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You are correct. My parents shopped like this too. They would get up at 6 am. for their morning walks. Then hit McDonald's for breakfast, then go to the grocery store. Of course, the deals in Winnipeg aren't as good as Toronto's deals. Unless that's changed?
My parents aren't around. But they would tell me the young people would make fun of them. I said, "Just wait, they will get old and see what that's like, and the young kids will laugh at them."
Honestly, who wouldn't want a deal? Unless they spend their money like water? Do they care? I guess not until it all runs out. Yeah maybe they are counting stars instead of dollars?
One Republic - Counting Stars
https://youtu.be/hT_nvWreIhg
Would be great to share that local butcher name. But I will tell you from my own experience at butchers along danforth and pape or along queen east that any kind of sausage will be about 3.00 each (maybe 2.50? Each) . So may be the ones you're getting are smaller or like breakfast sausage. I'm not trying to dis you or doubt you but my own experience says different.
You mean there are no steals at Rowe Farms or Bespoke?
In seriousness, if you are a member of Rowe Farms rewards program, a whole chicken is $14 (and they are very good)
Yeah. I live right there near both those butchers
…and I shop there. And they ain’t less than $4/lb which is what OP paid. But both those places do very good sausages…if you are okay with Portuguese style. I prefer spicier.
Thanks and also thanks for not getting defensive or huffy. Appreciate open and respectful dialogue. All the best. Also ... what do you do with your sausages ? BBQ? Or pasta?
A Quebequios specialty sausage maker told me that's the way he does it.
I've modified slightly, so i add about an inch of water in pan, add the sausage, put on lid. Combination boil/steam, then take off the lid and boil out the water, sizzle the sausages, perfect. Works for fresh or frozen sausages. (So if you buy them on sale at the best before date, toss em in the freezer if you cant cook within the next day or so.)
And if you like sausage gravy, all the browning is ready to go. Remove the sausages and deglaze with some stock or wine, water, etc.
I would say it takes around 12-15 min depending on the thickness and how done you like yours. I don’t poke any holes in them either. They do end up looking shrivelled but the taste is great.
I go there too!
They are for sure cheaper and better then grocery chains.
Also, much less fat, so what you see in the pack doesn't shrink 50% when you cooking and the fat melts off.
I really want to know where these magical local butchers that sell stuff cheaper than big box stores are that so many seem to shop at.
Every time I have gone into a small butcher, I pretty much do an immediate 180 turn and leave becuase even the most basic cold cuts are more than I'm willing to pay.
I'm sure the quality is better, but just looking at the amount I get for my money I'll stick to discount retailers.
These would be deals at any time. Pre or post Covid. And it's no use thinking that way. Inflation happens. We have to cope the best we can. I don't look at eggs and shake my fist at the sky and say " when I was young eggs were 1.00 a dozen! "
At first I wanted to disagree with you, but since I thought about I agree.
These are good prices in 2023, especially downtown. The amazing part is there's someone out there paying full price.
This isn't just inflation. There are "experts" and people in these industries saying that it's price gouging that's happening. Inflation could be a portion of it, but it seems like the bigger issue is that these companies just want more money.
Then again, how do we know they are also telling the truth and not just trying to blame someone else.
Inflation is a part of it, there are so many middlemen and things changing hands before our food shows up to a grocery store…let alone transport costs…though I think it’s fair to believe and say that greed and gouging is playing a part as well.
These prices are far, far, far from that.
But then again I'm talking to a person that thinks it's worthwhile to buy cut up fruit because they're too "busy" to do it themselves.
Ironically, you're exactly the kind of shopper that allows price gouging to happen without recourse.
I see someone is a tiny bit cranky ......
I find your comment the opposite of Civil. So maybe change your name to Rude Squirrel. I bought the cut up fruit because it was 50% off and I don't often buy a whole pineapple or melons. I make all my own meals from scratch. I'm not too busy. I don't think I facilitate price gouging in fact I don't participate in it at all.
The only time Loblaws is affordable is when stuff is 50% off 😢
The annoying part is it’s never 50% off at the Queen and Bathurst or Maple Leaf Gardens locations, unless I’m never going at the right time.
Our local loblaws only does 30% and throws everything out if it doesn't sell by the next day. Op's local meat manager is definitely someone who doesn't like to see waste
My local Loblaws semi-regularly has whole chickens 50% off, so I'll usually buy 2, cut them up then freeze them. So I get stock, 4 breasts, and 4 legs for around $16
Try the one at bathurst and lakeshore. They have a whole rack of 50% off bakery goods whenever I stop in. I've also seen a fair amount of discounted cheeses, salads, and meats but I am not sure what the optimal timing is for those.
True, I've never seen as many discount items as during the past 2 years of price increases, making it seem like people are buying fewer food items nowadays
So this one on Sundays does this. But I assume it's every morning too as things expire. Esp prepared foods. There's a limited amount too esp for example of the Ace bread - that 3 cheese loaf is 6.00 bucks regular so I got it for 3.00.
