I left my job as a food editor to go back to school—here’s how I manage to shop affordably and cook quickly.

Last year, I transitioned from being a senior food editor at Dinogo to becoming a full-time law student. As you can imagine, my grocery shopping and cooking habits have undergone significant changes. These days, my mealtime priorities are focused on two things: saving both time and money. But I’m still a ‘foodie’ at heart—I love cooking, sharing meals, and eating well. Through this shift, I’ve learned some valuable lessons that have made me a more efficient cook and have allowed me to enjoy my time in the kitchen even more.

Here are seven strategies that have helped me maintain a healthy, affordable, and quick meal routine.

Understanding the Big Picture and Compromising Is Crucial

Saving both time and money when cooking is totally achievable, but you need to accept that you can’t always prioritize both with every purchase. I often try to make everything from scratch to cut costs, but I quickly realize that it’s not realistic to do everything myself when time is tight.

It’s important to spot opportunities to make time-saving purchases that won’t blow your grocery budget, and to do the reverse as well. This balance is key to achieving both of your savings goals.

Cutting Back on Meat Means Cutting Costs

This year, I stopped eating meat for ethical reasons, but within a month, I realized it was also saving me a lot of money. Chickpeas are way cheaper than chicken breasts, and they’re easier to work with since they don’t need much preparation. Even just cutting back on meat-heavy meals can make a big difference in your budget. Plus, once you get used to cooking meat-free, it’s no longer a big deal when someone forgets to defrost the ground beef.

Planning Ahead Truly Pays Off

As much as I dislike admitting it (since I’m no fan of meal planning), there’s a reason why so many people swear by it, especially when you’re trying to save both time and money: it works. Having a meal plan in place makes grocery shopping and cooking so much more efficient. Sure, deciding what’s for dinner days in advance can feel annoying, but it eliminates the guesswork when making your grocery list, makes it easier to stick to that list, helps you breeze through the store, and, most importantly—prevents the dreaded ‘what’s for dinner?’ question from popping up at 6 p.m. on a chaotic Thursday. Without a plan, that question usually leads to takeout or eating out.

Since it’s just me and my partner at home, we only plan out three or sometimes four dinners each week. The leftovers from those meals usually become lunch or another dinner, and we’ve learned to get creative with using leftover ingredients for quick, impromptu meals.

Know Your Go-To Meals

This is just as crucial, if not more, than meal planning itself. Fallback meals are the ones you can make with minimal effort, that everyone at home enjoys, and that don’t require a lot of ingredients. In other words, when the ‘what’s for dinner?’ question pops up with no plan in sight, you’ve got an easy solution ready to go.

Take a moment to list out your go-to meals, and if you’re missing any of the key ingredients, add them to your grocery list. Familiarize yourself with these dishes and ensure you always have the essentials to make them, because chances are you’ll rely on one of these trusty meals several times a week.

For instance, cacio e pepe has been one of my reliable fallback meals for years. I love how quick, simple, and comforting it is, and it only requires pasta, black pepper, butter, and a block of Parmesan cheese. (Although the classic recipe uses Pecorino-Romano, Parm works just as well.) These ingredients are always on hand because I use them in so many other dishes, making it an ideal fallback option.

Make Sure to Add At Least One Convenience Ingredient to Your Cart

This is another key tactic, especially for those of us who aren’t always perfect at meal planning. When time’s tight, there’s no shame in grabbing a shortcut ingredient at the store. While some shortcut items may be more expensive, it’s all about finding that balance and considering the bigger picture.

Your Freezer Is Your Best Friend

If you live in a small household and aren’t a big fan of leftovers, make sure to keep this in mind and plan your meals accordingly. Many dishes like soups, casseroles, stews, and meal components (like cooked rice or shredded meat) freeze beautifully. Just because you don’t want to eat the same thing two days in a row doesn’t mean you won’t crave it a few weeks later. Having pre-made meals, sides, or ingredients ready to thaw in your freezer is incredibly reassuring. Plus, using your freezer effectively helps prevent food waste, which means you’re saving money too.

Shop Around

You probably know your local grocery scene better than I do, but if you have several stores to choose from, you’ll likely find different deals at each one. Keep an eye out for discounts on the items you use most. Where I live, there are Facebook groups dedicated to tracking the best weekly grocery deals—check online to see if something similar exists in your area. While it’s not worth hopping between four stores in one trip, if you know you can grab a favorite ingredient for half the price at Trader Joe’s, stop by the next time you’re in the neighborhood and stock up.

For many experienced home cooks, these tips might not be groundbreaking—they’re probably things you’ve heard or even tried before. But for me, the challenge was not just knowing these principles but actually applying them consistently. There’s no universal answer to the daily task of feeding ourselves, but if you try incorporating one or two of these ideas over the next few weeks, you may find it transforms the way you shop and cook.