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Saving
Money On Breakfast- A Frugal First Meal
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by: Matthew
Bezahler |
The most important and
the most expensive
meal of the day can be breakfast. If you want to cut your
grocery
bill every monty, look for ways to provide a wholesome first meal for
less.
There are so many options for breakfast these
days. Kids
can choose from hot cereals, cold cereals, breakfast bars, eggs, bacon,
sausage, frozen meals, Pop Tarts, nutritional drinks and the list goes
on. Breakfast is packaged fast and convenient for the busy consumer and
their mothers. Unfortunately, fast is not frugal most of the time
Decide
a week at a time which options you will offer your family. Serving the
same things every week or two at a time cuts down on what needs to be
bought at the grocer. Each weekend, break the monotony by fixing a
breakfast meal composed of all the favorites your kids don’t get during
the week. Maybe french toast, pancakes, muffins or sticky buns from
scratch.
Of course, when buying cold cereal, the
best way to
save money is to purchase off-brands. Don’t spend the money on cold
breakfast cereal with fancy names and lots of sugar. Buy the off-brand
versions of the same cereals we grew up eating. They are now available
in bags that can save you a lot if you store them in an air tight
container
Whenever you can, purchase your breakfast
staples in
bulk. Instead of buying a box or can of oatmeal for four dollars,
purchase a ten or twenty pound bag of rolled oats for a dollar more. A
box containing five dozen eggs is more economical that buying a dozen
eggs four times a month. Clubs such as Sams or Costco have
great
prices for these items, but always check if your local supermarket has
cheaper prices with coupons.
Visit the local
farmer’s market to
buy your fresh vegetables and fruits. Adding fresh vegetables to
omelets provides flavor and texture to the breakfast meal. The farmer’s
market sells dried fruits which make a healthy quick breakfast for you
and your kids when time is short. Besides flavor, these
markets
products can be far superior to the grocer's and they help the local
economy to boot.
Buy breakfast meats at the butcher
shop. The
price is better and you can have the meat sliced for free. This way you
can see what you are getting and choose the best cuts to keep your
family happy and healthy. Those packaged cuts are usually
loaded
with fillers and are simply not as good.
If you
want to offer
breakfast breads or muffins to your family, make your own. There are no
preservatives in the muffins you make. Use fresh ingredients and
substitute applesauce for a portion of the vegetable oil for a
healthier choice. Make the muffins ahead of time and store them in the
refrigerator or freezer to increase their longevity. Yum!
Breakfast
doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. A little elbow grease and
advanced preparation will provide even the busiest families with a hot
breakfast each morning, making everyone a little happier, a bit
healthier, and it will keep some money in your pocket.
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