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Featured here is the Flashfood app. This video shows people how the app works and how it can help save money at select grocery stores. Not only does this video showcase how people can save money on groceries, but also how people can contribute to eliminating food waste.

By featuring this video, I wanted to show people that when it comes to stretching your grocery budget, there are more ways than just using coupons. While coupons are great, they often don’t apply to fresh fruits and vegetables or meats. With apps like this one or TooGoodToGo, you can stretch your budget and get something that you might not be able to afford. A steak is much more affordable when it’s 50% off. Food bank use is on the rise, so for some people, this might be an option that keeps them from lining up at a food bank. Not only are you saving money, but you’re also helping save the environment it’s a choice you can really feel good about.

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Here's an article that shows us the basics of ways to save money in our everyday lives. This article interviews a money-saving influencer, that gives out great tips. This article highlights that you don’t need to be a “crazy coupon lady” to get a good deal, and you don’t have to be that person holding up a checkout line to save 10 cents on a box of tissues.

Coupons have been around for a long time, and for good reason, they save you money, and they get you to choose one company brand over another based on savings. It’s important to note that couponing has come a long way in the last while. While you can still find traditional coupons in the grocery store or printable online, there are also apps such as Checkout 51 that are a collection of coupons you can only find in their app. The best part about couponing apps is that you can often stack deals. You can find a $5 item that is on sale for $4 in your local grocery store, and then you find a coupon in-store that gives you $1 off, on top of that, you can find a coupon in the Checkout 51 app that is buy 2, save $4. Now you’ve just got 2 items for the sale price of 1. Coupons are a staple for people who are looking for ways to stretch their budget because they’re easy. I chose this specific article because another great resource on savings is influencers. Coupon Cutie who is featured in this article goes into stores from Costco to Dollarama to show you great ways to save money. When you follow other people on social media who are looking for deals, you’re going to find out about deals you may not have otherwise found on your own.

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As prices continues to increase, more people are turning to couponing for the best deals on different household items. But some might not know where to start.

"Lots of people, when they think about couponing, they think of those ... TV shows where you have a cart full, you're holding up the line. It's intimidating," Nichole Schaubroeck, better known as the Coupon Cutie on Instagram and TikTok, told The Homestretch on Thursday.

"But that's not how we coupon really in Canada. We focus on doing small deals, like getting a couple things for free, price matching your groceries, just doing a couple of things at a time to help you save long term."

According to a recent survey from Angus Reid and the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, 18 per cent of Albertans are using coupons more than they did six months ago.

Canada-wide, consumers under the age of 35 are more than twice as likely to have increased their coupon use compared with consumers over the age of 55. If more coupons were available, 68 per cent of people would use them more often - and Schaubroeck, based in Manitoba, is seeing that increased interest.

She's been couponing for nine years and has an Instagram page with over 170,000 followers. She posts deals and instructions for how to navigate the world of saving as you shop. She says it's rare that she can't find some kind of deal for an item.

"Every time I go to the store, I'm not just buying something. I'm looking up price matches, I'm seeing if there's a coupon or if there's cash back," she says. "It's completely different than just grabbing something off the shelf. I'm always thinking, is it cheaper somewhere else?"

About the apps

If you're thinking of couponing as clipping out a pile of paper coupons and holding up the line at the grocery store, think again. While some coupons are still printed, Schaubroeck says there are lots of deals you can find electronically.

If people are interested in seriously couponing, she recommends downloading the PC Optimum app for points-based offers, as well as Checkout 51 and the Flipp app for earning cash back and price matching.

Schaubroeck advises to try buying things when they are on sale, before you completely run out and need them. Those couple of cents saved might not seem like a lot, but they can make a big difference down the road.

"Start looking for deals wherever you are - you know, clearance items, bulk discounts if you can."

Another tip is to look for items that are commonly on sale. Schaubroeck says you can often find heavy discounts for toothpaste, toilet paper and menstrual pads.

For example, she says last week at Walmart, pads were on sale for $4. Combine that with a cashback deal on Checkout 51 for $4 back and "you could get the box completely free."

