10 Easy Ways to Save on Groceries for 2025

There's a Trump tariff wind blowing bringing more uncertainty to the world markets and the supermarket.

Talk of a trade war comes as we are already dealing with a weak Canadian dollar. It means those winter fruits and vegetables we love, will cost more. Florida oranges and California grown lettuce, cucumbers and celery. Arizona grown cauliflower, spinach, and broccoli. A York University report shows roughly, "50% of Canada's total fruit, nut and vegetable imports by value come from the US".

In 2023, US-Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food trade amounted to $72.6 billion. Canada’s top food exports to the US 

-baked goods

-canola oil

-beef and pork

-chocolate 

-frozen fries and prepared potato products 

Canada imports billions in grain alcohol, corn, and dog and cat food from the US. 

Bottom line, food costs will rise.

To help keep your grocery budget in check, try these 10 easy ways to save on groceries for 2025.

1. Make your Meals at Home - With the cost of food rising, the cost for a restaurant meal is also going up. As much as you may enjoy a $25 entree at your favourite restaurant, $25 in groceries can get a casserole that feeds your entire family and leaves leftovers for lunch. It takes some time and planning, but making your meals at home will save on overall food costs. For an easy and filling family pasta recipe try this Tomato Chicken Feta Pasta.

   
   

2. Shop with a List - All coaches have a game plan and as the coach at home, you should too. Keep a working grocery list on hand in the kitchen or on your phone. Amazon Alexa has a shopping list option on the app. When I need something, I simply tell "Alexa" to add it to my list. A grocery list also keeps me from straying into unnecessary food aisles.

   
   

3. Buy Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables - There's a reason why lettuce, tomatoes and peppers are cheaper in summer, because they are coming from local farmers. In winter, almost all Canadian produce is imported. This is when you need to watch for deals. Bananas are always a cheap fruit option, and often Canadian apples and pears will be available into the early winter months. Watermelon, grapes and berries are imported and usually very expensive at this time of year. If you are craving berries, buy frozen strawberries or blueberries and add them to a smoothie or yogurt. For salads, watch for bulk lettuce deals and choose the vegetables on sale to add to the mix.

4. Sign-up for savings - Most grocery chains have some type of rewards card. There's Scene member points at Safeway and Sobeys, PC Optimum at Loblaws, Co-Op member points, Costco Executive memberships, which offers cash back. The list goes on. The drawback, you will need to sign up to access the rewards and the stores will track your spending. Not everyone agrees with this type of marketing strategy, but loyalty cards can save you $100 or more each year, depending on where and how often you shop.

   
   

5. Watch Flyers for Deals - Whether it's the mailed variety or online, take some time to look for sales before you head out for a big grocery shop. Most stores have their weekly savings posted on the company websites or you can use the flyer aggregator app, Flipp or Flipp.com. You just need to type in your postal code and the current flyers will appear for your neighborhood grocery stores. Plan your meals around the best sale items.

6. Compare Price Per Unit - Sometimes the best price, isn't the best when you look at the price per unit. Shrinkflation is a word Canadians have become more familiar with as we see our favourite brands reduce the quantity of the product, but not the price. To get more bang for your buck, break down the price of the goods per unit. See the example below. The family size box of cereal is more expensive, but when you look at the price per 100 g of cereal, it is cheaper by the bowl.

   

   Remember, this is only a savings if the food is used. Don't buy in bulk if the product will be wasted. If you do that, you are throwing dollars out the window.

   
   

7. Make a Plan to use Leftovers - Food waste is a big problem in Canada. A 2019 report shows about 20% (or 11 million tonnes) of all the food produced in Canada annually becomes avoidable food loss or waste. Every week or so I'll take stock of what I have in the vegetable crisper and freezer. Homemade soup is a great way to use up older vegetables, and even round steak, hidden in the back of the freezer for a few months, is tender and delicious in a stew. Take a look at what you have and find a recipe that fits. Try this Easy One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

8. Freeze it! - Perishables like fruit and vegetables are the most commonly tossed food, followed by bread, then meats and cheese. If you see the chicken breast in your refrigerator is coming close to its best before date, freeze it. Do the same with those bagels. You can also freeze cheese. Just shred it and put it in a freezer bag. This is also a great way to keep past prime veggies and most fruits. If the blueberries are shriveling or the strawberries are bruised, freeze the fruit for smoothies.

   
   

9. Buy Generic - We all have our favourite brands, but if you are whipping up a lasagna do you really need those name-brand canned tomatoes, or will the store's generic canned tomatoes do? How about generic shredded cheese? Or generic dried lasagna noodles? You will likely never know the difference and you can save as much as 25% on your grocery bill. Kirkland (Costco), No Name (No Frills), Great Value (Walmart) and Compliments (Sobeys) are just some of the store-brand products available. Generic is a great option for

   - Laundry Detergent

   - Cleaning Products

   - Canned Vegetables

   - Frozen Fruit

   - Flour

   - Sugar

   - Vinegar

   - Sour Cream

   - Spices

10. Stay on Budget - Track your spending as you shop. Some people have an envelope of budgeted cash to help them stick to their grocery expenses, but in this digital world where cards are king, you can set the spend total on your phone calculator and subtract as you buy. This helps you stay present as you're shopping and stick to a set budget. Stop sticker shock at the cash register and pay attention to the totals.

These are just a few simple ideas to help you save money on groceries. I'd love to hear your input. Leave a comment and let's help each other shop smart.