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It Can Be Cheaper to Grocery Shop Daily |
| By Patti McKenna |
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Through the years, I've read at least one hundred different articles with tips and tricks on how to cut your grocery bill. With a large family, I've followed most of the advice at one time or another. I've cut coupons, browsed through sales flyers, etc. One piece of advice that doesn't work for me is to planning a week's worth of meals and shop only once a week.
I have seen how this works, and it does. It reduces impulse spending, and forces the shopper to buy only the items they need for a week's meals. But the concept neglects one way to save money on the biggest cost of a meal - the meat for the main dish.
I have a family of six, and they definitely expect a meal that will fill them up. So, when I cook seven dinners a week for the gang, the meat takes up a large portion of my bill.
I've found that grocery shopping several times a week for "meat only" purchases is actually cheaper for me. When chicken leg quarters are on sale for 39 cents a pound per 10 pound bag, I grab as many as allowed. Then, I'll make another trip later in the same week, and grab a couple more. But what I've found to be most helpful is to look for the reduced meat (meat with an expiration purchase date of today or tomorrow). Typically, these specials are reduced by $1 to $2 per pound. Whether its steak, roasts, or pork chops, I can get my meat below sale price. Now, its catch as catch can - I never know what cuts will be available, (new ones are usually discounted daily) and I only buy what we truly like and I always check the meat for possible discoloration, etc. But if it meets my criteria, I'll buy it and cook or freeze it immediately.
Some cuts of meat, however, are tougher cuts. For instance, this week I found a 4 lb. top round roast in the "marked-down" section at the market. It was $1.19 per lb. I don't like to cook a top round roast as a roast - you know with mashed potatoes, gravy, etc. It isn't as flavorful or tender as a rump roast. But it is leaner, with less fat. These are the cuts I cook in the crock pot or slow cooker to make them fork tender. Just add water and the meat makes its own broth (canned broth has too much sodium and salt). I slice onions and place them in the bottom of the pot, and add garlic, pepper, and oregano for Italian Beef. Note that I didn't add any salt - the other seasonings do the trick. Buns came from the day old bread store, and we had a side salad. If the buns are slightly stale, it's okay, because I lightly toast them under the broiler before we eat. The cost to feed a family of six (with enough left for lunch the next day) was about $8.00. So, I do find it more than worthwhile to run through the grocery more than once a week!
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RE: It Can Be Cheaper to Grocery Shop Daily
I like to run to the store as little as possible to reduce impulse buying and to save my time. However, I often stop when I drive by just to check out the marked down meats. On a good day, I find several packages of roasts, steaks, chicken, ground beef, etc., and fill my freezer. I agree that it's one of the best ways to save money. If you live close enough, have the time, and are disciplined enough to pass other items and go directly to the marked-down meat section, this can be a gold mine.
RE: It Can Be Cheaper to Grocery Shop Daily
Invest in a crock pot, and it will never let you down! I make my own marinades (Caribean) and use canned tomatoes to "break down" the meat. We also go half or split three ways part of a cow, and it lasts in our freezer for at least 6 months. Comes out to less than a dollar a pound and it is WONDERFUL meat! My family eats more chicken, turkey and pork, so that helps the money load.
RE: It Can Be Cheaper to Grocery Shop Daily
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Post By (Guest Post)
(05/01/2006)
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ALSO ADDING A FEW TABLESPOONS OF VINEGAR WAS SOFTEN EVEN THE TOUGHEST MEAT AND YOU WILL NOT TASTE THE VINEGAR
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