[LinearChaos]

How do you guys find the meat deals? I was reading about mark downs in another thread. How do you find out when they mark stuff down? Do you stalk the butcher or do you just ask?

We've been buying our meat in bulk at Costco and with a 6'2'' 160lbs string bean of a BF who eats everything in sight it's a bit too costly to keep doing this.

I've just sold my business and am adjusting to a $400/mo. decrease in salary and I'm trying to help my struggling mother with her bills.

Any tips for cheap meats?

We're working on getting a chest freezer so I can start stock piling once I figure out how to get the goods for less.

Thanks guys!

[LinearChaos]

Come on guys, someone has to have mastered finding cheap meat!?

[sanfordchef]

Basically, I just buy what is on sale at least 50% or more. I stock up, portion it out using vacuum sealer bags. Sometimes I cook stuff like hamburger first, then portion into meal size.

Sometimes there are manager markdowns with red tags, but you just have to "run" into them.

But I think the fact that I have a standing rib roast in my freezer that I bought at $3.97 lb instead of $10.99 lb is a good deal!

Janet

[pearl73]

I buy alot of meat on clearence at SafeWay. Its hit and miss, sometimes there is a huge selections othertimes none at all. I also but the lunchmeat on clearence. Last night I got boneless pork ribs and ground beef at 50% off and just put it in the freezer for when I need it.

[Cheri]

I usually ck the bins at Kroger to see what is the Managers Special and ck for markdowns. Target also marks down their meat but that has been hit or miss for me. I think closer to changing the ads is a good time for markdowns.
Right now HEB has boneless roast on sale for $1.47 lb. I will buy several and process for ground meat, etc. Stock up on meat when it is on sale and in no time you will be able to "shop" from your freezer.
AFC has great forums and postings for all the great items that others have found.

[gypsywoman35]

Truthfully you have to see what store is doing what. I have several stores that I check for meat that is marked down. And one thing just because it's marked down does NOT mean it is spoiled. Certain stores, Walmart, Krogers Meijer have a marked down meat section...

But with everything look at the meat carefully and even smell the pkging if you have any issues then don't buy it.

I will make one suggestion, get to the store early. I know that the stores I check in my area here in Michigan, the marked down meat and baked goods are usually out no later than 9am.

Lisa

[fourpack]

I shop the clearance section at Von's in the meat dept. usually get good deals (50% off) and keep an eye out for sales under $2 lb, and stock up.

[LauraKeigher]

If you have an Aldi nearby, check them out. We have tried all their meats and have really enjoyed them. Their porkchops are great!

[shandigity380]

Originally Posted by LauraKeigher

If you have an Aldi nearby, check them out. We have tried all their meats and have really enjoyed them. Their porkchops are great!

Check after holidays at Aldis, if you have one nearby. I bought 8 hams all for $5 off, about $3-$4 each. And these were 5+lb hams. Also Wal-Mart has 5lb rolls of Hamburger meat for $6.50, roughly $1.30/lb. I package this into 1-2lb packs and freeze. Also check the managers special at Kroger, I bought Ribeyes for 50% off. I have also found good meat deals at Save-A-Lot. I have heard that they are supposed to be having a truckload sale coming sometime in March. Just a few ideas. HTH!!

Shannon

[roseythings]

Look for mark downs in meat departments of whichever store you shop. Some stores I buy from are FoodWorld and Winn-Dixie. There are a few stores I wouldn't buy meat from at any price. It's places that don't follow 72 hour rules and if you buy "fresh" it may not be. The best thing is to frequent several stores and know your stores. Then look for "hot items" or "manager specials". It is always some kind of special marking.
Good luck.

[LinearChaos]

Jackpot. I have some large aquariums with large freshwater puffer fish who eat stuff like shrimp, crab, squid, cockles, and mussels. You can't find this stuff at the grocery store or the fish store without spending a million. So I go to the local asian market for this stuff.

Today I just happened to check out the meat. OMG, cheap cheap cheap! They have a full butcher and every kind of meat you could possibly want in every kind of cut and cheap. Very good quality, everything looked great!

Like $6 roast cheap...I think I solved my cheap meat problem. Check out your local asian markets!

