HOW TO SAVE WITHOUT COUPONS

 
Many readers have told me that many of the coupons they receive they don't use.  So I thought I would share my budget prices to show how you can save on food without coupons.  When I shop at Homeland-I usually only use coupons.  But when I shop at the other stores, I don't always use coupons.  Here's a list of some MEAT deals without coupons. The meat budget is for two people. We were spending about $75 a month on meat.  I decided that was too much, so this is what I did.

TIP:  Plan your meals for the week around the sales.  If chicken is on sale that week, then I plan two meals and buy one whole chicken.  With the sale and $1.00 off coupon-I can feed 2 people for $2.00 and that is for two meals!  I will sometimes plan a meal with no meat.  Like a baked potato with salad to save even more money.

CHICKEN:  I only buy chicken when it is on sale. Usually $.69 a lb to $.89 lb.  If you eat only chicken breasts then you can budget in  a little more in the meat category.  They usually have 3lbs for about $4.99 ($1.66 lb) at Crest when on sale. Sam's club also has good prices for Chicken.  $1.79 lb. (I think)  It is the cheapest I have found and it is good chicken.  You can also use a Pilgrims coupon and buy the breasts at the Homeland or Walmart. B4less has the Pilgrims, but does not take the Internet coupon. Prices will vary, but it's around $3.29 a lb for chicken breasts.

BEEF:I usually use the Red River Beef coupon, but it is no longer available right now.  So now I wait till I  get the flyer's from Homeland in the mail.  This month I had a $3 off when you spend $10. I got a sirloin steaks for hubby. (a treat from him).  I check for the sales at B4less and Aldi's for beef. Beef is the treat so we don't eat it every week.

PORK:There are very few coupons for pork except the Farmland or Hormel loins.  If you wait for the BOGO sales then you can get a really good deal. They are usually around $8.99 a package.  $4.50 when it is BOGO use your $1.00 coupon and $2.50 each!!!  One loin makes about 3 meals. B4less has great deals on pork chops.  If I buy a ValPak it runs around $5-$6 (4) meals at $1.50 a meal. 

TURKEY:  B4Less is the cheapest.  $1.79 for 1lb.  It is frozen and in the meat department cases.  We mix ours with Ground Deer Meat. (Given to us by dear sweet friends)  It makes 2 meals.

HAM:  We eat ham for lunches and turkey meat.  Crest has the 4lb for about $4.00.  I also use the Wilson coupon and wait for the sale at Homeland and get it for $2.00 lb.  It is better meat.  I just always use a coupon for this meat.


BACON: My hubby likes bacon and I like turkey bacon.  I always use coupons for this.  I usually pay around  $2.00 for 16oz and less for the turkey bacon.  Aldi has it for around $2.50. This is a breakfast item and not eaten every day.  So I buy extra when on sale and put in freezer.

SAUSAGE:  I only buy this on sale and not real often.  When it is on sale I buy a lot.  I never spend more than $.50 a roll.  Usually at Homeland.  For the pork sausage I buy Farmland links when on sale. $1.50 or less each.

EGGS:  This varies in prices daily!  Never really know how much I will spend.  I have been using coupons an the rain check coupons at Homeland for awhile.  Just watch the sales. Lately the prices have gone down.  I have been getting them for $.79 a dozen at B4Less and Aldi's.  If the prices go up I eat less if they go down, I eat more.  I happen to like eggs and love them boiled, stuffed, diced, scrambled and fried. You would say that eggs and chicken are my basic food.

HERE'S THE MATH PER MONTH
Chicken: 6.00 (6) meals
Beef $3.50 (2) meals
Pork $5.00 (4) meal
Turkey: $7.16 (8) meals
Links: $1.50 (2) meals (hubby) 

TOTAL: 22 meals $23.16 a month

Breakfast $3.00 a month 
Eggs: $6.00 (4-5 dozen a month)
Lunches: $5.00 a month ($4 lbs)

TOTAL: Breakfast and Lunch MEAT: $14.00


FINAL TOTAL: $37.16  a month on meat.

The reason I only have 22 days is that we do like to have snack night several times a month.  So I will forward the meal to the next week.  We eat out maybe 2 times a month for dinner.   Our snacks are included in our budget. Also if we don't eat beef that week-I just buy extra chicken.


I hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to contact me via-email. Next week I will share about PRODUCE!