Frozen french fries are another item that, with a little work, can be really cheap or free.

On the other hand, fresh fruits and vegetables don't usually have coupons, but Schaubroeck says you can still save money on those items by using price-matching with other grocery stores or getting cash back.
With files from The Homestretch

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How to get the most out of your couponing | CBC News

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As prices continues to increase, more people are turning to couponing to look for the best deals on different household items. But some might not know where to start.

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This page highlights tips for how to manage subscriptions. When people can eliminate unnecessary subscriptions, they are naturally going to stretch their budget. The tips here are important because they’re not tips that people look at once and then never again. It’s good to go over these things at least once a year to determine where money can be saved.

We’re in a digital age and have been for a long time. There are subscriptions for so many different things these days, TV, newspapers, music, gaming, cloud storage, fitness apps, the list goes on and will continue to grow as more and more of the world becomes digital. Subscriptions can seem insignificant from the surface, $7.99/month here, and $2.99/month there. Now look at everything that you’re subscribed to add it up for the whole year, including taxes, and you’re well into a few hundred dollars, if not over $1000 a year, just in subscriptions. This is why looking at what you’re subscribed to and deciding if it’s something you truly need is so important. Using these tips and applying them to all your subscriptions is a great way to stretch your budget and cut out things you don’t need. Phone and internet companies will sometimes offer free subscriptions to customers, so the next time you’re renegotiating your cell phone contract, you might just be able to get Crave or Disney+ for free.

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6 Tips to Help You Trim down Subscriptions—and Save Money

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6 Tips to Help You Trim down Subscriptions—and Save Money

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This article has helpful information on how to thrift, and what kinds of items you can expect to find. Thrifting is on the rise, and this article helps people navigate what can sometimes be an overwhelming experience if you’re new to thrifting.

I selected this website because thrifting is a staple for a lot of people who are shopping on a budget. Not only are you saving money, but you’re helping save the planet by giving new life to old items. People who are new to thrifting might think that you’re just going to find old sweaters from the 80’s with shoulder pads and beer logo t-shirts with unexplained stains on them. The reality is that items that end up at thrift stores can be anything from vintage Gucci loafers to brand-new 3-ring binders. You spend more time shopping when at a thrift store, but the savings are undeniable.  It doesn’t matter if you have experience or are new to thrifting, these tips will help anyone find what they’re searching for.

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ELLE Canada Magazine | Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle Trends & Celebrity News

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3 Thrifting Experts Share Their Top Tips for Getting the Best Finds | ELLE Canada Magazine | Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle Trends & Celebrity News

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Thrifting benefits our wallets and the planet. We chatted with three experts on how they score the best thrift finds.

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This investigative piece from CBC’s Marketplace shows consumers how some companies pressure us into buying items. It’s a good deep dive into the tactics used, the dishonesty in advertising, and how sales might not always mean we’re saving money.

I wanted to highlight how we can be tricked into buying items we don’t necessarily need, just because it’s on sale. Just because there’s a sale, it doesn’t mean you're saving money. You’re really only saving if you truly need an item. You might see a plain black t-shirt on sale for $5 and it just so happens plain black t-shirts are something you wear often, so you buy 2. Do you need those T-shirts now, or will you need them in the future? You could have spent your money wisely and invested that $10 instead because those black T-shirts will likely be on sale again in the future.

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Are deep discounts really a deal? We tested prices at Old Navy and Canadian Tire | Marketplace

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Here's a great example of ways a person can gain a little extra income and stretch their budget. This video goes in depth about many ways you can supplement your income and stretch your budget. The cost of living is always on the rise, and so are side hustles.

The following video shows people that they have options when it comes to earning a little extra cash. Maybe you really like your job, but it’s not the most well-paid. Maybe you want to make a large purchase and just need something temporary to help with that additional cost. The examples listed here range from common skills to specialty skills. The great thing about a side hustle is that you get to choose when you work and can fit it around your schedule. Keep in mind these types of jobs are typically harder to do full-time but are a great way to add a little extra income.

