7 Essential Must Haves for Pantry Organization

must haves for pantry organization

7 Must Haves for Pantry Organization

Take a peek inside your pantry. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

If your pantry is anything like most pantries, you may be looking at mass chaos sitting on those shelves.

If your pantry door is kept closed because it’s not suitable for anyone’s eyes but yours, it may be time to start organizing that space. The good news? It can be simple to get it done and you will have your kids packing their own lunch in no time flat.

Here are a few must haves for pantry organization that will help you get that jump-start to organizing your pantry.

Do Away with the Packaging

Who says that your food items have to be stored in the boxes or packaging that they came in? Instead, check out these Airtight Clear Storage Containers for your pantry space.

Not only do they come in different sizes, they are clear so it’s easy to see what is in them. They also seal tight to keep the air out, keeping food fresher, longer. You can use them to store noodles, cereals, grains, coffee…anything! 

Organize your Cans

Cans can take up a ton of space. If you find yourself digging and digging to look through cans to see what you have on hand, you need a change.

Try using a 3-Tier Can Rack Organizer instead. It can hold different sized cans and allows you to place them in a way that they are easily seen. These can save a ton of space!

Use Every Square Inch

Remember that door that we talked about earlier that hides all those things that are lurking in your pantry? Use that space on your door! It’s an area that you might as well be utilizing to free up more shelf space.

Look at installing the Door Mount Cabinet Organizer! It hangs on the door to save space, and you can place your spices, plastic wrap, or other items in it for easy access.

End Bakeware Frustration

How much time do you spend digging around for the proper bakeware that you are wanting to use? If your answer was longer than a few seconds, then your current method of storing bakeware isn’t working. They should be easy to access and grab when needed.

Give the StoreMore Bakeware Rack a peek to see if it would fit well in your pantry. It has built-in dividers that help you organize your muffin pans, baking sheets, and other bakeware in a nice, neat, organized manner.

See All Your Spices at Once

Quit playing hide and seek with your spice jars. Get them visible, all at the same time! Nothing is more frustrating than when you are cooking and need to find the basil quickly. But where, oh where, did the basil go??

Eliminate the time spent searching by using a Spice Gripper Clip Strip. (Try saying that fast five times!) Not only does this allow all your spices to be seen easily, it keeps them all in one place as well. Sounds like a win to me! 

Use a Carousel for Random Items

Don’t let the small random items become your nemesis in your pantry! Instead, find ways to organize it better.

Look at implementing a Lazy Susan Organizer for your spices, baking supplies, oils, barbeque and picnic supplies, cleaning supplies or other random items. This handy little gadget is a fun carousel that spins for easy access.

Wrangle Food Wraps

Sometimes all those food storage wraps can be annoying to organize. Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, parchment paper, even plastic bags.

These self-adhesive door storage boxes look ideal for wrangling food storage wraps, storage bags or whatever else you think would fit perfectly.

Use Storage Baskets

I think the answer for many organizing conundrums, can be baskets. Specifically plastic storage baskets for the pantry.

I have my pantry cupboard full of baskets that hold snacks for the kids, pastas, grains, chips, canned goods, baking supplies and so much more! I simply pull out the basket with the item I need, grab the item and get on with my day! I like plastic in this situation because they are easy to wipe down.

Your pantry doesn’t have to get the best of you. You can control it, you can organize it! Try a few of the must haves for pantry organization above and see if they help clear that clutter! You may be surprised at how a few easy changes can quickly give your pantry more functionality. Less clutter in your pantry means less clutter in your mind!

Related articles:

I’d love to hear your must haves for pantry organization. Let me know in the comments below!

must haves for pantry organization

Easy Valentine’s Day Gift Idea: Candy in a Jar (with Free Printable Labels)

easy valentine's day gift idea

Easy Valentine’s Day Gift Idea

Do you need a super quick and fun Valentine’s Day gift?  Try this DIY idea: Candy in a Jar!  This is a perfect idea for those of you needing several inexpensive little gifts for teachers, family members, friends or even neighbors.

It’s so simple.  All you have to do is pour some sort of Valentine coloured candies into a jar, tie a ribbon around the jar then glue the label to the lid. 

I used a jar and ribbon from around the house and picked up a bag of Jolly Rancher jelly hearts.

And if you have extra candy?  Consider the extras your dessert 🙂

Oh, and the FREE printable Valentine’s Day labels I mentioned?  You can print them here.  Or by clicking on the picture below.

Other Valentine’s Day Ideas:

Simply Frugal Weekend Deals

simply frugal weekend deals

Simply Frugal Weekend Deals

Looking to save big this week?

Simply Frugal Weekend Deals is here to bring you the best discounts and deals across Canada!

Whether you’re hunting for home essentials, fashion finds, or something else, I’ve rounded up the best offers to help you stay on budget without sacrificing what you love.

From limited-time sales to secret coupon codes, I’ll make sure your shopping is both fun and affordable.

Want this post to hit your email inbox? Sign up for the Simply Frugal Deals Email. You can do so here. It normally goes out every Friday.

Or, if you prefer Instagram, you can find deals in my Instagram stories often.

Let’s get started shall we? Get ready to shop smart and save more!

Like all of my other deal posts, this post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

The Home Depot Free Kids Workshop

Build a Basketball Game! If you are looking for a fun activity to do with the family, The Home Depot has a great workshop for kids that will teach them about building. Kids can learn how to build their very own Basketball Game. Free workshop is March 8, 2025 at 8:30am or 10:30am.

Register for the workshop here.

Natura Market

Take a look online at Natura Market for what looks to me to have a lot of healthy options that aren’t usually available in Canada! But also, they have a great selection of Canadian made products too! Shop the deals to find some great savings. Also, shop tax free!

Shop online at Natura Market here.

Revive Superfoods

Revive smoothies are pre-portioned with premium frozen ingredients and are delivered right to your door. Plus, 96% off customers say they’ve saved time & money using revive smoothies with no food waste. Use the coupon code REVIVE50 to save 50% off everything!

Visit Revive Superfoods here.

