Two sites which can help you save money on your food budget, each are dealing with leftover food – Food Hero and Too Good to Go.

Grocery stores have food which is getting close to a best before date. They can no longer sell it. However you can still buy it and still eat it. This week I bough 3 kinds of Lindt chocolate bars for only $1 each.

Food Hero is an app which tells you which grocery stores are clearing out which items. In the Montreal area they are mostly for IGA and Metro.

Restaurants prepare food everyday not knowing who is going to order what. At the end of the day, there are perfectly good meals left over. You can score one of them on the Too Good to Go app They mostly offer around $15 worth of food for $5 or $6. A lot of times it is a mystery bag. Be brave and try some new things. You never know what you might discover.

Websites:
https://www.foodhero.com

https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-ca

 Goldtex has always been a superb childrens’ outlet which is hidden amongst factories in LaSalle – and is worth the trip to find it. The family-run business are experts in the baby business and have always curated a quality selection for you. And not only that – 95% of their stock is from Canadian suppliers and they only sell Canadian approved products which are safe for you kids. 

For Black Friday sales, their offering great deals on their baby equipment: 20% off on Nuna playards, car seats, swings, and 20% off on the Silver Cross Jet 3 stroller including the adapter plus 25% off selected car seats.

Thinking ahead for the holidays, it’s there that you can score a Lionel Messi brand outfit. The Argentine professional footballer has kicked off his line of children’s clothing from sizes 3-14 and you can only buy it at a few stores in Montreal. Other brands you’ll find here in sizes from newborn to 16  are: Nike, Jordan, Levis, Converse, Hurley, French Toast, Nasri, Gusti, Perlimpinpin, and now Messi!.

It’s even easier when you can shop-at-home (from their website) at a store right here in Montreal and keep the money in our own city. They we will also match the price of any in-stock item of a Canadian online retailer.

There’s Perlimpinpin, Halo, Mabymoov, and Jolly Jumper bedding and lots of bottles, hats and shoes at the front along with baby cream by Aleva Health and The Honest Company. Baby accessories are by Chicco, UPPA baby, Safety First, Nuby, Graco, Avent, Dr. Brown, Munchkin, The First Years, Oxo Tot, Boon, Haakaa, and Medela. You can find  strollers, cars seats, high chairs, play yards and swings by Graco, Baby Jogger, Peg Perego, Maxi, Cosi, Safety First and Nuna, UPPA baby. And when you might need them, the upper mezzanine has  fancy party dresses – even for flower girls, suits, tuxedos, outfits for communion, confirmation and baptism.

Feel good about buying from a local second-generation family business who offer you great service, prices and products.

Location: 8875 Salley, LaSalle Click for map 
corner: Dollard Tel: 514-365-9699
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-6, Sat 9-5
Dates: Nov 16-27
www.goldtex.ca
https://goldtex.ca/collections/nuna
Click Here: https://goldtex.ca/collections/sale

We all need boots for winter so it’s especially nice when our very own brand, La Canadienne, has a big sale Before we need them. La Canadienne boots are made for la Canada winters. They know how to keep us warm and dry.

Location: 5745 rue Pare, Mount-Royal
corner: Devonshire
Dates: Nov 16 & 17: 9-8, Sat Nov. 18: 9-4

Sixty multi-generational artists are showcasing their skills at the DDO Fine Arts and Crafts Holiday Market held at DDO’s beautiful Community Centre Building. Spread out over 2 floors, you can wander the four rooms and also ogle the Artists’ Association of Dollard’s annual exhibition. Make sure you make it to the top to enjoy the view from the heated outdoor rooftop terrace, l’Étoile filante, with a menu of holiday-themed drinks.

Admission to the Holiday Market and all events is FREE along with free parking and coat check

Wend your way through the tables of goodies including: jewelry (Silver Dragon), floral arrangements (Zu Zu), accessories (Elie’s Bows and Lulu’s Lanyards), woodworking (Fraser and Son and John McCracken), body and skin care (Savonnerie Le Chat Noir Nu), ceramics (Pot de Crème) and gift items (Meraki and Artisanat Noha), along with pet products, photography, stationery, paintings, pieces from the Beaconsfield Quilters’ Guild, and holiday decor. Sheep and goats from Microferme Retour au Source help out too as humans craft wool dryer balls, soaps and natural wool right from the source.

Handcrafted edible treats go from decadent to wholesome like Zano Macarons, La Tarterie, Gluten Free Dreams, Bals Provisions, Lab à Mémé, and Chocolat comme ça.

Last year I spotted leather jewelry and card cases, wooden bowls and boards, winter hats and gloves, chocolate, fur ponytail bands, crystals, pottery, pet bows and bowties (okay for humans too), mosaics, soap, paintings, small human sculptures, jewelry, wall sayings, Christmas decorations, baby gifts, button and bead art.