[lesliec]

great find...
i haven't had a lot of luck with clearance finds in my area, but we mostly eat chicken. I have learned to cut them up and have been buying them whole and been butchering them myself. I can usually find them as cheap as .79/ pound whole.

[Mavourneen]

One thing I've really mastered is capitalizing on mistakes made by the store. I've happened upon ground beef where the price on the little tag machine clearly wasn't changed - or found mislabeled meat. That's when I stock up, hard - I posted a few months ago about finding 87% ground beef mismarked for .99 / lb. I bought every package they had - about 12 lbs total. I processed it as soon as I got home.

I agree with the previous poster who mentioned getting to the store early. Markdowns are almost always done first thing in the morning.

[apsodarffilm]

Early in the morning is when I find most of mine, like on Friday and tuesday. Also some stores have an area

[debc60]

We go to SW early on Sunday A.M. (by 7) and get all kinds of cheap marked down meat at least 50% off. It's all within 3 days of sell by date and have never had any problems.

Also shop the sales at Cub. Yesterday we got 10 lbs of ground pork in 1lb chubs for free with the 1.00 off pork Q. Also got 2 marinated pork tenderloins for 3.28 each. Boneless skinless chicken breasts 3lbs for 4.00, and 2 turkey roasts for 4.28. We have filled and keep stocked by doing these types of deals.

Just keep your eyes peeled and stock up on the goods when they come around.

[joshmamabear]

I have made the butcher in our local grocery store my friend. His wife is an acquiantance of mine that I met when I gave her a coupon at check-out. That act of sharing coupon has saved me tons on meat. He would always mark down lots of meat cuts for me on the date they are suppose to expire and have not been sold. He has the discretion on what/which to mark down. Aside from that, they have deals like Fill a bag with your choice cuts for $25. I stock up on those days

[joshmamabear]

regarding chicken breast, fryer legs and thighs ~ those who have Tysons factory and know of employees, make sure to check with them. over here, the employees can buy direct from the warehouse chicken parts "rejects" (wrong cut, didn't meet QC standards but otherwise edible) very cheap. the last time I bought was $2 per 10 lb box of fryer legs and thighs. wings and chicken breast are a little higher.

sometimes, these employees will even take trades for stockpile items so even if they raise the prices, you'll still not be out money if you get your HBA free/cheap. bartering HBAs for food is becoming a common trend.

[MommyofJack]

I buy all my ground beef at the meat counter. Both of my grocery stores have Laura's Lean Ground Beef in the fresh meat case. I use the $1/1 IP Qs from the database (and beg, borrow and trade for them!). One of our stores has it for $3.99 a pound. I get it packaged in 1/3 to 1/2lb. packages and then use one Q per package. Then I am getting organic, lean ground beef for around $1.50-$1.99 a pound. I consider that a good deal.

You may also want to check out Angel Food Ministries http://www.angelfoodministries.com/Default.asp? as they have "meat boxes" you can purchase monthly (not sure if they're in your area). The meat is VERY inexpensive. I've had the pork chops and steak...both pretty good. You get LOTS of meat, for around $30. They have a bunch of others stuff to offer, too. (Produce, frozen foods, etc.)

[mommydaily]

I see you are in AZ, check into Sunflower market. I am in Northern CO and we have one and they have amazing meat and produce prices. I do not buy anything else there.

sfmarkets (dot) com

[lgoodwin]

Target with the $2 off coupons. My target also uses the peelies on the packs.
No beeps for me, but a TOTAL YMMV thing.
HTH!

[countrygal7906]

Another program for packs of food is SHARE FOOD PROGRAM of PA we get it out or Radford, VA but it is in a lot of different states in the middle to north east. They ask no question and you it doesn't matter what you make. Food stamps are excepted. Share Food Program - serving PA, NJ, DE, Metro NY & MD Eastern Shore

My sisters picks it up for people in the community it would be so nice to have a truck bring it here where we could sale it off the truck. A Lot more people would take advantage of it. She gets a $1.00 per box sold to pay for gas.

[juliee]

I just watch the sales at the 3 stores that I go to. You learn what is a good price per lb and stock up.

Others that I know by a half of a cow and save a lot of money. We just don't have the room and we prefer chicken, fish and pork.