It’s become a common reaction these days to see prices at a local supermarket and say, “Oh my goodness”.
We all want to enjoy our favourite snacks and meals while staying within a reasonable budget, but that hasn’t been easy in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
So what are some ways to keep that grocery bill under control?
For campus residents and students, saving money on groceries isn’t just about finding discounts. It requires a combination of strategies and making smart choices about how and where to shop.
Whether comparing prices, adopting budgeting techniques, or even using a dedicated shopping app on your smartphone, there are ways to stretch your precious dollars when shopping for groceries.
Where to Shop: A Price Comparison at UBC
Yes, Vancouver is known for its high cost of living, and groceries are no exception. There have been many attempts to settle a debate that has been going on for years: where should campus residents shop for the cheapest groceries?
For those living on campus and the surrounding areas, choosing the right supermarket can certainly make a difference with your grocery bill, but that’s not always an easy task – as the saying goes, time equals money.
And the stakes are high, as prices can often be starkly different for the same products. In an informal survey, The Campus Resident found that nearly two thirds of community members said they shopped at least once a week and felt that prices varied a lot.
With quite a few choices both on and off campus, we set out to compare prices at 6 stores in the broader campus area. All pricing data was collected on Sunday March 16, and when an identical item wasn’t available, we chose the closest alternative.
Many stores position themselves strategically within the retail grocery sector; whether a discount store focusing on value with generic brands or an upmarket retailer stocking premium products. This diversity is reflected in our findings in the table below, which show some significant price variations.
As our data shows, prices are in line with what would be expected, with a discount supermarket like No Frills offering the cheapest basket of groceries. The data also shows that there are deals out there for those willing to put in the work.
So how to find them?
An increasingly popular money-saving tip is to use a smartphone app to compare prices.
Flipp, available for both Apple and Grocery Shopping on a Budget: Best Prices and Strategies to Save Android phones, is a tool that allows shoppers to compare product prices at different grocery stores as they seek the best deals.
At cooperating stores, including Save-On Foods in Wesbrook Village, a Flipp user can show a cheaper price from a competitor on a particular product and request a price match. Alternatively, they can plan their shopping accordingly to make a few extra stops to pick up the week’s staples and take advantage of cheaper prices elsewhere.
And according to our data in the bar chart to the left, prices and convenience are the two most important factors when grocery shopping.
By taking advantage of digital tools like Flipp, shoppers can plan their grocery trips more efficiently, make informed choices, and save money.
More Smart Grocery Shopping Strategies
One of the simplest, yet most effective ways, to save money is by having a list when shopping.
A well-thought-out grocery list will keep a shopper focused on essentials and prevent those impulse buys that can lead to regrets later on. Pair this with a dedicated meal plan, which not only helps cut down on food waste, but also helps with sticking to a budget.
ELINA HAILAIJIAO IS A STUDENT AT LORD BYNG SECONDARY SCHOOL.
DANIEL VILLAR IS A PROFESSIONAL CHEF AND NEWCOMER TO VANCOUVER. HAVING LIVED AND WORKED IN MANY PLACES, HE’S EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE VIBRANT UBC COMMUNITY AND WESBROOK VILLAGE.