Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Learn how to save money on essentials in Canada. Discover simple ways to cut grocery costs, lower internet and phone bills, and reduce transportation and electricity expenses.
We’re all looking for ways to save money on the essentials these days. The essentials of food, internet, utilities, and transportation always seem to be rising in cost. Staying within your budget is becoming harder when even the simple things are costing you hundreds of dollars a month.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save money. It just requires some conscious effort and a few tiny lifestyle changes. Simple changes to how you shop, cook, commute, and manage your household bills can add up to real savings over time.
Here are the best ways to cut your costs on the essentials.
The cost of food is a concern for many Canadians; it’s the most basic essential, but it seems to be costing us all more and more. There are ways to lower the cost of your grocery shop, though.
Purchasing food in bulk during sales can significantly lower your grocery costs over time.
When you see pasta, rice, canned goods, or frozen foods at a discount, stock up on them.
This doesn’t just apply to non-perishable items.
Buying meat on sale in bulk and then freezing it can extend its life for months. If you buy multiple packs of chicken that are on sale and store them properly, you won't need to pay full price the next time.
Bulk buying works best for household staples you use regularly, so only bulk buy things you’ll use before they expire. For example, yogurt may be on sale, but if you live by yourself, you’re unlikely to need 5 packs of it.
This leads us to our second way to save on food.
Throwing away food is like tossing money in the garbage.
The average Canadian household throws away about 175 pounds of food a year. That’s not just a lot of food; it’s a lot of money.
The best way to reduce food waste is to plan your meals for the week before shopping so you only buy what you'll actually use.
You also need to store food properly to extend its shelf life, like we mentioned with freezing meat in the last section (did you know you can freeze chicken for up to six months?). You can also freeze bread, cheese, fruits, and vegetables as well.
Check your fridge regularly and prioritize eating items that have been in there the longest and are close to expiring.
So how should you plan your meals in advance? How can you know what’s on sale at the store before you get there?
We’ve all been in the grocery store and seen something we bought a few days ago is now half the price. Using a flyer app can help you avoid this happening again.
Apps like Flipp show you current sales at grocery stores near you, making it easy to plan your shopping around the best deals.
Flipp even publishes the next week’s flyers a day in advance, so you’ll know what’s on sale today and what will be going on sale next week.
You can browse flyers from multiple stores, compare prices, and build your shopping list based on what's discounted that week.
Knowing what you’re eating for the next week will also help you cut down on one of the largest costs of food: dining out/ordering in.
You don't need to completely stop enjoying restaurant meals or takeout to save money; just reduce how often you do it.
If you currently order food once a week, cutting back to every other week will save you a lot of money a month.
Ordering $40 of takeout once a week costs you $160 per month.
Switch to every other week and you'll save $80 a month, which adds up to $960 a year. Think what you would do if you had nearly an extra $1,000 at the end of the year.
Treating restaurant meals as occasional treats rather than regular conveniences really does help you save money on food.
Internet and phone bills are a real pain. Canadians face some of the world’s highest telecom costs, so it’s important not to overpay.
Your internet or phone provider would often rather lower your bill than lose you as a customer.
It’s something you can use to your advantage. If you call your internet or phone provider and tell them you’re considering switching, they’ll likely try to offer you a deal.
It’s best to do some research on their competitors before calling. This way you’ll be able to point to specific things their competitors are offering new customers.
While they may not be able to exactly match their competitors' offer, it’s likely you will get a lower bill and possibly upgraded services (faster internet speed, more data) as well.
What if they don’t lower your bill enough?
If your current provider won’t lower your bill enough, switch providers. Your current internet or phone company is betting on you not being willing to put the effort into switching.
Internet providers often offer promotional rates to attract new customers, so there’s almost certainly a better internet or phone deal out there for you.
While it can seem like a hassle to switch (and that’s what your current internet and phone provider is betting on you thinking), it can make a real difference to your monthly bills.
You may find yourself with an extra $20 to $40 at the end of the month; that’s an extra $240 to $480 a year.
Transportation is one of the biggest everyday expenses for Canadians. Finding ways to reduce these costs can make a noticeable difference to your bank account.
If you live in a major city, taking public transit can help you save money.
Between gas, insurance, parking, and maintenance, owning a car is expensive.
Buses, subways, and trains may take longer, or some require planning, but they eliminate many of these expenses. Even if you just use public transit once a week instead of driving, you’ll save a lot on gas.
If driving is unavoidable, use the GasBuddy app to keep your fuel costs down.
GasBuddy compares gas prices in real time so you can find the cheapest station near you.
Make it a habit to check the app before filling up to reduce your gas spending without changing your driving habits.
Finding ways to cut down on your energy costs can help you create better habits that benefit both your wallet and the environment.
There are some very easy ways to start that don’t require any renovations to your home.
One of the easiest ways to cut your electricity bill is by switching to LED light bulbs.
LEDs are up to 90% more energy efficient than incandescent light bulbs. They also last longer, so you’ll save money on light bulbs as well.
Start by replacing the bulbs in the lights you use most often, such as in the kitchen or living room, to see the biggest impact right away.
Running major appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine, or dryer during off-peak hours can help lower your electricity costs.
Many utility companies charge different rates depending on the time of day, with nights and weekends often being cheaper. Check your local hydro provider’s website to see when off-peak hours apply in your area.
Running the dishwasher before bed or saving your laundry for the weekends can reduce your overall energy bill without changing your daily habits much.
If you’re struggling to afford the essentials, we can help.
One of our Licensed Insolvency Trustees can help you take control of your finances. They’ll review your entire financial situation, explain your debt relief options, and help you create a plan to get back on track.
Our Trustees take a non-judgmental approach to debt; they’re here to help you find solutions. They can work to lower how much you owe and even stop collection calls.
The first consultation to explore all your options is completely free of charge.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Learn how to save money on essentials in Canada. Discover simple ways to cut grocery costs, lower internet and phone bills, and reduce transportation and electricity expenses.
