James Nevison has a thrifty eye for tasty wines. Nevison, The Province's wine columnist (they call him the 'Wine Guy') and a 10-year veteran of wine tasting, has a proven palate for pairing poultry with Pinot Gris.

These days Nevison wants you to enjoy the best wines for less money. With the help of his new app, Had a Glass, wine enthusiasts can take his top 100 wine list to the liquor store and pick a winner for well under $20. No more battling bottle labels and perusing point-based reviews. Nevison has scoured the shelves and has hand-picked the top buys across Canada.

The wine descriptions in Had a Glass are wittily written and easily read, and can be searched by price, country, wine type, food pairing, and occasion.

I asked Nevison to share his top tips for picking the perfect wine on a tight budget.

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I’ve never questioned the price of alcohol sold by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). There’s no other alternative for purchasing booze in Ontario and, given the government monopoly, I’ve neglected to ask myself (or anyone else) why prices here are so high. And though I noticed that alcohol was much cheaper when I was in the United States for school, I never delved into the possible reasons for that. When the Auditor General began to scrutinize LCBO pricing policy, I became rather interested.

It turns out that a lot of people think we pay too much for booze, and that the LCBO is doing a pretty poor job (for many reasons). Oh, and the price of alcohol is going up. I bet you didn’t see that one coming.

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Wandering around the grocery store looking for something affordable to eat can be a daunting task. A recent Statistics Canada survey of household spending found that Canadians spend $7,440 on food each year -- that's 10.4% of the average household budget. If you're hungry for a better deal, try these 5 tasty ways to eat better on a budget.

1. Make a weekly meal plan. Using the grocery aisle displays for your dinner inspiration is a surefire way to blow your food budget before the week is up. Prepackaged food may be easy to buy and serve, but the cost is substantial when compared to cooking your meals from scratch. So before heading to the store, make a plan for all your family meals and know which ingredients to buy to make every meal a winner for your wallet.

2. Get listed. With a meal plan in mind it's easy to write a simple grocery list to account for your dinner needs. Don't forget to take inventory of your fridge and pantry so you don't spend good money on duplicate items. A well-planned shopping list can also save your budget from impulse buys by keeping you on task.

3. Stop reaching for brand names. Recognizable food labels are easy to spy and buy because marketing companies spend big money to shelve brand name items at eye-level. Next time you're in a grocery aisle, take a good look around for the generic alternative to the brand name and save an astounding 10 to 50 percent just by making the switch. Most generics are shelved just above, below, or even beside the flashy brand names.

4. Watch the price scanner, get free food. Spotting a price scanning error could score you free food thanks to The Retail Council of Canada's Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code. If the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the participating retailer will give you the product free of charge -- all you have to do is ask! See Watch the price scanner to get your food for free for all the juicy details.

5. Simmer with your slow cooker. Slow cookers are inexpensive to buy and can save you hundreds on your grocery bill each year. Using a slow cooker, you can take a cheaper cut of meat and tenderize it over time into a tasty soup, stew, or even roast. Vegetarians can also cut food costs by using a slow cooker to cook dried beans, saving around 60 percent over buying canned beans. Besides, coming home after work to a hot and healthy meal is priceless. See How to Buy a Slow Cooker or Crock Pot to dial into savings and simmer with some tasty recipes.

Your Turn: What's your tasty trick for cutting your grocery bill?

A family reunion is a wonderful way to stay in touch with your entire family from near and far. You may think it’s expensive to get the whole gang together, but there are lots of options for hosting this special occasion to suit every budget. Whether this is an annual event or the first time you’re planning a gathering with all your relatives, these ideas will make your reunion an event to remember…and you won’t have to spend your children’s inheritance.

• Reserve a spot. Determine how many relatives will be attending and choose an appropriate venue—a park, local hall, restaurant or someone’s home. When choosing a public park, contact your local parks and recreation office to find out if you require a permit. Take advantage of summer sales, and stock up all your outdoor entertaining needs at the Bay, Sears or Walmart.

• Divide and conquer. Planning a family reunion can be a lot of work, so get all the relatives involved. Ask people to handle different responsibilities like food, accommodations, games and more. Create an agenda for the day or weekend, but be flexible too—the idea is to relax and have fun!

• Camp out. If your reunion is a weekend affair, people will need a place to sleep. Look for bargains on tents, sleeping bags and flashlights in the Canadian Tire flyer on Flyerland.ca. The kids will love camping out with their cousins, although they may not get much sleep!

