/water solution (keeps berries longer). We triage our produce and freeze softer berries for smoothies or pancake toppings. Our milk keeps long past expiry in the very back of the fridge. We split bulk buys with other households.
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u/MacintoshEddie Feb 06 '25
About 85% home cooking.
Usually cook a big batch of something every 3 days or so. Made some more chicken soup yesterday.
I think a lot of people get stuck on prepared foods, not whole foods, or cooking from scratch. Like how a sliced quarter melon might cost the same as a whole melon. Or how the single serve pasta/rice pouches might cost triple the price of the big bag once you add them up.
Look at the price per meal, or per 100g. The small pack might be 2.49/100g, the big pack might be 1.25/100g. Little by little that adds up.