The $100 Spending Shift Challenge is a fun and simple personal finance experiment that encourages Canadians to shift at least $100 of their regular spending away from U.S. companies and toward Canadian-owned businesses.
Ever wonder where your hard-earned money actually goes? A lot of it ends up in the pockets of big U.S. corporations without us even thinking about it.
From the groceries in your fridge to the coffee in your cup, American brands are everywhere.
But what if you could be more intentional with your spending and keep more of your dollars in Canada?
Start with the $100 Spending Shift Challenge, a fun and simple way to shift at least $100 of your regular spending away from U.S. companies and towards Canadian-owned businesses.
Why? When you shop Canadian, you support local jobs, fuel homegrown innovation, and strengthen our economy.
You might also discover some fantastic Canadian brands you never knew existed!
The goal? Keep Canadian dollars in Canada, support local jobs, and discover excellent homegrown alternatives.
Why Take the $100 Spending Shift Challenge?
- Support Local Jobs: More money stays in Canada, strengthening the economy.
- Encourage Canadian Innovation: Small businesses and independent companies thrive when we support them.
- Reduce Economic Dependence on the U.S.: Every dollar spent on a Canadian alternative reduces reliance on American imports.
- Discover New Favorite Brands: Many high-quality, locally-made products compete with (or outperform) U.S. brands.
- Strengthen Canadian Communities: Money spent in locally-owned businesses circulates within the community, benefiting everyone from farmers to shop owners.
Ready to take on the challenge? Here’s a five-step breakdown of the challenge and simple steps you can take to swap out U.S. products for Canadian-owned alternatives easily.
Step 1 : Assess Your Spending
Before making changes, take a look at your typical expenses.
Where do you frequently spend money on American brands? Consider these common spending categories:-
- Groceries (big-name packaged foods, condiments, snacks).
- Dining & Coffee Shops (fast food, cafes, sit-down restaurants).
- Household & Cleaning Supplies (detergents, paper products, toiletries).
- Clothing & Shoes (retailers and brand-name apparel).
- Online Shopping (Amazon, U.S.-based retailers).
- Entertainment & Subscription Services (streaming platforms, books, video games).
- Gas Stations & Energy Providers (where you fill up your tank can matter too!)
Keep your receipts for one week, or check your bank transactions to see where your dollars go.
Step 2: Identify Canadian Alternatives
Once you’ve pinpointed your U.S.-dominated spending areas, it’s time to swap out those purchases for Canadian options. Here’s a handy guide to get you started:-
Grocery Store Swaps – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
| US BRAND | CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE |
| Heinz Ketchup | French’s Ketchup (made with Ontario tomatoes) |
| Lay’s Chips | Covered Bridge Chips (NB) or Hardbite Chips (BC) |
| Kraft Dinner | Annie’s or PC White Cheddar Mac & Cheese |
| General Mills Cereal | Nature’s Path Organic (BC) |
| Nestlé Chocolate | Purdys (BC) or Laura Secord (ON) |
| Tropicana Juice | Simply Orange (bottled in Canada) or Kiju Organic |
| Coca-Cola & Pepsi | Boylan Soda, Pop Shoppe, or Clearly Canadian |
Restaurant & Coffee Swaps – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
| U.S. CHAIN | CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE |
| McDonald’s | A&W Canada (Canadian-owned franchise) |
| Starbucks | Tim Hortons (debatable, but still a Canadian staple). And don’t sleep on local independent coffee shops. |
| KFC | Mary Brown’s (NL-founded, 100% Canadian) |
| Subway | Mr. Sub (Ontario-founded, Canada-wide) |
| Pizza Hut | Boston Pizza or Pizza Pizza |
| Dunkin’ Donuts | Country Style or Robin’s Donuts |
Household & Personal Care Swaps – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
| U.S. BRAND | CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE |
| Tide Detergent | Tru Earth (eco-friendly, BC-based) |
| Colgate/Palmolive | Green Beaver Toothpaste (ON) |
| Dove Soap | Rocky Mountain Soap Company (AB) |
| Bounty Paper Towels | Cascades Paper (QC) |
| P&G Cleaning Products | Attitude (eco-friendly, Canadian-made) |
Gas & Energy Swaps – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
- Instead of Esso (ExxonMobil, U.S.), try Petro-Canada or Co-op Gas.
- Instead of Shell (Netherlands/U.K.), opt for Husky Energy (Canada-based, Cenovus-owned).
For even more Canadian alternative suggestions, check out the earlier article Looking to Boycott U.S. Brands? Here’s What Canadians Should Buy Instead.
Step 3: Make the Switch and Track Your Progress
Now that you have a solid list of Canadian alternatives, start making small, intentional changes each week.
Keep a running tally of your new Canadian purchases and aim to hit that $100 goal.
Tracking Ideas – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
- Write down your swaps and total spending in a notebook or Excel sheet.
- Use cash for purchases. Physically separating your spending helps make it real.
- Set a bi-weekly goal. Start with $100, then increase it to $200, $300, or more!
Step 4: Explore Local and Small Businesses
Beyond big brands, Canada has thousands of independent businesses that offer amazing products and services.
Shopping at local stores, farmers’ markets, and Canadian-owned online retailers amplifies your impact.
Where to Find Canadian Businesses?
- The Buy Canadian First Directory – Online listings of businesses.
- Local Farmers’ Markets – Great for produce, dairy, and baked goods.
- Independent Bookstores – Instead of Amazon, try Indigo or a local shop.
- Canadian-Made Clothing Brands – Companies like Roots, Canada Goose, and Ecologyst make high-quality apparel.
- Local Hardware Stores – Skip Home Depot and check out RONA (Canadian-owned) instead.
Shopping Tip: When shopping online, check the “About Us” page to confirm if a company is Canadian-owned before buying!
Step 5: Reflect and Keep Going on the Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
After completing the $100 Spending Shift Challenge, take a moment to reflect:
- How difficult was it to find Canadian alternatives?
- Did you discover any new favorite brands?
- Are there U.S. brands you no longer feel the need to buy?
You don’t have to stop at $100. The more you support Canadian businesses, the bigger the impact you make.
Consider making this a monthly challenge or encouraging friends and family to take part!
Small Changes, Big Impact – Canadian Spending Shift Challenge
Shifting just $100 per month away from U.S. corporations keeps billions of dollars in Canada if enough people join in. The $100 Challenge is an easy, impactful way to:
- Support Canadian workers and entrepreneurs.
- Strengthen local economies.
- Reduce dependence on imports.
- Feel more connected to Canadian culture.
So, are you in?
Challenge yourself and your friends, and let’s keep our dollars in Canada! Elbows up!!!
Abi loves traveling, reading, and writing. She is a big believer in following your dreams and has been marching to the beat of her unconventional drums for a long time. She funds her adventures by making smart financial decisions and investing wisely. Her top personal finance tools include trading with Questrade, investing change on MOKA, and no-fee banking with Tangerine and Neo Financial. Learn more about Abi HERE.