For anyone who lives in Canada and is on a tight food budget, try President's Choice foods at Superstore. I normally can't stand knock off brands, but theirs is amazing, sometimes even better than what they're imitating.

 

I can say the same for Compliments (Sobey's store brand). Been shopping at Sobeys as well for the last few months since the prices are generally $1 to $2 lower than Atlantic Superstore (Atlantic branch of Loblaw's/Superstore) on a lot of the items I buy. Also I think it is better either way to buy the store brand since it is usually going to be $1 to $1.50 lower than the name brand.

 

Talking about that, sometimes I buy stuff like frozen chicken strips, and my parents still shop at Superstore, and they other day they said they were on sale at around $10. I told them I already buy them for $9 (not on sale) at Sobeys). Apparently the regular price for this item is $12 at Superstore.

 

Is that only in the maritimes? Hmm... I usually shop at Safeway and most stuff I buy has the club card sale. I dunno how it compares to Sobey's, I should go check it out. Can't get to superstore easily as I don't have a car :/

 

For now I have cereal for breakfast, and pasta/pizza for supper. If i'm busy with school and stuff I'll buy food, but I'm trying to stop the laziness and start cooking more. Whenever I'm hungry I'll make a ham sandwich, and I also get free food when I work at Subway :shades:

For anyone who lives in Canada and is on a tight food budget, try President's Choice foods at Superstore. I normally can't stand knock off brands, but theirs is amazing, sometimes even better than what they're imitating.

 

I can say the same for Compliments (Sobey's store brand). Been shopping at Sobeys as well for the last few months since the prices are generally $1 to $2 lower than Atlantic Superstore (Atlantic branch of Loblaw's/Superstore) on a lot of the items I buy. Also I think it is better either way to buy the store brand since it is usually going to be $1 to $1.50 lower than the name brand.

 

Talking about that, sometimes I buy stuff like frozen chicken strips, and my parents still shop at Superstore, and they other day they said they were on sale at around $10. I told them I already buy them for $9 (not on sale) at Sobeys). Apparently the regular price for this item is $12 at Superstore.

 

Is that only in the maritimes? Hmm... I usually shop at Safeway and most stuff I buy has the club card sale. I dunno how it compares to Sobey's, I should go check it out. Can't get to superstore easily as I don't have a car :/

 

For now I have cereal for breakfast, and pasta/pizza for supper. If i'm busy with school and stuff I'll buy food, but I'm trying to stop the laziness and start cooking more. Whenever I'm hungry I'll make a ham sandwich, and I also get free food when I work at Subway :shades:

 

I don't know, but it's worth a check. Sometimes I shop at Price Chopper (subdivision of Sobeys) when I need things in bigger quantities because it costs even less, but yeah, you have to check yourself if the prices are going to be different at different stores. I used to go to 3 different stores to get lower prices on my items.

It's the consumers that pay for the coupons.

 

I always shop at a supermarket that has NO coupons whatsoever, just the daily-weekly sale items. By having no coupon systems, the can cut back on everyday prices on ALL products (sometimes even cheaper than discounted competitors).

 

I sometimes go to other supermarkets when there is an item on discount, and buy something in bulk.

 

IgodessI had same great tips, such as cutting out the middleman (supermarkets) for fruits and vegetables. Where I live, it's better quality for a lower price in most of the cases. Also, no shopping on an empty stomach. It makes you buy bad stuff that you wouldn't have bought otherwise.I always switch OFF stuff I don't use.

 

Paying bills ON TIME can be a great money saver, as well as paying for a whole year instead of in quarters. As for the power bill, here we have a system that the provider estimates you usage (based on previous years) and maks you pay an advance every month. At the end of the year, shortage had to be paid, or the surplus is refunded. You can set your advance a little bit higher (say 10,00) and have a nice little extra at the end of the year. I like to call this covert saving...

 

 

In general, don't let coupons seduce you to buy stuff just because it is cheap. Whenever this is discussed with my friends, I wonder wether they had bought item X anyway, or just because it was cheap? In case of the latter, even the discounted price is 100% too much.

 

Paying bills ON TIME can be a great money saver

I thought everyone did? Guess I'm part of the exception that does pay my bills on time every month.

 

Paying bills ON TIME can be a great money saver

I thought everyone did? Guess I'm part of the exception that does pay my bills on time every month.

 

In this day and age, yeah, you can be. :P

In a county where the government sets a bad example by paying bills afer 2 months (on average), I'm the exception.

