Hi friends, and thanks for stopping by to read about how groceries keep getting more expensive – not your imagination.
You don’t need to be an economist to know food prices are going up. Just go into any store and compare your receipt to last year’s. A bag of groceries that once cost $40 can easily hit $60 or more. And that’s without any fancy extras.
We keep hearing about inflation in the news, but it’s more than numbers on a chart. It’s real-life choices: Do I buy milk this week, or wait until payday? Should I skip the fresh berries and go with canned peaches instead?
The stats tell the story
In the past two years, grocery prices in Canada have surged:
- Cereal: up 18%
- Fresh fruits and vegetables: up 10–15%
- Baked goods: up around 15%
- Dairy and meat: up 10%
It’s not just inflation. A lot of our food is imported, and the weak Canadian dollar – sitting around 75 cents USD – means we’re paying more just to get it on the shelves. Add in droughts, floods, and supply chain issues, and it’s no wonder prices are rising faster than incomes.
And while middle-income households are grumbling, low-income families are struggling. Food banks are seeing record demand and some are even closing their doors due to rising costs and dwindling donations. One food bank near where I live shut down after 50 years. It’s heartbreaking, and it puts even more pressure on the remaining services.
Food insecurity is a growing crisis
Food insecurity isn’t just about being hungry. It’s about having to choose between food and rent, between fresh vegetables and keeping the lights on. Seniors, single parents, and people on disability or fixed incomes are being hit the hardest.
So what can we do besides get angry or discouraged?
We survive. We adapt.
Stretching that grocery dollar
It’s not glamorous, but now is the time to fall back on the basics. Here are some strategies that can help:
- Rice and beans aren’t just cheap – they’re healthy. Add frozen or canned vegetables, use spices to change up the flavor, and make it your own.
- Shop no-name brands. Some will disappoint, but many are surprisingly decent. Find the hidden gems and stick with them.
- Plan meals based on what’s on sale, not the other way around. Flexibility is your friend.
- Make soup and stew your best friends. You can stretch a little meat a long way when it’s simmered with lentils and root vegetables.
- Waste nothing. Leftovers become lunch. That wrinkled tomato might still work in a sauce.
- Buy bulk when possible and freeze portions. A large bag of oats or lentils goes a long way.
- Community food programs and shared gardens are popping up in some cities. Look for mutual aid groups or local Facebook pages where people share tips and even food.
A different kind of rich
It’s hard to stay upbeat when it feels like every dollar is being squeezed, but there’s something quietly powerful about learning to thrive on less. Simple meals, shared resources, and supporting one another. That’s the kind of wealth the economy can’t measure.
The cost of groceries may keep going up, but so does our resourcefulness.
Published by Cheryl @ The Lifestyle Digs on November 27, 2025.
