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 Organizerfor 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!
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.
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.
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:
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 memberand 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 in my Instagram and Facebook stories. As well as my Canadian Deals Facebook Group. 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!
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!
● 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.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until fully combined.
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.
Walmart's Black Friday Sale (Week 3) starts tonight!
The third week of Black Friday sales start TONIGHT, November 27th, at 9:00 PM EST online. If you'd rather shop in-store, the sale starts tomorrow morning when your location opens.
You can see everything that will be on sale in the flyer. Below, I've listed some things that I think are the BEST deals. So take a peek and see if there's anything you can cross off your list.
Stocking stuffers are one of the most fun parts of Christmas morning. But finding budget-friendly ideas that are actually useful (and available in Canada!) can be a challenge.
Don’t worry though, I’ve done the hunting for you! Here’s a list of frugal stocking stuffers that are thoughtful, practical, and easy on the wallet. Plus, they're all available from Canadian retailers you already love.
🎄 Be sure to check out my Amazon Storefront for even more stocking stuffers featured there. And don’t forget to follow Simply Frugal Finds on Instagram for daily deals and festive savings.
Want to know my top gifting hack? Split up those multi-packs! I love grabbing a set of something I know both my girls will enjoy. It’s more budget-friendly that way too!
Frugal Gift Ideas for Teachers, Neighbors and Friends
Do you give gifts to your kids' teachers, your neighbors or friends? It can be a really fun way to let them know you appreciate them!
This gift guide was so much fun to put together. There are so many neat things out there and I know I rounded up some great budget-friendly ideas for you.
Without further ado, here are my Frugal Gift Ideas for Teachers, Neighbors and Friends!
Maldon Sea Salt - This flaked salt is soo good! Perfect for finishing desserts or savory recipes.
Mini Silicone Spatulas - Sounds silly, but these are so great for getting the very last bit in containers!
Peppermint Bark Shortbread - Well this sounds absolutely delicious! You can never go wrong with something consumable.
Suncatcher Crystals - Add beautiful rainbows to your recipient's home with these suncatcher crystals! This comes as a six pack, so you could separate them to have multiple gifts.
Small Wood Paddle Board - Perfect gift idea for the person who loves to create those fancy charcuterie platters.
Winter Headband - Ok, how cute are these? Everyone needs something to keep their ears warm!
Bubble bath - Don't we all know at least one person that likes taking baths to relax?
Leather Wristlet Clutch bag - Perfect for when your recipient just wants to take a phone, ID and a few small things with them!
Scented Candle Set - I don't think you could go wrong with a candle! Great gift idea for a teacher, friend or neighbor! This is a set so you could even separate each candle to give away.
Angie's BoomChickaPop popcorn - Keep an eye out the the Peppermint and white chocolate flavoured popcorn! Soooo good!
The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here.
Frugal Gift Ideas for Tweens and Teens
Shopping for a tween or teen can have its challenges. After all, they're not usually into toys anymore, and toys are so easy to buy!
Gift cards are great, but they're also pretty boring to give. Why not show your tween or teen how amazing you are at gift giving with the help of these frugal gift ideas! You are sure to find some thought provoking ideas that don't all center around technology.
Take a look at these Frugal Gift Ideas for Tweens and Teens:
Mud Masks - These types of masks are a huge hit with my 13 year old.
Mascara - A new mascara is always a good idea for a teen.
Gum - I really like PUR Gum because it uses xylitol to sweeten it. My dentist said that xylitol can help in preventing cavities! Lots of different flavors too.
Hand Cream - Leave dry hands behind when cold weather hits.
Sketchbook - For the one who loves to doodle or wants to refine their skills.
Bookmark - So cute, and perfect for the teen who loves to read.
Looking for more affordable gift inspiration? I’ve rounded up even more Amazon Canada finds that make perfect gifts. All budget-friendly, practical and/or fun. 🎄 See my Amazon finds here!
Letter Board - See what kind of creative and witty things they can come up with.
Wet Brush- Every girl or guy with long hair needs a really good brush.
Personalized Notepad - Anything personalized to so fun to receive! Especially if the recipient has a more unusual name.
Fairy Lights - Most teens like to spend a lot of time in their rooms, so making it feel extra cozy with some fun lights would be appreciated. These Govee LED Strip Lights are another alternative.
Bluetooth Toque - For the teen that wants to be warm and listen to music wirelessly!
Gifts under $50
Puma Duffle Bag - A duffel bag is a must have for any road trip or athlete.
Ukulele - We gave our oldest daughter a Ukulele and it has been used so much! She's always making up songs. A great gift that will grow with the recipient.
Life Skills 101 for Teens - They may roll their eyes at this book, but I think they'll soon be learning some valuable lessons.
Every year, I like to purchase one gift that will be fun for the whole family. Usually it's a board game of some sort. We like to try it out right away on Christmas day for some extra quality family time!
However, there are sooo many different things out there that would make fantastic gifts for families.
This gift guide has fun, frugal gift ideas for families that any family would love. Happy gifting!
Does your family really loves s'mores? This tabletop s'mores maker might be so fun for everyone. Experiment with different combinations inside on cozy winter days.
If your family loves a movie night with popcorn, here's a highly rated popcorn maker. Add some popcorn kernels and seasonings, and you've got a great family gift!
Take family movie night to another level with a portable projector! Be sure to clip the coupon. I've heard that the ones with built in apps like Netflix, Prime, etc, are key!
This could be such a fun family gift idea! Have fun as a family ripping down the toboggan hill with this inflatable, lightweight tube. Currently on sale!
I love the idea of matching monogram mugs for each member of the family! You could even stick some hot chocolate or a gift card inside each mug. Here is a slightly less expensive option from Indigo.ca.
If you are a family who really appreciates traditions and preserving memories, this is a gorgeous keepsake book to help you. This will be a family treasure for years and generations to come.
Have you heard of Solo smokeless firepits? Well, Those are great but not cheap! I have found a Tabletop Fire Pit with great ratings that is a fraction of the cost. Use this at home for cozy evenings, make some smores or bring it camping!
Another great puzzle, but this one has 1000 pieces so perfect for a family with older children or one that enjoys doing a puzzle during the entire duration of the holidays.
Kids Against Maturity combines the tried and tested fill-in-the- blank game-play, a perfect enjoyable hilarious way to bring your family together. You will be sure to be laughing so much when you play this favourite!
My parents discovered this game while they were camping this summer. My dad, loves wood working, so he promptly crafted this game in his shop. Fortunately, you can actually purchase this game too! We had so much fun playing it this year and enjoyed the friendly competition.
How FUN is it to all have matching pajamas for the holidays? In this post, I have a huge assortment of matching family Christmas pajamas from Canadian retailers.
For the adventurous family that wants a different way to do/decide family activities! There are 50 Scratch-Off Adventures and Family Night Games for Kids & Adults inside this unique gift!
These are so neat! They're board games stored in a nice "book" to put on a bookshelf! There are all sorts of different games available. Find Battleship, Mystery Date, Monopoly, Scrabble, Candy Land and more! Every year you could add a new one to the collection.