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Earn extra $2000 per month in Canada | Top Side Hustles in Canada for Students & Immigrants

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This video showcases a few free items companies will give you on your birthday. The creator shows that it doesn’t take a lot of effort to receive items for free; usually, you just need to sign up for the company’s app or mailing list.

I chose this video for 2 reasons, one is because it demonstrates how easy it is, and how you can make your birthday feel extra special while still being affordable. This just scratches the surface of items that are available to you for free on your birthday. The second reason is that when you are trying to save your money and stretch your budget, this is a great way to treat yourself to things you have avoided like specialty coffee or going out for ice cream.

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This online resource is dedicated to free activities across Canada. It includes information on free festivals, museums, outdoor activities are more. This website only covers 7 major areas in Canada, but the website owner is open to suggestions.

I chose this website because it’s important to remember that not all entertainment is expensive. When we think about budgeting, the main category that takes a hit is usually entertainment. The logical decision is to pay for the important things first, and entertainment is usually last to add to the budget, which means this category can sometimes be limited in options. When you start to look at all the free activities in your region, you start to realize that you can still have lots of fun while being conscious of your budget. The library is another great resource to find free entertainment, besides borrowing books, movies, and music, some libraries rent passes to places like museums or art galleries. Keeping an eye on your community pages on social media is also a great way to find out about free events in your area.

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Free Activities | Free things to do in Canada

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Free Activities provide comprehensive guides and articles of free things you can do in Canada absolutely free of charge for visitors and locals.

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I'm excited to share with you some great advice on how to use coupons, discount apps, find deals, and really stretch your budget. Lately, life has felt increasingly unaffordable, but hopefully the information you find here will help you find ways to save money. I've provided websites, articles, and videos on various ways to save money. Learn how to take your budgeting one step further by adopting frugal habits that save money without compromising your standards.

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Yard sales are an excellent way to stretch your budget, whether you're selling or buying. Many of us accumulate items that we once used but no longer need. Hosting a garage sale is a great way to declutter your home while earning extra cash for items you might have otherwise donated. On the other hand, shopping at garage sales can help you find items you need at prices even lower than those at thrift stores.

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When a store is going out of business, it will often have a liquidation sale, offering new items at significantly reduced prices. Additionally, there are liquidation stores that purchase goods—such as Amazon returns—at a discount, allowing them to sell these items at extremely low prices. However, it's important to remember that items from liquidation sales and stores are usually sold as final sale. If you discover that an item is damaged once you get home, you won't be able to return it.

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1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

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1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

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What I learned most about my topic of couponing and other ways to stretch a budget, is the wide variety of ways we can save money and stretch our budget. When we think about saving money we think about simple things like coupons or buying things on sale. Sometimes we forget that there are so many areas of our lives that we can save money in, our entertainment, our clothing, our food, and more. Knowing that if you pick even just one of these options today to start stretching your budget, you’re already doing better than yesterday. It’s important to know that with the variety of ways to save money, there’s really an option for everybody. For some people, thrifting might not be realistic, maybe it's too time consuming for an already busy life but maybe using the Flashfood app is something they can incorporate into their lives, as it doesn’t require a lot of extra time.

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2. Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

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2. Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

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I picked this topic because I grew up in a frugal family, and saving money and stretching a budget is something I know a bit about. I grew up going to and hosting garage sales, going to liquidations, and even auctions. As I’ve grown older, I’ve searched out my own ways to stretch my budget and find a good deal. Just recently I went to the Hudson’s Bay liquidation sale. I went with a small list of specific items I was looking for. While I only found 1 item on my list, I still consider that a win, because I didn’t pay full price, and I was able to use those savings towards something else. Was it tempting to buy a brand new pair of boots that I didn’t need that were deeply discounted, yes, but it is important to have a plan when going places like thrift stores and liquidations, so you don’t end up with unnecessary items.

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3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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The most important thing I could pass on is to look for a way to save money that’s right for you. Just because there are all these ways to save, doesn’t mean you have to do all of them. If you did each one that was listed, it would be very time consuming and could end up being overwhelming. Start small, download a coupon app, or go through your subscriptions. Once you are comfortable with one way to save money and you find that manageable, consider picking a second way to save money and go from there.