Crocs Canada

Save 30% Off Lined Styles with Code LINED30 at Crocs.ca! Plus, Family Day Weekend Sale: Save up to 50% Off + $4 Jibbitz Singles & $9 Packs. (ends February 18, 2024)

Shop online at Crocs Canada here.

Old Navy Canada

This weekend only, save 50% off all jeans from Old Navy. (ends February 16, 2025) Limited time only: The Kids and Baby sale is on with hundreds of 50% off deals! (ends February 25, 2025) Also, check out the clearance! Prices are starting at just $3.99.

Shop online at Old Navy here.

Gap Canada

Lots of great deals at Gap Canada! First of all, get 40 – 60% off, including 50% off sweaters, tees & sweats! Then, get an extra 50% off sale. Finally, save an extra 10% Off Your Purchase with code TREAT! (ends February 18, 2025)

Shop online at Gap Canada here.

Party Lite

Save 30% on 3-Wick Jar Candles. Now $26.95, regularly $38.50. (ends February 28, 2025)

Shop online at PartyLite Canada here.

Ardene

For a limited time only, all jeans and pants are $35 online at Ardene! (ends February 19, 2025) Plus, The end of season sale is still on: Save up to 70% off! There’s some cute stuff available!

Shop online at Ardene here.

Athleta Canada

Long Weekend Event: Save up to 60% off + an extra 20% off sale online at Athleta Canada! Discount will be taken at checkout. (ends February 18, 2025)

Shop online at Athleta Canada here.

Well.ca

Well.ca carries a lot of Canadian products. Here are the ones on sale this week: Genuine Health, Organika, Nature Clean, Live Clean, NutraSea, Nature’s Bounty, Caboo, Fluf, Webber Naturals, Rainbo, and Ulivit. (ends February 16, 2025)

Take a look online at Well.ca here.

The Children’s Place

A monster of a sale 75% off clearance from The Children’s Place.

Shop online at The Children’s Place Canada here.

Gymboree Canada

For a limited time, all clearance is 75% off at Gymboree! New spring items are 25% off.

Shop online at Gymboree here.

Trivago Canada

Need to book a hotel stay? Book through Trivago to find a great hotel deal!

Visit Trivago Canada here.

Vistaprint Canada

Get 50 Business cards for just $10 with the coupon code VP10. (ends February 28, 2025)

Shop online at Vistaprint Canada here.

Etsy Canada

Treat yourself with up to 40% off savings from Etsy Canada! Save on home decor, well-crafted jewelry, wall art and more – all from independent sellers!

Shop online at Etsy Canada here.

Joe Fresh

Women’s swim tops & bottoms 2 for $40. Save 25% off Adult Terry Styles. (ends February 19) Also, save up to 50% off clearance.

Shop online at Joe Fresh here.

DAVIDs Tea

Save up to 75% off bestsellers online at DAVIDs Tea! The selection includes tea, mugs and even clothing! Check out the valentine’s day sale: buy 2, get 1 free!

Shop online at DAVIDs Tea here.

Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes for creative and curious people, on topics including illustration, design, photography, video, freelancing, and more. Join now for a free 30 day trial!

Sign up for Skillshare here.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Limited Time, save 20% off almost everything.

Shop online at Abercrombie & Fitch here.

Penningtons

Save 30% off tops, outerwear and jeans from Penningtons.

Shop online at Penningtons here.

Hello Fresh

Get up To 23 Free Meals + Free Sides for Life from Hello Fresh! Use coupon code GENHFPEAKHY.

Sign up for Hello Fresh here!

Chef’s Plate

Check out this great offer from Chef’s Plate! They are offering meals from $3.99 per serving + a dollar menu!

Sign up for Chef’s Plate here.

Bluenotes

Friends & Family Weekend sale: Save 50 – 80% off everything.

Shop online at Bluenotes here.

TOMS Canada

End of Season Clearance: Save 40 – 60% off select styles! There are over 500 items on sale.

Shop online at TOMS Canada here.

Indigo

Great deals on books, toys, decor and more: save 30% off Indigo bestsellers, 25% off Zadie Smith’s books, Buy 2, Get the 3rd Free on Sandra Boynton, Peppa Pig & Pete the Cat Books and more.

Shop online at Indigo.ca here.

Amazon Canada Deals

I have been updating my Amazon storefront often these days. Check it out!

Prices below are accurate as of 11:30am PST February 14, 2025.

Groceries:

Cleaning:

Clothing:

Games/Crafts/Toys:

Books:

Organization:

Household:

Personal Care:

Electronics:

Medicine/Health:

Travel:

Pets:

The Ultimate List of Canadian Made

canadian made

The Ultimate List of Canadian Made

Want to shop local and support Canadian businesses? You’re in the right place! Buying Canadian made products means getting great quality while helping homegrown brands thrive. Whether you’re after clothing, beauty, home essentials, or food (hello, maple syrup!), this list has you covered.

From well-known brands to hidden gems, here’s your ultimate guide to Canadian made products. Let’s shop local and keep our dollars close to home!

Now, when you’re out and about shopping, I recommend you read labels and do a bit of research. Shopping Canadian can be incredibly nuanced. For example, Lay’s and General Mills are American companies, however, there are production plants in Canada employing Canadians. They also use Canadian ingredients. So my recommendation is to buy how you feel comfortable with what you know.

Here is how to tell if something was made in Canada:

From Vancouversun.com: Anything at the grocery store that is labelled as a ‘product of Canada’ means all of its major ingredients, where it was processed, and the labour used to produce it are Canadian or are located in Canada.

A product labelled “made in Canada” means just that: The item was last processed or had its “last substantial transformation” in Canada but its ingredients may be a mix of both domestic and imported ingredients.

Ready for the list of Canadian Made?

