Shopping on a budget?

zCarsAndCaloriesz

( Please keep in mind I live in Montreal, so I may not have access to stores that you may suggest! )


Anyways, I really want to start getting a better diet in, but I'm really not sure what I can get with a really limited budget. I'm currently paying off debt so I can go back to school, so money is really tight.

So does anyone have any ideas on a low cost but relatively healthy mean plan, pr grocery list I could follow?
I do have access to a costco card, so if you have any suggestions there let me know!

I've heard dry beans are a good way to go, but I'm no use what to do with them

Thanks in advance!!

zCarsAndCaloriesz

I'd also like to cut down on my meat, and try eating it a couple times a week instead of everyday. So other sources of protein that are cheap would be great

spinnybecky

Dried beans are great once you get the hang of cooking them. Canned beans really aren't bad either - I can usually find a can of beans for about 79 cents...not a bad deal for 350 calories and 25 grams of protein! Buy what you will actually use, because the dried beans aren't going to save you any money sitting on your shelf. ETA: Lentils are another great buy, a pound of lentils usually costs around $1 and it will make a giant pot of soup. You don't need to pre-soak lentils and they cook up in about an hour. And always keep onions and garlic on hand to flavor your beans and soups!

My best advice is to plan your meals for the week, write down which ingredients you need for them, and then make your grocery list based on that. Try not to buy anything that isn't on your list unless it is something you use regularly that is on sale for a good price. Also you can plan meals that will use the same ingredients, that way you don't have to buy and cook so many different things. For example, if I'm going to make a stir-fry and brown rice, I'll make double the brown rice and then use it again later in the week. Or make rice pudding with it. Also - eat oatmeal for breakfast, not the instant kind but the flaked oats or steel cut oats. Buy it in bulk bins, it will save you a ton of money on breakfast!

zCarsAndCaloriesz

I actually saw Quaker steel cut oats at the dollars store the other day, would that be good?
We have a place called bulk barn that I could try too, but I'd have to get my boyfriend to drive as it is a little far.

Canned beans are usually 1$ here which I never thought was bad, but I heard the dry stuff was cheaper, but takes a lot of prep work. I guess I'll continue to use canned for now as I don't have too much time for soaking them.
Thanks for the advice!

linbert57

Eggs are a great source of protein. I don't eat red meat anymore, and eggs are a big part of my diet. They are filling as well. I have also eliminated a lot of processed food which saves lots of $$. Shop the outer perimeter of the store---produce, seafood, meat, dairy. The stores I shop in have reduced produce daily, so I would check them for fruit and veggies at a lower price---I would use those in smoothies.

zCarsAndCaloriesz

The reduce rack here is a hit and miss normally, if I'm lucky I'll find something. But the majority of the time it's down right rotten. I'll keep looking though.
Sadly I'm not really overly fond of eggs, though I do eat them on occasion when there is nothing else to eat.
I'm not a big fan or red meat, so tend to lean towards chicken and turkey, but meat out here is really expensive, the only meat that is cheap is ground hamburger.
That's why I am trying to but back to only eating meat a couple times a week.

savithny

A big pot of lentil soup or nice traditional Canadian split pea soup, can be parceled out into individual servings and eaten for lunch all week. If you make it with lots of veggies and not as much meat as traditional recipes call for, it's cheap, filling, and nutritious.

mklassy123

Shop in Verdun!

In all seriousness, how often can you get to the stores? I go at least three times a week to different markets, I scour the flyers to see what's on sale where. I used to think that would be a PITA, but it's not. I actually enjoy it.

You can't beat Costco for prices, just make sure you have storage space.

I often make a big pot of chili. You can throw anything you want into chili. It's so cheap to make, can be very healthy and it lasts a long time. It also freezes really well.

This might be a drive for you too, but go to the Jean Talon market. Their produce is fabulous and not expensive (well, you can find a lot that's inexpensive) but I'm not sure their produce farms are set up yet. I haven't gone to the market in the Winter.

zCarsAndCaloriesz

Shop in Verdun!

In all seriousness, how often can you get to the stores? I go at least three times a week to different markets, I scour the flyers to see what's on sale where. I used to think that would be a PITA, but it's not. I actually enjoy it.

You can't beat Costco for prices, just make sure you have storage space.

I often make a big pot of chili. You can throw anything you want into chili. It's so cheap to make, can be very healthy and it lasts a long time. It also freezes really well.

This might be a drive for you too, but go to the Jean Talon market. Their produce is fabulous and not expensive (well, you can find a lot that's inexpensive) but I'm not sure their produce farms are set up yet. I haven't gone to the market in the Winter.

