I've always been the type to research before I buy, look for the better deal, and question whether a “sale” is actually a sale. Over the years I've built up a system of apps, habits, and timing strategies that consistently save me money. Here's everything I use.
Price Tracking & Deal Hunting
Check historical Amazon pricing to verify whether a "sale" is actually a deal.
Same concept but specifically for Canadian Tire historical pricing.
Tracks sale items across multiple Canadian retailers. Some store integrations have degraded over time as APIs have been restricted, but still useful.
Check the site and app daily. Set up keyword alerts so deals on specific items you want come to you automatically.
Google Lens / manual searching
Before buying anything, search for the same product under different names. A very common find is the same item on Amazon listed cheaper elsewhere under a different brand.
Coupon codes before checkout
Always search for coupon codes before buying online. Hit rate is inconsistent across sites but worth the 2-minute check.
Abandon your cart for a few days
Many ecommerce stores will email you a coupon code if you leave items in your cart without completing the purchase. Being able to hold off for a few days can earn you a discount you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
Buy discounted gift cards
If you know for certain you’ll shop at a specific store, buy their gift cards at a discount from other retailers. You’re spending money you were going to spend anyway — just paying less for it.
Aggregates weekly flyers from Canadian grocery and retail chains in one place. Useful for quickly checking the best price on a specific item across multiple stores without visiting each flyer individually.
Groceries & Food
Check the clearance shelf
Always check the discounted and clearance items at grocery stores. Flashfood now serves as the digital version of this, though it isn’t as great as it used to be — more people are using it so popular items like chicken and quality meat get bought up fast.
Buy discounted groceries near their best-before date at stores like Loblaws and No Frills. (Use code ANDRV36F when you sign up for $5 off your first order over $7.)
Grab surprise bags of unsold food from local restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores for a fraction of the regular price.
Buy surplus food from local stores at big discounts. (Use invite code andrewa8 when you sign up and we both get credits.)
Buy on sale, not on habit
Shop around what’s on sale each week rather than buying the same items regardless of price. See our Grocery Budgeting guide for more.
Generic & store brands
Buy generic for any product category where quality versions exist.
Price matching
Use store price match policies whenever possible instead of making multiple trips.
Limit eating out
Restaurants are one of the biggest budget drains. Cooking at home more often saves a significant amount of money over time.
Use restaurant coupons from the mail
Those coupon flyers that show up in your mailbox are actually worth using. A few dollars off each visit adds up, especially for places you’d eat at anyway.
At $39/year on promotion, grocery delivery saves time and gas money — especially worth it in Northern Ontario winters or when you have young kids at home. An underrated bonus: if anything arrives in less-than-perfect condition, you start a return directly in the app, get an instant refund, and keep or discard the item — no return trip required.
Costco membership (coming soon)
I don’t currently live in a city with a Costco, but one is hopefully coming in the next few years. A Costco membership unlocks some of the best in-store deals in Canada — especially on bulk groceries, gas, and household essentials. This will be a big addition to my savings strategy once it’s an option.
Credit Cards & Cashback
Put every purchase on a credit card
I can’t remember the last time I used my debit card. Every purchase goes on a credit card to earn cashback and take advantage of card perks like purchase protection and extended warranties. Pay the balance in full every month — the strategy only works if you’re not paying interest. See our Credit Cards guide for more.
Multiple credit cards by category
Different cards earn better cashback rates in different spending categories. Match the card to the purchase.
Rakuten & Great Canadian Rebates
Use whichever cashback portal offers the better rate for that specific retailer before completing any online purchase. Rakuten.ca · Great Canadian Rebates
Track your cashback in a spreadsheet
Both platforms make mistakes and miss payouts more often than they should. A simple spreadsheet of expected cashback lets you catch and dispute errors before the window closes.
Loyalty Programs (Canadian Tire / Triangle)
Maximize Canadian Tire Points events
Take advantage of special redemption and swap offer events to squeeze more value out of each purchase.
The paid tier unlocks bonus point multipliers that more than pay for the membership cost annually.
Phone Plans
Upgrade every 2 years between Black Friday and Boxing Day
The best device and plan promotions in Canada consistently land in this window. Time your upgrade cycle around it. See our Phone Plans guide for more.
Set up auto-withdrawal for extra discounts
Some carriers offer an additional monthly discount when you enroll in automatic payments. It’s a small amount per month but adds up over a two-year contract.
Seasonal Shopping
Plan Christmas shopping for Black Friday
Buy as many gifts as possible during Black Friday sales to avoid paying full price in December.
Only buy clothes on sale
There’s almost always a sale happening somewhere. Full-price clothing is rarely worth it when the same item will be 30–50% off within a few weeks.
