Groceries in Hamilton keep getting more expensive. Here are some ways to make your dollar go further

With the price of groceries hitting an all-time high, Hamilton shoppers have been faced with difficult decisions at the checkout.

Maybe that's putting back a three-pack of romaine lettuce, which have doubled in price due to issues that come along with a hotter-than-normal growing season in California or not buying eggs, which have become 44 per cent more expensive in the last four years.

A recent Social Planning and Research Council report found that the cost of food in Ontario has surged by nearly 19 per cent since 2018 - outpacing minimum wage increases and stagnant social assistance rates.

And a recent survey published by Dalhousie University's agri-food analytics lab found that around 75 per cent of Canadians have changed how they buy food over the last year.

Despite there being no end in sight for ballooning food costs, there are ways to stretch your dollar while not sacrificing on taste and dietary preferences.

Here are some of the ways Spectator reporter Fallon Hewitt saves money on food, whether that be dining in or eating out.

Too Good To Go

More than 35 restaurants and shops in Hamilton use the Too Good to Go app, which allows businesses to off-load surplus food items for a fraction of the price.

Having launched in the city this past summer, the Danish app - available on both iOS and Android - allows residents to buy extra food left packed as surprise bags" at local stores for one-third of the retail cost.

Customers can purchase the surprise bags on the app and then schedule a time for pick up.

Businesses using the app include No Bones Kitchen in the Hamilton Farmers' Market, several different Pizza Pizza locations, Pasta Mercato on Locke Street South, Vintage Coffee Roasters on King Street East and OKO Bagels on James Street North.

The Ottawa Market, Dundurn Market, and Strathcona Market also offer bags of produce and fresh-made meals through the program.

For example, a surprise bag of prepared food from a Pizza Pizza location in the city costs $6, marked down from the usual price of $18, while a bag of cut-up fruit from Edible Arrangements costs $5, marked down from the typical price of $15.

Tip: Check the app frequently as bags often sellout quickly and are limited in quantity.

Flashfood

Several grocery stores across the city use the Flashfood app, which offers discounts on anything from English muffins and yogurt to produce and prepared foods.

Launched in 2016, the digital marketplace helps connect shoppers to heavily marked down food that is nearing its best-before date, according to their website.

The free app, which is available for download on iOS and Android, lets shoppers find a nearby grocery store that utilizes the program, choose the food items they want and complete their purchase.

Their order can then be picked up from the Flashfood area at the store.

A quick scroll of the app this month showed some steep discounts on products such as packs of boneless stewing beef, originally priced at $21.65 but marked down to $10.82, and mixed produce boxes that included peppers, bananas and kale for $5.

Grocery stores in the Hamilton area taking part in the program include:

• Wholesale Club at 2255 Barton St. E.

• Franco's No Frills at 640 Queenston Rd.

• Giorgio's No Frills at 435 Main St. E.

• Frank's No Frills at 675 Rymal Rd. E.

• Eric's No Frills at 36 Clappison Ave.

Tip: Check the app frequently as products tend to sell quickly and are limited in quantity.

Shopping strategies

Apart from using apps targeting discounted food items, there are several different ways to save money while pushing a cart down the grocery aisle.

Looking for discounted items is a great start. Most stores will have dedicated racks or sections stocked with discounted products. This includes anything from produce, baked goods and meat to beauty and household products.

Price matching can help limit shopping trips and help shoppers find unexpected bargains. Several stores price match in Ontario, including Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, FreshCo, and Giant Tiger - and there are apps, such as Flipp, that make it easier.

Rewards and rebates programs allow you to get money back and earn points while shopping. They include PC Optimum, Checkout51, Caddle, Eclipsa, Ampli and Reebee. Each has their own rules and requirements.

Coupons are another time-honoured way to save. They can often be found online through manufacturers while others are available in store. For online coupons, be sure to check if they can be printed at home or ordered in the mail.

Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com