Affording Life
Free household items
St Vincent de Paul is a Catholic organization that can give you donated furniture or household appliances if you cannot afford them. You can request specific items that you need. Call for help.
St Vincent de Paul
Second hand shopping
The Opportunity Shop is a second hand clothing store. They also have a small selection of household items (picture frames, board games, books).
There is often a free pile of donations out front. The quality and variety of the free items is unpredictable.
If you are leaving an abusive home, or are in desperate need, the Women's Centre and the Naomi Society can often offer you a voucher for clothing.
The Opportunity Shop
(the Opp Shop)
Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
314 Main St.
The Respect Life Centre runs a shop that sells religious materials, and secondhand clothing and household items.
Respect Life Centre
Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
27 St Andrews St
Happenstance hosts a second hand clothing store inside of its gift shop. They have a small selection of household items (picture frames, board games, books).
If you are leaving an abusive home, or are in desperate need, the Women's Centre and the Naomi Society can often offer you a voucher for clothing.
Monday: 10:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday - Friday: 10:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 10:30am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
260 Main St
Facebook Buy & Sell
You can find good deals on used items on Facebook Marketplace and in Facebook Groups. You need to have a Facebook account to use these services.
Antigonish and Area Wholesale Deals is a group whose moderator posts flash sales on everything from clothing to home decor.
Pick-up only (Antigonish, St. Andrews and Sherbrooke).
Facebook Marketplace lists items for sale from all local buy & sell groups. You can find everything from vehicles to electronics to cellphones to clothing.
Apps and Websites
Flipp is an app that lets you search current and upcoming flyers. You can compare prices, build shopping lists, set alerts for upcoming sales and download e-coupons.
Printable coupons can save you a lot of money. There are a number of websites that offer coupons. These are a few of the most reliable with the most available.
Atlantic Superstore offers discounted products through an app called Flashfood.
Download the app for iPhone or Android
You must set up an account, then you can use the app to buy discounted food. with a credit card. Pick up your order within 24 hours in the Flashfood freezers near the customer service desk.
Detailed instructions are given in-app.
🚐 Atlantic Superstore is accessible by bus Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Atlantic Superstore
Monday - Sunday: 7:00am - 10:00pm
♿️ 26 Market St
Recreation
The Town of Antigonish Recreation Department loans out equipment for public use.
Things you can borrow in the summer:
PFDs (life jackets)
group activity bags (parachute, balls, cones, etc) - from the library
walking poles
Things you can borrow in the winter:
skates
helmets
snowshoes
The County of Antigonish loans out equipment for public use.
Things you can borrow in the summer:
PFDs (life jackets)
group activity bags (parachute, balls, cones, etc)
adaptable tricycles
walking poles
Hippocampe (beach wheelchair)
watercraft (kayaks, paddleboards)
Things you can borrow in the winter:
skates
helmets
a snow coach
snowshoes
Sledges (seated skaters)
Money management
These guides and websites give information on budgeting and how to make your money go further.
Money Matters Booklet (PDF Booklet 2013)
Available here: https://bit.ly/MoneyMatters2013
Get Smarter About Money (website)
Practical Money Skills Canada
SmartSaver (for parents)
Canadian Foundation for Economic Education
Spend wisely
It pays to take the time to look up reviews, price comparisons and plan options before signing any contract or making a major purchase.
As of July 14, 2021, Bell, Rogers and Telus are required to offer low cost cellphone plans. If you are not offered these prices, you can submit a complaint to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
CRTC Complaints about cellphone plans
Monday- Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Consumer Awareness: Access Nova Scotia is a website provided by the province that has a small collection of information about making purchases and complaints in regulated industries, including:
loans and credit
funerals and cemetery purchases
condominiums
Canadian Consumer Handbook is a fully searchable website that provides information needed to make informed purchases of both products and services, including:
cellphones
internet
funerals
pay day loans
leases
credit cards
rent to own
car and trucks
Better Business Bureau of the Maritime Provinces has a searchable database where you can check out businesses and charities before you spend or give your money, or file a complaint.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) of the Maritime Provinces
Monday - Thursday: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Friday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Did you know?
That you can reclaim money left in old bank accounts?
You can look up unclaimed bank balances in your old bank accounts online. You have to go in person to the original branch to apply to withdraw your funds if they have been abandoned for less than ten years. If it has been longer, you have to submit a claim through the Bank of Canada.
Note that turnaround time can be months long, but you'll get your money in the end.
That you can get a refund for your driver's licence if you are no longer driving because of your health or another reason.
More help and support
Search for information about government programs.
By Topic (ex. Housing)
By Department or Service Provider (ex. Community Services)
By Program or Service Provided (ex. accessible transportation)
Search for contact information of program and service providers across the province.
Fill out a simple, confidential survey to see what government benefits you are eligible for, with links to applications.
The regional library’s website has a directory of services and collections of brochures on subjects including:
The Health & Wellness section, in particular, has multiple links to information on subjects as wide-ranging as Affordable Housing to Grief to Diabetes.