This Ontario family found a way to save $14K on groceries this year thanks to some penny pinching hacks — but can the extreme saving work for everyone?

When Dee Debarros’ husband was out of a job during the COVID-19 pandemic, they needed to find a new route to help pay the bills during a difficult time. Naturally, groceries were the one essential with the highest savings potential, so the couple quickly pivoted and looked to cut costs where they could, dedicating a portion of their week to seeking out the best deals while employing other budget-friendly tactics. Years later, their penny-pinching habits continue and is paying off big time — they only spent just shy of $2,400 on groceries last year.

How are they doing it?

Speaking with the Toronto Star (1), Debarros revealed how she saves money on groceries by taking advantage of flyer deals and coupons. As new flyers are released every Thursday at midnight, she then visits the grocery store every Friday to plan for the week, noting which coupons might give her bonus savings.

The family also makes use of loyalty points. Last year they collected over two million PC Optimum points — the equivalent of $2,000. They made sure to use all of their points towards their grocery budget. They also watch out for bonus events at local stores to earn more points by spending on those specific days.

While it may sound like a lot of work, Debarros says it isn’t as bad as people may think, and the savings are worth it. “I don’t think of it as a waste of time,” she tells the news outlet. “If rewards and loyalty points and coupons are going to save you a hundred dollars, that’s a hundred dollars you don’t have to work for.”

The rising average cost of groceries and what’s driving it

While the Debarros’ savings are clearly phenomenal, the question remains: How well are they doing compared to the average family of four in Canada?

Extremely well, according to data from Canada’s 2025 Food Price Report (2). It’s expected that food prices in Canada will balloon by 3% to 5% this year, meaning the average family of four is expected to spend $16,833.67 on groceries — an increase of over $800 from 2024.

Most food categories are expected to rise, with meat prices leading the charge with an expected increase of 4% to 6% this year. Dairy costs are expected to rise 2% to 4% and vegetables between 3% and 5%.

Provinces including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec are expected to see above average price increases for 2025. Increases in prices across provinces are largely due to climate challenges, supply chain issues and increased commodity prices, the report notes.

Multiple factors are driving these price increases, experts say. The Bank of Canada reports that the rising costs of energy affects food prices, as producers and transporters face increased fuel costs. In turn, these parties pass on these costs to the consumer (3).

Another factor is the increasing threat of climate change. Unpredictable weather events can be a major issue for producers. The 2025 Food Price Report pointed out that wildfires in Western Canada blocked rail lines, leading to transportation delays and price increases.

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When can we expect prices to fall?

As 2025 is projected to see price increases, can Canadians expect prices to fall for the remainder of the year? It’s hard to say.

Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that food prices remained stable in August and haven’t dropped since June (4).

That said, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on September 1 that counter-tariffs on U.S. goods covered by the CUSMA free trade agreement would be dropped. More specifically, these counter-tariffs previously covered grocery essentials, which means a drop in prices could come, but it may take weeks, CTV News reported (5).

How to save on pricey groceries

Even though prices may not fall dramatically this year, Canadians can still save money on groceries — the Debarros' methods are a case in point. Here are some helpful tips to help your dollar go further in the grocery store.

• Sign up for a rewards credit card. Using a rewards credit card the right way can earn you cash back or tons of rewards points to key loyalty programs. In fact, the PC Mastercard was named our Best Rewards Card for 2025, perfect for Canadians focusing on grocery savings.
• Watch for coupons and flyer deals. Keep an eye out for flyers every week and try to meal plan around major deals on key items.
• Buy generic instead of name brands. While having name brands on the shelf might be nice, they’re also more expensive. Opting for generic in-store brands such as No Name, Selections and Compliments can bring you instant savings.
• Purchase less pre-packaged foods. Though pre-packaged items are more convenient, they’re also costlier. For example, buying frozen orange juice rather than the prepared version will cost you less.

Between omnipotent weather issues, geopolitical tensions and a weakening Canadian dollar, grocery prices continue to rise. But, that doesn’t mean saving money on groceries is impossible — it just takes a bit more work. And, as the Debarros houshold showed, it’s definitely worth it.

Article sources

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Toronto Star: This family goes to extremes to pinch pennies — and it’s working. Here’s how they’re saving $14,000 on groceries this year, by Lora Grady (1); Dalhousie University: Canada's Food Price Report 2025 (2); Bank of Canada: What drives up the price of groceries (3); Statistics Canada: Consumer Price Index, August 2025 (4); CTV News: With counter-tariffs gone, these products will drop in price – but not immediately (5)