Comments on: How to Save More Money on Groceries

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:39:36 +0000

Shirley,

Not only are you saving money, but you’re also eating meat that is healthier. I’m planning to look here locally what I can do to save money on some fresh meat.

Each year, we’re planning to expand our garden, although we don’t have a whole lot of space right now since we’ve just built a large shed on our lot, so we’re going to have to be wise with our land space.

By: Shirley

Shirley — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:32:49 +0000

We buy beef straight from the cattle farmer, it is free-range, all-natural beef with no antibiotics given and the cattle ranch sends the cattle purchased (you can hand pick it if you want to) straight to the butcher to be butchered. You must purchase a whole steer, but you can divvy it up any way you choose, we divvy it up one steer split between 4 families, so each of us pays 1/4 of the cost for 1/4 of a steer. We all put our individual orders into the butcher as to how we want that meat cut- for example you tell the butcher how many lbs. of ground beef you want, and how many pounds of ground beef you want to be burger patties, how many lbs. of steaks you desire and how many lbs. of chunks (or stew cuts) and how many lbs. of roasts you want cut out of it. When it is done, they specially wrap it in freezer paper and freeze it and you go pick it up.
This costs us around $250/year and another $100 for the butchering, we figured this out to be $1.50/lb. last year. It was a bit higher than the previous year but still way cheaper than the grocery store (especially for the steaks). The meat lasts our family of 4 (and we have dinner guests often) slightly over a year (about 1 year and 3 months-we buy every year in October then have to use up last year’s first and usually is January we are starting on the new meat). And it tastes so much better than the regular grocery store meat b/c it is free range, all-natural. It is really organic b/c no pesticides are used at all, but not certified organic. You can choose certified organic beef elsewhere, but b/c then it must be governmentally regulated and that costs money in fees for the cattle farmers it costs more.
Just a tip, we are looking into buying poultry this way too next year. We don’t eat a lot of pork but you can buy a pig this way too. If you like to can you can buy fruit and veggies like this for a lot cheaper but you should enjoy freezing and canning for it to be worth it for you.
Sometimes time is worth the money and when time is worth your money there is nothing at all wrong with convenience foods, I for one enjoy my Rotisserie Chicken and deli potato and macaroni salad dinners when in a time or energy pinch that’s for sure! And I buy the bagged salads-I love the ease of them to much to give them up.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:25:35 +0000

Thanks for stopping by and taking time to share your comment.

I do agree…packaging can be misleading at times! You’ve got to do a lot of comparing products while shopping.

By: Small Footprints

Small Footprints — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:47:07 +0000

Wonderful tips … and many of the tips you offer are also “green”. That’s a total win-win!

Here’s another one for you … always check the price per ounce, pound, etc. Some manufacturers are now giving us less actual product for the same amount of money (big beautiful packaging with less actual food, etc.) … and if one doesn’t bother to look at the amount in the package, it can end up costing a lot for a little.

Thanks for the wonderful information!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:30:17 +0000

You’re right…I find myself stopping to glance there sometimes. I’ve been learning that the deals are not so great…they’re just more of a temptation.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

By: Niche Topics

Niche Topics — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:10:47 +0000

Great tips, Rhonda! Try to avoid sweets etc that are placed near the till; they’re impulse buys and usually more expensive.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:46:46 +0000

Rebecca,

Thanks for sharing your comments. I’ve noticed the same thing on the “shrinkage” of items. Several times I’ve also caught the smaller quantity costing less per ounce than the bigger ones. A few times I’ve also discovered that “family sized items” were not really a savings. I saved buying “two” boxes instead of the family portion. So, yes, these days you really have to stay alert.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:56:25 +0000

One thing we have found while shopping is that most people have the idea if you buy in bigger quantities that it is cheaper, but if you will notice, most of the time ounce for ounce the smaller containers are more economical.
I do believe years ago that may have been the case, but it is not the case most of the time now.
Another thing that we have become aware of lately is that prices are staying the same on things but the size of the containers are getting smaller.
Example: Juice used to come in gallon jugs and now a lot of them are 3/4 of a gallon but still the same price.
Tuna used to be 7 oz cans but now they are 5.5 oz cans.
*Just an observation*
You have to stay alert in order to shop smart.

Thanks for the tips, I like reading your blog, it is very informative.