Save on Groceries: Essential Tips for Canadians to Cut Costs in 2025

a young woman in a winter jacket and wool cap is seen in the middle of of grocery aisle with a very anxious and concerned expression on her face.

Rising food costs are a growing concern across Canada🍁

With food prices soaring, many Canadians are finding it challenging to make informed choices while sticking to their grocery budgets. The struggle is real in every aisle at the grocery store.
A shopping cart in the middle of a grocery store aisle is shown filled up to overflowing with fresh produce - with a large stylized red arrow in the front of the cart pointing upwards.

 

Food prices in Canada are forecasted to rise by 3% to 5% in 2025.

 

This means the average family of four is expected to spend $16,833.67 on food this year, which is an increase of up to $801.56 from last year *

 

*Canada’s Food Price Report 2025 – AgriFood Analytics Lab – Dalhousie University

We’re here to help - with tips, strategies and resources to help you save on your food expenses.

A busy supermarket checkout counter with several shoppers in line. A cashier is scanning items, including a package of food, an apple, and bananas. A woman holding a shopping basket stands next to a child, while other shoppers wait behind her. Shelves stocked with various products are visible in the background.

The struggle is real for Canadians seeking to stretch their grocery dollars in the face of ever-increasing food prices, in addition to increasing scrutiny about the country of origin of their choices. People need any help they can get to save on their food spending.💲

Save on Groceries with Smart Shopping Apps

Grocery apps on your smartphone are revolutionizing the way we shop, replacing traditional printed flyers, and putting unparalleled convenience at your fingertips.  With personalized deals, timely notifications, and exclusive discounts, these apps not only save you time but also help you shop smarter and save money. 📱💰  

A bearded man with a pleased expression on his face who is leaning over the handle of his shopping cart in a grocery store aisle holds a smartphone and pushes a shopping cart filled with groceries. Overlaid on the image are logos for 'flipp,' 'Checkout 51,' 'CADDLE,' and 'Flashfood.' Shelves stocked with various food items are visible in the background.

Benefits of Using Grocery Apps 

  • Convenience and ease of use
  • Personalized deals, notifications and discounts

Top Grocery Apps for Canadians

Great grocery shopping apps to help you find the best deals on your groceries:

Flipp is a marketplace for savings and deals on groceries and other items. You can browse weekly flyers, clip coupons, create a shopping list, and find the best prices near you with Flipp app.

Checkout 51 lets you save on the brands you love: Get new offers weekly, buy from any store, snap a photo of the receipt and earn cash back from your purchases with the Checkout 51 app.

Caddle  Visit getcaddle.com to download the Caddle app and start saving money with cash back rebates on everyday grocery essentials, rebates for dining out at your favourite restaurants, rebates for shopping online and in-store, and more.

Flashfood is an app for great deals on fresh, affordable groceries. They partner with grocery stores to take their food nearing its best-by date and list it on the Flashfood app for up to 50% off, getting you great deals on groceries while reducing food waste.

Maximize Savings with Loyalty Programs

Get Rewarded for Shopping with Loyalty Programs.

Loyalty programs offered by grocery stores are a fantastic way to save money on our weekly shopping. These programs, often free to join, reward frequent shoppers with points, discounts, and exclusive perks.

A customer in a green shirt hands a credit card to a cashier wearing an apron and striped shirt at a grocery store checkout counter. Various groceries, including bananas, lettuce, and oranges, are on the counter. Shelves with products and bright lighting are visible in the background.

How to Get the Most from Loyalty Programs:

 

  • Earn Points: Many programs allow you to earn points for every dollar spent. These points can be redeemed for discounts on future purchases.
  • Exclusive Discounts: Loyalty members often receive special discounts on selected items. Programs like Moi Rewards offer exclusive coupon offers to members.
  • Personalized Offers: Programs like PC Optimum provide personalized deals based on your shopping habits, helping you save on items you frequently buy.

