Parent Time

Groceries

Know the price!
Especially of items you buy all the time such as milk, bread and eggs. Otherwise you won’t know if you’ve found a good sale. And don’t assume the jumbo-mega-super pack of diapers is the best buy — do the math to check the per-diaper price.
Kimberley Clancy, operator, frugalshopper.ca

Smart shopping
• Scan the reduced items for a deal on food that’s close to its best-before date. Just be sure to use it up right away.
• In-season fruit and vegetables are a good buy, but only if you’re sure to use them. Frozen or canned produce may mean less waste and more savings.

A store is a store
You often pay less for the same items at discount grocery stores. Most supermarket chains have levels: the higher-end Loblaws versus the lower-cost No Frills. Price Chopper is the discount arm of Sobeys.
• Store brands are usually cheaper than brand name goods, but with sales or coupons, you may get the brand name for less.
Kimberley Clancy

Fun — phooey!
Watch out for the tempting impulse buys at big grocery stores. To save money, make a list and stick to it.
Andrea Yampolsky, owner, My Concierge Plus, Montreal

Co-opt a co-op
You and four friends can start a buying club through the Ontario Natural Food Co-op (ONFC) and buy directly from the distributor. ONFC services the Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario. Go to onfc.ca and click on Buying Club. In the west, check out Horizon Distributors at horizondistributors.com. Membership is free and they’ll send a catalogue.

Price pointers
• Neighbourhood butcher or seafood shops are often cheaper than the grocery store for meat and fish.
• Try to go vegetarian a couple of times a week and save up to $100 a month.
• Items at the end of aisles and at eye level in the grocery store are often the priciest. Look at the higher and lower shelves for bargains.
The Smart Cookies, financial advisors on W Network

Limit your trips
Every time you go to the store — even if you’re just stopping for milk — you usually end up with more (often things you didn’t intend to buy).
Judy Barg, community nutritionist, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Smart foods
• Canned salmon (it’s usually wild) is a better deal for sandwich filling than processed deli meats, which have a lot of salt and preservatives.
• Not sure about the cost of going organic? You may want to try organic peaches, apples and bell peppers — conventionally grown, they have higher levels of pesticides. And choose organic dried fruit, such as apricots and raisins, because pesticide levels concentrate as water is removed from fruit.
Jennifer House, registered dietitian, Calgary

Find your flyer
Click the Flyers link at frugalshopper.ca and choose your province. Now you’ll know what’s worth stocking up on.

Originally published in Today's Parent, January 2009