Stretching dollars and cents
Lots of ways to save on grocery bills
Robynne Lindhorst says her main goal is to help people save money on their grocery store bills.
In May 2020, the Dartmouth woman says, one of her favourite local savings groups shut down.
Feeling that a savings group for Nova Scotia was needed, Lindhorst, Melinda Doutaz and Martina Touesnard began the Facebook group called Coupon Deals in Nova Scotia.
The group now has now have more than 2,300 members.
“A lot of people lost money or work with
COVID and have had to find any means possible to pinch pennies to make ends meet,” says Lindhorst.
Since they started the group, she says, grocery costs have definitely gone up, which is difficult as many people’s income are still rocky.
And it’s not just food prices that have gone up, says Doutaz, but prices of everything are increasing, from rent to food to bills.
“People are looking for new ways to save money and even more now than ever with COVID.
“We need to save as much as we can while still being able to buy the right kind of food for our families,” she says.
“There is a need to find a way to bridge the gap between income and the cost of basic necessities.”
There are many ways to save money and stockpile items, explains Doutaz. Even if it’s a 50-cent savings, it all adds up.
Based on their experience, Coupon Deals Nova Scotia offers the following advice for saving on your next grocery bill.
1. Shop the weekly sales. 2. Stockpile when items are at their lowest price. For example, buy multiple cans of canned tuna when it goes on sale for 99 cents, instead of paying $1.49 each time you need it, says Lindhorst.
3. Price match every time when possible. Find out what stores price match. That way you might be able to do your shopping in one or two stores and this saves you time and gas going from one store to another.
4. Use coupons with sale prices. Try to match the products you are buying with coupons.
5. Every time you shop, watch the shelves for coupons. Even if you won't use them at that moment, you might in future, and if not, you can trade them on Facebook for ones you will use. Sometimes people in Ontario can get coupons we can't get here, so do a trade.
6. Write your favorite brands. Give them a compliment and, sometimes, they will mail out coupons.
7. Utilize PC Optimum and Air Miles points.
8. Use cash back apps like checkout51, Caddle and Eclipsa. Through these apps, you earn cash back by responding to surveys, purchasing products, and providing reviews.
9. Flashfoods is also a great way to get good food for cheap. It's an app that sells food that is close to its expiry date at a discounted rate of up to 50 per cent off.
10. Combine coupons with sales and PC Optimum or cash back apps whenever possible. This is going to get you the lowest price.
11. Check your local stores for the clearance section or carts.
12. Sign up for sample sites like Sampler or Samplesource they can send out some great samples and coupons.
13. Really budget your money out and if things are on sale that you notice and didn't plan on buying this week, maybe switch one or two things. Plan out your weekly meals.
14. Check out websites for products. Sometimes there are special offers offered online.
15. If you find a great deal or spot one while you are out and about, share the information with friends and family. The more people who know about the deals, the better it will be for everyone.
Melinda Doutaz helped start Coupon Deals in Nova Scotia, a Facebook group
16. Sometimes it's also good if you live in a different part of the province and will be going to visit family and friends and there is a deal near you. For example, Doutaz lives in Dartmouth and has family in Cape Breton.
If going there, she will pick up items here to bring to them there.
“The best way to learn how to save when you are unsure where to begin is joining groups like Coupon Deals Nova Scotia,” says Lindhorst.
“This is where you can meet and learn from other like-minded people or from more experienced people. Through these groups, you will also see and can share deals from around the province.”
For more information, visit https:// www.facebook.com/ groups/693788538050456 or search for Coupon Deals Nova Scotia.