The holidays are here, and if you’re looking for thoughtful gifts that feel special and support Canadian businesses, you’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up some of my favourite Canadian finds that make gifting easy, meaningful, and totally festive!
Whether you’re shopping for family, friends, teachers, or that one person who’s impossible to buy for, these picks celebrate cozy Canadian living while keeping your budget happy. So grab a peppermint mocha, throw on your coziest sweater, and let’s find some amazing homegrown gifts.
This would be such a fun gift for Christmas morning! Keep the kids occupied for a while creating things with the glitter dough from Little Larch. The one pictured, is the Unicorn version, but they have a lot of different ones available without glitter too. They are created with plant based ingredients and scented with essential oils.
These are a fun idea! Wildflower seed bombs by FuschiaDesignsShop on Etsy. Along with seed bombs, Jennifer also sells seed packages, flower seeds, herb seeds and vegetable seeds.
You may have seen them on Dragon’s Den, but Mint is taking the cleaning scene by storm. Shop their Dragon’s Den bundle or other bundles for easy gifting. They are make in Canada using natural ingredients.
I think these are so pretty! KaylasArtMart makes and sells all sorts of polymer clay earrings and necklaces. Ranging from fun to classy, you’re sure to find something that you love!
Know someone that loves hot honey? Then they’ll probably love this Chipotle infused maple syrup from Wabanaki. They’ve got other flavours too. Like bourbon, whiskey, elderberry, rum, cedar and more.
By now you must have heard about how great shower steamers are? These ones from Nature Bee are made in Canada and use all natural ingredients! They have three scents to choose from or can be purchased in a variety pack.
Attitude is a Canadian brand that sell all sorts of home cleaning products as well as personal care products. Their products are EWG Verified. They have a selection of holiday scented hand soaps that I think would make wonderful gifts.
I have never seen these before but it’s a really fun idea for the person who loves cocktails! These cocktail bombs from Poseidn make it so easy to make a delicious cocktail. Simply drop the bomb into 1.5oz of vodka, stir, then add 6.5 oz of water, then enjoy with ice!
The seed packets from To & From Gift Co. are stunning! I think any of them would make a great gift, but the edible flowers seed packet is especially fun. Free shipping on all orders within Canada.
Perfect for the friend that has been saying they want to try their hand at sourdough! This organic dehydrated sourdough starter is made by TorontoSourdoughMama.
I love the idea of this solid perfume from 828 Aroma! Perfect for the frequent traveler. They even have a quiz to help find a signature scent. Great if you know your gift recipient really well. (Or you need a gift for yourself! ;))
Oh my gosh, how cute are these dumpling candles from Artket Goods? These are available scented or unscented and with or without the steamer basket. They’ve got other fun candles and drinkware too if you don’t think dumplings are cute. Lol.
How about some handmade soap from an indigenous women owned business? Francesca makes some beautiful soaps, as well as body butter, smudge spray and lip balm.
I’m loving these beanie hats from Newbornlander! They’re handmade in Canada and there are all sorts of patterns available. They range in size from 0-6 months to adult.
For those that love candy cane flavoured things, they’re going to love this popcorn from Klondike Kettle Corn! Made in Whitehorse, Yukon, Katie makes a huge variety of delicious flavoured popcorn! Check it out.
Who doesn’t know a candy lover? These ones from Squish are vegan too so your vegan friends can enjoy it too! Grab a bag of Squish vegan candy and your recipient will love you forever.
Petit Lem makes super cozy pajamas and their holiday styles are out now on Well.ca! They also have other holiday wear, not just pajamas. They pride themselves on using organic cotton and recycled polyester.
And that’s a wrap on this year’s Canadian gift guide! It was a lot of fun creating this! I hope you found a few ideas that will make your gift giving a little more meaningful. Every time you shop Canadian, you’re not just giving a great gift, you’re supporting local makers and small businesses across the country. Here’s to cozy moments, thoughtful giving, and keeping it Canadian.
Simply Frugal may receive a small commission if you purchase something recommended in this article. See the disclosure policy here.
The Best Advent Calendars in Canada
When I was growing up, the only advent calendar I knew of were those little chocolate ones that were a bargain from the grocery store or dollar store. But those were still magical and fun!