I live on the south shore, in the greenfield park area, so most of those are pretty hard to get to.

mklassy123

I don't know the South Shore area well at all. I'm a native New Yorker dating a Quebecer. I do spend a lot of time in NDG. I know the prices of things in Quebec (probably all of Canada) are typically higher than here.

You can always do the road trips to Burlington or Plattsburgh. The savings might be worth the price of gas, especially since the cost of gas on the South side of the border is much less than on the North side, MUCH less.

zCarsAndCaloriesz

I don't know the South Shore area well at all. I'm a native New Yorker dating a Quebecer. I do spend a lot of time in NDG. I know the prices of things in Quebec (probably all of Canada) are typically higher than here.

You can always do the road trips to Burlington or Plattsburgh. The savings might be worth the price of gas, especially since the cost of gas on the South side of the border is much less than on the North side, MUCH less.

Gas is extremely expensive here right now, I think it's like 1.45 a liter.
During summer I plan on getting my pass port, I'll keep that suggestion in mind!

ThatSoundsHard

Hi there, I'm not in Montreal (Calgary) but I do feed a family of four on roughly $300 monthly.

I would suggest bulk barn for your dry goods, rice and whole grains 100%

If you live near a no frrills/xtra foods/lablaws. They always have decent prices.

Check your flyers and don't forget places like Giant Tiger and walmart often have good stuff on sale.

I also shop at the local "Asian supermarket", which has unbelievable prices on produce. If there is one near you check it out. If you can, I highly suggest checking out some of the super markets in china town.

We do tend to make whatever is on sale work for us. So we have to get a bit creative sometimes.

I shop several times a week, at about 5 different stores but we eat really well for cheap.

Finally, there is a wonderful program called good food box you may want to check out. http://www.multicaf.org/En/Bbbb.html
It's basically an affordable produce program. I've used purchased them here in Calgary many times.

joeterry2112

My wife does most of the shopping, so I can't give details, but I can give guidelines. (She feed the two of us for about $40 US a week.)

the best guideline I can give to stay out of the middle of the store as much as possible. Here in the US all the processed foods are in the middle, while fruits and veggies and meat tend to be on the borders.

When she designs a meal she expects us to eat it for three days. So when she makes dinner we have it two more dinners. Same with lunches and breakfast. That way you cook your meals only once for every three days.

Our most common bought meat is chicken, but if you can find a hunter in your neck of the woods, you might be able to get some venison off them. (I have a friend whose dad is an avid hunter but whose wife hates venison. He's got freezers full of meat.) I got some by volunteering to be a pack mule for him. (I got exercise and free meat. If you call hauling a sixty pound pack all over the country free.)

Watch you sales. If you don't want to pay for a paper, most big chains publish theirs online, or find a neighbor who doesn't use the inserts and bum them off them. You get to make friends at the same time.

I will agree with asian markets. Though most in our area only get produce once a week. So you will have to figure that out.

Oh and a good cookbook will save you tons of money. (My wife has dozens and is always picking up another one. She reads them a lot so when something major goes on super sale she knows what to do with it.)

zCarsAndCaloriesz

Hi there, I'm not in Montreal (Calgary) but I do feed a family of four on roughly $300 monthly.

I would suggest bulk barn for your dry goods, rice and whole grains 100%

If you live near a no frrills/xtra foods/lablaws. They always have decent prices.

Check your flyers and don't forget places like Giant Tiger and walmart often have good stuff on sale.

I also shop at the local "Asian supermarket", which has unbelievable prices on produce. If there is one near you check it out. If you can, I highly suggest checking out some of the super markets in china town.

We do tend to make whatever is on sale work for us. So we have to get a bit creative sometimes.

I shop several times a week, at about 5 different stores but we eat really well for cheap.

Finally, there is a wonderful program called good food box you may want to check out. http://www.multicaf.org/En/Bbbb.html
It's basically an affordable produce program. I've used purchased them here in Calgary many times.

The walmart near use just started carrying fruits vegetables and meats, I'll be sure to check that out. We have giant tiger too, it's a little bit far but I can make it there on occasion

HealthierFoodie

I find that the secrets to eating healthy on a budget are planning, prepping and eating in season.

I make weekly meal plans so that I know exactly what I need from the grocery store and can check for what is on sale.

Prepping a big batch of dry beans for the week helps and they freeze well once cooked too! Things like lentils, rice, and pasta can also be cooked in batches ahead of time and re-heated.

Fruits and vegetables in season are often cheaper than produce that is out of season.