Skill Testing Question--Which do you choose?:
Two pumpkins: Both are excellent in shape, size, and quality. Both weigh roughly the same amount but one if $3.47 and the other is $6.99.
Which one would you prefer to buy?
I Bet Most Want To Pay Less!!!
But many people don't pay any attention and just shop at the most convenient store without even stopping to think about prices. This #marketfriday and 
Quick Grocery Shop
Today I went to three different places to do some shopping. Nothing major as the house is pretty well stocked but just a few vegetables for beef stew, some milk for breakfast and some quick snacks for the kids to take to school. Here's the thing though....I hate paying more. I could get all those items in one place but guaranteed I'll pay too much.
Today's lineup of stores:
7/11 Convenience Store
Open 24/7 but the prices usually turn me off. However, there are times when its the go to place.
SKT Farm Market
Limited to primarily fruits and vegetables so not a one stop shop. It is also a little bit out of the way. However, they have some good deals on fruits and vegetables so often worth the extra trip.
Real Canadian Superstore
You can pretty much get everything here and the prices are very competitive. For a one stop shop you can pretty much do it all here, however, there are ways to save a few dollars.
7/11 Convenience store
Do I shop here at regular price? Usually not.
However, they are part of the "Too Good To Go" App. Basically when things are one day from expiring they offer them at steep discounts through an app. They don't put the prices on the old product because it would show just how much extra you are paying for the newer product.
I made two orders:
First was "Baked Goods"
Second was "Grocery Essentials"
Unfortunately you don't know what you are getting until you show up to pick the items up. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Today I dropped by and got the two bags.
SKT Market
Now the SKT Market has a lot of different types of fruits and vegetables. Pumpkins and apples are in season so they had a big spot at the entrance to the store.
However, I don't really need those items as I'm making beef stew and what I really need are: Carrots, Mushrooms, and Celery. It also happens that the market has their 3 items for $5 deal. It's an ongoing promotion and probably one of the better deals in town.
I was tempted to buy the Napa Cabbage to make some Kimchi and the corn on the cob looked yummy. But today this was what I got at checkout:
Real Canadian Superstore
All I really needed by the time I got to Superstore was Milk.
But I was weak and I bought some cottage cheese as well
and the self checkout has the shortest line so I did the scanning at the self checkout and got out quickly before I was tempted to buy more.
... and I was tempted to buy a big box of chicken drumsticks. The box doesn't LOOK like anything interesting. I mean look at this packaging:
From the appearance no-one would look twice at it. However, its 5kg of chicken for $18 which is just under $1.70 Cad/lb ($1.39 HBD/lb) which is a really good deal. We have a lot of meat in the freezer though so I let this deal go for now.
Important lesson though. Boxes that look like nothing in the grocery store may be an excellent value so always worth a quick check.
Price Comparison
Why did I buy as I did?
Well look at some price comparisons on these items:
Milk
$8.59 for 4 liters are 7/11 ($6.29 for 2L)
$5.39 for 4l at Superstore or $4.69 for 2L
Why pay $3.29 more for milk at 7/11 doesn't make sense for me.
Then again. Comparing 2L vs 4L at superstore.
$1.35 / liter in large size.
$2.35 / liter for smaller size.
What kind of crazy person pays almost double for milk?
Vegetables
I paid $5 for all three items I needed at SKT Market. But what if I purchased them at Superstore?
Mushrooms $5
Carrots $1.99
Celery $2.00
Net Result:
$5 at SKT Market vs $9 at Superstore.
again
Only a crazy person wants to pay double
Grab and Go Food
Now the kids like to have quick snacks to "Grab and Go" when they are off to school. Muffins and doughnuts work are things they really enjoy. Sandwiches are also something they can quickly eat when they are hungry.
What would Doughnuts or muffins cost at Superstore?
6 Doughnuts would cost $4.29
What did I get from my MYSTERY BAG?
I got 11 muffins and two doughnuts. Now the doughnuts got eaten by hungry teenagers before I could even take the picture. However, I can guarantee that 13 pastries for $ 3.99 is a better deal than 4 for $4.29. Not unhappy with that.
What about the second MYSTERY BAG?
Well, I was hoping to get milk, butter or other grocery items. However, this time I didn't get that. The second grocery bag had this:
6 sandwiches plus some brownies.
All for $4.99
Now I know that to actually make a sandwich costs roughly $2. So 6 sandwiches would be $12 at least. Getting all that for $5 is a steal of a deal. Again, less than half price.
Take home message
I know a lot of people are suffering because of inflation. I personally hate paying more for anything and have looked for every way I can to save some money. I will can vegetables and fruits. I will freezer and preserve food. I will cook at home and make things from scratch.
However, sometimes it is also really important to just make sure not to pay more than I have to on regular everyday items. Paying double for anything just means money wasted.
So for this weeks Market Friday I didn't actually purchase that much as I was focused on keeping the money In My Pocket rather than spending. But when I did have to spend the focus is Why Pay more?
and I think I got a pretty good deal on the items I did.
Thanks for reading.
Until next week (or whenever I get around to making another Market Friday post).
Thanks for reading
and as always I love comments.