These days, advent calendars have evolved to include everything from beauty products to toys to crafts! Advent calendars in 2025 take things to a whole new level! Imagine the excitement on your kids’ faces when they open up mini LEGO sets or Polly Pocket figures. Imagine your own excitement when you open up something you love each morning!
For today’s post, I thought it would be fun to round up the best advent calendars in Canada for 2025! You’re sure to find something for everyone. They range in price from frugal to not so frugal, but I made sure to only list the well rated advent calendars and legit retailers!
I was in a cookie rut. Whenever my daughter and I make cookies, it always seems to be Peanut Butter Cookies. Don’t get me wrong, peanut butter cookies are delicious (and my husband’s favourite), but sometimes I want something a little different!
So, enter Fall M&M Monster Cookies! They’re easy to put together and delicious so they’re sure to please! And they still include peanut butter, so my husband is on board. 🙂 These Fall M&M Monster Cookies have everything. Peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate chips and M&M’s, make for my FAVORITE Cookie!
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Cup peanut butter, smooth or chunky
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 Cup butter, softened to room temperature
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 1/2 Cups oatmeal
2 tsp baking soda
1 Cup chocolate chips
1 Cup Fall colored M&M’s (red, yellow and brown) + extra to press on top of the cookies prior to baking
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, baking soda and eggs.
Add in the oatmeal one cup at a time, stirring well.
Add in the 1 cup of chocolate chips and the 1 cup of Fall M&M’s.
Drop by rounded tablespoon onto your baking sheets about 2-3″ a part. Press a few extra M&M’s into the tops of each cookie.
Bake for 9-13 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies will be slightly soft when you remove them from the oven but will set as they cool.
Setting up a Budget Binder in your home is a terrific strategy for staying on top of your finances. It should not only be a record of what is spent, but it should include your estimations for what will likely be spent in the coming year(s). This binder or manual should be a go-to for all of your questions regarding what you can afford and how long it will take to reach your financial goals.
Here’s how to create a Budget Binder:
1. Find a binder that works for you. I really like this binder, but any binder will work. I would choose one that has at least a 1″ spine width.
2. You will also want to have some tabbed dividers so that you can separate your budget binder into sections. These Removable Index Tabs are perfect to add to each section. The tabs are writable and repositionable so you can move them around or use the same one if you need to refresh the page.
3. I like to divide my Budget Binder up by months. (One section for each month of the year, January – December) In each section/month, I include a Monthly expense tracker, a Monthly budget and bill tracker, a Monthly debt payoff tracker, a Monthly reflection sheet and Month at a glance calendar sheets. In the back, I have a yearly finance goal worksheet and spending trackers.
I have created an easy to follow printable budget planner that takes the overwhelm out of budgeting! Use this planner to dream about yearly financial goals, track your bills and spending, discover what you did well, what you need to improve on and so much more! This planner will help keep you focused and ensure nothing is missed.
4. Also in the back, create a section for account information and include names of financial institutions, addresses, contact information, passwords and any other details that would be worth having at a glance.
5. You can also add pouchesto hold receipts, a page to record prices on your favorite items, or anything else that might be useful in keeping your family in the black!
There you have it! It’s that easy to set up a budget binder. Do you keep a Budget Binder? What pages do you keep handy in your family budget binder?
Taco night is a regular occurrence in our house. It’s quick, easy, and everyone’s happy! I love it when no one complains about what’s for dinner!
But here’s the thing… I stopped buying those taco seasoning packets ages ago. Once I started mixing up my own, there was just no going back. This homemade taco seasoning is so simple, way more affordable, and the best part? I can tweak it to fit our taste buds. Which, let’s be real, most of us are not built for spicy food.
I love that the savings add up too. Overall, this homemade version costs just a fraction of what you’d spend on the packaged kind.
I like to make a small jar each time and keep it in the pantry so we’re always ready when a taco craving hits (which is often). It’s perfect for ground meat, chicken, or even veggies if we’re going the meatless route. And yes, I’ve totally used it on roasted potatoes and in soups too—it’s that good.
