Food shopping in Abbotsford, BC, Canada (first post here)

in Market Fridaylast year

I've been saving up my Resource credits so I can finally make a post somewhere other than Actifit.

Since shopping for the best deals is something I love doing I thought I would give you a little bit of a photo guide of where to shop for what if you ever come to Abbotsford!

I will start by saying I had big plans to walk to each store. Map my walk on my phone and put a little locator for each store I went to. However, it was raining and grey out so I decided ... nope... I'll drive to each one.

First stop: Bread.

Need to make sandwiches for the week. Where to go for bread? Well, the cheapest bread is at Real Canadian Superstore. But the best deal on the bread I like to eat is actually here:

Dollar Tree. It has the loaf of bread for $1.50. Dollarama is $2.99 and Superstore $3.49 and all the same type of bread. So, I like to pay less where I can.

Unfortunately today wasn't my day :(

They were all sold out. I guess I'll have to get bread elsewhere today.

Next stop was the SKT Market. Why? Because needed apples and they are a good place for fresh produce and always worth checking out. Today I needed apples.

$1.29/lb here vs $2.49/lb at Superstore. However, the real deal here is the 3 for $5 section.

I picked up some beans, beets, and Romaine lettuce. All 3 items for $5 which is a fraction of the cost at the other stores. They also had mushrooms, peppers, carrots, turnips and other stuff in the mix and match bin but didn't need those.

Next up. Time to go get some gas. Now pretty much every station in town is the same price right now at $1.649 per liter. However, I like using the Shell station for three reasons: First: My BCAA membership saves me 3 cents per liter. Second: I can use my AMEX card for about 2% cashback and Third: I can pay with my phone without getting out of the car. Nice bonus on rainy days like today.

Next up my favorite deli in town :

(Image stolen from their website).

This is a German Deli which has lots of different breads, cheeses, meats, candies, and doughnuts. The bread is very expensive. Specialty German imports also expensive. However, they have their discount section which is always worth a good look :

But mostly I was looking for cheese today. Now it isn't the least expensive cheese in town--that goes to Superstore for the Cheddar at $1.10 / 100g, but they have my favorite deli cheeses. Today was Gouda at $1.99/100g which is cheaper than Superstore. I also love the Mild Tilsit cheese when they have it in stock (not today). They also get specialty cheeses in on occassion when they get a good deal. I keep looking for the Port Salut cheese they had once! My favorite cheese (and my dog's as well 😁). Also it doesn't come in often.

And while its surprising but the Windmill Deli is currently the best place to buy chocolate bars.

99 cents for a 100g bar is a really good deal. Plus its a good chocolate 😊😊😊😊 Don't believe its a good deal? Here is the same chocolate bar at Freshco for more than double the price!

Grabbed my cheese and chocolate bars and now its off to the best place in town to buy Onions.

Well, I should say if you need a LOT of onions. $12.49 for a 50lb (23kg) bag of onions! However, they are also a good place to buy bulk beans--

But today I just needed a smaller bag of onions which is still a good deal but not quite as cheap. They also sell spices (especially Indian ones), Rice, fruits and vegetables--all of which can be a good deal but need to price shop on those.

What did I get there? 10lb bag of onions for $3.99 and a few oranges at 99c / lb (couldn't pass up that price because the big stores are way more expensive for oranges).

Of course, sometimes you have to go to the big box stores. Today is no exception. Next up was Real Canadian Superstore.

I forgot to take a picture before I entered the store, silly me, so here is their stock picture from the shopping horizons page:

I wish it was that sunny here today 😑

But inside I went to grab bananas, milk and bread.

They have some of the best quality produce in town but its typically some of the most expensive too. Bananas are the cheapest in town though and their sales can be good.

Big meat and Deli section.

Cheapest oil.

And if I cant get the bread I want to get they have fresh bread from their bakery at 95 cents a loaf which is a fraction of the cost anywhere else in town. Sure its not an excellent loaf but its good enough so that's what I pick up today.

Pretty much any food you want that's available in Canada is found here. From Asian specialty to basic staples. Prices are actually very competitive just able to find better elsewhere if you know where to look.

