When you buy a pack of Kirkland Signature ground beef at Costco, you actually spend more money for a smaller amount. Luckily, Costco has cheaper ground beef behind the counter.

To get the cheaper meat, ask the butcher for a ground beef chub. You’ll get a long tube of lean beef that’s nearly always cheaper per pound than the square packages on shelves.

Unlike the usual, 4-pound ground beef packages, chubs come in 5-pound and 10-pound tubes. Although you’ll be paying more upfront, you'll have more for less money in the long run.

The word "chub" is a term for the cylinder shape of the ground beef packaging. Since the shape of the beef is already round, turning it into patties will require less effort.

Plus, the chubs at Costco are 90 or 91% lean, while the regular ground beef on shelves is 85%. Leaner ground beef is healthier since it’s high in protein and low in saturated fat.