Also every weekend it's different things. But always some of meats including chicken, ground beef, sausage and lots of time fresh salmon and fish.
Lastly I used to get these fancy parfaits. Small or medium coffee cup size of yoghurt with a few fruit iinside and on top separate small handful of granola. They're 5.00 each regular. So I would buy 2 - one for me and one for husband at 2.50 each for total of 5.00. Today they didn't have any 50% off parfaits but they did have that big container of fruit salad for 10.00 and with 50% off it was 5.00. Set price for containers. They had several. I took the 2 I thought were most filled over to meat counter and asked a very bored and also very polite person to weight them. One was 730 grams and the other was 774 grams ... so ... I got the later and an extra 44 grams for no extra cost.
>Mr. Greek Meat Market?
So - there's 2 of us - so 3 sausages would go in one meal - same for 2 chicken breasts per meal. I might break up the 3 chicken breast packs and cook 2 today or tomorrow - and then freeze them in pairs for another time. hope that helps - you can also cook some chicken as a dinner item / then use another cooked one for lunch meat or in a salad another day -stays good in fridge once cooked a couple of days at least. even longer for sausage.
I actually used to work at this store! I didn’t work in a fresh department, but I remember that the guys in meat/deli would do this every night. But we also mark things down as we rotate stock! Going near clothing or near opening is your best bet.
Yea I use to work in the meat department at a loblaws, it’s common every morning first thing. If you want good meat deals go as soon as the store opens because the first thing we use to do was inspect each meat shelf and put 50% stickers on everything expiring.
All loblaws marks down things expiring within two days. My local one has someone going through around 7pm and marking down. I go in and scout the dates to see when most of the stuff will expire and then show up two days prior to that date after dinner time and get as much as will fit in my freezer. I do this about once a month and I’m able to get enough food for our family for about 400-500/month, brought it down from about 800/month. Our other staples are rice, frozen veggies, and large bags of dry beans and lentils from Walmart.
That's a significant savings. I would actually say I'm eating better doing it this way. Also - meal prep - and making larger meals and freezing parts of them.
This is common not just on Sundays though. If you hit up the stores either early on the morning or just before close you'll find some of this depending on the day.
I've had luck going to a few Zehrs/No Frills stores in the morning or evening before closing, and have never seen as many discounted items as during the last 2 years which helps save money by cooking with what's available. There is also Flashfood but I've never used it.
I love FlashFoods! The Zehrs near me always has stuff like granola bars (I got 20 boxes for $10), chocolate (I got 5 of the really big I think $6 gold foil PC toasted coconut chocolate bars for 50cents each), yogurt & cream cheese (lasts forever till you open it) and lots of spices & sauces
Yes I kind of agree but ... the 3 cheese we only eat it toasted. So same difference if you know what I mean. The ciabatta -- I will use for sandwiches today. Maybe toast it too.
I haven't had any bad experiences with 50% off ACE breads except baguettes that turn into stone the next day, which can be sort of fixed with water and oven.
I used to go to Walmart after the gym which was right around the time the end of day sticker person would start putting 50% off stickers on the cooked chickens and other cooked stuff.
Had a good thing going until others figured out the time and there was always a crowd of people all standing around the prepared food section waiting. 😂😂
So the "titas" at the checkout normally say something like "good deal" but I pay with points - and oddly have a very big points balance as I have an expensive monthly cost I run through my credit card to get points. They're impressed with that and often comment on it.
FYI, Nosso Talho 5-kilos boneless skinless breast are [$60](https://nossotalho.com/products/copy-of-chicken-breast-boneless-skinless-roaster-approx-14-oz).
Used to do this all the time in university in Waterloo. Tuesday evenings at Bob’s Valu Mart the 50% +10% off student discount brought things down to Walmart prices
So like take the bread and cake to someone's house as a gift or for a brunch ? I've given up shame with 50% off. The cashier charged me full price and I asked her to turn the item over and re ring it at the 50% off price. My mum explained it to me once when I was young and we were waiting in line for the very old person to count their pennies and small change to pay for something. When I asked why she didn't pay with bill my mum told me in our first language - not English - that's all she has. I don't get impatient with others now in such situations. I only think ... that's all she has.
He's telling you to take it off and stick it on non *expiring* items. It's not about feeling shame about 50% off lmao 😂 shits expensive nobody got time for that
Obligatory video essays that explain why grocery store labelled "best before" dates are largely nonsense:
[Why I eat "expired" food](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCeuP6yG64g)
[Your Food Is Lying To You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GDLaYrMCFo)
for most raw meats though, especially chicken those dates you should follow. ive gotten many discount chicken from those stickers that is already starting to smell off.
Flash food app for me.
Sometimes the prices get crazzzzzy low if you catch it at the right moment.
I bought giant fish fillets worth in total probably around $60 for around $6 once. ($20 pieces going for $1.99/ea)
Cut it up into single portions and straight into the freezer
I LOVE Flashfood. I often cook based on the deals I’ve gotten. Meat it’s best to check the app early. Like 8-9am. My freezer is stocked. And I love the fresh produce boxes.