(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)

Canadian Made Grocery Brands:

  • French’s ketchup
  • Rogers Foods
  • Black Diamond
  • Armstrong
  • Saputo
  • TreStelle
  • Lactantia
  • Agropur
  • Astro
  • Liberte
  • Olympic
  • Natrel
  • Dairyland
  • Gay Lea
  • SunRype
  • Old Dutch
  • Kicking Horse
  • Time Hortons
  • President’s Choice (most are made in Canada)
  • Great Value (Walmart)
  • Compliments
  • BioSteel
  • Canada Dry
  • Oasis
  • Allen’s
  • Hardbite
  • Habitant
  • Nature’s Path
  • Barbara’s
  • Quaker (some products)
  • Laid Back Snacks
  • One Degree
  • Maple Leaf
  • Olymel
  • Piller’s
  • La Cocina
  • Que Pasa
  • Schneiders
  • Maple Lodge Farms
  • Lillydale
  • Grimm’s
  • Lilydale
  • Camino
  • Gardein
  • Yves Veggie Cuisine
  • Arctic Gardens
  • Renee’s
  • Little Creek
  • Nabob
  • Red Rose
  • Tetley (some made in Canada)
  • International Delight REdpath
  • Dr. Oetker (some products)
  • Beatrice
  • aMOOza
  • Five Roses
  • Red River
  • Anita’s Organic Mill
  • Fieldstone Organics
  • Holy Crap
  • MadeGood
  • GoBio
  • Kozlik’s Canadian Mustard
  • Fontaine Sante
  • Summer Fresh
  • Crofter’s Organics
  • Nuts to You
  • Prana
  • Tenderflake
  • Good Leaf
  • Summerland Sweets
  • Smart Sweets
  • Sunrise Soya Foods
  • Hellmann’s
  • Spread’Em Kitchen
  • Stoke Juice
  • Kanel Spices
  • Black Sheep Vegan Cheeze
  • MALK
  • Cove Soda
  • Simply Protein
  • Maison Orphee
  • Twigs pretzels
  • Fresh is Best
  • Earth’s Own
  • Manitoba Harvest
  • Janes
  • San Daniele
  • Fletcher’s
  • Wings
  • Casa Mendoza
  • Country Harvest
  • D’Italiano
  • Stonemill Bakehouse
  • Two Donkeys
  • Aylmer
  • Clark Foods
  • Primo
  • Sprague
  • Unico
  • Balzac’s 
  • Voets Coffee
  • Multiply Coffee
  • Salt Spring Coffee
  • Van Houtte
  • Chapman’s
  • Daiya
  • Earth’s Own
  • Skotidakis
  • Eagle Brand
  • D. Dutchman Dairy
  • Blackwell Dairy
  • Clearly Canadian
  • Happy Planet
  • High Liner Foods
  • Cavendish Farms
  • McCain Foods
  • Green Giant
  • Bee Maid Honey
  • Munro Honey
  • Peace River Hone
  • Freybye
  • Harvest Meats
  • Lou’s Kitchen
  • Matt & Steve’s
  • Kernels
  • Hawkins Cheezies
  • Yeshi
  • Dare Foods
  • Leclerc
  • Inno Foods
  • Kerrs Candy
  • Laura Secord
  • OMG!
  • Purdy’s Chocolate
  • Windsor Salt
  • Noble Jerky
  • DAVIDs Tea
  • Four O’clock Teas
  • Ener-C
  • Cira
  • Webber Naturals
  • Jamieson Vitamins
  • Kidstar Nutrients
  • Voortman
  • Balderson cheese
  • St. Albert Cheese
  • Natural Factors
  • Billy Bee Honey
  • Eat-More
  • WithinUs
  • Good Protein
  • Mid-Day Squares
  • Blume
  • Healthy Crunch
  • Organika
  • Squish
  • Baby Gourmet
  • Suro
  • Orange Naturals
  • St. Francis Herb Farm
  • Island Farms
  • Kawartha Dairy
  • Hampton House
  • Flow Hydration
  • Flourish
  • Chickapea
  • Sapsucker
  • Farming Karma Fruit Co.
  • Canadian Naturals
  • Nutrience
  • Flowrs Tea
  • Sunrise Soya
  • Little Northern Bakehouse
  • Cuddy
  • Mastro

Canadian Made Household Essentials Brands:

  • Attitude
  • Green Beaver
  • SD Naturals
  • Live Clean
  • The Unscented Company
  • Cascades
  • Cashmere
  • Royale
  • Purex
  • Tru Earth
  • Nature Clean
  • Allen’s
  • Mint
  • AspenClean
  • Biovert
  • The Bare Home
  • The Hobbyiest
  • All Clean Natural
  • Fruits & Passion
  • Santevia
  • Paderno
  • Meyer
  • Melii
  • Mala the Brand
  • Caboo
  • Bonterra
  • Good Juju
  • Glad Garbage bags
  • Nellie’s
  • Hertel

Canadian Made Personal Care Brands:

  • Truly Lifestyle Brand
  • OM Organics
  • QUO Beauty
  • Beauty from Bees
  • Truly Tallow
  • Skin Essence
  • Nudestix
  • Stone House Holistics
  • Attitude
  • Anto Yukon
  • Anointment Skincare
  • Buck Naked Soap Company
  • Rocky Mountain Soap
  • The Hobbyist
  • Cheekbone Beauty
  • Nala Care
  • Tok Beauty
  • LUS Brand

Canadian Made Fashion Brands:

  • Dans le Sac
  • Abaka
  • Little & Lively
  • Jan & Jul
  • Kombi
  • Prana Vida
  • Province of Canada
  • Arc’teryx
  • Tilley Endurables
  • Herschel Supply Co
  • Ela Handbags
  • Poppy & Peonies
  • Smash + Tess
  • The Skinny
  • Matt & Nat
  • Chelsea King
  • Knix
  • Blueberri
  • Bula
  • Bravado
  • Petit Lem
  • Kamik
  • Stonz
  • Kushies
  • Hatley
  • Brok Boys
  • Buttercream Clothing
  • Laura
  • LumberJill Apparel
  • Stanfield’s
  • Brunette the Label
  • Melanie Auld
  • CDN
  • Okanagan Lifestyle
  • Bambie & Birdie

Canadian Owned Retailers:

  • Urban Barn
  • Sport Chek
  • Indigo
  • Aldo
  • Home Hardware
  • Giant Tiger
  • Pizza Pizza
  • Mr. Mikes
  • Pita Pit
  • Boston Pizza
  • A&W
  • Panago
  • Cora
  • Lone Star Texas Grill
  • Mary Brown’s
  • Booster Juice
  • New York Fries
  • Nature’s Fare
  • Fill
  • Native Northwest
  • Pet Value
  • Real Canadian Superstore
  • Loblaws
  • No Frills
  • Sobeys
  • Extra Foods
  • Urban Fare
  • BCAA
  • The Co-operators
  • CAA

As always, I appreciate your help in adding brands and retailers that I have missed. Canada has so many gems!