Popular Canadian Loyalty Programs:

 

    • PC Optimum: pcoptimum.ca/ This program is widely available at stores like Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Shoppers Drug Mart. You earn points on purchases, which can be redeemed for discounts on future shopping.
    • Scene+: sceneplus.ca Available at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, and FreshCo, Scene+ allows you to earn points on groceries and redeem them for discounts or movie tickets.
    • Moi Rewards: programmemoi.ca/en This program is popular in Eastern Canada and is available at Metro, Food Basics, and Super C. You earn points on purchases and can redeem them for discounts.
    • More Rewards: morerewards.ca/ Available in Western Canada at Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart Foods, and Urban Fare, More Rewards offers points on groceries and other purchases, which can be redeemed for discounts and other rewards.
    • Canadian Tire Triangle Rewards: canadiantire.ca While not exclusively for groceries, this program allows you to earn points at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, and participating grocery stores like Loblaws and No Frills. Points can be redeemed for discounts on a wide range of products.

💡Pro-tip: Add your Loyalty cards to your smartphone 

Say goodbye to the clutter of physical loyalty cards and the awkward fumbling at the checkout. By adding your loyalty cards to your smartphone’s wallet app, you can streamline your shopping experience. With just a tap, you can access all your rewards and discounts, making every transaction smooth and efficient. Simplify your life and never miss out on savings again! 📱💳

Unlock Extra Savings with Coupons

Closeup of a person handing over two discount coupons to a cashier at a grocery check-out line.

Unlock incredible savings by mastering the art of couponing! Discover the best and latest coupons on websites like websaver.ca and gocoupons.ca. Combine these coupons with sales for maximum savings and watch your grocery bill shrink. With a little effort, you can enjoy significant discounts and stretch your budget further.  🛒💸

💡Don’t forget to combine coupons with sales to maximum your savings

 Where to find the Best Coupons

    • Save.ca The Save.ca site is free and easy to navigate. Once you enter your postal code on the website, it will display all of the grocery coupons available for your area.
    • Websaver.ca Websaver.ca is Canada’s #1 online destination to save money on your grocery shopping with our money saving cashback program, printable coupons and digital coupons.
    • GoCoupons.ca https://www.gocoupons.ca/
    • SmartSource.ca smartsource.ca. SmartSource coupons are commonly found in newspapers. However, if you need additional copies, you can find them on their website
    • Rakuten Sign up at Rakuten.ca, find offers that interest you and see how much cashback you can earn at a store.

Scale up your Savings with Bulk Buying

Aerial view of the inside of a bulk food warehouse type store. High shelves and pallets are stacked high with large quanities of all kinds of food stuffs and products.

Save big on your grocery bill by embracing bulk buying! Purchasing larger economy-sized packages or ‘bulk-buy’ items can significantly reduce your cost per unit. Always check the cost per unit posted on the shelf to ensure you’re getting the best deal. With smart bulk buying, you can stock up on essentials, minimize trips to the store, and enjoy substantial savings. 🛒📦

Advantages of Bulk Buying

 

  • Significant cost savings per unit/item when buying in bulk
  • Reduced packaging waste

 

Best Items to Buy in Bulk

 

  • Non-perishable items like rice, pasta, and canned goods
  • Household essentials like toilet paper and cleaning supplies

 

Where to Shop for Bulk Purchases 

 

While stores like Costco, Bulk Barn, and Great Canadian Superstore specifically cater to larger and bulk purchases – most retailers offer great savings purchasing in larger quantity or formats. Look for larger formats sometimes labelled “economy-sized” or “bulk-buy”.

Save More with Batch Cooking & Bringing Lunch to Work

A sparkling clean refrigerator full of various storage containers. A variety of delicious lunches and meals can be seen throught clear containers.

Tired of spending a fortune on takeout? Batch cooking is your solution! By preparing meals in advance, you can save both time and money, while reducing food waste. Bringing your lunch to work not only cuts down on expensive takeout costs but also ensures you enjoy nutritious, homemade meals every day. With a little planning, using seasonal ingredients, and taking advantage of sale prices, batch cooking can transform your daily routine and your wallet*. 🍲💼

💡How Much Money Can You Really Save by Bringing Your Lunch to Work? 

According to CookingPro The cost of making lunch at home can vary depending on the type of food, ingredients, and frequency of meals. However, on average, a homemade lunch can cost around $2-3 per meal. This number can be even lower if you’re preparing meals in bulk or using leftovers.

