How I Save Money on Groceries: My Favourite Apps

Groceries keep getting more expensive, and I’m always looking for ways to make my money go further. Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried several money-saving apps for groceries, and some of them have really helped stretch our family budget. In this post, I’m sharing the apps I use most, what I like (and don’t like) about them, and a few examples of how much I’ve saved.

1. Flashfood — A Money-Saving App for Groceries

I live close to a Maxi in Montreal, and that’s where I first started using the Flashfood app. To me it’s one of the best money-saving apps for groceries in Canada. For anyone outside Quebec, Maxi is part of Loblaws. Flashfood is also available in No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Provigo. The app lists items nearing their best-before date, but sometimes the dates are still months away. I’ve scored everything from chicken and yogurt to cookies and even toothpaste at about 50% off.

How I Use the Flashfood App

I select all the items I want at home using the app and pay with my saved credit card. At pickup time, I head to the service counter and give my name. The store clerk will look you up in their version of the app (at least that’s what I think is happening) and brings you to the big Flashfood fridge, where they hand you your groceries. I usually make sure to double-check that I’ve got the right items: correct expiry date, weight, and quantities. That little extra check ensures you walk away with exactly what you ordered.

Tips and Tricks

One of my favourite deals is boneless chicken legs, which I always freeze for later. I think your freezer is your best friend when using Flashfood. It lets you stock up on deals without worrying about expiry dates. I also freeze items like bread, butter or even vegetables, so I can plan meals ahead and reduce food waste.

Savings I made

Even with the small service fee (5%, capped at $2.99), the savings from Flashfood make it one of my favourite money-saving apps for stretching my grocery budget. So far, since I started using the app I’ve saved close to $700. It also feels good knowing I’m keeping perfectly fine food out of the landfill

If you want to try it, here’s my referral code for $5 off your first order: SONJ2QXDR (I earn a small commission if you use it, at no extra cost to you). You can download the Flashfood app here to get started.

2. Too Good To Go — Saving Food and Some Money

Another money-saving app I use occasionally is Too Good To Go, which helps save a bit while cutting down on food waste.

How I Use Too Good To Go

I stick to items I’d normally buy, like bread, and save pastries for occasional treats. We rarely eat out, so Too Good To Go is a great alternative. Recently, we had amazing vegetarian Indian food for only $6.89.

Travel Tip

You can also use the app while traveling. On a trip to Germany, I found a bakery less than a kilometer away with a 4.8-star rating. The package was very generous and included whole wheat bread, rolls, pastries, and even plum cake, which lasted us an entire week!

Smart Strategies

The app shows how many packages are left and which ones you just missed out on. Seeing limited quantities sometimes makes me want to rush to grab a deal (the good old scarcity tactic), especially if it’s from a favourite restaurant or cafe, even if you don’t really need it. Too Good To Go works best when used mindfully. I always have to remind myself to only get items I’d normally buy to avoid overspending.

3. Maxi Hacks: How I Make Flipp and Price Matching Work

Flipp is another great money-saving app for groceries in Canada. It shows you all the current flyers and also the dates on which sales prices are in effect. One of the easiest ways I’ve stretched my grocery budget is by pairing Flipp with Maxi’s price-matching policy.

How I Use Flipp

Instead of scrolling through all flyers, I search in Flipp for what I need, like hummus or bread. I usually do this in-store, and once I find the item for a cheaper price elsewhere I save it. I then show the app to the cashier at checkout so they can adjust the price.

Timing and Tips to Save even More with the App

If I can I shop early in the morning or in the evening when it’s quieter to avoid slowing down other shoppers. In addition to price matching I always double check my receipt for pricing errors. In Québec, stores often have a price accuracy policy: if an item scans higher than the displayed price, you may be entitled to a discount or even get it free. I always double-check my receipts to catch any errors.

It may not seem much, but even a small effort adds up over time.

4. Optimum — Get a Little Extra on Your Grocery Trips

I use the Optimum money-saving app to get a little extra out of my grocery trips, mainly because I live right next to a Maxi and Pharmaprix (Shopper’s Drug Mart in other provinces). If you’re closer to another grocery store, a different program, like MOI for Metro, might be a better fit. Just keep in mind that while these apps feel free to use, you are exchanging your data, so it’s technically not entirely “free.”

How Offers Work

Sometimes you see offer in the app that are based on spending a certain amount over a few days, like $200 in five days, while others give a percentage back, like 15% in points. When those offers come up, I try to be strategic and stock up on everything we actually need.

Stay Focused

The key for me is to stay focused: only buy what I would normally buy. That way, the points feel like a nice bonus on top of regular shopping.

Optimum Stamp Program

Once, I tried the Optimum stamp program when it was running. You collect stamps through regular grocery shopping and redeem them for items like glasses, pots, and pans. We got a few sets of Spiegelau glasses for $10 each—white wine glasses to replace broken ones and some water glasses. Since I was buying groceries anyway, getting the stamps and exchanging them for something we actually needed felt like a small win. Plus, Spiegelau is a high-quality brand, so I hope these glasses last a long time.

Tips for Using Optimum to Stretch Your Budget

I also read on Reddit that some people had issues—stamps taking a few days to show up, items going out of stock, or the program encouraging people to buy more than they need. That last point is valid. My takeaway: only use the program as well as other money-saving apps for things you genuinely need, and don’t overspend.