Why The Powerplate Savers?

In 2023, Winnie and I moved back to Rochester after Five years of saving in China. We were well on our way toward our FIRE goal, but we knew returning to the U.S. would bring new challenges — especially the higher cost of living. I had secured a job at a local bank before we flew back, but we quickly realized that relying on one salary alone wasn’t going to keep us on track.

So, like my dad, I found supplemental income waiting tables. The first place that welcomed me in was a Rochester staple: the iconic John Hardy’s BBQ. After nearly a year of serving and learning the art of smoked meat, an old family friend offered me a spot at her local tavern, Tavern 22. The bonus? Every shift came with a free meal.

Not long after I started there, life delivered a classic Murphy’s Law triple‑combo.

We bought a house that summer.

Our tenants moved out of our rental and left it in rough shape.

And, naturally, our car needed repairs at the same time.

Money was tight, and even though we technically had savings, Winnie is gifted with the incredible ability to avoid touching savings at all costs — even in situations designed for using them. So we stretched every dollar we could.

And that’s where the Power Plate came in.

Each night after work, I’d bring home Tavern 22’s Pesto Chicken Power Plate. At home, Winnie and I would divide that single meal into four lunch containers, add some frozen veggies from Walmart and a splash of soy sauce, and boom — we had our lunches for the next few days. Day after day. Week after week. Honestly… even now, it’s still what we eat for lunch.

People at work would ask me:

“Why do you always order the Power Plate?”

“Why are you always taking it to go?”

When I told them what we were doing — stretching one shift meal into four days of lunches — they thought we were nuts.

But here’s the thing: we’ve never found success by getting everything perfect. We mess up plenty. The reason we keep moving toward FIRE is because we take our small, consistent wins and turn them into habits that compound.

That’s why we chose the name PowerPlate Savers.

It’s us.

We’re creative.

We’re consistent.

We love a good life hack.

And we know how to turn even a free shift meal into a tool for financial freedom.

And if you ever walk into Tavern 22 and a young guy named David is your server?

Ask him what’s good on the menu.

You already know what he’s going to say:

“The Chicken Power Plate is the best.”

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