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Pool parties are a traditional summer event everyone enjoys. You want to make a splash at your soirée with lots of fantastic food, drinks, and festivities. But you’re concerned the cash will run through your fingers like water. With these eight great ideas your pool party can be the hottest—and coolest—of the season without draining your savings.

• Plan a theme pool party. A fun theme can make an ordinary pool party extraordinary! Plan a luau with leis and grass skirts, a Hollywood party with everyone dressed as their favourite celebrity, or a seventies theme complete with teased hair and colourful loungewear. Choose popular beach music or tunes inspired by your theme. Stores including Michaels and Fabricland have all your party crafting supplies to make fun and memorable costumes.

• Prepare an imaginative menu. Grilling up burgers and hotdogs is great for the kids. But to make your celebration extra-special, cook up creative cuisine—you’ll find recipes online or in-store featuring fish, chicken, pork and more. Complete the menu with salads and sides, and don’t forget cold, sweet treats for dessert. Check out the Loblaws and Save-On-Foods flyers on Flyerland.ca is full of super ideas and savings.

• Design your own drinks. Create cocktails with entertaining or exotic names to match the theme of your party. Stock up on mixes and pop—it’s a good idea to have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks on hand. See the Metro and Food Basics flyers on Flyerland.ca for beverage bargains.

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The eyes of the world are on South Africa where players from around the globe are competing in the World Cup of Soccer until July 11. As a multi-cultural country, Canadians from coast to coast are cheering on their favourite teams. But gathering with fans in local pubs and restaurants to watch all the action can get pretty pricey. With these tips you can get a kick out of the World Cup without receiving a red card for spending.

• Sport your team’s colours. There’s no better way to show support for your team than to outfit yourself in their colours and apparel. Check the Zellers flyer on Flyerland.ca for deals on jerseys, hats, flags for your car and more. 

• Cheer on your team. The little ones can get involved in the World Cup excitement by making colourful and creative signs to support your family’s favourite team. See the Michael’s flyer on Flyerland.ca for all the supplies you need at championship savings. 

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There's no better day to celebrate being a Canuck than Canada Day. This July 1st marks our country's 143rd birthday since the beginning of confederation in 1867. If you're the celebrating type, here are 15 ways to help you throw a frugal Canada Day barbecue.

1. Throw a potluck: Friends and family love to help out and feel included when it comes to a backyard barbecue. So don't be shy, ask guests to bring their favourite side dish, snack food, or main course to help keep food preparation costs on budget.

2. Bring your own meat (BYOM): It's no mystery that the biggest barbecue expense is the meat portion of the meal. Steaks, burgers, chicken, and pork chops can get expensive when it's only the host cleaving the bill. Chop your costs this year by asking guests to bring their own meat for the grill. As a plus, everyone will munch on their preferred burger while you save money.

3. Grill some veggies: You don't need to be a vegetarian to enjoy a few cost-cutting veggies on the grill this season. Become a money saving omnivore by barbecuing zucchini, mushrooms, corn on the cob, roasted peppers, or eggplant. Grab a skewer and make marinated vegetable kabobs -- with little effort you'll look like a Canuck culinary star.

4. Buy in bulk: Find savings by buying burgers, chicken, and chops in value packs from a bulk warehouse club or a large chain store. You can always wrap and freeze the extra for another party.

5. Make a grocery list and shop the sales: Planning the menu ahead of time is free and saves you from making expensive last minute meal decisions. Grab this free Printable Grocery Shopping List to get a head start on your dinner preparation and to find the best grocery sales in your area.

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 The smoky scent of sizzling steaks and juicy burgers grilled to perfection means barbecue season is here at last! And there is no better time to get out and get grilling than the Victoria Day holiday. But if celebrating the long weekend with a BBQ party seems like a lot of work, read on. These tasty tips will make it fun, easy and affordable to plan a party your friends will be talking about all summer long.

• Finish yard work early. Victoria Day weekend is the traditional time for planting, opening the pool and dusting off the patio furniture. Plan to complete your yard cleanup early so you can relax and enjoy the rest of the long weekend.

