Being on a strict budget you realize the value of a dollar and how far you can stretch it if you make a conscious effort.
It is so easy to get caught up in a frenzy. Payroll comes in every two weeks like clockwork. Success at the job brings some fortune, so you have more money to burn. Slight power means the need to dress for success. You want that new house. And the cycle never ends in a highly fashionista, highly cultured, diverse lifestyle of food, drinks and then some, party, schmoozing, travel, work, earning more money, spending more, save, then repeat. You're young, so live life.
The problem is everything costs money. Living a healthy lifestyle costs way more money, your time spent is money lost, your idleness costs you money, your overspending of a dollar is a dollar that can't be earned quickly enough. If you spend wiser, finding the $5 dollars in your old jeans pocket could be like winning the lotto!
So how do you make ends meet on a finite budget? How does an ex-discount shopaholic spend a dollar and still feel like a baller to build her morale? Heal that itch to buy something, anything, to fill the void?
I head immediately to a Dollarama, Winners and IGA.
If you check my account statements you will find the same stores. Why? Cause this OCD chick loves comfort. Not that I don't like change. I love and embrace change. And I do love luxury. But why should I spend more money on basic necessities when I really shouldn't. Have you gone to the pharmacy for something you need, and walk out with a bill of $50 and be like, what WT*? I prefer to spend that money on something that gives a better return or that one thing that screams out, "buy me" and it doesn't matter what the tag says. Not to say that everyone should be the same, to each their own. Depending on your salary all is relative, but, the following is what you can do with your dollar.
So how do these three stores bring value and a greater morale?
1. They all can feed you in some way cause you need to eat something to survive.
2. They can give you morale through products that make you feel better or that you may need.
3. You can get great results at a fraction of the cost.
Dollarama. The baller for a dollar's dream haven
for everything and anything under the sun.
OK yeah, it's not the most glamourous of stores: the colour scheme is lame with the green and yellow, the plastic bags are so thin, and have no handles. That guy at the front of the store doesn't want you to take your cart out- you know who you are! And the freakin' stickers never come off whatever you are buying. But yes, I shop there for almost everything I need.
Some food, tools of all kinds and genres, gift fillers and home decor. The OCD's paradise for organizing, office supplies, cleaning products and overstock non-perishables that are so useful. I can spend hours in that store to create an end product that can be useful to live a better life, or at least a more organized and clean one! In the end, whatever I spend always seems to bring value at the end of the day, both for living and in turn for the morale.
Hot buys:
extra large silicon BPA free ice cube tray - always wanted those huge, jumbo, single cube ice for your scotch? It's a whopping $3 for a tray that makes 6 cubes (you're welcome)
wanna-be swiffers (not the cloths though, those suck, invest in a brand)
broom and a dustpan that has a handle (no more bending required)
clear recycling bags and condo-sized recycling bins (go green)
all white plates, bowls, serving bowls, ramekins of all sizes and types
simple glass tumblers
glass tupperwares (no poisonous dioxins when heated)
pantry organizers and kitchen storage containers (see my pinterest boards for ideas)
home decor items: faux cottonweed, vases round or square in all sizes, scented candles
paper towels - the jumbo roll with perforated half sheets that costs 3x at the grocery
cleaning products: all the major name brands (in smaller formats)
office tools: post-its, desk calendars, planners, binders, sheet protectors, desk organizers
greeting cards for $1: surprisingly the text in these aren't too bad - let's be serious, most will throw it out, it's the thought that counts, spend time on free labour and write text that matters and make your gift pretty!
everyday socks and slippers/flip flops for home
bathroom supplies or toiletries
brand name spray-on hand lotion that costs $8 at the pharmacy
hair ties
batteries
energy efficient light bulbs
hammer, nails, screws and a heavy-duty tape measurer and plastic toolbox
smokin' BBQ kettle chips - my all time favourite
Bubbalicious and Thrills gum (for the acquired palette)
mac n' cheese, pasta, pasta sauce
chocolate and more chocolate
Lastly, if you're Filipino... unbranded canned Spam-like luncheon meat;)
Winners. My shop til you drop, "go to" store.
