A chat at the library made me rethink my grocery list

Betty Wood · 2026-03-23T22:15:06.480444+00:00

I was waiting to check out a cookbook last Thursday and overheard a woman telling her friend she only buys meat when it's under $2 a pound. She said she then cooks it all at once and freezes it in portions. I'd never thought to set a firm price limit like that. I tried it this week and found chicken drumsticks for $1.89 a pound. I roasted them all with some potatoes and onions, and now I have four ready meals in the freezer. It feels like a small win for my wallet. Has anyone else had luck with a specific price point for meat that makes it a good buy?

paul_patel406mo ago

Honestly, I just buy what looks good and fits my budget that week.

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the_holly6mo ago

Nice! That's a solid system. I do something similar, but my price points are a bit lower since I'm on a tight budget. I'll only grab chicken if it's under a buck fifty, and I've learned to love cheaper cuts like pork shoulder when they're on a deep sale. It forces you to get creative in the kitchen, which is half the fun anyway.

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cora9756mo ago

That's a good start, but I've found it helps to have different price points for different meats. My rule is chicken under two bucks, ground beef under three, and pork under two-fifty. It keeps things flexible but still saves money.

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