If your grocery bill feels like it’s climbing higher every single week… you’re not imagining it.
Groceries in Canada have gotten expensive. For most families, it can be one of the hardest areas to cut back on. You still need to eat, and you probably don’t want to spend hours couponing or driving all over town chasing deals.
The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine to save money.
A few simple grocery store swaps can make a noticeable difference on your grocery bill. All without sacrificing convenience or the foods your family actually enjoys.
Let’s get into it shall we?
Buy Oatmeal Instead of Dry Cereal
Buy this: Oatmeal Not that: Dry cereal
Do away with the expensive boxes of cereal full of sugar and buy oatmeal! You could purchase those convenient packs of pre-made oatmeal, but I’d encourage you to buy a bag of oats instead. I find it so easy to create my own instant oatmeal packs. Plus, I can control the sugar quantity by adding my own sweeteners and various toppings. Oatmeal will also help keep you feeling full longer so you may need less snacks 😉
Buy Ingredients, Not Pre-Packaged Foods
Buy this: Basic ingredients Not that: Individually packaged foods
Pre-packaged foods like spice seasoning blends, baking mixes, granola bars, cookies and muffins add up quickly. Especially if you’re feeding kids!
Instead, try simple homemade options. I’ve got some basic recipes you could try:
Real-life tip: You don’t have to be “perfect”. Even one homemade swap a week can save money!
Buy Frozen fruit Instead of Fresh
Buy this: Frozen berries Not that: Fresh berries in the off-season
Fresh berries can be shockingly expensive, especially in the winter months.
Frozen fruit is:
Picked at peak ripeness
Often cheaper
Perfect for smoothies, yogurt bowls, and baking
Bonus: It lasts way longer, so you’ll waste less food (and money).
Buy Block Cheese, Not Pre-Shredded
Buy this: Block cheese Not that: Pre-shredded cheese
Pre-shredded cheese might feel convenient but you’re paying extra for it. It also contains additives to prevent clumping, which can affect how it melts.
Frugal tip: Shred a whole block of cheese at once and store it in the fridge for the week. Same convenience, lower cost.
Buy Yogurt tubs Instead of Cups
Buy this: Yogurt Tubs Not that: Individual yogurt cups
Sure, yogurt cups are really convenient for packing in lunches, but you could spend a little extra time once a week filling up reusable containers with yogurt from a tub instead. Buying yogurt in larger quantities (tubs or those pour bags) will save you big time.
Bonus: You can control the sweetness, flavours and boost protein if you purchase plain Greek yogurt tubs.
Buy Store Brand, Not Name Brand
Buy this: Store brand (No Name, Great Value, Compliments) Not that: Big-name brands
This is one of the easiest wins. Most store brands are made in the same facilities as name brands, but without the higher price tag that comes with marketing and packaging.
You’ll especially notice savings on:
Pantry staples (flour, sugar, pasta)
Canned goods
Frozen fruits and veggies
Dairy products
Buy Whole Chicken, Not Pre-Cut Pieces
Buy this: Whole chicken Not that: Pre-cut chicken breasts or thighs
Whole chickens are almost always cheaper per pound.
Plus, you can:
Cut it up to use in multiple meals
Use leftovers for soups or wraps
Make homemade broth with the bones
Buy Ingredients for Dressing Instead of Bottled
Buy this: Ingredients for homemade dressings Not that: Pre-made bottled dressings
Making salad dressings from scratch has got to be one of the most simple kitchen tasks you could do. Believe me, because I don’t do complicated in the kitchen! If you usually reach for those pricey organic or natural salad dressings at the store, switching to homemade can save you a surprising amount on your grocery bill. With just a few simple, budget-friendly ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen, you can whip up your own in minutes! Here are some of my recipes:
Not only is a head of lettuce much cheaper than the bags or containers of lettuce, they last longer too! I understand the convenience of buying a bag or container, but it really doesn’t take much effort to tear up some lettuce leaves for a salad. Especially when you have to sort through the slimy pieces in the bags or containers anyways.
Buy Dried beans and lentils instead of canned
Buy this: Dried beans or lentils Not that: Canned beans or lentils
I’ll be honest, we don’t eat a lot of beans in our house, so I usually reach for the canned version. But if beans are a staple in your meals, buying them dried is a much more budget-friendly option. You can save a significant amount over time, and cooking them is easier than you might think. Just toss them in your slow cooker or use your Instant Pot for a quick, hands-off batch.
As you can see, saving money on groceries doesn’t have to mean cutting out everything you love or spending hours planning.
