This post is sponsored by The Beef Checkoff and brought to you by The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

If you’re planning to serve beef this holiday season, you’re in luck: beef prices are down almost 10% from their peak prices in late 2014. That means you can expect to see lower prices in the grocery store, as you shop for steaks, roasts and ground beef for your holiday meals. But 10% is just a starting point. Let’s go over some more ways to save money on beef, so you come home from the grocery store with a deal.

Something I haven’t told you about our weekend homestead yet: It’s in an area that’s being settled by the Amish. The first families came down from Pennsylvania three years ago. Now a bunch more families are moving to the area. We’ve been told 42 Amish families will be relocating to the area. And we’re really enjoying watching their community take shape.

There’s a great Amish bake stand that’s open on the weekends, and we love to stop there for fresh donuts. They’re ridiculously good.

And since this spring, several homes and businesses have gone up. There’s a new saw mill, a dry goods store, a hardware store and a wonderful salvage grocery store.

We finally made time to visit the salvage grocery store yesterday, and I really wish we had done it sooner. The deals are incredible. Take a look at what I brought home:

(5) bag of SunMaid chocolate covered raisins for $.50 a bag

Would you buy food from a Dollar Tree? Until recently I would have said no, but you know what? I’ve really changed my mind about that. Because the thing is, they’re not just selling junk anymore. There are lots of real, minimally-processed foods to choose from, and the prices are crazy good. We’re talking 75% less that what I’m used to paying at the grocery store for the same thing (and in many cases, the same brands).

Every time I stop in to stock up on groceries, I find something new to try, and so far I haven’t been disappointed with anything.

Here’s a look at what I’m currently buying at Dollar Tree …

Nature’s Own Bread – They act as a bakery outlet for several bread companies, including Nature’s Own. What they get in varies, and it sells out quickly, so I fill the freezer when it’s in stock.