Like many countries across the globe, Canada also has experienced increased cost of living for most goods & services, including groceries. This is why newcomers in Canada need to know how they can save money at the grocery store in order to live a comfortable life. 

However, keeping in mind this increased cost of living, this blog will offer three strategies that all Canadians, specifically newcomers in Canada, can use to save money at the grocery store.

Matching The Price 

Price matching includes a policy that allows consumers to walk in & prove that a rival retailer is offering the same product/ service for a lower price at their store. This can be any product – ranging from bananas to toilet paper. 

In such a situation, grocery stores with a price match policy will adjust their product’s price, thus allowing consumers to purchase the product at a lower price.  

Note: Price adjustment varies by store as different retailers have different policies for how they offer consumers the cheapest price possible. 

In addition, it is vital to be aware that not all Canadian grocery stores have this policy. Here are the six grocery retailers who follow the price match policy. Take a look! 

  • FreshCo
  • Giant Tiger
  • Maxi
  • IGA
  • Real Canadian Superstore 
  • No Frills 

Bulk Buying 

For newcomers in Canada, many grocery stores offer per-item discounts when consumers purchase a large quantity of a specific item/ product. In simpler terms, while one of a particular item, say a sports drink, might cost $3.00, a grocery store might have a 3-for-$7 deal on that specific drink. 

This implies that buying three cans of the drink makes a consumer pay $2.30 instead of $3.00. This can be an excellent way to save some extra bucks at the grocery store, specifically if you are buying groceries for a large number of people in your household or purchasing items you can stock in your home for later. 

Using Coupons  

Coupons are a common way of saving money for newcomers in Canada. Using coupons that arrive in the mail, apps, or the ones delivered with the newspaper can be taken advantage of to save money. 

Often, coupons will save the consumer anyway from 50 cents to a few dollars on a single product. However, these savings can quickly add up to save newcomers a good amount of money, provided they use the coupons intelligently. 

Newcomers In Canada: Navigating The Rising Cost Of Living 

The strategies mentioned above are just one way in which newcomers in Canada can save money amid the rising cost of living. 

In addition to these tips & tricks, the Canadian government, at both federal & provincial levels, provides Canadians with a multitude of ways to deal with the increasing living cost. 

On the federal level, some of the supports offered to Canadians include: 

  • GST: The Goods & Services Tax provides financial help to the approximately 11 million low-to-modest income Canadians. 
  • CWB: The Canada Workers Benefit aims at supplementing the income of Canada’s lowest-paid workers. 
  • CDB: The Canada Dental Benefit is specifically designed to promote & provide affordable dental care via tax-free payments to cover dental costs for children under 12 years of age. 

On the other hand, on a provincial level, many regions across Canada provide similar benefits to their residents. The examples are:

  • The Ontario Child Benefit
  • The British Columbia Early Childhood Tax Benefit
  • Affordable Housing Programs In Alberta