Money tip: know thy best prices

It is common, but false, to assume that the best prices in town on groceries will be at Costco or Walmart. If you grocery shop at just these places every week, you are losing out on significant savings. I usually find that the major chain of grocery stores in Ontario (house brand: PC) will have better unit prices on meat, poultry and veg than Costco or Walmart on a given day. Now, I go to stores under three banners in that chain every week so I know that Costco's price is the highest price I might have to pay that week. For example, I regularly find beautiful, boneless skinless chicken breasts at Loblaws for $10-$12 per kilogram versus $14.99, which is the current regular price at Costco. 

Here are examples of the deals that you are likely to find on quality fresh meat and poultry at a Loblaw or Maxi every week - so shop there before Costco and save $$. If you have room in your freezer, buy extra packages when you see extra low prices and save even more.*

Lean ground beef:         $9.99 per kg (Costco, regular price currently) or less!
Absolute best price observed recently: lean ground beef on sale for $8.99 per kg at Costco biz centre (Innes) last week but the package was 5 kg! I find that amount of ground beef (in a tube!) rather daunting, however, so I passed on that deal... 
 
B/S chicken breasts:    $14.99 per kg (Costco, regular price currently) or less!
Absolute best price observed recently: family-sized packages on sale for $9.99 per kg at MacArthur Loblaws a couple of weeks ago

* Caveats: If you don't have freezer space, DO NOT buy more than you can store. Also, you must be able to cook and consume within a couple of months or $$ saved turns into $$ lost.