How to Save Money on Meat - Save over $150 (2024)

Learn how to save money on meat and still feed your family well. These practical tips are easy to try and effective to reduce the budget.

How to Save Money on Meat - Save over $150 (1)

How to save money on meat

With rising food costs, everyone is trying to save money on groceries. With a few easy steps, we are going to show you how.

Yesterday, my son and I ran to Sam’s to do our monthly shopping trip. We ran over to snag some meat and found some amazing prices.

Don’t you love when that happens? I stocked up and saved over $150 in meat.

I have already mentioned 7 ways to save on meat. Today, I thought I would show you how I used those principles to save over $150.

You can see how I applied these tips and hopefully be encouraged to do the same.

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Tip 1: Look for reduced for quick sale

See the red sticker on that meat? It is reduced for quick sale. That means they need to sell it quick before its sell by date.

On this package of meat alone, I saved over $4. Normally I only find a package or two of meat that is reduced but this time I found a ton of ground beef. I stocked up because you can freeze it.

I still got my preferred meat, 90/10 so I didn’t buy other than what I normally like. Plus, I divided it all up into my freezer bags and froze it all.

I was able to save a ton of money without much time or effort.

How do you find meat reduced for quick sale?

  • Go in the mornings. Butcher’s normally mark down their meat first thing in the morning.
  • Ask the butcher. Next time you are in the grocery store, just ask when they reduce the meat. I asked the butcher at my local store and they said in the mornings they start their day marking down meat. It never hurts to simply ask.
  • Look for the sticker. Even if you are shopping in the evening, you might find a package that is marked down. Always keep an eye out for the sticker. You never know what you might find.

You can learn even more about how to save on reduced for quick sale meat. Anything you can do to reduce the price per pound will help the total grocery bill.

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What did I find?

  • I snagged a roast for cheap. They are expensive but it is worth it for the occasional splurge. I love when I find them marked down because the savings helps.
  • I also snagged the pre-made hamburger patties marked down. This is awesome for my family. I bought several packs and placed them in a freezer bag. Now, we are ready for burger night.
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How to Save Money on Meat - Save over $150 (6)

Tip 2: Cut up your own meat.

Now if you notice in the picture above, you will see two giant pork tenderloins. I bought them instead of pork chops…

Why? Because it is way cheaper that way and great way to save.

Instead of paying almost double for pork chops, I paid less than half per pound. Talk about a nice savings.

Don’t panic by the date on the picture above- this is an old picture. But I wanted to show you that you can get it for that cheap.

Saving $2.50 per pound is a huge deal. This tenderloin alone would have cost DOUBLE than I paid if I would have bought it already cut up.

How to cut meat easily?

  • Cutting up the tenderloin can be annoying, but my tip is to freeze it a bit. Stick it in the freezer for about 30 minutes to an hour. Then use a huge knife to cut it. It will be much easier to handle after it has “hardened” a bit in the freezer.

Tip 3: Buy in bulk

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As you can see in my picture, I bought a ton of meat. My freezer is FULL and I saved over $150 just in this shopping trip.

If I didn’t buy in bulk, I would have only saved $4, $8 or possibly $12. However, because I bought in bulk I really noticed the savings.

Try buying larger sized packages and dividing into smaller packs.

I definitely won’t have to buy meat for a while.

Try these easy tips.

I hope this post helps you and inspires you to start cutting down your grocery budget. It is possible and every little bit counts.

You might even want to talk to local farmers about purchasing large amounts of meat.

These tips are simple and easy. You don’t have to spend a ton of time to save money. You can find a great deal and save in the long run.

From chuck roast and different cuts of beef to ground meat and chicken breasts, you can save money and enjoy great meals.

We all need to save money and these easy tips will help do that.

More ways to save on meat:

  • How to save on meat – reduced for quick sale
  • Save money on meat without coupons
  • Know your stock up price
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How to Save Money on Meat - Save over $150 (2024)

FAQs

What is the most affordable way to buy meat? ›

These tips will help you and your family enjoy beef, chicken and pork for more reasonable prices.
  1. Buy Wholesale Meat. ...
  2. Shop at Local Farms. ...
  3. Look for Coupons and Sales. ...
  4. Change Your Shopping Pattern. ...
  5. Plan Ahead. ...
  6. Shop at Ethnic Grocery Stores. ...
  7. Compare Average Grocery Store Prices. ...
  8. Learn to Cook Cheaper Cuts.
May 15, 2023

How to reduce meat cost? ›

Recommendations for Buying in Bulk

This can be especially cost-effective if you have a large family or freezer space to store meat for later use. Look for bulk packages of meat at your local grocery store or wholesale club, and don't be afraid to ask your butcher if they offer bulk discounts on larger cuts of meat.