I mentioned above that buying Canadian can be incredibly nuanced. I firmly believe that you have to make the best shopping decisions for your family values. This might mean only buying from Canadian owned companies or brands. Or perhaps you feel comfortable buying from an American owned brand/company as long as products are produced in Canada and/or use Canadian ingredients and materials.

Also, it goes without saying, but supporting your local Mom & Pop shops, farmer’s markets and even buying from your neighbour is hugely beneficial.

All that said, here are a couple more places where you can support Canadian via American owned companies:

Canadian made products, brands, retailers

How to Save Big Shopping on Amazon

how to save shopping on Amazon

How to Save Shopping on Amazon Canada

Shopping on Amazon is one of my favorite ways to save money. After all, I can find almost everything I need at competitive prices and enjoy the convenience of having it shipped right to my door. But wouldn’t saving even more money be great?

Take a look below at 7 tips on how to save big shopping on Amazon Canada to get your household essentials, books, clothing and more at even better prices.

1. Take Advantage of Amazon Resale Deals

A great way to save some money on Amazon Canada is to shop through Amazon Resale!

The Amazon Resale section (previously known as Amazon Warehouse) on Amazon.ca, offers great deals on quality used, pre-owned, or open box products.

With all the benefits of Amazon fulfilment, customer service, and returns rights, Amazon provides discounts on customer favorites such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, home & kitchen appliances, and thousands more.

For each used product they sell, they thoroughly test the condition of the item and provide detailed descriptions to make it easier for you to make a decision.

2. Become a Prime Member.

For $9.99 per month or $99 per year you can become an Amazon Prime member and enjoy many money saving benefits!

With an Amazon Prime membership, you will enjoy:

  • FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible items. Free standard shipping on other items.
  • Unlimited streaming of movies and TV episodes on Prime Video
  • Amazon Music
  • 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals.
  • Prime Reading: Borrow books, magazines, and more. Read them on your Fire tablet, Kindle e-reader, or the Kindle reading apps for iOS and Android.
  • Secure unlimited photo storage, enhanced search, and organization features in Amazon Drive.
  • Access to exclusive Prime Day sales.
  • Free DashPass.

If you make a lot of Amazon purchases throughout the year, a Prime Membership will pay for itself in no time.

Are you a student? Check out the Prime Student membership to save even more.

3. Try the Subscribe & Save option.

Is there a product you use often? Toilet paper, dish soap or diapers perhaps? If so, try the Subscribe & Save option!

If you decide to do Subscribe & Save on certain products, you can save up to 15% off and have that product automatically delivered every 2 weeks to 6 months. Shipping is also free. You can cancel your Subscribe & Save at any time.

4. Look for Coupons & Promo Codes

My favourite deals on Amazon are those that are on sale AND have a coupon to apply or a promo code to redeem! Here are some screen shots of what I mean:

When available, these coupons and promo codes are found below the price of the item you’re looking at.

You can find available coupons by browsing this page on Amazon Canada. As for promo codes, as far as I know, there isn’t a specific page for these. Which leads me to my next tip…

5. Follow Me for Everyday Deals.

Every day I post deals over on Instagram and in Facebook stories. I like to post a variety of items that are actual good deals from Canadian retailers, including Amazon. You’ll see deals on everyday essentials, clothing, decor, household items, holiday items and more!

As I mentioned before, my favourite deals are those that are on sale and have a coupon and/or a promo code. You’ll find plenty of these over there!

Also, on Fridays I update my Simply Frugal Weekend Deals post. This is a great all-in-one article for easy deal browsing featuring only Canadian retailers.

6. Add an Item to Your Cart, But Don’t Buy

This is a trick I use time and time again. If you have your eye on a particular item and it’s currently not on sale, add it to your shopping cart, but don’t buy it! Amazon will save it in your shopping cart and let you know when the price changes.

Sometimes the price will increase first, but you will also see when the price decreases. To find if there has been any changes in the pricing, click on the “Cart” button in the top right corner. If there has been any changes to the pricing, you will see a message at the top of your shopping cart. Once the price drops low enough for me, I buy it!

7. Utilize Camel Camel Camel

Camel Camel Camel is an Amazon price tracker. It tracks the price history of products available on Amazon. You can also sign up for a free account and add items to a Price Watching list to get email alerts when the price drops on the items you’re watching.

See how simple it can be to save some extra cash with Amazon Canada? Give these tips a try and see how far you can stretch your Amazon bucks!

I’d love to know what your biggest deal was if you’ve shopped online at Amazon in the past. Let us know in the comments!

How to Get Free Books

how to get free books

How to Get Free Books

I love to read when I get the chance, but I don’t always love the price tag that goes along with reading.  Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get books or digital books for Free!

Where to Find Free Paperback Books:

The Library: The library is the first place I check if there’s a particular book I want to read.  The only downfall is that there’s usually a waiting list because the books I want to read are usually newer books.  There’s been only a couple of occasions when I’m not able to find the book I want.

Friends: Often times friends of mine already own books that I want to read so I tend to ask around first before I buy.  Of course, I return the favour if I own a book someone wants to read.

Facebook Groups: Check your local Buy Nothing group for people giving away free books. Or, you could even put in an ask and I’m sure other would be happy to pass on their books!

