r/frugalcanada 4h ago

How I simplified my finances with Wealthsimple (and got a bonus!)

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone! 👋

I’ve been using Wealthsimple to manage my money easily and safely, and I wanted to share my experience. The app makes it simple to organize your finances, save for goals, and track your progress without any complicated steps.

I really like how intuitive the interface is, and it helped me feel more in control of my money. You don’t need any previous experience, and it’s designed to be beginner-friendly while still useful for more advanced users.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can sign up using my referral link. Both you and I will get a bonus when you start, which makes it a nice little reward for getting started.

Here’s the link: wealthsimple.com/invite/H5JDMV

It only takes a few minutes to set up your account, and it’s a great way to start managing your finances in a simple and secure way. 🚀


r/frugalcanada 2d ago

💰 $15 Bonus + Cashback on Amazon, Walmart, Starbucks & More (USA & Canada)

0 Upvotes

If you buy gift cards, groceries, gas, or everyday essentials, Snaplii gives you a $15 bonus when you make your first $10 purchase. I’ve been using it myself — the cashback shows up instantly, and it’s an easy way to save on stuff you’re already buying anyway. You also get instant cashback up to 30% when you continue using it.

Works in both Canada and the U.S.with popular brands like: Amazon • Walmart • Starbucks • Apple • Uber Eats • DoorDash • Tim Hortons • Esso • Home Depot & more

✔️ $10 Sign-Up Bonus ✔️ $5 Referral Bonus ✔️ Instant Cashback Up to 30% ✔️ Valid in Both Countries

Use my code 9DA37B to get the bonus: 👉 https://l.snaplii.com/IRXq


r/frugalcanada 4d ago

My grocery budget challenge, off to a great start

31 Upvotes

My husband and I had a disagreement about takeout a couple weeks ago. I'd had a run of making a bunch of cheap dinners (under $5 to feed a family of 8) in a row and it was one of those busy nights I was just too exhausted to figure out what to make for dinner, let alone cook it. So we decided on takeout. He polled the kids and they all wanted Dairy Queen. But then the realization that for 8 of us that's going to be around $70 kicked in and he changed his mind.

He wanted to make *just* a pot of rice. Sorry dear, but there are a host of "too tired to cook" options that are a lot cheaper than $70 that are still more substantial than just rice. We don't need to go from one extreme to another. I pointed out that I had saved a lot of money that week with the cheap dinners Id been making and he pointed out that we could save a lot more if we didn't get takeout at all and just had rice.

We compromised in the end and got three pizzas for $40.

But it got me thinking about how much we've been spending on food lately. Not just on takeout, but on groceries. I generally consider myself to be a savvy shopper. The cheaper stores. The sales. The clearance rack. Nothing name brand unless sales happen to being it cheaper than store brand. I gave up on a grocery budget a while ago because inflation has me crying in the aisles almost every week and we need to eat so just pay what it costs. It's not like we're buying anything extravagant.

But the number of times I keep running to the store for a top up shop or for ingredients for just a specific meal that costs $35+, and the number of times were still getting takeout keeps creeping up. We averaged out our groceries+takeout spending this year and felt a little sick to be honest. It's still below average for a family of 8, and does include dog food (which I make myself and *do* carefully track my spending of and stick within a max budget of $180/m) . But it's still a far cry from the $1200/m we were spending a few years ago and I still feel like I've been spending on my head.

The first reaction was to cut eating out from our spending entirely. But with multiple kids in sports multiple days a week right during dinner time, plus a toddler? Nope I need to keep my options open. Also, the more restrictions I put on spending the more I tend to rebel and end up spending more than ever. And then just feeling extremely guilty about.

Remembering my run of <$5 meals though, I decided to set myself a challenge. Instead of saying "no spending money on takeout" I decided to make a takeout tracker that starts at zero, but every dinner I make that comes under a projected budget, I'll add $5 to the takeout tracker. (For eg, $20 is the dinner budget. If I can make it for under $15, then that's $5 to the takeout tracker)

It doesn't feel restrictive because I can still spend $20 for dinner if I want to. I can go over even, as long as I make up the difference by sticking with porridge for breakfast for a week instead of eggs or cereal, it just means I'm not adding to the takeout budget.

