How to save money on meat: Butcher reveals five money-saving tips

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Butcher reveals five simple tricks for saving money on meat amid cost of living crisis – from buying in bulk to pre-cutting portion sizes

  • An Aussie butcher has shared how to save money on meat every time
  • A mum received an email listing all five tips which was shared on Facebook 

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A butcher has shared his top pieces of advice with Aussies to reduce household pressures as the cost of living continues to rise. 

Danielle, from Brisbane, received an email from her local butcher outlining a number of ways to spend less and make the most of fresh cuts of meat.

‘Thought this might help some out,’ she wrote alongside screenshots of the email on Facebook. 

The butcher reassured shoppers that while the tips ‘may sound simple’, organising your meat in advance is the key to saving long-term. 

Buying meat and any other produce in bulk is a sure-fire way to reduce the total price per kilogram – and is the first and most important tip. 

 

An Aussie mum received an email from her butcher detailing how to save money on meat (pictured: the email)

An Aussie mum received an email from her butcher detailing how to save money on meat (pictured: the email) 

‘In our shop, it’s always cheaper to buy 2kgs+ of something so if you have the freezer space, give this a try,’ the email read. 

Once you’ve done your shopping, the butcher recommends portioning out the meat based on your meals. 

‘Do it as soon as you get home otherwise  you get side tracked and never get around to it. Freezer bags, Zip lock bags or vacuum seal bags all work well.’

Larger pieces of meat such as chicken or rump steak should also be pre-cut into portion sizes. The butcher recommended around 250g of meat per adult, though many on Facebook didn’t agree with this.

The butcher reassured shoppers that while the tips 'may sound simple', organising your meat in advance is the key to saving long-term (stock image)

The butcher reassured shoppers that while the tips ‘may sound simple’, organising your meat in advance is the key to saving long-term (stock image) 

What’s the latest on the cost of living crisis in Australia?

By STEPHEN JOHNSON, ECONOMICS REPORTER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Australia’s cost of living crisis has worsened with inflation hitting a new 32-year high of 7.8 per cent.

The consumer price index in the year to December surged at the fastest annual pace since the March quarter of 1990, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers describing it as ‘unacceptably high’.

This means another interest rate rise on February 7 is almost a certainty with headline inflation well above the Reserve Bank’s 2 to 3 per cent target.

In attempt to reduce inflation, the cost of groceries, mortgage rates and petrol has increased significantly over the last seven months 

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‘250g of beef is a serve! Of course a butcher would say that to get more business. It’s actually 90-100g,’ one mum commented.

Another agreed and said: ‘The recommended serving of meat is not 250grams . It is closer to half of that 100 to 125 grams.’

A third said: ‘Portioning your meat before freezing really does make it last longer though. I’ve been doing this for over 2yrs and I buy meat every roughly 5-6 weeks and I don’t buy that much to be honest.’

Others praised the butcher for having such a good relationship with customers and ‘putting in the effort’.

‘It’s great that they communicate so well with their customers. I have cut our meat intake/budget back with out complaints or issues,’ one woman wrote.

TOP FIVE BUDGETING TIPS 

1. Keep a money diary – write down everything you spend then note down what you truly needed to spend on (food, rent, petrol, etc), and also whether it made you happy. A budget won’t work if you try to cut out what makes you happy.

2. Cut out what you don’t need – this may include online shopping, a certain food or luxury

3. Consider your big expenses – for the average person, 60 per cent of spending is for large expenses. The areas of biggest spending also have the most potential for savings. Can you change your housing? Are you willing to ditch the car one day a week?

4. Consider smarter spending – if you love going to cafes, but usually just for the atmosphere and company, meet a friend for coffee instead of brunch to save money 

5. Don’t bother wasting money trying to impress people – we’re all the main character in our own lives, so it’s easy to think other people are watching what we do more than they are. Spend for things that you enjoy, and can afford. Cut the rest

Source: New Zealand finance journalist and reporter, Frances Cook

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