 

Also, not using credit cards saves a lot of money, though I understand that in the USA, this is almost impossible. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are in consumable debt (not mortgage or something like that) 24/7. I was told by my parents that whenever I wanted to buy something (other than house) like a car, food or clothes, I have to make sure the bank account reads + instead of -. I guess I had an old fashioned upbringing...

^^ I had the same upbringing mate. If you don't have the money, you don't buy it, pretty simple. I have never owed a cent in my life. I think my fiance' and I are the only people in the circle of friends we have who doesn't owe money on a credit card. I don't plan to use a bank loan when I buy my first house either to save a shit load of interest. It's not hard to bank hardcore for 5-10 years and stick it in a high interest account. Once I own a house, it's not hard to save an average of $1,200 extra a month, sell the house I'm in and buy the dream home I've always wanted. Leaves plenty of superannuation and money for my kids and grand kids to enjoy when I'm gone. Everything we have, we own as we saved hard and went out and bought it all.

Erm i have this system where I put all my money in the back of my wallet and only keep like $50 in view so I don't spend it in a day. It's kind of like an allowance except I know it's there and I know I can use it if I need to. I learned a lot of tricks and such in some Business classes that relate to saving money. The main one is don't owe interest! When i go out to buy a new car it'll be because I saved the full cash price and I went into the dealer and haggled him down because i'm paying full in cash. I just can't see the point in paying payments on stuff when simple saving can accomplish the same thing. However, nowadays people want everything right then and there and are addicted to credit.

You realize OP, probably half of the forumers here A) Don't get a paycheck B) don't even buy groceries.

 

 

That said, coupons are extremely fickle. Gotta watch your back or you'll waste money on them.

 

 

I guess the best kind of 'extreme' coupon to use is the 5 finger discount.

 

EDIT:

 

I am also scared for many people's credit scores here. Albeit I'm sure Europe probably has a different system than america

That probably be true but at least uni students and high school kids can come to this page and learn a thing or two if they're smart enough or even suggest a few of these ideas to their parents or friends who may be struggling.

^^ I had the same upbringing mate. If you don't have the money, you don't buy it, pretty simple. I have never owed a cent in my life. I think my fiance' and I are the only people in the circle of friends we have who doesn't owe money on a credit card. I don't plan to use a bank loan when I buy my first house either to save a shit load of interest. It's not hard to bank hardcore for 5-10 years and stick it in a high interest account. Once I own a house, it's not hard to save an average of $1,200 extra a month, sell the house I'm in and buy the dream home I've always wanted. Leaves plenty of superannuation and money for my kids and grand kids to enjoy when I'm gone. Everything we have, we own as we saved hard and went out and bought it all.

:huh:

 

No bank is going to give you a 'high' interest rate for even a 10 year account; even if you did, how are you going to save money for a new house while paying for one to live in? Maybe you live in a house already bought or another individual advantages, but do know you are extremely lucky if you're in such a position right now.

^^ I had the same upbringing mate. If you don't have the money, you don't buy it, pretty simple. I have never owed a cent in my life. I think my fiance' and I are the only people in the circle of friends we have who doesn't owe money on a credit card. I don't plan to use a bank loan when I buy my first house either to save a shit load of interest. It's not hard to bank hardcore for 5-10 years and stick it in a high interest account. Once I own a house, it's not hard to save an average of $1,200 extra a month, sell the house I'm in and buy the dream home I've always wanted. Leaves plenty of superannuation and money for my kids and grand kids to enjoy when I'm gone. Everything we have, we own as we saved hard and went out and bought it all.

Yeah this is basically what I do. I do have a credit card, but I only use it because it's easy to pay, not actually for credit. I pay in full every month.

 

I hope to buy a car loan free (already got through school loan-free). Buying a house without a mortgage is a long shot at best but I hope I'll be able to do that too.

^^ I had the same upbringing mate. If you don't have the money, you don't buy it, pretty simple. I have never owed a cent in my life. I think my fiance' and I are the only people in the circle of friends we have who doesn't owe money on a credit card. I don't plan to use a bank loan when I buy my first house either to save a shit load of interest. It's not hard to bank hardcore for 5-10 years and stick it in a high interest account. Once I own a house, it's not hard to save an average of $1,200 extra a month, sell the house I'm in and buy the dream home I've always wanted. Leaves plenty of superannuation and money for my kids and grand kids to enjoy when I'm gone. Everything we have, we own as we saved hard and went out and bought it all.

