Buying meat in bulk...is this a good deal?

[kimmyann]

I am trying to do a new grocery budget and we have a local butcher shop that sells packages, I'm just not sure if I should try it. I am trying to find a way to keep myself out of the store though because it just seems that we are going all of the time for stupid things and it adds up, esp when you go and realize that you need something else. Anyway, one package I am looking at is $89.99 and you get (which averages to $1.80 per pound)

25 lbs of whole chicken
5 lbs sausage
5 lbs bacon
5 lbs ribs (pork)
5 lbs pork chops
5 lbs hot dogs (meat)

Also, I would get my beef from BJ's (we love thier beef). I can get a combo package there with a roast, stew beef, steaks and ground beef for about $22.00. (I would buy 2 packages and it would give me 8 meals)

This would be a total of $134.00 and would cover 24 dinners. Not including the 2-3 breakfasts that I would get from the extra bacon & sausage. I am wanting this to cover a months worth of dinners. We do eat out (pizza or fast food) once per week and the rest would be leftovers or sandwich nights. So, any opinions?

 

[Marionnette]

I am trying to do a new grocery budget and we have a local butcher shop that sells packages, I'm just not sure if I should try it. I am trying to find a way to keep myself out of the store though because it just seems that we are going all of the time for stupid things and it adds up, esp when you go and realize that you need something else. Anyway, one package I am looking at is $89.99 and you get (which averages to $1.80 per pound)

25 lbs of whole chicken
5 lbs sausage
5 lbs bacon
5 lbs ribs (pork)
5 lbs pork chops
5 lbs hot dogs (meat)

Also, I would get my beef from BJ's (we love thier beef). I can get a combo package there with a roast, stew beef, steaks and ground beef for about $22.00. (I would buy 2 packages and it would give me 8 meals)

This would be a total of $134.00 and would cover 24 dinners. Not including the 2-3 breakfasts that I would get from the extra bacon & sausage. I am wanting this to cover a months worth of dinners. We do eat out (pizza or fast food) once per week and the rest would be leftovers or sandwich nights. So, any opinions?

I guess it depends on whether you normally use those cuts of meat or if you can find a way to incorporate them into your menus. There are a lot of cheap cuts in that butcher's package and you don't say how much of each meat is in the BJs package. Hot dogs, whole chickens, ground beef, stewing meat and sausage. I can get any of those on sale elsewhere for less than $1.80/lb. if I were to buy them at all. I don't know if the same holds true for you.

I would take a look at how much I would normally spend on 5# of those cheaper cuts and then subtract that number from the total cost of the package. That would tell you whether you're getting any kind of deal on the other meats.

 

[Fyrefly]

I guess my questions are:

1) Do you have enough freezer space? You will want to take the time after buying to individually package most of that into 1 or 2 lb portions. That way you can take whatever you need out and thaw it.

2) Do you actually like all that meat? Does your family? A deal isn't a deal if you're looking at (for me example) pork chops and going "Blegh...let's order out."

3) Do you see yourself using it? My family eats hot dogs and sausages and some pork chops almost exclusively on the grill in the summer, so half of that meat would be sitting around for a long time. Waste of freezer space that could be used for something else, unless you have the room.

I like the sound of the BJ's pack a bit better, as I personally do lots of roasts and such, but stews and roasts are also very "winter" foods. Will your family want stew in the middle of April? Yours may, mine wouldn't.

Also remember that you still have to go into the store to get fresh stuff every week or two weeks. So don't let yourself fall into the trap of "I saved all this money on meat" and then spend extra so you don't save at all.

And usually at my local grocery stores, at least one kind of meat is on sale for $.99 or $1.99 a pound. So I'm personally not sure of the cost savings of buying a bunch of meat at once vs. going and getting my chicken breast when it's chicken breast week, etc. but your meat prices may differ from mine. I was just thinking that can be a way of avoiding to commit to a lot of meat all at once and ease your way in if you want.

 

[Kathi OD]

When our kids were younger, I almost always purchased our meat that way at a butcher shop in our town. We had a large freezer and I only bought the packages that included things we would actually eat. It did save us quite a bit of money over the years.

 

[kimmyann]

I know that the beef package at BJ's will give us 4 meals per pack (that's why I would buy 2). As far as freezer space goes, I have a deep freezer so that is not an issue at all. See, the reason I'm really questioning it is sure I could wait for sales, but I'm not 100% on what will be on sale and when, so it limits me being able to plan dinners well in advanced. It also causes me to go into the store more and that is exactly what I'm trying to avoid, besides of course perishables & regular staple items. As far as winter vs summer meals, well we grill all year long (DH will grill out when its 40 degrees) and I have been known to take a roast and slice it up to make steak soft tacos, so I am somewhat creative.

The only thing in that pack that I'm unsure of is the hot dogs. We like them, but idk if we like them that much.LOL.

 

[mhsjax]

I have thought about it, but here is my main problem. We live in Florida, and I can guarantee you that as soon as I did this, we would have a hurricane hit and be without power for days. There goes all that meat.

All my life, 48 years ,and only once lost power for 3 hours do to a hurricane, but Murphy's law sates that we would have a hurricane if I purchased a freezer or half freezer full.

 

[lpereira]

You have to start a sales calendar. I have one for items we need. For example i know one local grocery offers whole chickens for 47 cents a pound roughly every 12 weeks. I stock up when they are on sale. I'm also sitting on 2 rainchecks for the same item. I have personally found those multi meat combo packets to not be the best deal. But it might be the best deal for you. It depends on the value of your time. If you work full time and have a family stalking and cataloging sales might provide less benefit than spending time with your family.

 

[Marionnette]

The only thing in that pack that I'm unsure of is the hot dogs. We like them, but idk if we like them that much.LOL.

This would be a sticking point for me, too. We rarely eat hot dogs. Mostly when we are at a cook out, never as a meal at home. And whole chicken at $1.80/lb when I can buy Purdue boneless breasts for $1.99/lb at Target this week makes no sense.

 

[kimmyann]

Thank you all. I just don't think I will do it. I think I will just take out that amount of money (that I would have spent, since I have a set amount calculated) and use that for meat only and see where I end up. I also don't like buying any meat that has bones. I feel I get cheated when I have to pay for bones I will however use BJ's for the beef because I know what to expect and we like it.

I just have a feeling (which is probably why I haven't bought it yet) that I could come out ahead doing it seperate. Which if I do come out ahead that money goes to the vacation fund. I think I just need to be better organized.

 

[java]

We always think about trying it too. But have not yet.
On your list I'll say that Chicken is 99cents a pound this week. So that's just $25
5 pounds of hot dogs around $6.50
5 pounds of bacon $12.50
5 pounds pork ribs this week would be $15
5 pounds of chops $9(wow that's cheap I've got to go get some!)
5 pounds of sausage $14.95

So the total if I bought that today at my store $83 so not a bargain this week for me. Plus would I be wanting those things? I think you'd be better off buying it at the store.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I like buying meat at sam's club. I buy pork chops, pork tenderloins, once in a while steaks and chicken. I purchase to last about 3 months. I divide it in the portions we eat. I dont buy meat I know we will not eat.

 

[njmom47]

You have to start a sales calendar. I have one for items we need. For example i know one local grocery offers whole chickens for 47 cents a pound roughly every 12 weeks. I stock up when they are on sale. .

This ^. If you read all the grocery stores fliers, you can figure it out.