I have never paid much attention to the cost of groceries. We buy what we need and if there’s something on my list, rarely do I let the cost keep me from getting it. Granted, most things I buy are reasonably priced. Things that are expensive, like brisket, prime rib, etc., I only buy on sale.
For years, we bought deli meat for sandwiches. The other day I picked up a package of corned beef – the prepackaged kind. I didn’t look at the cost but I looked at the meat inside the package and it didn’t look so good so I went back to the deli and got it and about gasped when I saw the cost.
$9.77 per pound! I told myself . . I’m buying a corned beef kit and making my own! We love corned beef and eat it often. Sometimes, when I can get brisket on sale, I’ll buy a whole one, cut it in half, smoke part of it and make corned beef out of the other half. This is the recipe I use.
More often, I’ll just buy a packaged kit – the beef if already cured, and cook it in the pressure cook.
Quite a difference in price, huh? You can bet I won’t be buying any more deli meat unless I have no other way to get the meat I need.
One of the recipe for next week calls for deli sliced turkey. I’m going to roast a turkey breast on Sunday and I’ll use that meat instead of buying deli meat. The turkey breast is one we bought on sale after Thanksgiving so I know it’s way, way less expensive than buying deli meat.
montanaclarks says
I seldom look at grocery prices, meat maybe, but rarely on anything else–if I want it to eat, I buy it. Drives my frugal husband crazy!
njgrl4ever says
I agree. We don’t do much deli stuff but the prices are much higher than they were even a year or two ago.
When we are in TN we notice the pork prices are much lower than when we are in OR. And when we are in OR the beef prices are lower than in TN. I guess it comes down to buying more locally, we have more cows out west and more pigs down south.
We also eat seasonally, more fresh fruits and veggies in spring/summer/fall and more frozen during the winter. The good thing about being in OR is that we are a day away from all the fruit and veggies in California.
Donna Williams says
Some of the prices of meat other than chicken (we live in Northwest Arkansas – Tyson Chicken country) are
outrageous. We purchase most of our beef and pork at Sam’s here (also home of Walmart and Sam”s ) and we have been told that the meat they put in the cooler for sale is the same quality as some of the better restaurants. We divide it out and freeze it. The per person cost for two ends up being very very inexpensive, For special occasions
I go to the meat market here in town, but have become outrageous too. Oh well, I need to eat less anyway. 🙂
Sheryl says
I love, love, love corned beef. I can eat it sliced cold with Clausen Dill Pickles. yum
cassews says
Yep it amazes you how much the cost of Deli meat is anymore, or even Deli cheese. WHOA.. so we started figuring out other ways to have sandwiches or meals without using Deli meats. Buy a piece of beef or whatever for sandwiches, freezes the rest for later on … Everything is just sky rocketing .. for sure !
dezertsuz says
Our grocery stores have the prices posted in big numbers, and I only buy what’s on sale or reasonable. I do look at the price of every item that goes into my cart, and a lot of things are higher lately, even at Aldi’s.