Getting near the end of my tour through Abbotsford. Only a few more places to mention.

Starting with :

Bulk Barn --

It's actually owned by the same company that owns the Superstore but here everything is pretty much in bulk. Bulk dry goods. Bulk dog treats. Bulk Candies. Bulk spices. I'm sure you get the idea. However, most of the prices aren't that great. IF you just need a small of something pay the extra and just get what you need. However, if it is a staple food and you use a lot then probably better to look elsewhere.

But there are two exceptions that I often buy here...but need to be a smart shopper.

Those two exceptions are : (1) Soy beans and (2) Sesame seeds. Why? Because I can't find large packages of them elsewhere and they are super expensive when purchased in small quantities elsewhere. However, to get the best deal there is a trick 😉

First: Bring your own container on a Sunday to save 15% and

Second: Bring in the coupon from their bi-weekly flyer to save $5 on $20 purchase. Yes they do stack (its even in the fine print).

I didn't need anything today but this is my big stash of soybeans for soy milk

Just make sure to get them to weigh your container first so you don't end up paying more than you should (note the arrow to the weight they marked on the container).

Right beside the Bulk Barn is the Dollarama

But don't be fooled, its not the Dollar Tree! A lot of things in there are $3 or more. Sure there are good deals inside. Birthday Cards and Sim cards for Lucky mobile come to mind but there are many more.

Bought my wife's anniversary card from there but didn't need anything today.

Second to last stop:

Similar in prices to Real Canadian Superstore but typically less selection as its not as large. Their bulk rice and beans section is actually quite good. As is their Indian food selection (Ghee, spices, etc)

Their produce guarantee is also very good too.

If you are looking to buy produce that is out of season and not sure if it will be good quality that's the best time to go to Freshco. If you end up with a freshness dud they give your money back and replace the item. How can you go wrong with that? Other than having to make two trips to the store.

What store is left? Shoppers Drug Mart.

Technically this is a Pharmacy. However I don't usually buy my pharmacy stuff here. I work in a Pharmacy and get a better deal elsewhere at work. However, Shoppers Drug Mart is also owned by the Superstore company (Loblaw) and they have a bunch of grocery items here.

Most of it is more expensive than just buying at Superstore. However, there are a few notable exceptions.

On the weekend they have their 2 day sales. Peanut butter, Coca Cola, and Cookies go on for cheap. This is where I get all my Coca Cola 6x710mL bottles at $2 for $5.49.

I was good on Coca Cola today but my son wanted cookies. and 2 boxes for $5.50 is about as cheap as they get, especially when they took the 25% off haha

However, the hidden gem in Shoppers Drug mart is their electronics section:

That cellphone in the second picture says that the price is $179 for a Samsung A03S BUT if you know how to work the system you can get it for $119 which makes it the cheapest halfway decent phone you can get in Canada....

..... but that's a long enough story to save for another post later.

That's it for my shopping story today.

I will just throw one more image out there.

Save-On-Foods.

I want to love the store but I just can't. The prices are typically higher on just about everything. It is the closest to my house and it is owned by a BC company rather than national corporation (like FreshCo and Superstore) but still... I can't justify paying more.... usually

... the really big bags of oatmeal are the cheapest here and they have a decent floral and wine section so it is worth a check out every now and then.

But not today ...

And that's it.

I know its probably too long but what can I say I'm a sucker for getting the best deal around town

Hope you enjoyed coming along for the trip.

Until next time 😉

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It was interesting indeed following you on your routine to buy necessities. I always take interest in local supermarkets when traveling and this was a kind of a digital travel excursion. Thank you, you went really detailed.

One thing I like to add is that Germans (like me) like to mock others for their bread. Even if it's supposed to be german. Most so called don't have a decent crust and that sour dough taste and therefore do not earn the predicate "german" - but all that is with a twinkling eye ;)

Thanks again for sharing, cheers

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Am amazing trip you took to shopping spree. You showed us in details things available there. Thanks

What a beautiful shopping story

Greetings from dswigle! You must drop your link in the #MarketFriday post here Thank you very much!

