Dinner Party on a Dime with PC Plus Points

Last week President’s Choice announced that you can now use their PC Plus Points at No Frills stores as well as their Real Canadian Superstores. While I normally shop at Superstore when we are in Calgary, when we are at the lake I always shop at No Frills. Getting my PC Plus Points there as well is a BIG help because I am a serious PC Plus Points addict. They add up quickly and I love being able to say “Just take the $30 I have in my points account off my total today!”

Fresh apples from BC

No Frills Stores

If you aren’t familiar with No Frills stores, they are owned by Loblaw just like The Real Canadian Superstore. You can find the same great PC brand products there but the stores are no frills (get it…ha). There aren’t any shiny displays, the products are on shelves that look like warehouse shelving. You also won’t find housewares, toys, electronics, etc. It’s just groceries which I really like when I’m in a hurry. With all the other things to look at, I have a hard time staying on track. Squirrel!!!! However, you still find lots of selection and great deals across the board.

Lots of selection. I didn’t even know there were that many different kinds of ketchup!

Today I decided to see if I could buy everything for a dinner party for less than $100. I wanted to be able to feed 6 people and make it family friendly and delicious. I hit the challenge out of the park and bought everything for under $80 for appetizer, salad, dinner and dessert. (I did not buy some of the things that I had at home required for the recipes like small amounts of milk, onion, oats and oil.)

Since most of our dinner parties include kids, I chose a very family friendly menu. Remember that guests in your home are there to see YOU not to watch you rush around making super complicated food while setting your hair on fire. All of these recipes are pretty simple and come together easily and everyone will eat them. Never underestimate that point! One thing I love about PC Plus points is there are often offers on items in the produce section. I love that I don’t have to buy a bunch of packaged food to save (unlike coupons!).

Family Friendly Dinner Party Menu

Appetizer: PC Double Cream Brie baked with cranberry sauce (make ahead) on top with crackers. Also a can of mixed nuts for the coffee table.

Main Course: BBQ Meatballs (Fresh Beef was 100 points for every $1 spent today), Creamy Baked Mac & Cheese and Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad (make ahead)

Dessert: Cake made from Duncan Hines mix (6oo  point offer today!) and PC Cream first Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Drink: 4 bottles of Perrier sparkling water

Total $76.57

Easy, kid and adult friendly and (most importantly) delicious!

I also bought this (but it is not included in the total above) because it is THE BEST ICE CREAM EVAH! True story. You should buy some and then eat it all because that is what I do. Nom nom nom nom.

PC Plus Points Program Details

Want more information about the PC Plus Points program? You can sign up here. I highly recommend that you use the app (iOS or Android) because it is MUCH easier to keep track of what your current offers are. Offers are given to you based on your spending habits (which I love) so you will see offers for things that you actually buy. I always load my offers before I head for the store and add items with offers to my grocery list. Easy peasy. I also always check my points after because things sometimes happen. If points were missed, you can ask for your transaction to be reviewed directly from the app. So easy! You can check out my write up of the app & the PC Points program from a while back.

If you have a question about how it works, leave them in my comments and I will answer as best as I can. Please note, however, that if you are missing points or need help with your actual account, you will need to contact PC directly.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Loblaw. All recipes, opinions and savings (woo hoo PC Points) are my own.