The FIRE movement could not have come at a better time for us. I know that food is fuel to survive, but food means way more to me than just an energy source. Food is an experience and besides my family, it’s what brings joy to my day! So much so, I could envision myself being the Oprah of Food and instead of giving away cars, it would be my favorite foods; tubs of tzatziki, thick slices of avocado toast and the runniest poached eggs ever! You get brunch, and you get brunch, EVERYONE GETS BRUNCH! It would be the most epic food fight ever, and yes, there is bottomless mimosas. #daydreams

With the FIRE movement in mind, modifying budgets to increase our saving while decreasing any excessive or unnecessary spending has helped to put our money into perspective. The movement mentions a plan for eating where an average of $2 is spent per person, per meal. Sounds impossible, right? I thought so too.

We are not giving up what we love and enjoy, but instead, we are cutting out the things that we simply don’t need. Here’s my TOP TEN best ways that help me to lower my bill at the checkout line.

1. Map out your meals for the week: Decide on two easy meals to cook during your meal prep session. Try to choose recipes that use a limited number of ingredients; anything less than 7. Target recipes that use ingredients/seasonings that you already have on hand or you know that you will use again.
2. Have a running inventory: Starting out, this may take a little time, but knowing what you have on hand will prevent you from buying, say, too many bottles of BBQ sauce. Check out my spice inventory! This one-time, 15-minute process will save some $$$.
3. Make a list: Once you’ve picked out your recipes, create your list. Make sure to list quantities and specific measurements so that you don’t overbuy any one ingredient. Include your weekly must-have staples as well. If you are heading to more than one store, organize your list in this manner. I’ve heard of apps that help you make a list, such as Paprika, and those are totally cool. Personally, I am old-school with a pen and paper because at the end of the day, I don’t want to be scrolling my phone in the store when I can just use the crumbled paper list that I store in my bra.
4. Set a realistic budget: Setting a specific dollar amount in your mind prior to entering the grocery store helps you to visualize your goal. If you decide to cap your grocery bill at $100 when your average bill is $150, be happy if your bill comes out to be $115. You still saved a lot and you can always improve. Make it interesting or game-ify it! If it becomes a fun challenge for you, chances are that you will continue to find ways to cut costs.
5. Stick to the list: As obvious as this is, this is probably the hardest habit to keep. Grocery stores, as inviting as they can be, are still trying to take ALL YO MONEY. Be confident in the list that you’ve created and try your best to not be deterred by how beautifully delectable that large fruit tart is or how cheesy that pizza looks right now. Damnit! Why didn’t I put these on the list?!
6. Shop the perimeter: This is a practice that I truly believe in. Not only does the perimeter of the store hold the freshest ingredients, but among the healthiest as well. Think about it, the produce, meat, and dairy departments are housed on the perimeter of the store. The more processed and packaged food items are in the labyrinth or what is commonly referred to as “aisles.” These items are not terrible by any means, but, on average the price per serving for a ready-made meal is more than making a version yourself. Plus, ready-made meals may not be nearly as nutritious. Not to say that I don’t venture into the labyrinth at all, but much of my cart is filled with items from the perimeter. Choose ingredients that look fresh, on your list, and on sale.
7. Coupon when you can: I am not the best at couponing, but if you find that you save real money with coupons, please continue to do so! If anything, make sure you are “card” holder at your favorite grocery store. This FREE rewards programs saves you tons, all with one simple swipe.
8. Compare competitors: Aside from the recipes that I prepare each week, our weekly must-haves stay the same. Arizona green tea, two bags of multigrain tortilla chips, salsa, eggs, bananas, bread, cheese… These staples can easily be purchased at any grocery store, so it would be smart to know where the cheapest prices are for these items. Hands down, Aldi’s has many of these items for ½ the price that I would normally get at the local Harris Teeter Grocery Store and without sacrificing quality. #cha-ching
9. Reduce food waste by organizing your fridge: If all goes well, this step should not be an issue. If you’ve planned and purchased what you need, you will have nothing forgotten in your crisper drawer to use as an experiment a month from now. There is nothing worse than finding expired food buried out of sight and then having to throw it out! My rule is that I have to be able to see everything in my fridge when I open the door. Meals ready and prepped are on the appropriate shelves and in the order in which they should be eaten. Items that should be eaten first are in the front, and recently purchased items have a place towards the back. Figure out your own system and use what works best for you. Not only will this look professional AF, but you’ll see a drastic reduction in food waste. Random Thought: Is there a show where people clean out their fridges? If not, I just invented it and I will be the host!
10. Get Creative: If there are random-ass ingredients in your fridge, ask yourself, “Can I make a meal out of that?” If YES, then turn it out! I recently took a can of corn, refried beans, and black beans with seasoned ground turkey, spices on hand, taco sauce all topped with cheese and served with quinoa. BAM! Hot Mexican Dip! Who needs Emeril?! (I didn’t mean that! I totally need you!)

Cheers to you, Emeril!

Lin