How to save money on beef? ›

11 Ways to Save Money on Meat at the Store
  1. Buy in bulk at the warehouse store. Think Costco or Sam's Club. ...
  2. Buy the family packs. ...
  3. Keep a record of the prices. ...
  4. Know what the labels mean. ...
  5. Compare prices in the store. ...
  6. Slice at the deli. ...
  7. Stock up seasonally. ...
  8. Talk to the local butcher.

What are some cheaper cuts of meat where you can save money? ›

These overlooked budget-friendly faves are sure to delight your table and your wallet.
  • top round steak (aka london broil) The London Broil is a thick and versatile cut. ...
  • top round roast. ...
  • sirloin tip steak. ...
  • eye of round steak. ...
  • bottom round steak. ...
  • bottom round roast. ...
  • Arm chuck roast. ...
  • top blade steak.

What meat is the best for the money? ›

Budget Beef Cuts
  • Ground Beef. ...
  • Budget Chicken Cuts. ...
  • Whole Chicken. ...
  • Chicken Leg Quarters. ...
  • Chicken Drumsticks. ...
  • Chicken Thighs. ...
  • Pork Shoulder. ...
  • Country-style Pork Ribs. Pork ribs, sometimes called country-style ribs, are less expensive than baby back or spareribs, and they pack just as much flavor.
Nov 8, 2023

Why is meat becoming so expensive? ›

COVID-19 disrupted the beef supply chain and triggered panic buying among consumers anticipating a shortage. This resulted in unusually high demand and subsequent price hikes for beef.

Does eating less meat save money? ›

A 2021 study from Oxford University found that vegan diets reduced food costs by as much as one-third. When you think about it, it makes sense: The average cost of a pound of ground beef was $5.23 in October 2023. If you replace that meat with chickpeas, you can expect to pay around a dollar for a 15.5-ounce can.

Is it cheaper to eat meat? ›

A study by Oxford University discovered that plant-based eating is actually the most affordable diet. It also found that a vegan diet reduced food costs by up to one-third due to the use of whole foods over meat and meat replacements.

Does cutting out meat save money? ›

Vegan diets were the most affordable and reduced food costs by up to one third. Vegetarian diets were a close second. Flexitarian diets with low amounts of meat and dairy reduced costs by 14%. By contrast, pescatarian diets increased costs by up to 2%.

What is the 30 month rule for beef? ›

The spinal cord from cattle 30 months of age and older must be removed from the carcass at the establishment where the animal was slaughtered.

What are 3 tips for buying beef? ›

When purchasing meat and poultry, it's important to use your senses of touch, smell and sight. Always make sure the meat is firm to the touch, and check that they packaging doesn't have any tears, holes or excessive amounts of liquid. It should also be cold to the touch and have no odor.

Is buying meat in bulk cheaper? ›

Is it cheaper to buy meat in bulk? In some cases, yes. Let's say the price for your bulk beef order averages out to $4 a pound–that's higher for typical ground chuck but a great price for steaks. “The law of averages works out for the customer in the end,” says Dee.

Does it save money to buy meat in bulk? ›

To be sure, buying beef in bulk can save you a lot of money in the long run, but it does require an upfront investment. Even if you don't have the freezer space or upfront investment available, you can still benefit from buying beef in bulk.

What is the best online meat company? ›

The Best Meat Delivery Services of 2024
  • Best Overall. Good Chop.
  • Best Variety. Crowd Cow.
  • Best Upgrade. Snake River Farms.
  • Best for Beef and Pork. Porter Road.
  • Best Imported. Campo Grande.

How can a cook save money when shopping for meat? ›

Check out these five tips to help you maximize your meat budget.
  1. Plan Meals and Freeze Portions. ...
  2. Buy Cost-Effective Cuts of Meat. ...
  3. Stock Up During Wholesale Meat and Seafood Sales. ...
  4. Turn Your Kitchen Into Your Own Butcher Shop. ...
  5. Stretch Your Proteins with Creative Additions.

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