I had a life-changing epiphany the other day: spiral-sliced ham on the bone is the cheapest sandwich meat. And cold cuts are ludicrously expensive. Big stuff, I know.

This important financial realization – which will likely save my family hundreds of dollars a year – came to me after I spent $30 plus dollars on cold cuts to impress my in-laws. Why of course we have wafer thin sliced meats for you to munch on!!!

Why does anyone buy cold cuts? They’re so $(*#&! expensive!

Of course I know why you buy cold cuts. I buy them too (the aforementioned in-law visits). They are tasty, super convenient, and sandwiches are a supremely acceptable lunch to offer guests. I can just see how lunch would go over if I didn’t have cold cuts.

Want to dip carrots in my half-eaten container of hummus? How about some leftover beef soup? I have cereal!

It’s bad enough that I refuse to buy deli cut cheese slices. My house guests have to rip off slabs from the (very affordable) block of cheese.

Have you been to her house? The cheese was so thick!

I know I’m not the only one who feels actual pressure to have a stock of cold cuts in the fridge when visitors come for lunch. I can’t be. I CAN’T BE!

So here’s the solution. It’s ham. Oh wait, I already told you that. It’s spiral sliced bone-in ham. Like the kind you buy for Easter and Christmas. But you should be buying it all the time and forsake the deli counter.

Think about it.

A yummy salty auburn ham runs about $4 per pound, cheaper if you buy it without the slices. (But by gosh people, I am not a savage). That $4 per pound ham – more than twice what you pay for a whole chicken – is actually a real steal compared to the $11.99 per pound that I have paid for Boar’s Head roast beef, turkey, or ham.

At $4 per pound, I’ll ignore ham’s high salt content and strange coloring. You can freeze whatever you won’t eat within a week and use it later. Still tastes delicious and only cost $4 per pound!

Look at all the tasty things you can make in mere minutes with spiral sliced bone-in ham:

• Ham sandwiches (duh!)
• Ham and cheese sandwiches
• Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches
• Mac n cheese…plus ham!
• Quesadillas with ham and cheese
• Ham and eggs
• Ham and eggs breakfast burrito

Also, you can make delicious split pea soup with the bone. The bone is an asset. So you can tell your boneless cold cuts to shove it!

Who’s with me? Out with cold cuts! In with spiral sliced bone-in ham!