Hello Loyal Friends and Fellow Foodies!

As the calendar pages turn over once again signifying another new month in another new year, we are consistently reminded to stick to our New Year’s resolutions. And even if you don’t believe in resolutions, we are made to believe that EVERYONE is exercising, eating better, and living healthier. I’m all for it, but then my gut clenches, my palms start sweating and I immediately think I’m going to starve! Yes, I love food that much! I think every article I’ve read screams that eating right is more important than exercise. Hmmm, so much for my personal theory of exercising so I can eat whatever I want. I think that theory went down the toilet with my metabolism! Let’s face it – we all do what we can, when we can. Sometimes we just need a little motivation.

My motivation this year came from a very unexpected place…my deep freezer. Now, along with trimming our holiday pounds, my husband and I are also trimming our budget. Oh yes — much like our waist-lines, our budget can go from trim n fit to bulging overnight, it seems. So, this year we’re trying to set ourselves up for success by adding discipline to our budget routine! Now THIS is something I can sink my teeth into! I love saving money just as much as I love to eat! It’s like a game for me, because the more I save, the more money I have left over. The ultimate instant gratification! As part of our budget-trimming exercise, we tackled the FOOD budget.

Now, we are a family of five (but when we talk about food we only count four because my extremely picky 3 year old doesn’t eat. Another story for another time.) I coupon, shop at my favorite money-saving grocery store, Aldi, and pick up steals and deals constantly. So, how can we save even more money? I’ll be honest, I lost some sleep over this dilemma: how do we spend less without making it feel like we’re “starving” ourselves? Then, it hit me in the face (literally) as I opened my upright deep freeze to shove more bargain deals into the packed space and an entire shelf of packaged chicken fell out. Smiling, as I gingerly stacked and packed everything back in, I knew I was in heaven. We are going to EAT OUR BUDGET!

What could be more perfect for a girl like me: eating AND saving all at the same time?! So, I grabbed a pen and did an inventory of my upright deep-freeze, extra refrigerator, side-by-side fridge/freezer and pantry. Holy-Food-Hoarding-Batman! I kid you not — I have 2 1/2 notebook pages filled (front and back) of food. I could seriously run a food mart right out of my garage! But let’s not get too carried away. Here’s the real plan: In addition to donating food items to local charities and food pantries, I will be creating meal plans and adding new recipes to utilize what we already have in stock. I have vowed to my husband, my mother and now to you, my loyal friends, that I will only grocery shop for fresh ingredients, additional ingredients for new recipes and, of course, a limited amount of free and rock-bottom deals that can’t be overlooked!

Along the way, I will be sharing my new recipes, the money-savings and more than a few editorial comments. I do feel more than a little nervous thinking about the dwindling food stock that lays ahead of me. I’m hoping to uncover the reason for my obsession for having 13 bottles of salad dressing, 15 boxes of pasta, and countless cuts of chicken, seafood and beef. Have I bitten off more than I can chew? Will it be possible to trim down my food hoardings, my waist, and my budget all at once? I look forward to sharing my journey with you as I Eat My Budget!