While I’m not a big-time coupon clipper, I do like a good bargain.
This is why I’ll skip past several gasoline stations to get to a Sam’s to save money on fuel. Yes, I know there is a fee for the Sam’s card, but I more than make it up with savings on gas and several other key purchases.
I use all three of our major local grocery stores—Dierbergs, Schnucks and Shop ‘n Save—to save a few dollars each week. Thank goodness they are located close to one another on Manchester Road near our house in Kirkwood.
I stumbled on a way to save money at Schnucks a few years ago. Many people passed on it. I guess they were under the impression that it wasn’t healthy or they were embarrassed. I did the research on the products to ensure that I wasn’t about to give my family food poisoning. I didn’t have to swallow my pride to make the purchases because I would be swallowing steak instead.
Schnucks began reducing the price of some meat packages by 25 percent when it neared the expiration date. You didn’t have to buy huge packages, these were individual packages of chicken, pork, and steak cuts.
I began searching for the orange stickers every time I went to the meat department. This was not the only meat I purchased, but I’d say about 50 percent of what I paid for was cut in price by 25 percent.
By the way, I think if everything in every store was marked down 25 percent stores would still make big profit because people would buy more stuff.
I had no idea if anyone else was following my orange price-tag philosophy, but apparently they were.
Earlier this spring, Schnucks created a section in the meat department that advertises the discounted meat. I rejoiced because I could now go to that section and see what was available without searching.
I found out I am not alone in search of this meat bargain. If I check on the wrong day, the section is barren. People have hit it and hit it hard.
As a result, I now check three Schnucks stores to see what’s available.
I was rewarded this week with seven rib-eye steaks, two t-bones, and one sirloin steak, all at 25 percent off. I realize some people think I’m being a miser or idiotic to buy meat near an expiration date: So what.
When I grilled two of those steaks this weekend, they tasted great. I feel great. All is good with the world.
Good savings, good meat; good gosh, let’s eat.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