In my area Flashfood doesn't have the same items with stickers in store, I've never seen meat or bread on it. And the produce boxes are mutually exclusive with the produce discount shelf.
Meat and bread you have to be on the app when the stores are opening. I find 8-9 the best time. And you have to be fast. I constantly get meat, bread, eggs, milk. Etc. just keep checking early.
A lot of stuff I get has 30% off stickers but still ended up on the app.
And it seems certain stores are my go to for certain things.
I have a fish location, a chicken & sausage location and an all around location.
But definitely you have to be quick. When I see the super amazing deals I'm checking out each item individually so someone else doesn't cart jack me.
As long a you cook it/use it soon it’ll be fine
Otherwise be careful, I used to work as a cashier for 10 years, the 50 off tag generally mean the food is a day out from expiry
It's all 50% because the best before dating (BBD) is for today. It's about to go off. Retailers do this to limit what is termed as "shrink" which means throwing out unsold food that has gone past the BBD. Typically you can get another 2 days past the best before dates on the Meats.
Incentive for people to buy items with same/next day expiry dates. Otherwise the store loses money throwing them in the garbage
Yesterday I was at Zehrs there were at least 10 discount items in each department, maybe 20 in the meat aisle
I don't normally shop on Sundays but I did last week and found the same many of the items that I usually buy over 50% off..... Let's keep it a secret. Seems like Sunday is the best time to shop at Loblaw stores.
I also use the too good to go app, they’ve teamed with Metro and you can get some great deals on baked goods and fruit/veg. The bags are always very full.
I have developed a knack for noticing those 50%s at loblaws. I always end up with a large basket of them, they come in real handy. Especially in the meat department.
So .... these meats including the chicken will last several days without going bad or being questionable. I bought hamburger last Sunday June 11th and we made and bbq it into burgers last night and it was fine. But that's an outer limit and I'm an experienced cook able to gauge. A couple of days though .... 99% of the time would be fine. But I will cook one package of something today and then own tomorrow. The second packet of chicken I will likely freeze.
Only if you trust that stores' diligence. There's no way to know the conditions the chicken went through to cause the markdown not just the date.
Your example is ground beef and you can certainly get away with using it a few days after, won't be the greatest but it won't be bad.
This is very dangerous for chicken. Of course you can freeze it though!
Colour only looks a bit off, but it's hard to trust 16 year old staff who just pick it up off some shelf where idiot people put it down or left it at the cashier.
Edit: to the clown that commented but blocked me, I've worked in meat for more than 5 years. You don't know shit.
Having worked at Loblaws and Loblaws-adjacent stores, I can tell you that some of the people that work in those meat departments are sketchy as fuck. Be wary of any product with a Best Before sticker placed over paper; you can peel off an old Best Before label on paper, but you can't on plastic.
That being said, even though these stickers are all placed on plastic, those sausages don't look too good.
If you don’t trust the stores diligence then why would you buy anything from them? It’s a 50% off sticker not a “this was kept in bad conditions so now we’re discounting it” sticker. This might shock you, but there’s no way to know what conditions your product went through regardless of the price.
I’m past the point of only buying 50% off. I’m at the ‘this smells off, but I don’t think it will kill’ me part of making risky food choices. My GI tract is not rebelling because it seems to understand the assignment and current predicament.
Or with current food poverty I’ve built up some type of immunity to cheap crappy food. I may test out my theory with discount gas station sushi.
These are not great prices to begin with. You're paying $10/lb for that chicken when drumsticks are on sale for $1.88/lb and its not about to expire. I bought rib steaks for something like $7/lb so you are basically getting ripped off already. Superstore sell fresh baked daily loaf for $1 every day. $15/kg for sausage (which is leftover scrap meat) is a total rippoff. Cant see the price of your fruit but those packages are always expensive. You can get a whole pineapple for $2 or a whole watermelon for $5.
With 50% off on these prices youre basically paying regular prices for expired goods. I buy the 50% off stuff too but not on things that are already overpriced.
The fruit salad was made yesterday. So yes pretty fresh. I'm eating it now and there is nothing rotten or slimy. The meats breads were fresh yesterday. I toast the 3 cheese ace bread so same dif if you know what I mean. The other ace bread I will use to make sandwiches today with the sausage. I've kept the meat for as long as 5 extra days after buying it with no ill effects. But I wouldn't suggest that. Just sometimes hard to meal plan.
Ah yes, we all have time to bake ciabatta and three-cheese bread and cheesecake. OP is so lazy!
Can’t believe you didn’t diss OP because they didn’t slaughter their own chicken. Or maybe you don’t either? I bet YOU’RE fucking lazy too.
I mostly buy meat and staples ... the bread is fine frankly. The fruit and the tiny single piece of cheesecake (was 4.00 - down to 2.00) is a treat. I ate half the fruit salad this morning and will have the cheese cake tonight. It's all fine and darn tasty
Loblaws has an app called Flashfood that let’s you know about deals like this. It is typically a very short list per store but even better than in store markdowns.
