With grocery prices rising across the country and the cost of living soaring, learning how to coupon in Canada isn’t just a savvy move – it’s a smart way to take control of your spending. From weekly flyers to cashback apps, couponing can help stretch your grocery budget and make your money go further. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to coupon in Canada step-by-step – including tips inspired by Canada’s couponing community and our FREE Grocery Tracker to help you keep tabs on your spending. Whether you’re new to budgeting or already working toward becoming debt-free, every little saving counts.
What is couponing, and why does it matter?
Couponing is the practice of using discounts, vouchers, or promotional codes to reduce the cost of items you buy – most commonly groceries and everyday essentials.
And it’s more relevant than ever. With 47% of Canadians living paycheque to paycheque (Leger, 2024) and food prices rising 21.4% between 2020 and 2024 (Statistics Canada), saving just $10 – $20 a week could mean over $1,000 in annual savings. That’s money that could go toward debt payments, emergency funds, or simply a bit of financial breathing room.
Couponing won’t fix everything, but it’s a practical, empowering step toward better money habits.
“Even as most consumers are willing to pay more when necessary, they’re not convinced that price increases are always justified – or fairly communicated.” — Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agri-Foods Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax (Retail Insider)
Step-by-step: how to coupon in Canada
Ready to give couponing a try? The good news is, you don’t need hours of free time or a binder full of flyers to get started. Here’s a simple, practical guide on how to coupon in Canada – one step at a time.
1. Build your list around the flyers
Instead of writing your shopping list first, check flyers from major grocery stores like Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, and Walmart. Apps like Flipp let you compare deals across multiple stores. Plan your meals around what’s on sale – if chicken thighs are cheaper than ground beef this week, adapt your meals to match. According to a new study, the majority of Canadian shoppers say they always (60.9%) or often (27.7%) look for discounts or deals when grocery shopping, making tools like flyers more relevant than ever.
2. Use cashback and couponing apps
Canada has several free apps that offer cashback on groceries when you upload your receipt:
- Caddle
- Checkout 51
- Eclipsa
- Rakuten (for online purchases)
These apps can be used in combination with store deals or coupons – a strategy often called ‘double-dipping’ – for maximum savings.
3. Track prices and spot the best time to buy
Use tools like our free Grocery Tracker to record prices, monitor trends, and track your grocery spending. It helps you spot patterns (like sale cycles) and make informed decisions. Also make sure to watch the unit price. Bigger doesn’t always mean better – look at the cost per 100g or per item to see if you’re actually getting the best deal.
4. Use loyalty cards and digital coupons
Sign up for loyalty programs from grocery chains and drugstores, including:
- PC Optimum (Loblaws, No Frills, Shoppers Drug Mart)
- Air Miles (Metro, Shell, and others)
- Scene+ (Sobeys, Foodland, FreshCo)
These programs often include digital coupons, personalised offers, and points that can be redeemed for discounts. With the average Canadian household now spending $12,000 – $14,000/year on food (Canada Food Price Report 2024), these small savings can add up significantly.
5. Start small and build confidence
Couponing doesn’t have to mean spending hours clipping flyers. Pick one store and one app to focus on at first. Once you’re comfortable, you can expand your strategy. Keep it simple. Consistent small wins are more effective than chasing every single deal.
6. Learn from Canada’s couponing community
There’s a growing online community of Canadian couponers offering tips, tricks, and encouragement. For example, Kathleen Cassidy (@livingonaloonie), a well-known Canadian couponing influencer, regularly shares strategies for building smarter shopping habits. While Spergel isn’t affiliated with any influencer, this broader community can offer helpful insights – especially if you’re just starting out.
7. Stockpile wisely – not excessively
Buying non-perishables like pasta, canned goods, or toilet paper when they’re at their lowest price point can help you avoid paying full price later. This is known as “stockpiling” – but the key is to only buy what you know you’ll use.
8. Use a second email for signups
Set up a separate email address for couponing. Many apps and loyalty programs require signups, and keeping these in a dedicated inbox helps avoid clutter.
9. Check manufacturer websites
Brands like General Mills, Procter & Gamble, and Kraft often offer printable coupons on their websites or through Canadian sites like Save.ca and Websaver.ca.
10. Take advantage of price matching
Stores like Walmart, Real Canadian Superstore, and FreshCo allow price matching – meaning you can show a competitor’s flyer and get the same deal without shopping around. Always bring a screenshot or copy of the competitor’s deal and check the store’s policy in advance.
Avoid these common couponing mistakes
Even seasoned couponers slip up now and then. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for – and how to avoid them:
- Don’t clip everything: only use coupons for things you’d actually buy.
- Check expiry dates: many coupons (especially digital or printable ones) expire quickly.
- Know store policies: not all retailers allow stacking, and policies may vary by location.
Couponing and your bigger financial picture
Couponing is a great way to save money – but if you’re regularly struggling to cover basic expenses, even with deals and discounts, you might be facing a deeper financial challenge. That’s where Spergel comes in. As a team of experienced Licensed Insolvency Trustees, we’ve helped over 100,000 Canadians find debt solutions, rebuild credit, and get their finances back on track. There’s no shame in asking for help – and no cost to explore your options. See what our clients say about working with us – we have over 3,000 positive reviews.
How to coupon in Canada: FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions we receive about couponing in Canada:
Does couponing exist in Canada?
Yes, couponing absolutely exists in Canada – though it may look a bit different from the extreme couponing you sometimes see in the U.S. Canadian shoppers can take advantage of digital coupons, cashback apps, loyalty programs, printable offers, and in-store deals to save money on groceries and household essentials. While coupon stacking is more limited here due to stricter store policies, there’s still a strong and growing community of savvy Canadian couponers making it work.
Is there a coupon app in Canada?
Yes, there are several coupon apps available in Canada that can help you save money on groceries, household items, and more. Here are some popular options:
- Flipp: this app aggregates digital flyers from various retailers, allowing you to compare prices and clip digital coupons directly to your shopping list.
- Checkout 51: offers weekly cashback deals on groceries and household essentials. Simply upload your receipt after shopping to redeem offers.
- Caddle: provides cashback for completing surveys, watching ads, and uploading receipts from purchases. It’s a unique way to earn money back on everyday activities.
- Rakuten Canada: formerly known as Ebates, this app offers cashback on online purchases from a wide range of retailers.
- Save.ca: allows users to access digital coupons and view flyers from local retailers, helping you find the best deals in your area.
These apps are free to use and can be a valuable tool in reducing your monthly expenses.
How do beginners start couponing?
Beginners can start couponing by picking one or two grocery stores they shop at most often and downloading the relevant loyalty or flyer apps, like Flipp or PC Optimum. From there, they can look for weekly sales, start using cashback apps like Caddle or Checkout 51, and build their grocery list around what’s on offer. Starting small and tracking savings over time makes the process manageable and rewarding.
How do extreme couponers do it?
Extreme couponers take savings to the next level by combining multiple strategies: they track sales cycles, match store flyers with manufacturer coupons, use cashback and rebate apps, and may even shop at stores that allow coupon stacking. Many also build stockpiles of non-perishable goods when prices hit their lowest point. It takes time, organization, and often a dedicated system – but with the right approach, some extreme couponers save hundreds each month.
Final thoughts
Learning how to coupon in Canada is a practical way to make your money go further. With a little planning and a few digital tools, you can reduce grocery bills, free up room in your budget, and start building better money habits.
If you need help beyond couponing, Spergel is here to support you. Book a free consultation today to explore your available debt solutions and take the next step toward financial stability – no pressure, no judgment, just honest guidance.