It’s really about being intentional.
Start with just 1-2 of these grocery store swaps this week, and you’ll likely notice a difference at checkout. And the best part? These changes are simple enough to stick with so the savings add up over time.
Which of these grocery store swaps are you already doing, and which one are you going to try next?
Check out The Meal Planner! I created the printable Meal planner to help make meal planning and saving money easy! The PDF includes:
If you’re wanting to save some big grocery bucks, it’s time to start thinking about things to stop buying and start making yourself. I’m talking about making your own pantry staples and household essentials!
Not only does creating your own stuff keep more money in your wallet, often times it’s better for your health! I mean how many times are you stuck reading a label in the store wondering what half of the ingredients are? By making your own essentials, you’re ensuring that you know each and every ingredient involved.
Also, an aspect of the frugal lifestyle for some, or many, is to be more self sufficient. Rather than running to the store every time you run out of something, you could try making it yourself! Once you know how to make everyday items, you’ll save yourself a lot of trips to the store, reduce your plastic waste, all while saving lots of money.
Creating your own products from scratch is simple. But to make it even easier for you, I’ve round ed up a list of 30 things to stop buying and start making:
How many of these have you tried? What are some things to stop buying and start making that you would recommend?
If you’re wanting more ideas for things to make from scratch, you might want to try this book, The Homemade Pantry. It features 101 recipes that you can try!
Now that Spring is officially here and summer is on the horizon, it’s sandal season! After seemingly endless months of wearing clunky boots and closed-toe shoes with socks, it feels pretty darn good to welcome back strappy, open-toed sandals of all sorts.
Sandal season is my favorite season. I live in flip flops, but I enjoy having one dressy pair of sandals for those occasions that call for something nicer. True to my frugal nature, I look for a deal and get excited with prices that are under $50.
Since you are visiting Simply Frugal, I have a feeling you are just like me and enjoy a bargain. That’s why I have rounded up 15 pairs of affordable spring sandals that are $50 or less in Canada.
I love giving my kids gifts. It brings me so much joy to see their excitement! But you know what I don’t love? Filling our house with more random stuff that gets forgotten not long after.
Do you feel the same?
That’s why I have started asking myself:
“What are my kids going to need later that I can buy now?”
It’s my way of still treating them (and scratching that deal-hunting itch!) without filling our home with unnecessary stuff.
Easter is right on the horizon, so Easter baskets are currently on my mind.
When I think of the question above, I know the weather is changing and getting warmer. So instantly, bathing suits and more seasonally appropriate pajamas come to mind. It’s pretty much guaranteed that they have outgrown their things from last year.
So think through your current family situation. Will you be going to the pool or beach? What about a family vacation? What do they like to do outside? What are their favourite snacks? What about something to do inside on rainy days?
To help get your creative/practical thinking rolling, here are some of my favourite Easter Basket ideas.
My kids always need new bathing suits. Currently my favourite places to get their bathing suits are Old Navy and Gap because of how they fit, but also because they have great sales often. (You know I love a deal.) I really like these one piece rash guard suits because of the built-in UPF sun protection.
Swim goggles are also really useful. My oldest will be getting a new pair of these this year.
Pool toys and bath toys are also a solid choice if your kids will enjoy them. My youngest has been asking for some diving toys, so she’ll be getting this set.
There’s nothing better than sending the kids outside to enjoy some fresh air! It’s even better when they have something fun to fuel their imaginations.
There’s always the classics that need to be replaced such as chalk or bubbles or water guns. But here are some other ideas that are sure to be a hit:
Books (the newest book in their favourite series, a touch & feel book…etc.)
Pajamas
CANDY & SNACKS
No Easter basket is complete without a chocolate bunny or some sort of treat! There are Easter themed candies all over the stores. Grab one or two things you know your kids would like and call it a day.
You could also think outside the box a bit and grab their favourite snacks. Could be things you don’t buy very often that they’ll be excited to receive. Or just things you know they’ll enjoy no matter what. Pringles. Mini bags of chips. Cereal. Ritz crackers and cheese dip. Bear Paws. Goldfish crackers. Apple sauce pouches. Fruit snacks. Bunny Grahams. The ideas are endless.
I hope these Easter basket ideas help you build Easter baskets for your kids that are practical and enjoyable for everyone! Remember though, Easter baskets aren’t mandatory!
Need more Easter Basket ideas? I’ve got more here:
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 an academic planner. Meaning it runs until June 2026. 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!
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 Grow Wild 2026 Monthly Pocket 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.