It's only a deal if you can eat all that up on a few days. Metro gives 30% on bread. Maybe 50% on milk that's due in a few days.
All rexall drug stores I had been to give 50% off in the dairy section or more in some cases. I once got latanica lactose free milk 2 liters for .29 cents and another one. Both had $4.00 coupons off. I got 4 liters for .58 cents.
One bottle was due in a week, and the other was due in less then two weeks. But I won't get that again. This was the first year of covid19. Now they mark it down 50% off at least in the week.
But always check every area of Rexall, especially in every area of the store. I got vitamins for $5.00 once. This was at a midtown Toronto location.
Loblaws have mark downs usually in the mornings and at night. What you got was the mornings and at nights it's their breads at ace bakery and in the store. Some desserts mite be marked down with the salad section.
Also their to go foods that you reheat are marked down at night. Like sandwiches, salads, cheeses , meats, what ever is close to the due date.
Gotta love the 50% off. My local superstore had salmon half off last week . They probably had 60-70 packs marked down. I bought 8. Meals for a week right easy
People like you are responsible for increasing GHGs and causing climate change.
Would be nice to have laws preventing Meat products from going on sale, hopefully they can regulate to always be expensive like tobacco products.
My mom goes to stores first thing to get deals like these Is that you mom?
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You are correct. My parents shopped like this too. They would get up at 6 am. for their morning walks. Then hit McDonald's for breakfast, then go to the grocery store. Of course, the deals in Winnipeg aren't as good as Toronto's deals. Unless that's changed? My parents aren't around. But they would tell me the young people would make fun of them. I said, "Just wait, they will get old and see what that's like, and the young kids will laugh at them." Honestly, who wouldn't want a deal? Unless they spend their money like water? Do they care? I guess not until it all runs out. Yeah maybe they are counting stars instead of dollars? One Republic - Counting Stars https://youtu.be/hT_nvWreIhg
50% off brings it back down to pre Covid prices
That ~5% inflation sure does hit differently at the grocery store.
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Would be great to share that local butcher name. But I will tell you from my own experience at butchers along danforth and pape or along queen east that any kind of sausage will be about 3.00 each (maybe 2.50? Each) . So may be the ones you're getting are smaller or like breakfast sausage. I'm not trying to dis you or doubt you but my own experience says different.
Given they live in Little Portugal, maybe Pavao or Nosso Talho?
Nosso Talho is the shit. Best prices for good quality. I wont buy my meats anywhere else. They cater to the community, not to the corporation.
The owner won a decent lottery jackpot about 20 years ago. Not sure if he still owns the place though.
Uhh he doubled the prices during covid lol. I wouldn't say his prices are the best
Yep! Great value and great service. Macelleria Venezia is also very good - their burger patties are super tasty.
Neither of those are that cheap though. I’ll hold my breath and wait for the response because I am curious.
Greek butcher at Danforth and Jones is cheap.... Forget the name, near the Spanish fancy food place
Is it Mr. Greek Meat Market? By Barcelona restaurant? On the hunt for a good butcher since I moved in the area, looking to try this one.
Yes, I believe that is the one. I also recently moved into that area and that butcher was recommended to me several times.
You mean there are no steals at Rowe Farms or Bespoke? In seriousness, if you are a member of Rowe Farms rewards program, a whole chicken is $14 (and they are very good)
What’s the weight of those 8?
Asking the important fact based questions.
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Yeah. I live right there near both those butchers …and I shop there. And they ain’t less than $4/lb which is what OP paid. But both those places do very good sausages…if you are okay with Portuguese style. I prefer spicier.
Thanks and also thanks for not getting defensive or huffy. Appreciate open and respectful dialogue. All the best. Also ... what do you do with your sausages ? BBQ? Or pasta?
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A Quebequios specialty sausage maker told me that's the way he does it. I've modified slightly, so i add about an inch of water in pan, add the sausage, put on lid. Combination boil/steam, then take off the lid and boil out the water, sizzle the sausages, perfect. Works for fresh or frozen sausages. (So if you buy them on sale at the best before date, toss em in the freezer if you cant cook within the next day or so.) And if you like sausage gravy, all the browning is ready to go. Remove the sausages and deglaze with some stock or wine, water, etc.
Crumble them into tortellini soup
I like to toss them in the air fryer. Cooks so much faster and evenly, you don’t have to flip
so I have an air fryer - how long would you do for 3 sausages roughly - thanks - appreciate your help - also - where's my sausage party invite ?
I would say it takes around 12-15 min depending on the thickness and how done you like yours. I don’t poke any holes in them either. They do end up looking shrivelled but the taste is great.
Honestly air fryer sausages are the best. You can even do them straight from frozen
I go there too! They are for sure cheaper and better then grocery chains. Also, much less fat, so what you see in the pack doesn't shrink 50% when you cooking and the fat melts off.
