Last week, I went grocery shopping with specific deals I wanted to stock up on. New Brunswick-grown potatoes were $2.50 per 10 pound bag, fresh strawberries from Mexico were also $2.50 per 1 poundcontainer, whole chickens were on sale for $2.49 per pound, and pork chops were $1.99 per pound.
I knew it was time to buy as much of these items as my weekly grocery budget would allow because those are great deals. I keep a little notebook to track sale cycle prices. Typically, stores run these sales every six to eight weeks. If my food budget allows, I stock up on enough of an item to last my family until the next sale so that I am always getting the best possible price.
With this sale, I now have enough chicken, pork, and potatoes to feed my family for the next two months. As for the strawberries—they’re already gone!
Typically, I don’t buy out-of-season fruit. Nothing compares to locally grown strawberries. When they’re in season each summer, I pick some to enjoy fresh and freeze enough to last until the next harvest. That way, we can enjoy them in smoothies, jam, and desserts without having to buy imported berries, which aren’t as flavourful or nutrient-dense as homegrown ones.
Like many people, I am mindful of buying local and Canadian food products. For items like citrus fruit and other imports, I am currently avoiding U.S.-grown products and look for those produced in other countries. I always check the discount racks for great deals. This time I found orange, yellow and red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and mandarin oranges at half price.
Cans of evaporated milk were $1 each, so I bought a dozen for the pantry. While I don’t particularly enjoy the flavour, I’ll use it in my coffee if we unexpectedly run out of milk. It’s also great to have on hand for baking, cream soups, and cheese sauces.
I was pleased with my grocery haul because I knew I had purchased everything at the lowest possible price. That was confirmed by the cashier. Nobody knows grocery prices and deals better than the people who ring up your purchases.
The cashier and I had a great conversation about grocery prices as she scanned my items.
“You got some great deals! Do you know those potatoes were $7 a bag last week? I’m going to have to get some of that chicken and pork too,” she said as she continued scanning the packages of chops.
The customers ahead of me and behind me were listening to our conversation and nodding in agreement. Debby, the woman ahead of me, spoke as she bagged her purchases.
“I got the potatoes and chicken, but I’m going back to get in on that pork deal. That’s such a good price. I don’t know who can afford to buy when things aren’t on sale.”
The woman behind me agreed. I glanced at her cart. She had three frozen pizzas. I noticed they were $7 each, but just a couple of weeks ago, they were $4 when I bought them. I also used a $1-off coupon, bringing the price down to $3. I didn’t mention the deal I had scored, but I thought this was a great example of why it’s so important to know food prices—when to buy something and when to leave it until it goes back on sale.
I knew I had a few of those coupons left in my wallet, so I handed them to her. She thanked me and said: “Every little bit helps.”
We’re all feeling the strain of rising costs, especially for food. In that moment, the cashier, Debby, the woman behind me, and I all shared the same experience—the stress over the cost of everything, including ridiculously high food prices. I know it’s possible to feed our families within our budgets, but it requires knowing when to buy and when to leave items on the store shelf.
Next time, join me as we look at building and managing your at-home food inventory.