Swagbucks: While this is not an instant gratification method to getting free books because it takes time to earn Swag Bucks, it’s still worth a mention!  I like to collect Swag Bucks and then redeem them for Amazon gift cards (and Starbucks cards…)  There are plenty of ways to earn Swag Bucks.  Searching the web, shopping online, daily polls, surveys, watching videos and more!  Check out this post for 6 Ways to Earn More Swagbucks.

how to get free books

Where to Find Free eBooks:

eBooks are books too! They are a great alternative to physical books. There are so many ways to expand your library this way. Here’s how to get tons of Free eBooks:

Libby app: I have been loving the Libby app! With Libby, you can enjoy free ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your library. All you need is a library card.

eReaderGirl: Check daily for free ebooks, including Kobo, NOOK, and Kindle versions.

BookBub: BookBub alerts you to limited-time free and discounted ebooks matching your interests.

The Fussy Librarian – The Fussy Librarian offers two email newsletters catered to your particular interests: Bargain books or free ebooks! Pick one or both, delivered on the days you pick.

Amazon: Do a search for Free ebooks by either typing in “0.00” or “free kindle ebooks”.

BookRunes: Find a great selection of free & bargain books on BookRunes. Search by genre too!

Story Cartel: This one is neat and practically anyone can use Story Cartel! All books on Story Cartel are completely free, but in return you support authors by leaving your honest review, whether good or bad, of the book you downloaded.

Blog email newsletters: Follow your favourite blogs and sign up for their email newsletter if they offer any ebooks they’ve written for free!  This is a great way to support those bloggers you love!

Openlibrary.org: has over 1 million ebook titles available for you to read!

Project Gutenberg: Project Gutenberg offers over 75,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online.

Kobo eBookstore: Visit the Kobo store for a list of Free ebooks

While I’m still a fan of paperback books, my love for eBooks has been growing.  I purchased a Kindle ereader a few years ago and I’ve been loving it ever since.  It’s not easy to carry around hundreds of books at the same time otherwise! 😉 Amazon also has a free app that will allow you to read Kindle books on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

I’d love to hear all your ideas on how you find free books and ebooks in the comments!

The Best Canadian Birthday Freebies

Canadian birthday freebies

The Best Canadian Birthday Freebies

Did you know, there are a lot of birthday freebies in Canada? It’s true! So why not spoil yourself on a day that only comes around once a year!

In honour of all the birthday’s we celebrate, I thought this roundup of Canadian birthday freebies would be great so you can sign up in time for your birthday! Make this your best birthday yet!

Read on to learn about all the free things you can get on your birthday in Canada:

Canadian birthday freebies
  • Marble Slab Creamery – Sign up for Marble Mail and receive a free ice cream cone.
  • Dairy Queen – Sign up for the Blizzard Fan Club and receive a buy 1 blizzard get 1 free coupon.
  • Freshii – Sign up to be a ViiP and receive a free bowl anytime during your birthday month.
  • Cobs Bread – Sign up for the COBS Club and get a free treat on your birthday.
  • Red Lobster – Sign up for My Red Lobster Rewards and receive a birthday reward.
  • Boston Pizza – Free dessert on your birthday when you sign up for MyBP Loyalty program.
  • Baskin Robbins – Join Club 31 and get a free scoop on your birthday.
  • Harvey’s – Join the Burger Boss club to get Free Frings, a special gift on your birthday, delicious digital deals and more!
  • Starbucks – Sign up for Starbucks Rewards and get a free drink of your choice on your birthday.
  • Red Robin – Sign up for the Red Robin Royalty program and get a free gourmet burger. You can claim this freebie any day during the month of your birthday.
  • Quizno’s – Sign up for Toasty Points and buy one get one regular sub free!
  • Denny’s – Free Grand Slam with pancakes, sausage, bacon and eggs on your birthday. Valid ID must be shown.
  • Applebee’s – Join Club Applebee’s and get a birthday special (usually a free dessert) on your birthday.
  • Jack Astor’s – Free dessert when you sign up for their newsletter. (scroll to the bottom of their website to sign up.)
  • Kelsey’s – Free dessert when you sign up for their email newsletters.
  • Swiss Chalet – Sign up for Rotisserie Mail and get a free dessert on your birthday.
  • Joey’s – Birthday offers get sent to you 7 days before your birthday
  • Sephora – You get to choose a FREE product set in store or online during your birthday month.
  • Pizza Pizza – Free slice of pizza and a can of pop for kids only.
  • What a Bagel (greater Toronto) – Buy 6 bagels and get 6 free on your birthday. A valid ID is required.
  • American Eagle – Sign up for Real Rewards and get a coupon for $5 birthday reward during your birthday month.
  • RW&Co – Save $15 off your purchase when you sign up for RWInsider.
  • Swagbucks– 50 Free Swag Bucks on your birthday
  • Menchie’s – Free $5 Froyo when you sign up for mySmileage
  • Thrifty Foods – Free 8″ x 12″ birthday cake on your child’s first birthday, one cake per child.
  • Kelly O’Bryan’s – Free birthday meal when you come in on the day of your birthday
  • Kiehl’s – Join Kiehl’s Rewards Loyalty Program to start earning points when you shop online or in the store. You also receive a free birthday gift every year.
  • Old Navy Canada – Sign up for their rewards program to receive free bonus points.

There you go with the best Canadian birthday freebies! Which ones will you be taking advantage of?

Are any of your favourite Canadian birthday freebies not listed? Mention them in the comments below and I’ll get them added.

Related posts:

40+ of the Best Planners for 2025 in Canada

best planners

40+ of the Best Planners to get you organized

I’m must confess. If I could, I would buy all the pretty planners out there. Just the idea of having all my to-do’s and ideas in one place gets practical old me really excited. I’m currently using one like this, but it’s an academic one. Meaning it runs from July 2024 – June 2025. This suits my life because our summers are pretty unstructured. I can jot down my to-dos, appointments, reminders, menu plan, shopping list and even my ideas!

If you’re after a good planner, but haven’t quite found “the one” yet, this round up is sure to help you find one of the best planners that will work for you!