End-of-season clearance at Canadian Tire & Home Depot
Both retailers heavily discount seasonal products at the end of the season — winter gear, snow blowers, and holiday décor in late winter, and patio furniture, BBQs, and garden supplies in late summer/fall. The discounts are significant and the products are identical to what was on the shelf two months earlier.
Open Box, Floor Models & Liquidation
Open box and floor models
Best Buy, Home Depot, and similar retailers discount these significantly. The products are functionally identical to new and often still carry a warranty.
Liquidation stores
Both in-person and online liquidation retailers sell overstock, returns, and clearance items at a steep discount. A good example of an online option is Liquidation Mania. Quality and availability vary so it rewards browsing regularly rather than shopping with a specific item in mind. Liquidation Mania →
Subscriptions & Services
Share subscriptions or use family plans
Netflix, Amazon Prime, Crave, Spotify, and Google One all offer family or multi-user plans. Splitting the cost with family members cuts the per-person cost dramatically compared to everyone holding individual accounts.
Utilities
Time-of-use electricity
Run the dishwasher and do laundry during off-peak hours (evenings and weekends in Ontario). It takes minimal habit adjustment and the savings add up meaningfully over a full year.
Dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
Reusable dryer balls replace disposable dryer sheets and last for years. One upfront purchase eliminates an ongoing recurring cost.
Use the correct amount of laundry detergent
The majority of people use way more detergent than they need to. Check the actual recommended amount on the label — you’ll likely find you can cut your usage significantly, making each bottle last much longer.
Buying & Selling Used
Both a buying and selling tool. Buying used avoids depreciation on items that lose value fast, and selling clears out items that are just sitting around.
Thrift stores
I try to thrift items as often as I can. The selection isn’t always the best and it takes patience, but the savings on clothing, household items, and kids’ stuff are significant when you find what you need.
Bills & Insurance
Renegotiate internet every 2 years
Either switch providers or rotate the account into your spouse’s name to qualify as a “new customer,” since Canadian telecom companies consistently reward new customers over loyal ones.
Shop insurance rates ahead of renewal
Compare rates before your renewal date, not at it. Working with insurance agents takes time and rushing the process costs money. See our Insurance guide for more.
Pay insurance annually instead of monthly
I pay my home and car insurance in a single yearly payment instead of monthly installments. Most insurers charge a fee or interest for monthly billing, so paying upfront saves money over the year.
Banking & Savings
Eliminates most banking fees entirely. A TD joint account with my wife exists as a backup for core banking needs but gets used maybe once a year. See our Banking in Canada guide for more.
Chase promotional HISA rates
Move savings between Tangerine, EQ Bank, Wealthsimple, and Simplii depending on which one is currently offering the best promotional high-interest savings rate. EQ Bank · Wealthsimple · Simplii See our Saving Money guide for more.
Max out the TFSA every year
The most straightforward tax-sheltered savings tool available to Canadians. There’s no reason not to fill it if you have the room and the cash. See our Investing guide for more.
Cars & Transportation
Don’t buy new
Buying a used car and holding onto it longer than most people do takes advantage of depreciation instead of paying for it. There’s no reason to spend that much more on a brand new vehicle when a 2–3 year old one drives the same. See our Buying a Car guide for more.
Shop multiple dealerships and walk away
Get quotes from several dealerships and be willing to walk away. The ability to leave the table is the strongest negotiating tool you have, and it can save thousands on the purchase price.
Buy the extended warranty from another dealer
When I bought my car, I got the extended warranty quoted at a much lower rate from a different dealership. My local dealership ended up matching the price in the end, but they initially didn’t seem like they would. Shopping around for the warranty alone saved me thousands.
Travel
Book flights well in advance
Booking ahead instead of last minute consistently saves money on flights. Last-minute prices are almost always significantly higher.
Fly on cheaper days
Tuesday and Wednesday flights tend to be cheaper than weekend departures. Flexibility on travel days can make a real difference in cost.
Everyday Habits
Make coffee and tea at home
Not currently addicted to caffeine, but when I do have coffee or tea I make it at home or just drink water instead. A $5/day coffee habit is over $1,800 a year.
Don’t smoke or drink
Not smoking and limiting alcohol saves a significant amount of money. Cigarettes and alcohol are some of the most expensive recurring habits you can have.
Kids & Family
Borrow toys from EarlyOn / children’s playgroups
Local EarlyOn centres and children’s playgroups often let you borrow toys, books, and games for free. Kids cycle through interests quickly, so borrowing makes far more sense than buying everything new. Find an EarlyOn centre →
Everything on this page is something I personally use, genuinely believe in, or know others who use and recommend. Some links may be affiliate links, but that never influences what makes the list. If you have a tool or strategy that works for you, let me know on LinkedIn — I'm always looking for new ways to save.