December 2025 - Frugal Chatter

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
The snow has started here, UGH, they are calling for 20+ cm here, let's hope not.

If you wanted No Frills to yourself apparently 8 am on boxing day was the time to shop, the parking lot was empty and only a few people in the store. I wanted to get there before it got busy and the snow came. Looking at the long range forecast we have snow tomorrow, none tomorrow and then snow every day as far as the eye can see (next Thursday). Grabbed some things we needed and some treats, I grabbed:
Mushrooms, Peppers, Avocados, Limes, Mangos, Rye Bread, 2 x Chai tea, Cheese Popcorn, Butter Popcorn, BBQ Chips, Ketchup Chips, Dill Pickle Chips and water crackers.

I am going to try Avocados again, I stopped eating them because they were giving me heartburn but I am looking for more Breakfast options, we will see this could be a huge fail and I needed the lines to go with the Avocados. I have some mushrooms but with all the snow who knows when I will get to the store again so grabbed more and I needed peppers I have a few meals in mind that I will need them for. Plus worst come to worst Mexican bowls.

I have been craving Rye bread and I was paying $2.49 or $2.99 but when I went to grab it last week it is now $4.99, it was on sale at Food Basics for $2.99 so I price matched two loaves. Also price matched the Popcorn. Then I got the chips with members pricing, thought some snacks would be nice as when I crash in the afternoon (this cold is still hanging on) we watch movies.

The water crackers are to go with the Brie I got at Costco.

I am finally feeling better, woke up early this morning and oddly I was hungry, eating has been a real struggle since I got sick so we will take this as a good sign.

Think it is time to plan some cooking and baking, some for gifts and some to stock up our freezers.

Happy Boxing Day Everyone.

[SassyAshley]

@HermanH , Just an FYI Pizza Pops have been recalled, I saw this morning 5 people have been hospitalized from eating them.

[lizzie bargain]

Herman I don't know anybody who finds as much food as you do.

[HermanH]

@HermanH , Just an FYI Pizza Pops have been recalled, I saw this morning 5 people have been hospitalized from eating them.

Many thanks for the kind warning. I called up the notice and my discoveries did not fall within the Best Before sale dates. I do appreciate the heads-up.

[cath007]

I went to my Maxi and Cie for a few things.

It was a zoo.

Lines up like the Covid time....

Used 14,50$ in coupons.

***It is a great time to find deals to pass those December 31 expiring soon coupons.***

Deals I got:

-FPC Kettle Chips Texan BBQ Air Fryer so FREE ( 3,49$) (BB February 21,2026)
-4 x 0,96$ ( Clearance) Crispies Mini Cheddar Jalapenos .
Used 2 x 1,00$ coupons so FREE and 2x0,50$ coupons =0,46$ plus taxes. (BB May 28,2026)
A bit spicy for me but my dad seems to like them.
Black Diamond Shredded Cheese x 2 @5,97$ Pm Super C (regular price 8$ a bag no thanks) -1,50$ coupons x2
-1x Pizza Mozzarella ( BB January 30 2026) for my salmon pie ,1x Tex Mex (BB 21 April 2026)for my Tacos Pastas =4,50$ each
(missed the 3 days deal of No Name Cheese at 3,49$ last week grrrr)
-5x Laughing cow regular Cheeses @3,00$ ( regular 4,00$) minus 5x 1,00$ coupons= 2,00$ each box. (BB July 21,2026)
Great for a snack with a fruit.


*** Oh forgot to say last week at IGA***

-1x Astro Cappucino Yogurt Tub @ 2,99$ minus 1,00$ coupon=1,99$ ( BB February 01,2026)

-2x Olympic Krema Greek Yogurt Tubs Maple Syrup @4,99$ ( regular 6,99$) minus 1,50$ coupon=2,50$ (BB February 03 ,2026)

These was the last 2 for this flavor on the shelf. Seems a popular flavor.

I really like this Greek Yogurt and I was tired of paying expensive Greek Yogurt like Liberté at 8-9$

[cath007]

My Godmother she could not came before Christmas because she was very sick and had a bad virus .... ( His doctor was not sure if it was Covid or not)

Well she came today and she brought goodies.