(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)

First of all, let’s take a look at some things to think about before purchasing a planner:

How to Pick the Best Planner

Purpose: Knowing what you wish to keep track of in your planner is key to finding the right one for your needs. Do you simply want to keep track of appointments? A monthly calendar might be great for you. If you want to keep a to-do list and appointments easily accessible, then a weekly planner could be the right fit. If you intend on keeping a to-do list, appointments, a meal plan, a shopping list and some thoughts or ideas, then a daily planner would be perfect!

Portability: Will you be carrying your planner around with you or will it just be sitting on your desk or counter? If you will be carrying it around, then the size of the planner matters. Make sure the size you choose fits into the bag or purse you will be using. I personally like the 8″ by 5″ size best.

The Best Monthly Planners:

WSBL Bohemian 2025 Monthly Planner – This one is pretty, a great price and includes some extra features like a back pocket, to-do lists, address and phone number pages, and password pages.

Brownline 2025 DuraFlex Monthly Planner – This is a great basic 11″ by 8.5″ planner that would be great for leaving on a desk.

At-A-Glance 2025 Monthly Planner – Another great basic, monthly planner that includes thick pages so you don’t get ink bleed.

5 Year Monthly Planner – Because this is a 5 year planner, I think this would be great to use as a personal notebook, journal, or diary! Or, you can use it to set goals, important dates, or deadlines, as well as jotting down notes and ideas.

18 Month 2025 Monthly Planner – This is a beautiful lay-flat monthly calendar. This one has a pen loop, a storage pocket, goal setting pages and more.

Staples 2025 Monthly Planner – This is a smaller 6-7/8″ x 8-3/4″ basic monthly planner that includes telephone and address pages, dates to remember page and more.

2025-2026 Monthly Planner – This is a large, two year monthly planner with lots of space to write!

18 Month 2025 Monthly Planner – This monthly planner is large and has plenty of room for writing.

The Best Weekly Planners

High Note Weekly Planner – This one is so pretty! It is slightly larger than a typical weekly planner at 9″ x 10″. It includes some goal setting and project planning pages for every month. Also includes monthly tab dividers, a handy pocket and some stickers.

Aimpeak 2025 Weekly Planner – This planner includes monthly tabs, a pen loop, lots of writing space and goal planning pages.

Getink 2025 Weekly Planner – With lots of room for planning, this portable sized planner might be perfect for you!

Utytrees 2025 Weekly Planner – Perhaps the perfect simple weekly planner that will suit your needs.

Blueline 2025 DoodlePlan Weekly Planner – This is a simple planner but it includes colouring areas!

Planberry Weekly Planner – This is a great undated weekly planner if you really want to hit some goals this year. Also unique to this planner, you will find built in budget planner sheets!

Paper Harbour Planner – This undated weekly planner is made and printed in Canada! Space for 12 months, 52 weeks, one bonus week, and lined journal pages.

Clever Fox Weekly Planner – Another undated planner great for hitting goals and reflecting on life.

Leuchtturm1917 2025 Weekly Planner – This one is unique in the way that it features an entire week on the left and an entire page for notes on the right. Perfect if you love a lot of room for thoughts and ideas or note taking.

Action Day Weekly Planner – Each day offers hourly scheduling from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Also includes a 12-page teaching tool to see yourself as the person you want to be, what values you want to live by, your goals and actions. 

Blue Sky Laila Weekly Planner – This beautiful simple weekly planner is perfect for a clean look at your week or adding fun doodles or stickers!

At-A-Glance 2025 Floral Weekly Planner – This pretty weekly planner is simple in its design and includes handy tabs to easily flip between months. This is the 8.5″x11″ size, but there is also a smaller version here.

Amy Knapp’s Family Organizer – A planner especially for moms! Includes a big space for a weekly to-do list, tear off grocery and menu plans, motivational quotes and stickers!

Polestar Family Weekly Planner – This one is unique and especially great for the person who wants to track appointments, meal plans and home tasks all in one spot!

The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2025 Planner – A simple weekly planner that includes interesting facts, quotes and helpful tips!

Passion Planner – This one looks great for goal setting as well as keeping track of your weekly to-dos. Their Instagram page looks like it’s full of inspiration on how to use it.

Emily Ley Simplified Weekly Planner – I have used this in past years! I love the colours and simplicity of it. I also like how each day is separated into two parts: My Day and To-Do.

Legend Undated Weekly Planner – This one is great for the working person that wants to track work to-dos and personal to-dos. Looks fantastic for goal setting and creating a better you.

Wordsworth Undated Weekly Planner This one reminds me of the Simplified planner, but with a heavy dose of goal setting pages that look helpful!

Poprun 2025 Agenda – Includes Hourly Schedule & Vertical Weekly Layout!

GoGirl Weekly Schedule Planner – This undated planner also has a vertical layout with spots for goal planning.

So Darling 2025 Weekly Planner 9.75″ x 9″ – This is the one I’m currently using and I love it! I love the tabbed dividers, reflection pages and notes pages. Has a pocket in the back and cute stickers!

The Best Daily Planners

Blueline 2025 Daily planner – This is the one I used for years, but then they added the times in 30 minute increments. I am personally not a fan of the times added, but that doesn’t mean it’s not perfect for you!

2025 Daily Simplified Planner – This is like a Weekly Planner that I have used in the past, but a daily version that includes time slots for each day.

Day Designer Daily Planner – The daily calendar view page contains hourly schedule in 30-minute increments, top 3 priority items, to-do list, notes section and an inspirational quote, as well as a dedicated gratitude section.

To Do List Undated Daily Planner – If you are looking for a way to track your daily to-dos, fitness, meal plan, and top priorities for each day, then this planner is worth looking at!

Clever Fox Daily Planner PRO – This undated planner is unique in the sense that it lasts just 3 months if used consistently. Perhaps a great way to test drive a planner! This planner has everything though: create a vision for your life, define and break down your goals, and incorporate these goals into your schedule. It has a separate page for each day of the week, with an hourly schedule, daily goal, priorities, to-do list, daily reflection, and plenty of space for extra notes.

Blueline NotePro Undated Daily Planner – This planner has an undated daily planner on left side and is ruled with margin on the right side for note taking.

