Here's how you can save money on groceries while inflation is high
Many shoppers in Metro Vancouver are looking for ways to stretch their grocery budget as they deal with the rising cost of food.
On Wednesday, Canada’s inflation rate hit 6.8 per cent, its highest level in 31 years. The latest increase is largely due to the rising cost of food and shelter, with prices at the grocery store reaching a 9.7 per cent increase since April 2021.
The rising cost has forced some shoppers to rethink their spending habits. Some now choose to stock up on sale items, while others are cutting back and buying less, like Vi Young.
"Every time I come in, it's getting higher and higher,” she told CTV News, gesturing to her ballooned grocery bill.
She said she usually splurges on groceries and takes advantage of the sales.
"I used to buy lots, you know, when there was a sale on. No sales on anymore,” she said. "When you're on a fixed income, you can't afford to spend. I'm worried what's going to happen in the future."
Other shoppers share her frustration, saying they can’t afford to buy like they used to.
"Well, it's not something I like … but what can you do?" said shopper Dave Walker, who’s cutting back on some of his groceries.
Another shopper, Teresa Vanbeek, said she’s going to stock up on cheaper items moving forward.
"We have quite a few kids. So, it costs a lot of money to feed them,” she said.
As Canadians feel the pressure of inflation, tens of thousands are using their smartphones to look for cheap food in the area.
Sam Kashani, the country manager of the Too Good To Go app, said he’s seeing thousands of new users joining every day.
"Obviously, inflation is a bit of a catalyst as more and more consumers are looking for alternate solutions to be able to reduce overall food costs,” he said.
The app – which connects users with local businesses offering "surprise bags" of leftover food that, while still good, would otherwise end up being thrown out – launched in Vancouver in September 2021. Kashani said there's a clear demand for affordable meals in the city.
"We’ve saved 400,000 meals across Canada and 110,000 of those are just in Vancouver,” he said.
Stuart Smyth, an associate professor of agricultural and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan, said another way shoppers can cut back on grocery bills is by sharing the cost with friends, family members and neighbours.
“For example, (if) you're buying 20 pounds of meat, but you're splitting that up between three to four households, you're saving some money that way,” he said.
He advises people should also pay close attention to what's not being used and adjust buying habits.
"If you find out that you're throwing out a lot of leafy greens, then change how you're buying that into smaller packages,” Stuart said.
While it might be a frustrating time for shoppers, he said there are ways to cut back on costs without compromising too much — shop wisely, buy in bulk and split.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.