Want those new boots or heels? That new outfit for casual dinner with friends tonight. That new throw for the sofa. A new workout outfit. Fancy sweats. King size pillows, $14.99. DKNY king size hotel style quilt, $79.99. Not born with a green thumb? Head to the section with faux greenery or plants, $14.99+. Tommy Hotel style white towels starting at $2.99 for a face towel. Oh and they have some unique brand non-perishable food items too! Need a gift? Yup it's luxury on the cheap. The only but is...if you love it, buy it immediately or buy two of them or it will be gone forever.
Feeling a low? Go out and get some new bed sheets and redo your linens. Not only will a bedroom makeover make you excited for some ZZZs but I am pretty sure if you do not have good quality pillows or sheets, you won't wake up as well in the morning. Or, spoil yourself to a new workout outfit and hit the gym in style with confidence. Now that's worth every dollar.
Hot buys:
home decor: Egyptian cotton high thread count sheets $59.99, hotel decorative pillows $24.99, unique flair pieces, photo frames, deco plants $14.99 and up, lamps
pet luxury
home organizers (high-end double rolling rack for $29.99)
quality convection pots and pans (starting at $29.99)
kitchen tools
shoes
sportswear ($19.99 - $39.99)
fitness items: lightweight dumbbells, yoga mats, weight lifting gloves ($5.99-$14.99)
men's dress shirts and ties for work ($29.99+)
cashmere or wool v-neck sweaters
high end kids clothing
luxury teas, snacks, nougat
travel accessories and organizers
men's dress socks and women's socks or pantyhose
quality hand soaps
high end hair products
IGA. My new favourite grocery store.
Why? Because they have the cheapest meats in smaller quantities and the produce is always fresh. They carry a wide gluten free section and have all the low to no sodium items. They even have pre-packaged chopped veggies and fruits which comes in handy on those days you don't have the time to chop or just want a variety in an all-in-one bundle. An important thing to note is that my definition of "cheapest meats" is relative for those bachelors or young couples starting out who can eat single servings, not for a family of 4 and up. The advantage of the single servings is you can buy what you need and keep it fresh without freezing. The bottom half of the list are not necessarily cheap buys but good buys. What is more important is the end goal: How much labour can you invest? How much did it cost overall to eat your meal? Lastly, how long did your purchase last before the next grocery run?
Hot buys:
pork ribs (as low as $1.49 for 4 ribs)
chicken wings ($2 and up)
french pork chops ($2 and up)
skinless chicken thigh with bone ($3 and up)
lamb chops
cod or tilapia filets
Attitude fraiche pre-washed mixed salads $4-5 (Caesar is a winner but they are all great)
Renee's Greek yogourt salad dressing & Oikos plain greek yogourt (mix 1 tbsp dressing to 2 tbsp yogourt and eat with meat, potatoes, raw veggies or chips)
individually wrapped udon noodles ($1.49)
seedless clementines by the box ($5.99)
jumbo dried dates (IGA packaged $8 and up)
persimmons (wait a week before you eat it)
cut ripe watermelon
wide selection of brands for cold cuts and cheese
Some tips for the super saver?
For a store that has portions of inexpensive cold cuts and variety of cheese, and great priced produce and canned goods is Supermarché P.A.
For larger families, I would suggest Costco for meats (some labour required- separate meat into smaller freezer bags and freeze) and/or head to Super C's $10 a bag frozen section.
Metro grocery has high-end products and quality meat and produce and a larger selection of low-sodium and gluten free products. The metro dollars are a nice kicker, but it is more expensive overall. Convenience and cleanliness is what makes this store stand out from the rest. The staff at the Metro de la Montagne is impeccable though, miss you guys. My favourite items: quinoa zero sodium spaghetti and the cuts of beef flank or flap meat (check out my next blog for a recipe).