KESOTE 2025 Agenda Daily Planner – This soft leather-like cover daily planner is a great price!

Poprun 2025 Daily Planner – This daily planner presents spacious everyday planning with hourly schedules for your appointments, which makes your busy daily routines organized.

The Best Specialty Planners

The Meal Planner – This printable planner made by me, will help you plan every aspect of your meal planning!

52 Week Meal Planner – This planner contains space to plan a year’s worth of meal’s and grocery lists. 

Weekly Meal Planner – This is like the meal planner above but has dedicated spaces for breakfast and lunch ideas too.

Travel Planner – For every trip, track your budget, list must-see attractions, map out shopping and dining spots, and keep tabs on your itinerary.

The Cleaning Planner – This printable, step by step plan will help take the overwhelm out of cleaning.

Weekly Budget Planner – Keep track of your spending, plan monthly budgets and set savings goals with this planner!

The Budget Planner – This printable, easy to follow planner takes the overwhelm out of budgeting.

Teacher’s Planner – This planner will help you keep track of weekly lessons, seating plans, attendance, and grades!

CREATE Blog and Editorial Calendar – A planning and editorial system designed for ambitious bloggers and biz owners to create intentional content, grow and nurture an audience, and build a business around their blog

Mega Homeschool Planner – Whether you homeschool 1 child or many, this planner will keep you organized, hold your important records, make planning a breeze, track anything, is portable and conveniently stores away.

Coupon Planner – 52 Weekly (undated) shopping pages to plan which stores to hit, keep track of sales, and organize your coupons to make the trip as smooth as possible.

There you have it, the best planners you can get in Canada. If you use a planner, do you purchase the same one year after year or do you like to switch it up?

best planners

Other Posts You May Enjoy:

2024 Boxing Day Deals!

Boxing Day Deals

Below, you’ll find an epic round-up of all the Canadian Boxing Day Deals for 2024!  The list will be updated as new deals are discovered. Bookmark this page and enjoy some great savings at your favourite Canadian stores!

(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)

Aerie – Happy Boxing Day! 40 – 60% off almost everything + undies 8 for $40 (ends December 30, 2024 at 5am EST)

Aldo Shoes – Boxing Week Sale: Save up to 50% off select styles! (Ends January 30, 2025 @ 11:59 PM EST)

Amazon.ca – Shop epic Boxing Day Deals! Check out my storefront where I’ve rounded up the best deals!

American Eagle – The Boxing Day Sale: 30 – 60% off (almost) everything. (Ends December 29, 2024 at 5am EST)

AncestryDNA – Celebrate Boxing Day with $50 off, now only $79! (ends December 27, 2024)

Anthropologie – End of Season Sale: Extra 40% off sale items!

Ardene – The Boxing week blowout is on! Save up to 70% off everything plus FREE Shipping on orders over $20! (ends December 31, 2024)

Aritzia – Boxing Week Sale On Now: Up to 50% Off Everything! (ends January 5, 2025)

Athleta – Extra 30% Off Semi-Annual Sale At Athleta.ca! (Valid December 31, 2024)

Banana Republic – The Boxing Day Event: Up to 60% Off Sale Styles + An Extra 30% Off Sale Styles (valid December 26 – 29, 2024)

Bench.ca – Boxing Week sale is on: Save 60% off sitewide!

Best Buy Canada – Boxing Day sale pricing has started! Save big on what you want most.

Bluenotes – Boxing Day Deals: Save up to 80% off!

Bobbi Brown – Save 20% off sitewide! Plus save up to 50% off on holiday beauty.

Book Outlet Canada – Boxing Week Sale is here! Save an extra 20% off  sitewide. (ends January 3, 2025 at 11am EST)

Canadian Tire – Boxing day deals start early with savings up to 40% off!

Carters/Osh Kosh – 25-50% off entire site and store! PLUS an extra 10% off with coupon code EXTRA10.

Chef’s Plate – Enjoy $2.99 per meal from Chef’s Plate!

Club Monaco – Two days only: Save 40% off everything online at Club Monaco! (ends December 27, 2024)

Columbia Sportswear – 25 – 40% off everything online at Columbia!

Costco.ca – Boxing week savings are on now online at Costco.ca!

Crocs Canada – Boxing Day Sale! Up to 60% Off + Extra 20% Off with Code EOY20 at Crocs.ca! (ends December 31, 2024)

DAVIDs Tea – Save up to 60% off during the Boxing Day Sale!

Dynamite.ca – Boxing Day Event: Shop up to 50% off! Over 1,000 styles on sale!

Etsy – Up to 40% off: End-of-Season Deals!

Fairweather – Save up to 80% off during the Boxing Week Blowout! Free shipping on orders of $75+.

Gap Canada – Save up to 75% off markdowns. Extra 20% Off Your Purchase with Code ADDON. (ends January 7, 2025)

Garage Clothing – Boxing Week: Save 50% off and more online and in-store at Garage!

GLOBO Shoes – Enjoy up to 50% off select merchandise! Plus, free shipping on all orders!

Gymboree – Save 75% off clearance!

Hatley Canada – Boxing Week Sale: Save up to 60% off almost everything!

H&M Canada – Save up to 60% off further markdowns online at H&M Canada!

Indigo.ca – Boxing Week: Save up to 50% off books, toys, decor and more! (ends January 1, 2025)

Joe Fresh – Boxing Week: Up to 50% off Clearance! Price as Marked.

Keurig.ca – Lots of Keurig coffee makers on great sale!

La Senza – Almost everything 40% off + an extra 20% off clearance items!

Linen Chest – Save up to 75% off + an extra 20% off almost everything online at Linen Chest!

Little Blue House – Boxing Week Sale: Save up to 60% off select styles!

Lululemon – Check out the items that are on sale for Boxing Day!

Mabel’s Labels – Ready to label everything in 2025? 35% off on select top-selling labels!

Madewell – The End of Season Sale: Save up to 60% off all sale with coupon code LASTCHANCE! (ends January 8, 2025)

Mark’s – Boxing Week Event: Take an extra 25% off Storewide! (ends December 28, 2024)

Mountain Hardware – Save 25% off select styles during the boxing week sale!