After you walk around the main level’s two rooms, don’t forget that hiding in the back is a windowed Craft Cafe with snacks from Boulangerie Mira. On the second level, you can peruse two more rooms and then look for a doorway which leads to the heated terrace with wide views.

Don’t shop online this year; Head out to support your neighbours and buy their artistic wares in this welcoming atmosphere situated in a beautifully designed building. Some vendors even give a percentage of their sales to good causes. Here, creative passions are shared and livelihoods supported directly (instead of large chain stores). There’s something for everyone in the family – even you!

Location: Dollard des Ormeaux Civic Center 12,001 boul. de Salaberry, DDO
corner: Lake Rd
Dates: Sat & Sun Nov 11 & 12
Hours: 10-4
Wheelchair accessible; public transportation nearby
web site: https://centreartsdollard.com/holiday-market
contact: Special Events Coordinator, Megan Bradley: 514-684-1012 ext. 220 | mbradley@DDO.qc.ca

JRC Toys’ much anticipated annual toy warehouse sale is chock full of the many brands that your kids love. They have just opened up to the public.

Getting together for the holidays this year will be very meaningful. Make sure your kids have fun, so pile on the gifts.

The JRC Toys mega toy warehouse sale offers incredible savings – up to 70% off-  on some of the biggest brand names toys including:

Paw Patrol, Original Squishmallows, vtech, Cat, Marvel, Barbie, National Geographic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nerf, Disney Doorables, Mattel, Hot Wheels, Disney Princesses, Crayola, baby alive, Hasbro, Fur Real friends, Pokemon, Roblox, Smithsonian, Beyblade Burst, playmobil, Zuru, Spinmaster. Geomag, Sparkle Girlz, Potato Head, Transformers, Slinky, Playgo, Leap Frog, Star Wars, Disney, Spiderman, Avengers, New Bright, Play Doh, Orb, Phidal, remote control toys, classic board games, Bestway inflatables, jigsaw puzzles (adult too), scooters (even electric ones), chess, checkers, cribbage and lots of books and coloring books.

They accept debit, Visa and Mastercard. There will be no exchanges or refunds, as all sales are final.

If you are hosting a company holiday party or a toy drive, and need bulk buying,  this is your place, call 514-342-6979 x 27.

Head here for the best prices on the most recognizable brand name toys.

Location: 5589 Royalmount
corner: Chemin Devonshire
Metro: Station de la Savanne
Tel: 514-342-6979
Dates: November -Dec 24
Times: Mon & Tues, 10-5, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5 (Open Dec 24 10-3)
jrctoys.com
email: info@jrctoys.com

Marcelle and Annabelle cosmetics, CW Beggs and Son skincare lines for men and Quebec’s favorite Lise Watier products are all featured at this warehouse sale. You’ll find lipstick, gloss, eyeliner, shadows, blush, mascara, pencils, brushes, cleansing gels, skin creams and nail polish and more.

Marcelle makeup and skin care products were developed for women with sensitive skin. Marcelle has been a trusted brand since 1933, catering to Canadian women’s needs since 1949 and is manufactured and designed in Quebec.

What you find at the sale are a lot of varied make-up items which were limited editions, liquidated items, recently discontinued goods, gift sets and regular products. Prices are up to 80% off regular retail prices.

If you spend $150 or more, you will receive a free gift. Please bring your own shopping bags!

You can reserve free tickets at www.salesgroupemarcelle.eventbrite.ca. This way you do not have to stand in that long line. You book a time, enter at that time, and can shop as long as you would like.

Location: 9456 Cote de Liesse, Lachine, QC H8T 1A1
Autoroute 520 est Service Rd.
Dates: Nov 3-5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19
Time: Fri 4-9, Sat & Sun 9-5
www.marcelle.com
Phone: 800-387-7710

Simms Segal Linwood & Wilshire Fashions represents more than 40 designer clothing lines for women, men, children – from  LA, NYC and Europe. They are offering us a 3-day warehouse sale.

To give you an idea of what kinds of brands they sell, these are some names listed on their web site: Airfield, Alashan cashmere, Alembika, Cami NYC, Coney Island Picnic, D.A.T.E., Dress the Population, Generation Love, Gershon Bram, Hoff, Innuikii, Lauren Moshi, Loci, Love Token, Michael Stars, Molliolli, Norma Kamali, NVSCO, ottod’ Ame, Seductive, Sol and Selene, Soludos, Serra by Joie Rucker, Way Out.

They are clearing out their lines now so you can help them by buying them at clearance prices using cash, Interac, Visa or Mastercard.

You can enter by the front door. But please note, that they too are suffering from the Montreal construction challenges on Beaubien Ouest. Allow yourself extra time for parking in the area.

Location: 155 Beaubien ouest
Corner: l’Esplanade
Phone: 514-849-6011
Dates and Times: Nov 16: 10-8, Nov 17 & 18: 10-2