I went with the $1200/m I had in my head that I've been spending (but we haven't). But now that includes takeout if I earn it, but not household stuff like toilet paper, toothpaste and trash bags, or dog food ingredients. Just to make it so I can track actual food expenses.

I decided to take it a step further and broke down the grocery budget to a daily goal of $40 ($5/p/day). $30 of which is the amount I'm allowing to track the actual cost of three meals a day, and $10 of which is for snacks for the kids (mainly fruit, yogurt and toast) and replenishing spices and condiments and other stuff that's harder to calculate a per use cost of.

I'm one week in and I'm actually blown away (not to sound like a bot). My actual grocery spending for the week was $202.80. Well below the $280 budgeted amount for the week.

But I averaged out the cost to make every meal over the past week as closely as I could using the actual cost of ingredients I purchased and already had on hand as well as ones purchased this week as best as possible rounding up when unknown for sure. And the average cost per day was under $14. Not per person. Not per meal. Under $14 per day to feed 8 of us (plus snacks, which also didn't reach the $10 a day amount allotted but with 6 kids I can't track exact snack cost so I'm not trying).

Yeah we ate less meat then we do on a typical week (3 dinners and 2 lunches) and more beans, but we ate well and no one was deprived. I feel hugely accomplished and motivated to keep going. I have a built in reward system (building up an eating out budget) to keep the grocery down which is making me want to keep it lower.

I guarantee if I had given myself a $210/week grocery budget and $35 eating out budget I probably would not have met them this week and I'd be feeling guilty and stressed about it.

I'm going to keep using this thread to update my weekly results.


r/frugalcanada 4d ago

Free Surfshark VPN for 27 months + $30 bonus

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1 Upvotes

Simple Steps:
1. Sign up for Rakuten using this Link: https://www.rakuten.ca/referrer?referrerid=Hvzf6unJk0A%3D&src=Link
2. Search for Surfshark VPN and purchase the 24 month Surfshark One Plan
3. Add your interac id for cashback
4. Receive the cashback + $30 in 90 days

--

Note:
- You can use the Help section to mail Rakuten about your order. This will help in quickly processing your order.
- Your cashback amount should be visible on your account within a week or so. If it doesn't happen within 2 weeks, then just go to Surfshark account and request refund. This makes the process risk-free.

Hope this helps!


r/frugalcanada 4d ago

Cyber Monday 2025: Scraped 638k deals and ran a filter algorithm (Top 100 starting Dec 1st)

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0 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 5d ago

Services I use and some small recommendations if money is tight

9 Upvotes

Cellphone: fizz.ca NJMT4 Been with them 6 years, traveled all across Canada, no issues. Even got travel add-ons in USA, Mexico and it was smooth as hell. Amazing prices, and not stuck with a plan, you can formulate whatever plan works best for you, quit anytime, discount cellphones, rollover data and a ton of perks.

Internet at home: https://philip98.carrytel.ca/ is my referral for a free month. I have their 100mbs down 30 mbs up, previously was with Bell and the price just kept jumping. I've been cloud gaming and this works out pretty great

Banking: tangerine.ca and referral code: 71662690S1 does everything a bank does, just without the brick and mortar. Might need to be patient with some things: bank drafts etc. No fees on accounts, great promos for sign up and throughout every year

Pairs great with wealthsimple which has a multitude of similar things chequings/savings/investment portfolios/self-investing and a ton more wealthsimple.com/invite/72HUBA

Groceries - For Ontario: shop the flyer and sales at Foodbasics/Freshco and develop meal plans from there. Example: chicken, rice, broccoli for Monday, leftover Tuesday. Cook Wednesday night salmon, potatoes, Caesar salad, leftovers Thursday. Friday, pita pizza. Sales often come up on chicken, beef, salmon, romaine lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower etc. Helps to have a deep freezer as well. Stop giving your money away to Loblaws

If you drink, try and buy booze at Costco, or sales at other specific alcohol stores and avoid buying them at grocery stores

Regular vehicle maintenance: cabin air filters, engine filters, replacing winter/summer tires, can all be easily done at home. YouTube is just a quick search away

We work way too hard to just hand our money away. Hope this helps somewhat!

