AITA For Buying 500lbs of Meat That Was On Sale?

In a quiet suburban garage, a freezer door swings open to reveal a towering wall of chicken, stacked like a frosty fortress. A Reddit user, devoted to their pack of working dogs and furry companions, seized a golden opportunity when a local grocery chain slashed chicken prices to a jaw-dropping $0.39 per pound. With a household of hungry pets and a tight budget, this was a chance to stock up and save big. But what seemed like a savvy move turned into a family firestorm when their husband’s playful Facebook post unleashed a wave of judgment from their mother-in-law, who accused them of selfishness.

The sting of her words hit hard, especially in tough economic times when many struggle to fill their plates. Caught between caring for their beloved animals and the weight of public scrutiny, the user turned to Reddit’s AITA community to ask: Was their chicken haul a practical win or a thoughtless grab? The story unfolds with humor, heart, and a dash of family drama, inviting readers to weigh in on this meaty dilemma.

‘AITA For Buying 500lbs of Meat That Was On Sale?’

I have 4 large breed working dogs, 1 small rescue dog, and a few cats. 2 of the dogs are actively working their jobs. One is a pup. 2 are retired and living out their golden years.. I prepare them a homemade diet. I go through 250 - 300lbs of meat for their food every month.

Recently, a local grocery store chain had a sale on chicken for $0.39 a lb. They were sold in 10lb packages. So I rearranged every thing and cleared out one of our deep freezers, hit every store in our area and bought 6-8 packs at each store. Never taking more than a 1/4th to 1/3rd of the stock they had out on the shelves.

None of the stores advertised purchased limits. None of the cashiers said anything negative about the amount I purchased, just small talk about what I was planning to do with it. Hubby went to the garage to grab something out of the freezer, opened the wrong one and BOOM was face to face with a WALL OF CHICKEN.

He laughed. Snapped a pic with his phone, went to the other freezer, found what he wanted, then he posted the pic to facebook with a caption about.'This is what happens when you marry a crazy dog lady and chicken is on sale.'

Well, my in-laws saw the pic and have become quite upset about it. My mother-in-law has spread the picture and commented about how disappointed she is and she thought she raised her son better than to take away food from people to feed it to dogs.

I can see how I might be TAH because I know lots of people are struggling with putting food on their tables right now,  but I was conscious of not buying out a store's entire stock, and my own household is making significantly less this year than previous years so the $150 I saved is going to help us out.

Buying in bulk for pets can feel like a triumph of thrift, but when it stirs family tension, the stakes get personal. The Reddit user’s chicken haul highlights a clash between pet care and social expectations. On one side, they’re ensuring their dogs—some working, some retired—get quality homemade food. On the other, their mother-in-law sees it as hoarding food from humans in need, a perspective fueled by today’s economic pinch.

This tension reflects a broader issue: balancing personal priorities with societal pressures. According to a 2023 American Pet Products Association report, 66% of U.S. households own pets, and spending on pet food hit $58 billion, showing how deeply people invest in their animals. The user’s choice to buy 500 pounds of chicken aligns with this trend, especially since they spread purchases across stores to avoid clearing shelves.

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Dr. Karen Becker, a veterinarian and pet nutrition expert, notes, “Homemade diets can be optimal for pets if balanced correctly, and sourcing affordable, quality ingredients is key”. Her insight supports the user’s strategy, as the sale allowed cost-effective, high-quality feeding. Still, the mother-in-law’s reaction taps into a valid concern about food insecurity, with 13.5% of U.S. households facing it in 2022.

To navigate this, the user could explain their pet care needs to their in-law, emphasizing responsible purchasing.

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Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Reddit didn’t hold back on this one, serving up a buffet of opinions with a side of sass. Here’s what the community had to say about the chicken caper:

Swampman5000 - NTA you made sure not to clear out an entire store and your dogs need to eat too, MIL must just not be a fan of dogs or understand their diet

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HeadbangerNeckInjury - NTA, you want to feed your dogs good food and you buy it in bulk, that's just sensible. Your mother-in-law is clearly the a**hole, it's none of her business, is she aware of how many animals are killed for human consumption compared to for animal consumption?

It isn't your fault there are people starving in the world, and you shouldn't feel bad for buying a bit of chicken. As someone who loves dogs and is a rescue volunteer, maybe I'm a bit bias but I don't think so.

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Interesting_Elk_2271 - Nta. You were thoughtful to take a portion of the stock only. To compensate, you went to other stores. This way, each store still had stock for other shoppers. Also, there was no purchase limit (and its possible that this is because they had even more stock in the back).

I think anyone would have done the same. In fact, I think some people would have cleared out the entire stock.. As for your MIL, it sounds like she's bored as hell and needs something to do.

PessimisticCupcake - NTA usually when stores have sales on meat it's because they have too much that they can't sell at the usual price and they want to try to sell as much as possible before it goes bad. As long as there was still some left for other people that's totally fine. The animals have to eat anyways.

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Sprucehammer - NTA. 100%. You are a good dog mama, you are ensuring that they eat properly, and you did it responsibly. Your husband should maybe have a word with his mother, and basically tell her to chill. Either way, you're doing nothing wrong! Keep smiling, and give the doggos a hug from me!

blazekurosaki - NTA but you’re the crazy lady they tell us about in math class :P

GlitterDrunk - NTA because this was wasn't OMG panic hoarding like people did earlier this year. You're going to use it 'now'. Also no limits puts you totally in the clear.

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brydeswhale - NTA. I mean, were there other people there in the store, trying to get the chicken you were buying, lol? You bought your fair share, and spread it out over as far a space as you could manage,

and you’ll be using it to give your pets a good, healthy diet, so they can be healthy and happy as long as possible. Your mother in law would be better off donating to a food bank than complaining that you take good care of your pets. What a jerk face.

Confessbeforeyoudie - TAX ! i demand TAX to be payed !.. and NTA , if you got a lot of hairballs running around, you ( i do ! ) start to buy in bulk to cut down a bit of the cost.. good food is not cheap, and a bit of discount can, buy more food :)

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[Reddit User] - Nta. It would be borderline if you cleared out stores but since you spread it out u good. I hope u and your dogs enjoy the chicken.

These hot takes paint the user as a hero for their dogs, but do they hold up in the real world? One thing’s clear: Reddit loves a good pet parent with a plan!

This tale of chicken stacks and family spats shows how even a simple grocery run can spark big debates. The Reddit user’s haul was a smart move for their pets, but it hit a nerve with their in-law, raising questions about priorities in tough times. Whether you’re Team Dog or Team Diplomacy, this story invites reflection. What would you do if a deal this good came your way? Share your thoughts, stories, or even your own bulk-buy wins below!

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