Why I Love This Homemade Taco Seasoning:
It’s customizable. You can control the heat, the salt, and the flavour balance.
It saves money. Those little packets may seem cheap, but the homemade version costs pennies per use—and uses spices you probably already have.
No mystery ingredients. Just simple, real pantry spices. No preservatives, no weird fillers.
It’s super quick. Takes five minutes (if that!) to mix together.
If you haven’t tried making your own taco seasoning yet, this is your sign. It’s one of those little kitchen swaps that feels like a win every time you use it.
Want the recipe? Here’s the blend I use, feel free to tweak it to your liking!
Amazon Prime Days are coming! July 8 – 11, 2025 are going to be GREAT for finding deals!
To take advantage of the deals, you have to be a Prime member. BUT! If you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months, you can sign up for a free 30 day trial!
In the mean time, here’s how to get ready for Prime Day:
Make sure you’re a Prime member. The best deals will be Prime exclusives. (sign up for a free trial above!)
Make a list of things you’re shopping for. Think of birthdays, Christmas, essentials you use every day, and even “want to have” items. This will help you to remember what you’re shopping for and stay in control of your spending.
Add items to your Amazon cart that you are hoping go on sale. That way, if they drop in price, you can find them quickly.
With Amazon Music, you can now can get one Audible book per month as part of your monthly Amazon Music subscription. Unlimited subscribers can now enjoy one audiobook per month, including the largest catalogue of audiobooks from Audible, top podcasts and millions of songs ad-free.
Get 7 Free Audiobooks
Yes, you read that right — 7 audiobooks for FREE!
Here’s the deal:
Right now, you can sign up for a4-month free trial of Amazon Music, which includes one free audiobook each month (you get to pick!). That’s 4 audiobooks to enjoy.
Then, if you’re new to Audible or recently canceled, you can grab a 3-month free trial of Audible when you sign up by July 31. That gives you 3 credits to use on any audiobooks you want — and you keep them forever, even if you cancel.
That’s 7 audiobooks totally free — no strings, no spending. Just be sure to cancel your memberships before the trials are over, unless you intend on continuing your memberships.
Here’s How to Stretch It Out for 7 Months of Free Listening:
June to September: Use Amazon Music to stream one audiobook a month (these don’t stay in your library, so listen before the month ends).
June to August: Use your Audible credits to grab one book each month and download or pre-order them.
October to December: Listen to the Audible books you downloaded earlier.
That’s 7 FREE audiobooks spread across 7 months — smart, frugal, and totally doable.
Think you’re pretty frugal? Love finding deals, stretching your dollars, and getting creative with how you save? Then you’re going to love this.
I created a Frugal Bingo Card to celebrate all the little things we do to save money—without sacrificing fun. Whether you’re a coupon queen, a library lover, or someone who can whip up a full dinner from what’s in the pantry, this bingo card is for you.
It’s packed with simple, relatable, and proudly frugal wins. Some are everyday habits, others might give you a new challenge to try. Either way, it’s a fun way to recognize just how resourceful you really are.
So grab the free printable, play along with friends or family, or even share your progress on social media. Let’s see how many squares you can check off—and who in your circle is the most frugal of them all.
Groupon Exclusive – Join Costco, Get a $50 Costco Shop Card!
Have you been thinking about getting a Costco membership? Well right now, for a limited time only, Groupon has a couple of Costco membership offers worth checking out!
Here are the highlights of the offers:
1-year Membership — Choose Gold Star Membership (C$315 package value) or Executive (C$480 package value) for access to exclusive member-only savings
C$50 Digital Costco Shop Card — Included with either membership, valid in-store and online
A promo code to receive a C$200 Digital Costco Shop Card with the purchase of a Mexico or Caribbean vacation package of C$3,500+ through Costco Travel
Book by December 31, 2025, for travel by May 31, 2026.
The Digital Costco Shop Card will be emailed within 10 days of travel.
Not combinable with other offers; not redeemable for cash.
Executive Membership Perk: Get C$100 off a Costco.ca order of C$200+
Disclaimers: Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at Costco Gas Stations, Car Washes, or Food Court Kiosks. Valid only for new members and those whose memberships (Primary and Household) have been expired at least 18 months or more.