:huh:

 

No bank is going to give you a 'high' interest rate for even a 10 year account; even if you did, how are you going to save money for a new house while paying for one to live in? Maybe you live in a house already bought or another individual advantages, but do know you are extremely lucky if you're in such a position right now.

 

Err there are plenty of banks with high interest accounts? Maybe you live in another country? :/ Or maybe your definition of 'high' is unrealistic? Westpac gives close to $5000 annual interest for just $40,000 and it goes up the more you save. currently, we live off my fiance's wage and save money quite easily (minus wedding expenses) which means we'll be able to bank every cent I earn when I go back to work. I don't see the problem? Or am I missing something? $60,000 x 10 years = $600,000 not including 10 years worth of interest. Probably looking at around $350,000 here for a nice 4 bedroom home. Probably looking at around $500,000-$600,000 for the dream home. Also have a few online businesses which produce monthly income.... then there are shares.... and we'll stop there. I feel awkward enough having to dab in to my personal life to explain a point. I don't know whether to laugh or feel offended that you honestly thought I didn't know what I was talking about.... I'm heading to 30 dude and believe it or not I have a life plan ;)

I didn't know your fiance's money is going to hold you up while you save all of yours; as I said, there may be other advantages I am not aware of.

 

But, yeah good for you.

The problem: Stagflation. In the UK, the savings rate is approx 0.5% interest whilst the inflation rate is 5%.

Just to add to my last post I found some pictures so you can see what the housing market is like here. Cheap as chips compared to other countries. I just blacked out the property numbers and addresses because it is local.

 

Now that I have to do my own groceries when I'm at University I definitely always looking for those yellow stickers that resemble a sale. My first week living with my roommates I bought around 30 Michelinas microwavable dinners. They were regularly $2.50 and were on sale for $1. They were pretty good too. Although, I'll never eat them again after having 30 of them :P

People fail to realise that sometimes, things are cheaper whilst not on sale. Hmmph.

People fail to realise that sometimes, things are cheaper whilst not on sale. Hmmph.

 

Stores constantly raise prices to knock them back to normal come sales time. The only thing that defends you in that respect is going into shopping prepared--knowing what things usually cost.

I apologize - poor wording. I should have said the things that aren't on sales (generic store brand goods) can often be cheaper than the discounted figures of the arbitrarily inflated name-brand goods.

I apologize - poor wording. I should have said the things that aren't on sales (generic store brand goods) can often be cheaper than the discounted figures of the arbitrarily inflated name-brand goods.

 

Well that's a given...

I think the main thing to be wary about with sales is buying more of the item than you want/need just because it's on sale. Obviously for some things it's fine to stockpile, but food - unless it can be frozen - can easily go to waste.

 

I like to think I have a good knowledge of how much things I usually buy cost so I can tell when a deal is really a deal and not a fake deal. I've seen supermarkets raising prices then reducing back to the previous price and calling it a sale hundreds of times.

Just to add to my last post I found some pictures so you can see what the housing market is like here. Cheap as chips compared to other countries. I just blacked out the property numbers and addresses because it is local.

 

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2034/qldhousing.jpg[/img]

 

I just bought my first house two months ago for $80,000. It was built in 1927 so you have to take that into account I guess...

 

I just don't understand how people could afford a $354,900 house, my payments are big enough already. I couldn't stand that amount of debt hanging over my head.

Save for it then you don't have debt. Never been in debt in my life :) Wages are higher here than most countries.... for example.... my American friend worked 50 hours a week for $8 something an hour. I wouldn't get out of bed in the morning for that, I was only 19 and earning $18.90 an hour. So it's a lot easier to save, plus if you have a child you get rent assistance from the government and family allowance which is like an extra $210 a fortnight. When both people are working (ie husband and wife) you won't really notice the mortgage repayments as they're only about $200 a week more than renting.

I think the main thing to be wary about with sales is buying more of the item than you want/need just because it's on sale. Obviously for some things it's fine to stockpile, but food - unless it can be frozen - can easily go to waste.

 

I like to think I have a good knowledge of how much things I usually buy cost so I can tell when a deal is really a deal and not a fake deal. I've seen supermarkets raising prices then reducing back to the previous price and calling it a sale hundreds of times.

 

Dried foods last years, if not decades - if stored properly. Frozen foods last months, if not years - if stored properly. Tinned foods last years. Bottled sauces last months.

 

Point being - many sales are worthwhile, you've just got to shop smart.