1 Meat Pie, 1 Christmas Chocolate half Log, Cream sugar in a cute box, a big rectangular Fruits Cake. (all the food was homemade except the Log)

A Christmas card with a Celebration ticket and a 50$ cash for my father and a Christmas card with a 50$ cash for me.

I appreciate the gesture every year.

I want to find deals for the 50$ cash. ( Having more for my money).

[Angela273]

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. We travelled to see family for Thanksgiving this year, so we stayed home for Christmas. It’s nice to have our family traditions at home. I recorded our kids opening any gifts from family/friends and texted those to the people who gave the gifts.

Although our public library has limited hours and days that it is open during the Christmas break, our kids are still enjoying some special holiday programming. They received some exceptionally good prizes from winning bingo, Elf camp, and Christmas at the library. Between our three children they received a total of 12x free small one topping Dominos pizza coupons, 5x Dairy Queen dilly bar or kids cone coupons, 5x free A&W drink coupons, one $10 Dairy Queen gift card, box of Mike & Ike’s candy, small chocolates, candy canes, Christmas oranges, notebooks, pens, and little Christmas toys. The kids and I were happily surprised.

Tonight for supper we redeemed 3x free small Dominos pizzas and 1 free medium 2-topping pizza from my app offer. I picked up two boxes of fresh produce from Flash Foods @ No Frills. From those boxes we had baby cucumbers, blackberries, and cherries with the free pizzas.

[coupon girl]

Morning had a lovely xmas dinner with our kids and grandkids yesterday .I got a much needed new blanket for the couch ,heating pad (mine broke last month).Our daughter gave us a night away in niagara on the lake ,son gave us netflicks .

It is fun being around the grandkids ,we had Ashlyn sleep over so she could play with Sebastian .My grandkids all loved their gifts .

Anglea nice wins from your kids always nice to win stuff.

[walkonby]

Such a lovely post @coupon girl ! Your grand kids provide you with regular doses " the feel goods! " ha ha
DH and I have already started to do a mini tear down. The dining room table has been De-Christmassed.
Table cloths, plus the washable paraphernalia that goes with it are in the laundry now.

All 8 chair cushions fit inside a giant but lightweight storage bag that resembles a box...plus our stockings. ha ha.
It has an attached lid and sturdy wide ribbon handles. My sister gifted me the receptacle after she won a Nespresso
machine ( it came inside it ) from a Christmas party. This large " bagbox "has made the rounds as she brought our
gifts from her over on the 25th. Reduce, reuse and recycle!

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Afternoon!

Christmas Eve Eve- My sister and niece picked me up at home in the early afternoon- We dropped my sister off at her hair appt. and my niece and I went to M&M's so I could pick something up (my store was sold out!) then when we were almost at their place we turned around to go back downtown to pick up my sister since she was done. We dropped niece off at her sister's and then we went and picked up our mom and took her to the casino for dinner. Then gambled for a bit. My mom won over $900! We were losers lol but it was a nice few ours out and break from the Christmas prep!
Helped Dear Brother in law search his vehicle for his key fob and wallet- Neither he had seen since Sunday but he had driven the vehicle so he knew it was in there somewhere. We couldn't find it so he made appointment to have it towed to the dealer so a new fob could be made....then Christmas Eve morning he found both! In a damn coat he brought in the house from the SUV after we searched all his coats in the house lol Oh well at least he found both!! (he is keeping appointment to get another fob since he lost the spare he had)

Christmas Eve Day- Spent the morning with my sister running around- it was nice! We grabbed hot drinks at Timmies for free with our app points (we do the NHL picks and for people that do not like Tim Hortons we made a point of redeeming for something to use up the points!) Went to Costco and I bought 2 bags of the bacon bits and a new crossbody purse. Put it on her bill and paid her cash- I still haven't renewed out Costco membership-trying to push it till next year! I do have a few things to return so will plan to do that in the new year.
The party was good but I was exhausted and so happy to return home to my bed

Christmas Day- Oldest DS was sick but he powered through. Dinner out of town did not happen because of this but it is what it is.