• Shop for delicious deals. Plan your BBQ party by visiting Flyerland.ca to view the flyers for all your favourite stores like Metro and Sobey’s. Fill your freezer with grilling greats, and be sure to stock-up on condiments, beverages and other staples as well. For a new twist on old barbecue favourites, indulge in the many gourmet grilling sauces and marinades.

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Standing in the supermarket checkout line waiting for your food to scan can be as much fun as watching paint dry. But if you watch carefully and spy a scanner price error, you could score that grocery item for free.

Mistakes on electronic price scans are common at the grocery store. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has found that errors occur in 1 out of every 32 regularly priced items. Errors are more common on sale items, with 1 out of 28 items being overcharged to consumers. The cost of being overcharged at the till can add up to many dollars per month per family.

But in Canada, spotting a scanner error could save you up to $10 per item. The Retail Council of Canada has a Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code that states:

• If the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer will give the product to the customer free of charge; or
• If the correct price of the product is higher than $10, the retailer will give the customer a discount of $10 off the corrected price.

As a consumer, all you have to do to qualify is watch as your groceries are scanned at the checkout and verify that prices are accurate. If you see an error, don’t be afraid to ask the cashier to give you the item for free. If your cashier is unaware of the policy, ask for a manager or go to the customer service desk to claim your free food.

Over the years I've used the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code to my benefit. This year alone I've claimed at least $20 in free groceries due to price scanning errors. At times I've had to explain the code to confused cashiers, but many times I've walked away with free food by just asking. Many participating supermarkets post this code at checkout, so don't be wary of asking whenever you see a mistake. Being overcharged at the till can really add up!

The occasional free food item is great, but to help you keep weekly grocery costs down be sure to plan ahead with a shopping list.

Download this free Printable Grocery Shopping List to help you:

• Save money by curbing impulse food buys.
• Identify healthy and frugal foods on a single master list.
• Save time grocery shopping.
• Never forget another grocery item.

See the Retail Council of Canada for a list of stores that are committed to accurate scanner pricing with the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code.

Your Turn: Do you spy scanner price errors at the grocery checkout? Do you say something about it?

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate and enjoy a wonderful meal with family and friends. But, there is often so much to do and the last thing you want is to be running around all day, missing the fun. Last week we took a look at how to plan wisely for your Thanksgiving feast, and today, we’ll talk about tips for how to shop and still having time to enjoy the day. You’ll be thankful for all the money you’ll save!

• Shop on Friday or Saturday. Most store flyers are released on the weekend – this is also when the stores have the most stock and the best choices, so shop as early as possible.  Now it is going to be busy so wear comfortable shoes and bring a coffee.  Shop and compare in advance.

• Know the brands. Generic brands can be just as good in quality as the national brands, but can save you money and this can especially be true for the side dishes for Thanksgiving.  Also look high and low on shelves when you shop as highest price items are usually at eye level.

• Take advantage of great deals. If you find a good deal on turkeys, why not pick up a second one for the next holiday. Or donate one to a homeless shelter or food program. You may also want to check back after the holiday when the turkeys go on sale – this is a great time to pick one up for December holidays as well.

• Know how much turkey you need. Quantities vary depending upon whether you have a group of big eaters and want to have leftovers, but plan for approximately 1.3 to 1.5 lbs or 0.6 to 0.75 kg per person. For 6 people that’s an 8 to 9 lbs or 3.5 to 4.5 kg turkey.

• Buy in bulk and share.  Shop with a friend and make it a great chance to chat and catch up while you shop and wait in line.  Get together with friends to buy staples on sale in larger quantities then share them with everyone.  Or cook a few pies and your friend cooks other items and share.  

• Shop around. Check out flyers for different stores at Flyerland.ca to find the best deals, especially on staples you can buy in bulk. This is a great time to stock up on ingredients for the holiday season.   Remember 3 times the quantity at 2 times the price is the average savings.

• Know how much to cook. You don’t want to run out of food, but you don’t want to overcook and have it go to waste either. Be sure to read labels for recommended quantities, bearing in mind that you’ll be offering a selection of dishes.

• Try new recipes. Check out Canadian Living or Chatelaine to find new and exciting variations on traditional recipes. You can also have recipes ready to make use of any leftovers. A bigger turkey cooks more evenly and also provides the leftover for lunches other meals.  Why not pick 3 great recipes all from different cuisines or get the kids to help and search online for recipes they like and can help out with?  Then you can save some time and keep them busy.

Debbie Frye, General Manager, Flyerland.ca