We have no problem with stocking up on anything else and saving. Just wondering what your guys suggestions are for saving on meat?

We save big on meat by hunting, or purchasing a butchered animal. I know some people have a hard time with getting meat that way, but the savings are huge. I have a deep freeze full of venison, turkey, and a couple pheasants. One of our friends cuts/dresses meat so large game like deer he will do for free for us in exchange for a portion of the meat. I don't have beef in the freezer now but in the past we purchased a half side of beef, and had it cut to whatever we wanted (x amount of chuck, x of steaks, etc). In the end cost us $300 for about 250lb of meat which we then split with some family. I grew up on a farm so things along that line doesn't bother me. Large cuts of beef, pork, etc also work for those people who are squeemish with hunting as you just let them now what you want and they will cut it and package them all up for you. So it's just like you hit a major sale and stocked up on 50+ pounds haha

where would I find someone who butchers aniamls what would I look up?

Word of mouth is how we found out about several ways to get in on buying part of a cow. Last year we bought 1/4 of a cow from our neighbor's relatives.

I buy boneless skinless chicken breasts frozen in the bag.

Fareway has the best meat imo as far as grocery stores go around here, and it's usually the cheapest. And if it's not than they pricematch it.

Look for deals and freeze it for later. Steak and other grillable meats go on sale around the 4th of July.

We hunt here, and I do all our processing.

We also purchase sides or wholes of pigs and steers. I used to find the ads for them at the feed store, but now, I've been seeing them a lot on Craigslist. Pigs here run for $250-300 to have them completely cut, smoked and packed - and you get probably a good 150+lbs of meat - including ribs, ham hocks, hams, bacon, chops, etc. Some places go by hanging weight and then add on processing and smoking.

I like it because you can get your really nice cuts of meat for CHEAP - like if you get a cow, you get your burger and your Porterhouse steaks for the same price. I see one of the CL folks is doing beef at $2.35/lb all fees included - so you're paying $2.35/lb for burger, and $2.35/lb for T-bones.

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We do simple things, if we purchase steak for dinner, we will cut one steak up and feed the both of us with one steak. It is the correct portion when it comes to how much meat you should eat too. Works for us! We also buy the frozen chicken breasts in bags, cook them in the oven for an hour and the meat literally can be cut with a fork.

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We eat less meat.
If I had a deep freeze, I would have more in it just to have to buy it less often, but we wouldn't eat it any more often.
We have a good friend who hunts, and he often shares venison with us. We have another good friend who raises sheep and chickens, and he sometimes shares mutton, lamb, or chicken with us as well. He also keeps us supplied with eggs and once his nanny kids, has promised us plenty of goat cheese.
My dad loves to fish, and goes just about every day now that he's retired. My mom hates fish, so whatever he catches, he gives to us.

I'm not squeamish about hunting, and can dress a deer, a steer, or a chicken, and clean fish. I just happen to agree with Ron White on the subject of deer hunting: "It's 3 o'clock in the morning, it's cold, and I don't want to go."

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We usually get a side of beef processed and when we start running low, we ask a local farmer that we deal with and he takes care of it for us. It's cheaper per pound for us to do this than to buy it in the store.

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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.....

we used to by sides of beef in the past years but since everything has gone up so has that. I have found I can do better per pound by shopping sales.

I agree with Deemom we buy our meat at fareway they have the best meat and run great sales. we also have been able to buy fresh boneless skinless chicken breast cheaper than frozen buy watching the sales closely.

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Contact local butcher shops if you're unsure of where the farms are or call the cattle farms (or pig farms, etc depending on what it is you want) directly. You will need to contact them prior to slaughter time which is in the late fall/early winter. I usually begin calling around in August/September. One of the easiest ways is to find family members or friends who also want meat and go in on purchasing an entire animal if you're looking at a large one. It's easiest on the butcher and for purchasing. They don't want to butcher an animal if only "half" of it is sold.

Having a large store is also nice because my husband and I eat meat very regularly and planning a meal around what's on sale can get difficult with either eliminating meat or still purchasing meat on sale which in this area very rarely compares to the price I've recieved on the butchered animals (and certainly no where close on the hunted deer/turkey/etc). So the prices are better and it's much easier to budget and have plenty of meat for the entire year. Health wise I'm more comfortable with butchered animals as well, ground beef at the grocery store for example can be made from the meat from dozens of animals, from a butchered animal it's all from that one which greatly reduces the risk that the meat has been contaminated, so theres piece of mind for me that what I'm giving my family is safe. And lastly, I'd much rather suport my local farmers than a big box store, all those large corporations get too much of my money as it is haha.