How to find promotions and discounts on products?

Rising food prices make finding deals and discounts not just a useful skill, but a necessity for many families in Calgary. Effective deal hunting requires a systematic approach, the use of various tools, and an understanding of retail promotion cycles. Modern technology has greatly simplified this process by giving consumers access to digital flyers, price comparison apps, and rewards programs that can save hundreds of dollars each year.

Digital platforms for finding deals

Flipp remains the most popular deal-finding app in Calgary, collecting weekly flyers from over 2,000 stores across North America. Users can “clip” digital coupons directly to their shopping list, compare prices for identical items at different stores, and receive alerts for discounts on their favorite products. The average savings is about $46 per week for active users. The app also includes a digital wallet for loyalty cards, allowing users to store all their rewards in one place.

Save.ca offers a comprehensive approach to saving, combining flyer browsing, coupon clipping, and shopping list creation in one platform. The app also offers free paper coupons mailed to your home for those who still prefer traditional methods.

Reebee lets you view a complete list of local grocery flyers in one place, with a search feature to find relevant coupons based on your shopping needs. Users can save offers and redeem them at the point of sale.

Loyalty programs and personalized offers

PC Optimum provides personalized offers that are updated every Thursday based on your shopping habits. When you register your PC Financial credit card with PC Optimum and use it when placing an order at participating stores, the program tailors your offers to the products you have purchased. Members also get access to in-store promotions, bonus point events, and special offers on products.

To maximize your PC Optimum points, we recommend tracking your weekly personalized offers through the “Offers” tab in your app. You can “save for next week” offers to ensure they don't expire before you can use them. Strategic shoppers can use large point offers as an opportunity to stock up on necessary long-life items.

Calgary Co-op has its own app with a Bonus Cash Rewards program that allows members to earn bonus cash rewards on new products every week. The app also includes games with the chance to win free products and access to digital shopping lists.

Tools and strategies for saving on groceries in Calgary

Receipt-based cashback apps

Checkout 51 works like a digital coupon book where you don't have to remember to hand your coupons to the cashier. The app offers weekly cashback deals on everything from peanut butter to laundry detergent. After your purchase, you upload your receipt to the app and mark the cashback offers you redeem. Checkout 51 sends you a check in the mail once you've earned $20.

Caddle allows users to earn cash back by taking surveys, viewing ads, providing product reviews, and interacting with brands. This Canadian-only app offers high-value cash back coupons that are updated every Thursday.

Rakuten offers cash back from over 750 stores when shopping online, including grocery sites like Amazon and Walmart. Although Rakuten is primarily focused on online shopping, users can earn cash back on groceries through food delivery services like Hello Fresh.

Apps for reducing food waste with discounts

Flashfood has become particularly popular in Calgary for saving money on food that is nearing its expiration date. In 2024, Flashfood helped Canadians save over $50 million, with shoppers saving up to 50% on everyday essentials. The app is available at 850 Loblaw stores across Canada, including select No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Maxi locations.

Purchases are made directly through the app, and customers simply pick up their order from the Flashfood zone inside the participating store. The app is particularly useful for meat, dairy products, fresh fruit, and vegetables.

FoodHero works in a similar way, partnering with grocery stores and food cooperatives such as Sobeys, IGA, and Metro to sell surplus food at discounts ranging from 25% to 60%. Each available product has a description, original price, discounted price, and expiration date.

Price matching policies

Many stores in Calgary offer price matching policies that can save up to 10% on annual grocery expenses. Save-On Foods agrees to match any competitor's flyer in Calgary through the Flipp app. One user reported saving about 40% by price matching different stores.

Real Canadian Superstore agrees to match local advertised prices of competitors for the same products. However, there are restrictions: they do not match online prices, sale items, limited quantity items, or prices that require a minimum purchase.

No Frills has a “Won't Be Beat” policy, where they will match the advertised lower price of a major supermarket competitor for an identical or comparable product. Giant Tiger will beat the advertised price of a local competitor by one cent.

The best time to find discounts

Understanding store restocking cycles can maximize your chances of finding discounts. Fresh produce usually arrives on Tuesday or Wednesday, and employees are more likely to be “sick” on weekends. The best results for online orders are achieved on Thursday after lunch.

For in-store shopping, the best time is Friday midday or Saturday before noon, when the freshest products are available and the shelves are fully stocked. Avoid Sunday evenings, when stocks are usually depleted and staffing levels are low.

Many stores restock in the middle of the week, usually on Wednesday or Thursday. The best time to shop for sale items is early in the morning or late at night, when you can find great discounts on perishable items.

Specialized apps and tools

The Coupons App offers coupons, discounts, and promo codes from over 100,000 retailers. The app also notifies you when discounts are about to expire so you can take advantage of them in time.

Websaver allows you to receive coupons by mail, print them out, or use digital coupons. The platform also offers cashback deals when you spend a certain amount on certain items.

Many popular brands offer printable coupons on their websites, including Chapmans, Royal, Dempsters, Kellogg's, and more. Checking different brand websites just once a week can yield a significant number of coupons.

Strategies for maximizing savings

Combining several methods can significantly increase your savings. Use Flipp to find the best deals, then price match at your favorite store. Combine this with loyalty programs and cashback apps for triple savings.

Create a “watch list” of items to track through Flipp — the app will notify you when your favorite items go on sale. Be a strategic shopper: when your favorite long-lasting items go on sale, use it as an opportunity to stock up.

Download several apps and compare offers between them. What's not available in one app may be available in another. Consistency is key to creating significant savings — regularly checking deals and using available tools can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Finding deals and discounts in Calgary requires patience and a systematic approach, but with the right tools and strategies, consumers can significantly reduce their grocery spending. Combining digital apps, loyalty programs, and an understanding of store cycles creates a powerful savings system that helps families stretch their grocery budgets further without sacrificing quality or variety.