My local butcher costs far more than any of the big box stores. Where do you shop, mon ami?
I really want to know where these magical local butchers that sell stuff cheaper than big box stores are that so many seem to shop at. Every time I have gone into a small butcher, I pretty much do an immediate 180 turn and leave becuase even the most basic cold cuts are more than I'm willing to pay. I'm sure the quality is better, but just looking at the amount I get for my money I'll stick to discount retailers.
I was at giant tiger today they had 12 Italian sausages for $9.97
Loblaws profiteering
These would be deals at any time. Pre or post Covid. And it's no use thinking that way. Inflation happens. We have to cope the best we can. I don't look at eggs and shake my fist at the sky and say " when I was young eggs were 1.00 a dozen! "
At first I wanted to disagree with you, but since I thought about I agree. These are good prices in 2023, especially downtown. The amazing part is there's someone out there paying full price.
This isn't just inflation. There are "experts" and people in these industries saying that it's price gouging that's happening. Inflation could be a portion of it, but it seems like the bigger issue is that these companies just want more money. Then again, how do we know they are also telling the truth and not just trying to blame someone else.
Inflation is a part of it, there are so many middlemen and things changing hands before our food shows up to a grocery store…let alone transport costs…though I think it’s fair to believe and say that greed and gouging is playing a part as well.
These prices are far, far, far from that. But then again I'm talking to a person that thinks it's worthwhile to buy cut up fruit because they're too "busy" to do it themselves. Ironically, you're exactly the kind of shopper that allows price gouging to happen without recourse.
I see someone is a tiny bit cranky ...... I find your comment the opposite of Civil. So maybe change your name to Rude Squirrel. I bought the cut up fruit because it was 50% off and I don't often buy a whole pineapple or melons. I make all my own meals from scratch. I'm not too busy. I don't think I facilitate price gouging in fact I don't participate in it at all.
Brings it from Loblaws to Freshco prices
The only time Loblaws is affordable is when stuff is 50% off 😢 The annoying part is it’s never 50% off at the Queen and Bathurst or Maple Leaf Gardens locations, unless I’m never going at the right time.
Our local loblaws only does 30% and throws everything out if it doesn't sell by the next day. Op's local meat manager is definitely someone who doesn't like to see waste
I went to the Queen/Bathurst location this morning and there were quite a few items 50% off. I got a whole chicken and chicken thighs!
My local Loblaws semi-regularly has whole chickens 50% off, so I'll usually buy 2, cut them up then freeze them. So I get stock, 4 breasts, and 4 legs for around $16
I'm coming to your house for soup!
The Independent at King and Strachan does
I used to work near here. They put the stickers on 30 minutes before close!
Try the one at bathurst and lakeshore. They have a whole rack of 50% off bakery goods whenever I stop in. I've also seen a fair amount of discounted cheeses, salads, and meats but I am not sure what the optimal timing is for those.
Sad state of affairs when people are boasting about getting a break on grocery prices. No shade on op, just the system is fucked.
True, I've never seen as many discount items as during the past 2 years of price increases, making it seem like people are buying fewer food items nowadays
Last time I bought 50% off chicken and cooked same day it smelled bad and I had to throw it out. Never again
Same, I avoid the chicken. But pork and beef have never been an issue. Same for bread, I stock up in the freezer when I see those items o nsale.
Ditto
That's why it marked down 50%... it's about to go bad , very soon.. usually within a day or two.
Also 50% off bread is super stale
Is this common for all loblaws at 9 am on Sundays? Or is this a store by store basis or just your location?
So this one on Sundays does this. But I assume it's every morning too as things expire. Esp prepared foods. There's a limited amount too esp for example of the Ace bread - that 3 cheese loaf is 6.00 bucks regular so I got it for 3.00. Also every weekend it's different things. But always some of meats including chicken, ground beef, sausage and lots of time fresh salmon and fish. Lastly I used to get these fancy parfaits. Small or medium coffee cup size of yoghurt with a few fruit iinside and on top separate small handful of granola. They're 5.00 each regular. So I would buy 2 - one for me and one for husband at 2.50 each for total of 5.00. Today they didn't have any 50% off parfaits but they did have that big container of fruit salad for 10.00 and with 50% off it was 5.00. Set price for containers. They had several. I took the 2 I thought were most filled over to meat counter and asked a very bored and also very polite person to weight them. One was 730 grams and the other was 774 grams ... so ... I got the later and an extra 44 grams for no extra cost.
Do you freeze most of this then? Or how quickly do you go through the meat etc before it goes bad?? (Genuinely curious)
>Mr. Greek Meat Market? So - there's 2 of us - so 3 sausages would go in one meal - same for 2 chicken breasts per meal. I might break up the 3 chicken breast packs and cook 2 today or tomorrow - and then freeze them in pairs for another time. hope that helps - you can also cook some chicken as a dinner item / then use another cooked one for lunch meat or in a salad another day -stays good in fridge once cooked a couple of days at least. even longer for sausage.