Boxing Day- I went out early to SDM x 2 and RCSS. Found the Olay kits I usually buy my mom for 1/3 rd the price so I bought the last 3! So one put away for her for Mother's Day and one for me and not sure on the 3rd yet. It was a very snowy day so didn't stay out long and then came home for a chill day.
Took out steak from the freezer so we made a nice dinner with that (and used up some of the green beans from Christmas Eve dinner that came home with us)
The last of the homemade ceasar dressing for a ceasar salad

Today- Popped out this morning to GT, Starbucks (treated myself to a latte since I had to point offers) Walmart and No Frills x2. Found ground pork for $1 package so grabbed 3 for the freezer (trying not to go crazy but a good deal to stretch ground beef and a meal plan to use it to make meatballs)
Getting a few things done around the house now and then meeting my friend for dinner tonight. Girls night!

Have a great Saturday!

[SassyAshley]

Good Evening Everyone,
Still sick but I know I am getting, WOW is this cold hanging on. Now I think Mom is getting it.

I spent most of the morning trying to talk myself into going to Costco because I ran out of Hydrasense and Mom wanted to make Chicken soup and I wasn't sure if we had any carcases, so I was going to grab rotisserie chickens. This did not happen.

I was able to find two carcases in the freezer plus what I belive was a Turkey carcase so on the stove those went to turn them into stock.

Stock is done and in the fridge, Mom will finish her soup tomorrow.

I do not know what it is, I am feeling better but the exhaustion is real, everything today feels like too much work. I have decided this is the universe's way of telling me we are taking Shut Down off and we will figure it all out in the New Year. Although not sure what the New Year will bring, the girl I am covering on Order Desk will not be back in January, we are now hoping for the end of January. As well we had a meeting on our last day and if we move forward it is going to add a lot to my plate but that is what it is. It will be a huge project but it isn't anything I cannot handle.

Happy Saturday Everyone.

[walkonby]

^^^ I LOVED your newsy post! @Frugalbigmama . That key fob fiasco is always the way, finding the item AFTER other arrangements have been made.
( like my sister being issued a new CC only to find the one she " was sure was stolen " days later ). DH and I have spent the entire day ( so far )
taking shifts sleeping! What the heck kind of knock out foods have we ingested that could take us both out like this? Not sure if we'll even bother
watching the Maple Leaf's game later. The last win was so awesome but getting our hopes up is usually what they do....ha ha
Wishing sc friends here a very relaxing Saturday!

[HermanH]

Found a 5-pound turkey chub for $6.26 at RCSS

Rescued 4x loaves of bread from the dump and found an abandoned protein bar wedged into a crosswalk sign on the way home.

I sure earned them, after slogging through knee-high snow all day.

[coupon girl]

Sassy i had a cold for a good 8 days then a sinus infection for another 10 days .I think i overdid it this xmas running around too much to get the perfect gift for grandkids,having to go out the day before xmas eve to get my girlfriends grandkids a gift cause she asked me 2 days before to come xmas eve .

Walkonby my daughter went home yesterday at 2.00 p.m but first they all went to the show my 2 kids and 3 grandkids and daughter-in-law.I went to bed at 8.00 p.m last night and now my whole body just aches ,I just used the heating pad my son his family gave me and guess what even on the highest setting of "6" it is not as hot as my last one .uuuuugggg first world problems .

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning. We are bracing for this ice storm and we are being warned about and to prepare for power outages.



Just made coffee and eggs and toast. with a banana and 1/2 an avocado. Simple and did the trick.

Happy I picked up a new crossbody purse (thank you Costco!) (will return my other one- the strap broke) So I should set it up...I have felt out of sorts without it...it is the perfect sized and easy to wear (don't even notice it) but yet have all my things with me!

I picked up DS and his friend at a house gathering this morning at 2am....His friend only lives a block away so easy to drop him off at home which is nice.
Glad they get out and see friends and don't just game! Which they plan to do tonight...as long as we have wifi I like my baby safe at home
He is lucky to be off till Jan 5th like me (I plan to check email and do a few things) so a nice break for him....which reminds me that I should be washing his work clothes! They need to see some soap and water!!

Well have a million things I would like to do today but not sure where to start! Agh.

Enjoy the day!