 

Over the course of a month, $2-3 per meal adds up to $40-60. And over the course of a year, it’s a mere $480-720.

 

That’s a significant saving of $1,680-1,920 per year compared to the typical cost of buying your lunch every day*.

 

*The Lunch Break Boom: How Much Money Can You Really Save by Bringing Your Lunch to Work?

Benefits of Batch Cooking 

  • Time and money savings
  • Reduced food waste

Tips for Successful Batch Cooking 

  • By planning your meals ahead of time, and creating a shopping list, you can reduce trips to the grocery store, and stay on-budget.
  • Using seasonal and on-sale ingredients
  • Realize additional cost-savings by larger volume purchase of ingredients at sale and bulk pricing.

💡Variety is truly the spice of life; mix things up – no one wants to eat the same meal every day for a week. (Please see our tips on Freezing and preserving)

Best Budget-Friendly Batch Cooking Recipes

Four diferent delicious home-cooking recipes are shown served in black bowls. From left to right: a bowl of chili with beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and bell peppers; a bowl of rice mixed with vegetables such as corn, peas, and diced tomatoes; a bowl of beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots, potatoes, and garnished with parsley; and a bowl of curry chicken served with white rice and garnished with a sprig of cilantro.

The internet is chock full of excellent and versatile batch cooking recipes to suit every taste, budget and skill level. Some of our tried-and true favourites are Vegetarian Chili, Chicken Curry, Fried Rice and Pulled Pork.

Here are a couple of excellent collections of delicious, easy and cost-effective recipes for you to discover:

💡To avoid getting fed up with having the same thing every day, we strongly recommend separating your bulk meals into serving size portions and freezing them.  (Please see our next section)

Freeze or Preserve Your Food for Long-Term Savings ❄️

Maximize your savings and minimize food waste with effective freezing and preserving techniques. 

 

By portioning meals into single-serving sizes, using freezer-safe containers, and properly labeling and dating your items, you can ensure your food stays fresh and organized. Vacuum sealers and airtight containers are your best friends in maintaining the quality of your frozen goods. Embrace these tips to make the most of your meal prep and enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals anytime! ❄️🍲

Advantages of Freezing and Preserving Food

  • Extending the shelf life of food
  • Saving money by reducing spoilage

Best Foods to Freeze or Preserve 

  • Fruits, vegetables, and meats
  • Prepared meals and leftovers

💡Tips for Effective Freezing and Preserving 

  • Freezing food is a great way to extend its shelf life while keeping its taste and nutrition intact. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or just saving leftovers, knowing how to store food properly in the freezer ensures it stays fresh and delicious when you’re ready to eat it again.
  • When it comes to freezing food, there are certain fundamentals you should be aware of. Here are some key concepts from the experts at FoodyPage that will guide you in the right direction:

    Understanding Freezing Temperatures 

    Freezers need to be kept at a constant temperature of 0°F (-18°C) or lower to effectively halt the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. Here are a few points to consider:

    • Regularly check your freezer’s temperature using a reliable thermometer.
    • Keep your freezer fully stocked but not overcrowded to ensure good air circulation.

    💡For more information, please see the excellent article from Foody Page.com:
    Maximizing Freshness: The Ultimate Guide to Properly Storing Food in Your Freezer – FoodyPage

Happy savings!

We hope our helpful tips and strategies help you make a meaningful difference by helping you stretch your food budget.

A woman pushing a bright green shopping cart, holding a smart phone in one hand, smiles broadly as she reaches for an item in a grocery store's refrigerator section

Navigating the rising food costs in Canada can be daunting, but with the right strategies, you can make a significant impact on your grocery budget. From leveraging grocery apps for personalized deals and discounts to maximizing savings through loyalty programs and bulk buying, these tips are designed to help you shop smarter and save more. 🍁🛒

💡For more helpful insights on making informed choices in the grocery aisle and supporting local and Canadian businesses, check out our article:

Buy Canadian: How to Make a Difference with Your Purchases

Like many Canadians, you are probably making deliberate shopping choices to support Canadian companies and products. Making the right choices can seem confusing and difficult – so we’ve compiled a helpful list of tips and resources to help you.

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