More Savings At The Grocery Store

A nearby grocery store marks down cuts of meat early on Thursday mornings in order to restock for the weekend rush of customers.

The marked-down meat is usually 50% off and all of it is still within date (usually 1-3 days until its "sell by" date). I look through the racks and pick out a few good deals. I take them home and re-wrap them, then put them in the freezer.

Then, because I plan meals far in advance, I work them into the next month's menus. I include them as a specific dish such "Swedish Meatballs" or the more ambiguous "something with ground beef". By planning ahead, nothing stays in the freezer long enough to get freezer burn.

Today I was able to pick up four KC strip steaks, a pound of hot Italian sausage, three pounds of ground beef, two packages of smoked bratwurst and a couple of lamb shoulder chops for $18.75 in all. (Regular price on the steaks alone would have been $17.)

Not all stores do this, even within the same chain. The meat department staff can tell if and when your favorite store slashes prices on meat.