Author: Alexandra Vrugt
As the price of some of life's staples rise, many families have started to cut back on what is perceived as the more expensive groceries, such as meats. Sad to say, but in a family, those steaks and chops are usually the first thing to get axed from the shopping list, in favor of cheaper alternatives or double duty protein items such as dairy products. But hold on...you may not have to cut out that shoulder and bacon if you get a little creative with your shopping.
Here's how:
1. Many stores sell their own cuts of bacon. Once they have sliced it down, there are usually pieces, slices, and chunks that are left over. These are the ends and they taste just as good as the regular slab bacon bits. Any frugal fashionista can save by buying a package of ends, which is usually priced up to 60% off of the regular bacon price. A pound of regular packaged bacon is around $4. A pound of bacon ends is around $1.25. Plus, of course, companies always publish bacon coupons. You can get the maximum benefit by using those coupons when there is a Buy One, Get One Free sale going on. With these, you could end up paying less than half price for each package.
2. Chicken is almost always available in the reduced-price meat section. Not only can you buy when they slash the prices, which are usually reductions of 25-60% off of the regular price, but you can also buy bigger portions when they are on sale. For example, it is almost always cheaper to buy a whole chicken, which usually goes on sale at 69 cents or less per pound, than to buy just the chicken breast, which usually bottoms out at 89 cents. Another option is to buy chicken leg quarters, which are very messy to clean, but often get reduced as low as 39 cents a pound!
3. Steak is great, but the price can be a bit daunting...if you don't catch it on sale. Only buy steak and other red meats when they are on sale. Ground beef often goes on sale for less than one dollar a pound. Then, the stores will often reduce the price even more. When you see this happening, bulk up! But, be careful with buying marked down steak. Often, certain cuts of beef are already priced high, so when they reduce the price, it's still a very expensive proposition. Check the prices of all of the different cuts and compare them. That way, when they go on sale, you know which is the best possible deal for your family.
Taking advantage of sales, shopping for marked down meats, and buying in bulk when the meat can be bought as cheaply as possible will help your family to save and still enjoy those hearty portions of meat! Make sure to incorporate lots of frugal recipes and you and your family should be able to eat and be very, very merry!
Alexandra Vrugt, a recognized connoisseur on saving money in daily life, has written many articles on how to manage on less. You can download a free copy of her Ebook 15 Top Ways To Save Money by going to her website MakeEndsMeetOnlne.com.
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