Rules of the Road to Join #MarketFriday!

1.Go to any type of market, or anywhere where you pay money for a service. It can be a museum, a movie theatre, or an auction. Be creative!
2.Tell us a little bit about the market or the event. What brought you there? What did you buy? How much did it cost? We like to compare prices, otherwise, it is just pictures of a market!
3.Post the pictures! No out-of-focus ones, please! Tell a little bit about the pictures that you post. Having many pictures to scroll through does not make a better post without explanation.
4.Use the MarketFriday Community Platform to post #hive-196308 (this is not required, but appreciated) If you don't, then #MarketFriday should be your first tag
5.Following me and reblogging the post so more see it would be appreciated !! Not a rule, just appreciated, more vision for more views on your posts!
. 6.You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post.
7.#MarketFriday post should be submitted sometime on Friday UTC
8.The post MUST be in English
9.Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it

#MarketFriday loves you!

My apologies. I just read the rules and broke a few. I didn't post on Friday because I was so happy to finally have enough RC to actually post in something other than Actifit. I still don't know how to drop a link. I did add you as a friend and I'll place your name @dswigle in the body of the next message so you will hopefully see next time. Unfortunately I work every Friday and I shop any day other than that...so I may not get to post again if you are really strict on the Friday posting.

I don't get to shop on Friday either most weeks. I shop whenever it happens and I schedule the post for Friday. It is the only way possible for me. It is not that I am so unbending about the guidelines/rules but, I try to keep them together as close to that as possible.

Dropping the link? I left a word here in that sentence which brings you to the place where you place your post's url. This way, anyone can click on it and it will bring them to your post.

No worries about following the guidelines exactly, it is to help people understand how they can join.

I hope this clears things up for you.

You are quite the expert when it comes to finding deals! Kudos to you! Being money smart is a trait many people do not have, but, we are all learning to develop it as the prices rise. I really like the store that stacks coupons. Most will not, so when I find a deal like that, I use it for all it is worth!

All stores have leader items to get us in the door, especially those weekend specials, but a smart shopper will take those deals and run, as you seem to do. I will admit, most times I do exactly that, but, if I only need one more item and it is more, I might cave and get it there. I try not to do that.

Bread is one of those items that has become super expensive! Everywhere! The bread you got was a screaming deal! I'm impressed!

How long does it take you to do all that kind of shopping? You really do go to a lot of stores. Is that over a period of a week or do you do some on various days? Great post! Thank you for joining the challenge!

#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers' markets, and eventually branched out and evolved over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, and even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact that these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world. Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday

#MarketFriday loves you!

I'm going to try and adhere to the rules of the community but still learning how to do it all.

As for shopping. No. I don't normally hit so many stores in one day, but I wanted to do a trip around my favorite stores so I hit them all up in one day for the sake of making a post.

Even hitting all those stores though it was less than an hour. With good parking, close proximity, and knowing what I'm getting I get in and out in a hurry! I was going to add a 'time is money' portion to the post. I was going to add 'factor in price of fuel to get there' to the post. But in the end I just did an overview of shopping in town and left the rest for the next posts.

Mostly I'm going to post about how to get the best deal around town in my posts. I'm writing because I'm hoping someday my kids will see my posts and learn a thing of two about how to be frugal with their money. My grandmother was a queen of being frugal and I wish she was still around to show me the way....so I leave a trail for the kids who come after me :)

I think you will do fine. I would rather call them guidelines, rules sound so cut and dried. :) Your post was pretty much fine. For a first? It was excellent.

I am shocked! Less than an hour?? You waste no time, for sure! Time is money and factoring in the price of fuel!! I was going to add that!!! I didn't because I thought you might be insulted (this was your post telling me how you do it!) Anyway, great minds think alike!

It would be nice if your kids will see your posts. Make sure you get around to others in the community. You get more activity on your posts when you visit others and comment. It is fun to see what they are doing around the world. My grandmother was frugal too. She could make incredible meals out of a few ingredients!

There are a lot of people on here that are leaving their thoughts for their children. Thank you again for joining the challenge!