Let me start by saying that I spend very little on groceries compared to most. I don’t know how because I eat almost every single hour, but my fiancé and I manage to only spend about $120-$150 per month each totalling to approximately $300. I think one of our secrets to success is that we don’t eat much meat – instead we substitute for other protein sources. From the moment I moved out of my parents’ house I learned very quickly that groceries are too expensive to overspend on. I have gotten very good at shopping for the perfect amount of food to last 2-3 weeks, and where to cut back on and when.

Here are the places I grocery shop, and why:

Superstore

First of all, let me say that this is my favorite place to grocery shop although you won’t catch me dead there on a Sunday. I find I get the best bang for my buck while also receiving the largest variety of products, produce, and more. What $100 gets me at Superstore, normally gets me an average of 10 items less at competitors.

PC Points are awesome. When you hit 20,000 points you receive $20 off of your grocery bill. Which means 30,000 points is $30, 40,000 points is $40, and so on. If you’re really hurting one month and have all of those points saved – you are basically getting food for free!

Digital flyers make me smile. Not only are they willing to give you these points, but Superstore is also willing to tell you exactly what to buy to make sure that you take advantage. These flyers are personalized to your shopping history, which is so much more valuable than many other grocery store flyers. If you always buy rice cakes – Superstore will offer incentive for you to continue buying those rice cakes.

Most recent purchases totalled to $120

• Bread

• Margarine

• 2% Milk

• Cashew Milk

• Lactose-free yogurt

• Eggs

• Salmon

• Rice

• Granola Bars x2

• Pasta Sauce

• Apples

• Raspberries

• Grapes

• Green Pepper

• Celery

• Spinach

• Cucumber

• Carrots

• Onion

• Craisins

• Tuna

• Crackers

• Peanut Butter

• Salad Dressing x2

• Hot Sauce

• Corn

• Soup

• Sunflower Seeds

• Corn Pops

• Hand Soap

Safeway

I find Safeway to be one of the most expensive grocery stores I shop at. However, out of convenience (a location being less than 5 minutes from my house), I often shop there when I need a few quick dinner items.

The first Tuesday of the month is a hidden gem some of you may not know about. If you spend over $35 you will receive 10% off of your entire purchase. Although that doesn’t seem like a large amount of savings, when it comes to groceries – every dollar counts.

Most recent purchases totalled to $50

• Trail mix

• Apples

• Bananas

• Chips x2

• Mandarin Oranges

• Granola Bars

• Rice

• Salad Dressing

Typical Meals
1) Tuna & Rice
2) Vegetarian Pasta & Homemade Garlic Toast
3) Vegetarian Chilli
4) Quinoa or Cous Cous Salads
5) Eggs of any kind & Fruit
6) Perogies & Raw Vegetables
7) Salmon & Rice or Salad
8) Soup & Toast
9) Cereal or Oatmeal & Fruit
10) Yogurt & Granola

Although these meals may seem boring to some, our busy schedules often make us come down to what is quickest and easiest. When we have more time we normally spend it searching for a new recipe and cooking it together as a mini date, or treating ourselves to a dinner out. I understand we are only a household of 2, but the average cost of groceries for a young couple is anywhere from $500-600 a month where I live.

5 Other Small Tips

1) Buy no-name brands
2) Only buy certain items while on sale
3) Avoid items that spoil quickly
4) Only buy what you need
5) Keep canned goods for times when you are over budget

What are some of your grocery tricks? Let me know in the comments.