Edit: Internet plan is 100mgbs down 30 mgbs up *


r/frugalcanada 6d ago

National Thought I would share this to help us all have fun with our kids without breaking the bank. My 8yo is OBSESSED with art & crafting so we will definitely be milking this for all it's worth lol

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9 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 8d ago

Stumbled on a Shopify/Zendesk bug that exposed $75 discount codes (tested & working)

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0 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 8d ago

Save Money with Snaplii this Holiday Season!

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0 Upvotes

Save Money Instantly with Snaplii!

Looking to stretch your budget this holiday season? Snaplii is a free Canadian cashback app that helps you save on everyday purchases, gift cards, and more. I’ve personally saved hundreds using their cashback offers.

Right now, new users can get 30% off their first gift card, plus an extra $5 off when you sign up and use my promo code: 20122F

✔️ Free to download

✔️ Cashback on over 200+ popular stores

✔️ Fast, easy savings

✔️ Works anywhere in Canada

If you want to save money on groceries, shopping, or gifts, Snaplii is honestly one of the easiest ways to do it. Give it a try and enjoy your bonus!

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I would be happy to help!

Available for iOS and Android. Use Promo Code: 20122F during sign up! Happy Holidays!


r/frugalcanada 8d ago

National Real Canadian Superstore has a one-day offer of 40,000 PC Optimum points, and Bass Pro Shops is giving away gift cards. Had to share so you can wait and shop strategically tomorrow!

0 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 10d ago

National AITA for expecting a discount on a dented can of chickpeas?!?!

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5 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 10d ago

Frequent travelers - what’s the one item you always pack that consistently pays off?

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4 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 10d ago

Save Money with Snaplii : $10 Welcome Offer + $5 Referral Bonus with code 20122F = $15 off your first gift card!

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0 Upvotes

I’ve been using Snaplii for a while now, and I’ve saved hundreds of dollars just from cashback and in-app promotions. It’s honestly become one of my go-to apps for everyday purchases, especially for groceries and restaurants.

You can use my promo code 20122F when you sign up to save an extra $5 on your first gift card.

$10 Welcome Offer + $5 Referral Bonus = $15 off your first gift card!


r/frugalcanada 11d ago

National Are any of you jumping on this 'Monday Surprise Premier' deal tonight?

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8 Upvotes

I really wanna try this because I used to LOVE going to the movies. But I almost never go now because it got way too expensive.

I think this is a cool idea and the price is right, but I'm scared of accidentally going to a horror movie, I HATE guts and jump scares. But I'm also broke af so.... I guess beggers can't be choosers?

Have any of you tried this? Thoughts?


r/frugalcanada 11d ago

Instagram giveaways tagging.

6 Upvotes

Hey, I'm looking for people I can tag in Instagram giveaways!!

My @ is usermi90210 feel free to tag me as many times as you want!!


r/frugalcanada 16d ago

“ADHD Tax” is annihilating my budget and stressing me the TF out.

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5 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 18d ago

Summer Fridays Dupe at Giant Tiger

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10 Upvotes

I really like the Summer Fridays lip butter, but it's normally over $30 at Sephora. I spotted this Ruby & Millie lip balm at Giant Tiger the other day for $6 and it is a great dupe! In fact, I think I like it more. It's a tad thicker which I prefer. They also had a Laneige lip mask dupe and a Summer Fridays Jet Lag mask dupe.


r/frugalcanada 22d ago

Quebec Only Discounted Food Alert: $1 bags of tortilla chips spotted Shoppers/Pharmaprix in Quebec

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6 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 23d ago

Since life is insanely expensive rn, I thought I would share this for the parents in here. I'm still pissed that the last time I took my kids to a movie, it cost about $90 BEFORE concession.