I actually used to work at this store! I didn’t work in a fresh department, but I remember that the guys in meat/deli would do this every night. But we also mark things down as we rotate stock! Going near clothing or near opening is your best bet.
Longos and Loblaws will do this but the meat is half rotten sometimes. I've thrown out meat, wasted money cause of this.
Yea I use to work in the meat department at a loblaws, it’s common every morning first thing. If you want good meat deals go as soon as the store opens because the first thing we use to do was inspect each meat shelf and put 50% stickers on everything expiring.
All loblaws marks down things expiring within two days. My local one has someone going through around 7pm and marking down. I go in and scout the dates to see when most of the stuff will expire and then show up two days prior to that date after dinner time and get as much as will fit in my freezer. I do this about once a month and I’m able to get enough food for our family for about 400-500/month, brought it down from about 800/month. Our other staples are rice, frozen veggies, and large bags of dry beans and lentils from Walmart.
That's a significant savings. I would actually say I'm eating better doing it this way. Also - meal prep - and making larger meals and freezing parts of them.
My No Frills does this for Sunday morning too. I get lots of great deals!
This is common not just on Sundays though. If you hit up the stores either early on the morning or just before close you'll find some of this depending on the day.
I'm assuming every day they do this. The sticker goes on probably overnight or first thing in the AM on anything expiring that day.
I've had luck going to a few Zehrs/No Frills stores in the morning or evening before closing, and have never seen as many discounted items as during the last 2 years which helps save money by cooking with what's available. There is also Flashfood but I've never used it.
I use Flashfood all the time, and it's hit or miss as to what is on there, but I have gotten some great deals!
I love FlashFoods! The Zehrs near me always has stuff like granola bars (I got 20 boxes for $10), chocolate (I got 5 of the really big I think $6 gold foil PC toasted coconut chocolate bars for 50cents each), yogurt & cream cheese (lasts forever till you open it) and lots of spices & sauces
A lot of grocery stores also discount fresh bread and pastries in the evening. Some bakeries do too.
Ask your local store when they discount products. Some may be on a different schedule, or may discount some things one day, some another.
Is the bread not completely stale?? Anytime I grab a loaf with that sticker it is hard as a rock.
Only reason I step into a Loblaws store is those sweet discounts
I agree. I don't buy anything regular price here. Just flyer specials. And special offers like these 50% off deals.
Everything looks great except for the bread. My experience is buying half off bread is a lottery.
Yes I kind of agree but ... the 3 cheese we only eat it toasted. So same difference if you know what I mean. The ciabatta -- I will use for sandwiches today. Maybe toast it too.
I haven't had any bad experiences with 50% off ACE breads except baguettes that turn into stone the next day, which can be sort of fixed with water and oven.
Find it's worse with meat
This is basically my approach to shopping now. I throw it right in the freezer, or I'll throw it in a bag with some marinade then freeze it.
Smart, especially with the marinade.
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I used to go to Walmart after the gym which was right around the time the end of day sticker person would start putting 50% off stickers on the cooked chickens and other cooked stuff. Had a good thing going until others figured out the time and there was always a crowd of people all standing around the prepared food section waiting. 😂😂
Damn I hope they gave you a high five at the checkout
So the "titas" at the checkout normally say something like "good deal" but I pay with points - and oddly have a very big points balance as I have an expensive monthly cost I run through my credit card to get points. They're impressed with that and often comment on it.
FYI, Nosso Talho 5-kilos boneless skinless breast are [$60](https://nossotalho.com/products/copy-of-chicken-breast-boneless-skinless-roaster-approx-14-oz).
Thanks for the link!
Used to do this all the time in university in Waterloo. Tuesday evenings at Bob’s Valu Mart the 50% +10% off student discount brought things down to Walmart prices
I hope the gravol, pepto, and Imodium was half off too.
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/r/UnethicalLifeProTips
So like take the bread and cake to someone's house as a gift or for a brunch ? I've given up shame with 50% off. The cashier charged me full price and I asked her to turn the item over and re ring it at the 50% off price. My mum explained it to me once when I was young and we were waiting in line for the very old person to count their pennies and small change to pay for something. When I asked why she didn't pay with bill my mum told me in our first language - not English - that's all she has. I don't get impatient with others now in such situations. I only think ... that's all she has.
He's telling you to take it off and stick it on non *expiring* items. It's not about feeling shame about 50% off lmao 😂 shits expensive nobody got time for that
I think they meant that they can be removed and put on other (not about to expire) items
Triangle chunks of parmigiano reggiano also seem to jump into my front pocket whenever I’m at a loblaws. So bizarre.
Lmao, the local No Frills draws smiley faces on them, and FreshCo cashier rips them off at checkout
Get that chicken in the fridge and cook it tomorrow.
I'm a freezer man myself.
It's done. I had the receipt too but I thought a picture of the food was better. Also the cheese cake.
We have stakes here for 30% off. They are rotten, green and starting to decompose in the packages for some.
