Shopping for groceries just before closing time is an efficient way to fight a jump in your grocery bill, according to one savvy Ottawa shopper.
Christa Amyot, a stay-at-home mother of two, said she spends about 15 minutes a day looking for coupons and 30 minutes perusing flyers.
But Amyot insists it take more than coupons, discipline and scavenging skills to find the best deals at the grocery store.
She said she tries on only buy groceries that are marked down at least 50 per cent off, which often happens just before stores close when stores mark down prices.
"I get pretty excited when I see them with their roll of [discount] stickers," said Amyot, who quit her job as a trainer of teachers to be a stay-at-home parent and run the household.
"That's kind of my new job, to provide savings for the family."
Amyot said she saves about $100 per week with what she calls three layers of savings.
She said it begins with buying items you have coupons for and shopping where you can earn grocery points. If you can find a deal and the item does not go bad, stock up for the near future.
Shoppers such as Amyot put a lot of work into their savings, but another Ottawa man is trying to help the many shoppers who do not have the same time to invest in their savings.
Software designer Remsy Schmilinsky put eight months of his own time into creating FlyeronFire.com, a search engine that allows browsers to compare flyers for products in 30 local stores.
"It allows people to find deals in Ottawa, groceries, electronics, week after week it's there [in one place]," said Schmilinsky.
Schmilinsky was able to show the CBC's Judy Trinh how to save $5 on baby diapers in just five minutes. He added it is a cost-efficient and time-efficient way to save.
10 ways to save on groceries
10 tips for smart shopping -- and eating healthy -- even if you're on a budget.
Stretching your food dollars doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on flavourful or healthy foods.
10 tips for saving at the grocery store
Buy local. You can save money on fruits and vegetables by buying local as much as possible. Planning your menus around food that is in season means fresher ingredients and that you won’t be incurring expensive food transportation costs.
Comparison shop. Look around for the best bargains, and not only in grocery stores. Pharmacies and hardware stores often offer good deals on staple items. If you find a good price, consider stocking up.
Shop smart. Make a grocery list and a weekly spend limit – and stick to it. Even small impulse items can add up — as much as 10 per cent of your yearly grocery bill, according to some experts. Utilize store circulars and coupons. And be sure to check your receipts for accuracy. Accidental overcharges can add up to a hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.Note: In Canada, if you’re overcharged because of a scanning error, you could be eligible to receive the item for free (or $10 off if the item is more than $10).
Go green. Concerned about the high prices of organic foods? Target your spending and go organic for foods where conventional pesticide use is high. These foods include apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.
Get out the slow cooker. Buying inexpensive (and tougher) cuts of meats won’t be a sacrifice if you slow cook them to mouth-watering tenderness. Slow cookers also make great use of leftover vegetables.
Make your own cleaning products. A trip down the cleaning supplies aisle can add big bucks to your grocery bill. Instead consider making natural and less expensive cleaning solutions from items in your pantry. ( Read more ).
Know your food costs facts. A few rules of thumb: White eggs are generally cheaper than brown; skim milk is cheaper than 2 per cent milk; and bacon is usually less expensive than sausage. A rotisserie chicken is not only a convenient way to prepare dinner, but it can go a long way toward leftovers, soups, etc. — and it is often cheaper than buying, say, boneless chicken breasts.
Think generic. Cereal, canned and frozen foods can be cheaper when sold through the store brand name — and in most cases, the quality isn’t that much different.
Engage in stealthy stock-up. Stocking up, particularly on reduced items, can help to save on fuel costs from that extra trip to the store as well as multiple-shop impulse buying. In many areas, bread prices have skyrocketed, so if your favourite multi-grain is on sale, buy a couple loaves to store in the freezer.
Choose your shopping companion wisely. We’ve all heard the old adage, ‘don’t go to the grocery store when you’re hungry’, but you might also want to consider whom you bring with you. Children or grandchildren, for example, have ways of persuading you to buy items you hadn’t planned for.
Best budget-friendly foods
No need to sacrifice on nutritious foods even if you’re on a budget. Load up on foods that are healthy, yet still wallet-friendly. These include: Kale, potatoes, beets, broccoli, butternut squash, Garbanzo beans, wild rice, oats, whole grain pasta, nuts, bananas, apples, watermelon, eggs and sardines. For more ideas, see What’s in your cart?
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