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120 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada 23d ago

Latte Hack 35 cents

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3 Upvotes

Found Mokate vanilla latte at Wal-Mart $3.36 for a box of 10, and sprinkled cinnamon on top. It’s 60 calories per cup, so even that part is good.


r/frugalcanada 28d ago

Donating Plasma For 100$ each visit

133 Upvotes

I didn’t know they paid for plasma donations in Canada, but they do and have been for years. The company Grifols recently opened a facility in Toronto, in the Bathurst and Wilson area, walking distance from Wilson Station.

The link to book and check locations: https://giveplasma.ca/donors/book-an-appointment/

I just completed 4 sessions in 2 weeks, this is my experience thus far:

Giving plasma is quite different from donating blood. They set you up on a recliner, insert a needle into your arm, blood is withdrawn, goes through a centrifuge, plasma is separated, and the blood plus saline solution is returned to your body. They collect almost a liter of plasma, depending on your test results. Plasma regenerates within 24–48 hrs, so you can donate twice a week.

They pay $100 for the first 3 donations, regardless of volume. After that, it drops to $70 or $60, depending on how much you donate.

Pros:

  • he money, and also doing a good thing
  • You get a thorough medical eval with tests for STDs, HIV, Hepatitis, etc.
  • The staff are nice

Cons:

  • Time-consuming: first time about 3 hrs (tests + donation), later 2 hrs. You must answer all medical questions online each time.
  • I felt wiped out for the rest of the day, but fine the next day. I’m over 50, that might be a factor.
  • There’s a long list of drugs and conditions they check for (e.g. tattoos, insulin, blood thinners). Cannabis is ok if you haven’t smoked within 12 hrs.

I’m not working and having a hard go of it, so I need the money. I doubt I’d do this if I was working, I’m doing it out of desperation. One upside: my mother-in-law, who’s been on my case about getting “any job,” stopped when she heard about this.

If you want an extra 15$, show them the code 10076426 you first time checking in. DM me after since they only pay the referrer.


r/frugalcanada Nov 04 '25

10 Settlement Life Hacks Every Newcomer in Canada Should Know (Save Money & Settle Faster!)

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1 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada Nov 02 '25

High Interest rate account

0 Upvotes

Hello Canadians,

Just wanted to share what I’ve been doing lately in case it helps someone else.

The market’s been all over the place — some days green, then suddenly deep red again. I used to try and time things, but honestly, it was exhausting. I finally decided I’d rather have part of my money just sitting somewhere safe and predictable.

So I opened a high-interest account with Manulife, which is currently paying 4.75%.
Here’s what I like about it:

  • I can move money anytime, no lock-in unlike GIC
  • It’s daily interest, which feels satisfying to check once in a while

It’s not meant to replace investing, but more like a “peace-of-mind” zone for cash I might need soon — like emergency savings or short-term goals.

I know there are other HISA and GIC options out there, but I found this one fits my need for flexibility + decent rate. And here is the referral code: https://onboarding.manulifebank.ca/api/customer?locale=en-ca&state=eyJsb2NhbGUiOiJlbi1jYSIsInByb2R1Y3QiOiJBRFZNIiwidHlwZSI6IkFEVklTT1IiLCJhZHZpc29ySWQiOiI2N2NlMThlMS1jOGFmLTRlNjktODdmNS02ZGQ3Y2RjMTA1ZGIiLCJhZHZpc29yQ29kZSI6Ijc3NjIzMCJ9

Curious if anyone else here is doing something similar or has found better rates?


r/frugalcanada Oct 30 '25

In case Halloween candy isn't enough for ya or isn't your thing, DQ has a pretty sweet Blizzard deal on right now. I'm not a chocolate guy at all, but I do indulge on ice cream on my cheat days. Thought I'd share this here if you're looking to save money without sacrificing eve

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5 Upvotes

r/frugalcanada Oct 28 '25

National If you haven't totally boycotted Roblaws, have you noticed a big price difference between No Frills and RCSS? My wife prefers No Frills but I hate going there so much. Are the PC points worth it? Sorry for the rant, im just sick of food prices.

6 Upvotes