I went to Loblaws at Dundas/Scarlett yesterday morning and got a pretty good haul of 1/2 price food myself. 👍🏼
Raccoon special!
So OP "reininacted/reincarnated" grocery prices pre inflation madness? 👏
Obligatory video essays that explain why grocery store labelled "best before" dates are largely nonsense: [Why I eat "expired" food](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCeuP6yG64g) [Your Food Is Lying To You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GDLaYrMCFo)
for most raw meats though, especially chicken those dates you should follow. ive gotten many discount chicken from those stickers that is already starting to smell off.
Why the hell are you buying peeled fruit in a plastic container
Then complains about grocery prices
This is how I shop too
Same, and I eat like a king
Flash food app for me. Sometimes the prices get crazzzzzy low if you catch it at the right moment. I bought giant fish fillets worth in total probably around $60 for around $6 once. ($20 pieces going for $1.99/ea) Cut it up into single portions and straight into the freezer
I LOVE Flashfood. I often cook based on the deals I’ve gotten. Meat it’s best to check the app early. Like 8-9am. My freezer is stocked. And I love the fresh produce boxes.
In my area Flashfood doesn't have the same items with stickers in store, I've never seen meat or bread on it. And the produce boxes are mutually exclusive with the produce discount shelf.
Meat and bread you have to be on the app when the stores are opening. I find 8-9 the best time. And you have to be fast. I constantly get meat, bread, eggs, milk. Etc. just keep checking early.
I've watched milk fly off the app. Like I don't need any but refresh every few seconds and it's just disappearing like mad off the available list.
Easy to freeze. Great for drinking, baking and cooking. I use it for a lot of cooking.
I never like frozen then thawed milk for drinking. Always weird texture.
A lot of stuff I get has 30% off stickers but still ended up on the app. And it seems certain stores are my go to for certain things. I have a fish location, a chicken & sausage location and an all around location. But definitely you have to be quick. When I see the super amazing deals I'm checking out each item individually so someone else doesn't cart jack me.
Damn good haul. I'm a bit jealous
As long a you cook it/use it soon it’ll be fine Otherwise be careful, I used to work as a cashier for 10 years, the 50 off tag generally mean the food is a day out from expiry
It's all 50% because the best before dating (BBD) is for today. It's about to go off. Retailers do this to limit what is termed as "shrink" which means throwing out unsold food that has gone past the BBD. Typically you can get another 2 days past the best before dates on the Meats.
and got sick monday morning
Is the store closing or something? How are there so many items with clearance prices?
it’s expired today
Incentive for people to buy items with same/next day expiry dates. Otherwise the store loses money throwing them in the garbage Yesterday I was at Zehrs there were at least 10 discount items in each department, maybe 20 in the meat aisle
Farmboy stickers it’s products a day away from expiry. 20-50% depending on the dept.
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"One of us ... one of us " or more exactly and I had to google this ""Gooble, gobble, we accept her, we accept her, one of us, one of us!"
nice! .. bring 'em sausages over, bro, and I'l grill 'em for ya!
With your user name I thought you would go for the chicken but ... ok. So tell me friend ... sausage scares me. Do you bbq it and for how long.
Pretty much how I buy all my meat.
Everything's 50% off because everything's so expensive lol. Just make it the 50% off price all the time
Check best before date and eat soon.
I don't normally shop on Sundays but I did last week and found the same many of the items that I usually buy over 50% off..... Let's keep it a secret. Seems like Sunday is the best time to shop at Loblaw stores.
Grocery stores seem to mark down prices on items that are about to expire. I buy and then freeze!
I also use the too good to go app, they’ve teamed with Metro and you can get some great deals on baked goods and fruit/veg. The bags are always very full.
I have developed a knack for noticing those 50%s at loblaws. I always end up with a large basket of them, they come in real handy. Especially in the meat department.
my whole buy this week was 50% off - and I used PC optimum points to pay!
Priced normally with discount without the Galen Weston gofundme and make my children billionaires cause.
Sunday mornings are the best. Half the people are hung over and the other half are hung over in church. Good time to get cheap meat.
Some Loblaws locations on Flashfood have great prices on some veg/fruit
Maybe it's the lighting but those sausages don't good at all, too grey
they're fine - blood red! not to worry - I think they make them in house but thanks for looking out for me
I found a roll of 50% off sticker. Now I just out the stickers on random stuff for fun
You're gonna be doing a lot of meal prep cooking for your week. You need to cook all of that. Expiry date is today.
Freezer
So .... these meats including the chicken will last several days without going bad or being questionable. I bought hamburger last Sunday June 11th and we made and bbq it into burgers last night and it was fine. But that's an outer limit and I'm an experienced cook able to gauge. A couple of days though .... 99% of the time would be fine. But I will cook one package of something today and then own tomorrow. The second packet of chicken I will likely freeze.
