Why pay full price for meat…..

I learned many years ago how to shop the sales in the bargain bins. Almost every store has a day old bin for its meat and chicken that are coming up to their “best used by” date. They usually mark their meats down in the morning. If you don’t know when they do this, just ask the person behind the meat counter. They will tell you what time of day they do their mark downs. I go to the H.E.B. store between 8 and 9am. to look for bargains. Memorial Day I went in to purchase a brisket that they had advertised for 98 cents per lb. I looked at the briskets and decided that they looked just a little too fatty to buy. I started looking for the sale items and found an 8lb. bag of chicken thighs marked down to $ 2.50 for the bag. I slowly walk the meat isle looking for the extra ticket on the bag that shows the reduced price. Also check out the isle with the sausages, bacon, wieners and other forms of meat. Cheese, luncheon meats and cold packed sandwiches will also be marked for immediate sale.

A few rules when shopping for sales:
1) When chicken is close to it’s “best used by” date, please smell the bag to determine if it is still fresh enough to purchase. If it has a bad smell, don’t buy it. A bargain is no bargain if you have to through it out.
2) Make sure you know when is the best time to go shopping for these items. The bargains will go quickly, so you want to be there to get the first look.
3) Make sure you either use the meat by the stamped date or prepare it for the freezer and use it at a later date.
4) If you live in the South, where it gets mighty hot inside your auto, then you might want to purchase an insulated bag to put you refrigerated items in. You can get the insulated bags at Costco, Sam’s Wholesale and Wal-Mart. They cost about $3 to $4. each.
5) Watch your grocery ads for weekly sales.
6) If you have a job and can’t get to the store when the items are marked down, work with a friend who is home during that time of day. Give her some money and let her know what kinds of things you are looking for. I have a list of several people who I will call when I see certain things on sale or reduced. We help each other out and save money.
7) If you have three or four grocery stores around your home, check them all out and learn what their policy is for reducing the price of meat and etc.

Several weeks ago I found 6lbs of chicken breast for $ 2.50 a bag. That comes to around 42cents per lb. Last month I found Beef ribs that were marked $ 13.89 and I paid $ 2.67 for the package. I found three packages marked about the same price and I bought them all. I have purchased filet mignon for 99cents each. I have purchased ground sirloin for 99 cents per pound. The list goes on and on. I get good meat for bargain prices, why pay more?

You can fill your freezer in no time at all with prices like these. Stay within your budget and get more for your money. Have fun shopping.