Mountain Warehouse – Winter Sale Up To 60% Off + Extra 10% Off With Code YAY10.

Mr. Big & Tall Canada –  Save 50 – 70% Off during the boxing week sale!

Naturalizer – Save up to 65% off sale styles when you take an extra 30% off with coupon code MOREISMORE.

Old Navy Canada – Two days only: Save 50% off all jeans for the family! (ends December 27, 2024)

Partylite – Winter Clearance: Save up to 50% on a selection of items! (ends January 1, 2025)

Penningtons – Save an Extra 60% off Sale Items.

Quickbooks – Save 75% on QuickBooks for 6 months when you buy now!

Rakuten.ca – Boxing Day: 3X cash back!

Reitmans – Boxing Week Sale: Save up to 70% off sale + an extra 30% off!

Roots Canada – Save up to 60% off during the Boxing week sale! (ends January 5, 2025)

RW&Co – Boxing Week: Take an additional 30% off everything!

Saje Natural Wellness – Boxing Day: Up to 50% off starts now! (ends December 29, 2024)

SAXX Underwear – Winter Sale: up to 40% off past-season styles!

Sephora – Boxing week is here! Beauty Insiders (free to join) save an extra 20% off sale items with coupon code EXTRA20. (ends January 1, 2025)

Simons – The Best Sale by Simons: Save up to 50% off online and in-store!

Sorel Canada – End of season sale: Save up to 30% off select styles! (ends January 27, 2025)

Sport Chek – Featured deals up to 60% off! Plus save 20% off full priced items (ends January 1, 2025)

Staples Canada – Enjoy BIG savings with Staples’ Boxing Week Deals!

Suzy Shier – Boxing Day sale: Save up to 70% off, plus an extra 20% off sale items from Suzy Shier.

Sweetlegs – Save 30% off everything (almost!) + save up to 70% off clearance!

The Children’s Place – Limited time: Seasonal clearance sale 80% off!

Tip Top Canada – Save 50 – 70% Off during the Boxing week sale!

TOMS Canada – End of year clearance: Extra 30% off all sale styles with coupon code SAVEMORE. (ends January 2, 2025)

Under Armour – Save up to 50% off in the Outlet section. No code needed. (ends January 26, 2025)

Urban Outfitters – Take an extra 40% off sale styles!

Walmart Canada – Boxing Week shopping is on! Always great deals.

Well.ca – Boxing Days: Save up to 60% off hundreds of items!

Homemade Chai Spice Mix

homemade chai spice mix

Homemade Chai Spice Mix

This recipe for Chai Spice Mix is a delicious and easy way to have your favorite chai drinks and treats whenever you like. Wonderfully aromatic spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice are combined to create a rich, spiced base for drinks and baked goods. Authentic and relaxing.

This chai spice mix would be a great, thoughtful gift for many on your Christmas list!

Recipe and instructions are included below for Hot Chai Latte, Cold Chai Latte, and Hot Chai Tea Latte using this chai spice mix recipe!

Jump to Recipe

Prep Time: 3 Minutes
Yields: 9 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoon

(Note: The links in this post may be affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.)

Ingredients:

homemade chai spice mix

● 3 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
● 3 Tablespoons Ground Ginger
● 2 Tablespoons Ground Cardamom
● 1 Teaspoon Fine Ground Pepper
● 1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
● 1 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
● 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until fully combined.
  2. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for up to 1 month.
  3. If you’re making this for gifts, small glass containers like these are great.

Hot Chai Latte Directions:

● 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
● 8 Ounces Milk
● 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Warm ingredients slowly in a pan over the stove. Once heated through, pour through a cheesecloth, if desired, and enjoy. To skip the stove, warm the milk and add all the ingredients to a blender and serve.

Cold Chai Latte Directions:

● 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
● 8 Ounces Cold Milk
● 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 20 seconds. Pour into a cup and enjoy.

Hot Chai Tea Latte Directions:

● 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
● 4 Ounces Milk
● 4 Ounces Hot Black Tea
● 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Warm ingredients slowly in a pan over the stove. Once heated through, pour through a cheesecloth, if desired, and enjoy. To skip the stove, warm the milk and add all the ingredients to a blender and serve.

Tips:

● If you prefer one spice more over another, you can adjust the spice amounts to match your preferences.
● If you make the drink recipes, be sure to adjust the amount of spice mix and sweetener to suit your tastes.
● This tastes better the longer the spices get to sit in the liquid. The flavors truly shine their best if you blend or heat them over a stove when preparing.
● You can use one of those little handheld milk frothers in place of a blender as well, although I still find that the blender is still a bit better at it.
● You can make this recipe from whole spices and get an even more robust flavor out of it.

Chai Spice Mix
Prep Time
3 mins
 
Ingredients
  • ● 3 Tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
  • ● 3 Tablespoons Ground Ginger
  • ● 2 Tablespoons Ground Cardamom
  • ● 1 Teaspoon Fine Ground Pepper
  • ● 1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • ● 1 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
  • ● 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until fully combined.
  2. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot for up to 1 month.
Recipe Notes

Yields 9 Tablespoons + 1 Teaspoon

 

Hot Chai Latte Directions:

  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
  • 8 Ounces Milk
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Warm ingredients slowly in a pan over the stove. Once heated through, pour through a cheesecloth, if desired, and enjoy. To skip the stove, warm the milk and add all the ingredients to a blender and serve.

 

Cold Chai Latte Directions:

  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
  • 8 Ounces Cold Milk
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for 20 seconds. Pour into a cup and enjoy.

 

Hot Chai Tea Latte Directions:

  • 1 ½ Teaspoons Chai Spice Mix
  • 4 Ounces Milk
  • 4 Ounces Hot Black Tea
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey (or other sweetener)

Warm ingredients slowly in a pan over the stove. Once heated through, pour through a cheesecloth, if desired, and enjoy. To skip the stove, warm the milk and add all the ingredients to a blender and serve.