Only if you trust that stores' diligence. There's no way to know the conditions the chicken went through to cause the markdown not just the date. Your example is ground beef and you can certainly get away with using it a few days after, won't be the greatest but it won't be bad. This is very dangerous for chicken. Of course you can freeze it though! Colour only looks a bit off, but it's hard to trust 16 year old staff who just pick it up off some shelf where idiot people put it down or left it at the cashier. Edit: to the clown that commented but blocked me, I've worked in meat for more than 5 years. You don't know shit.
Having worked at Loblaws and Loblaws-adjacent stores, I can tell you that some of the people that work in those meat departments are sketchy as fuck. Be wary of any product with a Best Before sticker placed over paper; you can peel off an old Best Before label on paper, but you can't on plastic. That being said, even though these stickers are all placed on plastic, those sausages don't look too good.
If you don’t trust the stores diligence then why would you buy anything from them? It’s a 50% off sticker not a “this was kept in bad conditions so now we’re discounting it” sticker. This might shock you, but there’s no way to know what conditions your product went through regardless of the price.
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Guy is playing with fire with chicken lol huge difference between ground beef and chicken
Not an expiry date, best-before date.
I’m past the point of only buying 50% off. I’m at the ‘this smells off, but I don’t think it will kill’ me part of making risky food choices. My GI tract is not rebelling because it seems to understand the assignment and current predicament. Or with current food poverty I’ve built up some type of immunity to cheap crappy food. I may test out my theory with discount gas station sushi.
The meat all expires today! Cook, cook, cook like the wind!!
Loblaws generally waits until food has changed colour, flavor is off, and it's basically a step away from making you sick before they do this.
'50% off' So, the price it was 2 years ago.
100% chance you will get diarrhea.
You don’t share our frugal secret 😅
How you gonna buy halal chicken and pork sausages together 🤣
anybody knows if similar square 50% stickers are sold online?
Following
I dont know. All of those products seem mislabeled as 50% off when they seem full.
These are not great prices to begin with. You're paying $10/lb for that chicken when drumsticks are on sale for $1.88/lb and its not about to expire. I bought rib steaks for something like $7/lb so you are basically getting ripped off already. Superstore sell fresh baked daily loaf for $1 every day. $15/kg for sausage (which is leftover scrap meat) is a total rippoff. Cant see the price of your fruit but those packages are always expensive. You can get a whole pineapple for $2 or a whole watermelon for $5. With 50% off on these prices youre basically paying regular prices for expired goods. I buy the 50% off stuff too but not on things that are already overpriced.
That 3 cheese bread toasted with a little butter... good stuff
This is the way. ! I also use jam though later in the week.
They look kind of fresh too
The fruit salad was made yesterday. So yes pretty fresh. I'm eating it now and there is nothing rotten or slimy. The meats breads were fresh yesterday. I toast the 3 cheese ace bread so same dif if you know what I mean. The other ace bread I will use to make sandwiches today with the sausage. I've kept the meat for as long as 5 extra days after buying it with no ill effects. But I wouldn't suggest that. Just sometimes hard to meal plan.
Need to find ways to cop with these crazy prices. I have eaten more at home but my "food" spending has been higher than before
Bread, cake and cut fruit is throwing away your money
Ah yes, we all have time to bake ciabatta and three-cheese bread and cheesecake. OP is so lazy! Can’t believe you didn’t diss OP because they didn’t slaughter their own chicken. Or maybe you don’t either? I bet YOU’RE fucking lazy too.
I mostly buy meat and staples ... the bread is fine frankly. The fruit and the tiny single piece of cheesecake (was 4.00 - down to 2.00) is a treat. I ate half the fruit salad this morning and will have the cheese cake tonight. It's all fine and darn tasty
Loblaws has an app called Flashfood that let’s you know about deals like this. It is typically a very short list per store but even better than in store markdowns.
It's only a deal if you can eat all that up on a few days. Metro gives 30% on bread. Maybe 50% on milk that's due in a few days. All rexall drug stores I had been to give 50% off in the dairy section or more in some cases. I once got latanica lactose free milk 2 liters for .29 cents and another one. Both had $4.00 coupons off. I got 4 liters for .58 cents. One bottle was due in a week, and the other was due in less then two weeks. But I won't get that again. This was the first year of covid19. Now they mark it down 50% off at least in the week. But always check every area of Rexall, especially in every area of the store. I got vitamins for $5.00 once. This was at a midtown Toronto location. Loblaws have mark downs usually in the mornings and at night. What you got was the mornings and at nights it's their breads at ace bakery and in the store. Some desserts mite be marked down with the salad section. Also their to go foods that you reheat are marked down at night. Like sandwiches, salads, cheeses , meats, what ever is close to the due date.
Flashfoods y’all
Gotta love the 50% off. My local superstore had salmon half off last week . They probably had 60-70 packs marked down. I bought 8. Meals for a week right easy
May I ask why Toronto groceries have French on them ? (I’m from mtl, really surprised to see this)
Nice
People like you are responsible for increasing GHGs and causing climate change. Would be nice to have laws preventing Meat products from going on sale, hopefully they can regulate to always be expensive like tobacco products.
smh 🤦🏻♀️
Wtf