Four out of five Canadians anticipate a further rise in food prices in 2024, as indicated by Dalhousie University’s New Year’s Food Resolution survey.
Consequently, most surveyed shoppers express intentions to modify their food purchasing habits. For instance, 19% of residents in Saskatchewan surveyed stated their intention to reduce expenditure on fresh produce as a means of saving money.
“People are willing to make an extra effort in order to save at the grocery store,” said Sylvain Charelbios, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie. “A lot of people are suffocating because of shelter costs essentially, so they have a lot less money to spend on food.”
Razia Ocampo, a resident of Regina who goes by the ‘YQR Couponbae’ on social media, provides guidance on savvy shopping and offers tips for those aiming to reduce their expenses.
“Don’t hesitate to engage in price matching. Everyone is striving to save money,” she advised. “I aim to educate people on the art of price matching, starting by examining weekly deals and highlighting what’s on sale. If there’s a relevant coupon you possess—whether you discovered it or can print it—I endeavour to align those deals for maximum savings.”
According to the Dalhousie survey, reducing food waste can also positively contribute to effective food management.
Minimizing waste can have a positive impact on managing the food budget, Charlebois said. “You can repurpose food, eat leftovers more often, you can actually be a little more careful with how you manage your food at home.”