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.
Staples 2026 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.
High Note Monthly Planner – I love the vibrant colours of this one! It’s even nicely decorated inside. Includes a pocket and monthly goal planning pages.
2026-2028 Monthly Planner – This is a large, three year monthly planner with lots of space to write!
2026 – 2027 Monthly Planner – This monthly planner offers generous monthly boxes without being bulky. Perfect for slipping into bags.
Blue Sky Day Designer 2026 Monthly Planner – If you enjoy seeing everything for the month laid out, this planner looks fantastic! Has some nice extras for goal setting and routine tracking.
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.
Lonely Oak 2026 Planner – This planner is the perfect size for bringing everywhere. Includes Monthly Tabs, Elastic Closure, Inner Pocket, Yearly Overview, Contacts Pages as well as My Vision & Mind Map page.
Rozzby 2026 Weekly Planner – This planner includes monthly tabs, elastic closure, lots of writing space and a section for priorities on the weekly pages.
Valome 2026 Weekly Planner – In many weekly planner, Saturdays and Sundays have only half the space weekdays do. But in this planner, they have the same amount of space!
2026 Weekly Planner – With lots of room for planning, this portable sized planner might be perfect for you!
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.
Moleskine Classic 2026 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 Sophie 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 2026 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.
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!
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!
2026 Weekly Planner – This one is just so classic feeling. Linen cover, simple lines inside, tabbed dividers, pen holder, inner pocket, ribbon bookmark!
The Best Daily Planners
Brownline 2026 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!
2026 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 – This is a premium planner with a price tag to reflect. However, it has so many features that are laid out nicely! The daily calendar view page contains hourly schedule in 1 hour 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. Perfect for the working prfessional.
Poprun 2026 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.
Legend Travel Planner – This travel planner looks fabulous! Includes everything you need to help research and plan all essential aspects of your trips, including your travel budget, accommodation, transportation, things to see, packing list, and more.
The Cleaning Planner – This printable, step by step plan will help take the overwhelm out of cleaning.
Monthly 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?
Below, you’ll find an epic round-up of all the Canadian Boxing Day Deals for 2025! The list will be updated as new deals are discovered. Bookmark this page and enjoy some great savings at your favourite Canadian stores!
Fairweather – Save up to 75% off during the Boxing Week Blowout! Free shipping on orders of $75+.
Gap Canada – Save an extra 50% off markdowns. Use the coupon code BOXING for an extra 10% off and coupon code SALE for an extra 20% off! (ends January 1, 2026)
Garage Clothing – Boxing Week: Save 50% off and more online and in-store at Garage!
Gymboree – The Orange sale: Extra 25% off clearance with coupon code TAKE25.
Hatley Canada – Boxing Week Sale: Save up to 50% off select styles!
Hello Fresh – Use coupon code GENHFPEAKHY to get up To 20 Free Meals + Free Shipping on first box + Free Sides for Life
H&M Canada – Sale up to 60% off online at H&M Canada!
Indigo.ca – Boxing Week: Save up to 50% off books, toys, decor and more! (ends January 1, 2026)
Joe Fresh – Boxing Week: Up to 50% off Clearance! Price as Marked.
Knix – Last sale of the year at Knix! Save up to 60% off Everything! (ends December 28, 2025)
La Senza – Winter sale is online now at La Senza! Save up to 70% off!
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 50% off select styles!
Lululemon – Check out the items that are on sale for Boxing Day!
Mabel’s Labels – Ready to label everything in 2026? Save up to 40% off on select top-selling labels!
Madewell – The Boxing Day event: Enjoy an extra 50% off all sale with the coupon code WINTER. (ends January 6, 2026, 2:59am ET)
Mark’s – Boxing Week Event: Take an extra 25% off Storewide! (ends December 28, 2028)
Mountain Hardware – Save 20% off select styles during the boxing week sale! (ends December 29, 2025)
Mountain Warehouse – Winter Sale Up To 60% Off + Extra 10% Off With Code WINTER10.
Naturalizer – Save up to 65% off sale styles when you take an extra 25% off with coupon code MOREISMORE.
Old Navy Canada – Two days only: Save 50% off all jeans for the family! (ends December 27, 2025) Online Exclusive: Take an Extra 15% off $90+! (ends December 28, 2025)
Partylite – Winter Clearance: Save up to 60% on a selection of items!
Penningtons – Save up to 60% off everything online at Penningtons. (ends January 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET)
Quickbooks– Save 80% on QuickBooks for 8 months when you buy now!
