How to Save on Deli and Fresh Meat

To say that buying fresh deli and choice meats can be expensive is an understatement. It's expensive as Hell! And, as many can testify, meat prices are sky high these days, but there are ways to save at the meat counter.

The older you get you start to remember how mom and dad use to do things. So comes the epiphany - they were right! They use to shop not only according to their means, but they were smart and creative shoppers. Making good meals stretch meant their dollars were made with a little elastic mixed in. You can do it too. It's quite simple. You may not have to rely solely on coupons or a sale to wheel and deal.

Start by refusing to buy meat by the pound. My dad use to send me around the corner to the neighborhood market to get fifty cents worth of salami on a number one cut. That's right, a Kennedy. Okay, that was in the late 60's and early 70's, but so what. Nowadays you can send your kid to get three dollars worth instead. Salami is priced at around $6.99 per pound. That's better known as "highway robbery." So you get less than half a pound for three bucks, just ask for thinner slices (the number one cut or shaved). Same concept for other deli meats and cheese. Use the same buying technique for cold salads too.

Shopping for fresh choice meat can be a learning experience as well. Take for example beef boneless rib-eye steak on sale for roughly $7.49 per pound. Four of those puppies, (let's hope it's not), but 4 of 'em will cost you around $15. Do you really need 4 steaks? Plan to spend $10 only and you'll likely get three nice pieces of steak. When you get them home, cut them into halves. Little Johnny will be satisfied with half of a steak. Just bake an extra small potato for him to go along with it.

Now you've saved a few bucks for a rainy day.