Everyone can’t seem to quit talking about the price of eggs. We’re probably all acutely aware in the grocery store that prices have escalated over the last year. And I personally find the memes hilarious. Long touted the most important meal of the day, you may feel like breakfast is becoming the most expensive, too. But that simply isn’t true. Having a nutritious breakfast at home will help you begin the day well, while doing wonders for your budget, too. These affordable breakfast ideas can make a wide impact on your budget this year.
Brew Your Own Coffee
You knew I had to begin with this one, right? Coffee made at home can save you a bundle. While the experts disagree slightly on the cost to brew coffee at home, the average price is between $0.18 and $0.30 depending on your bean choices. You don’t have to buy generic coffee in a black and white can. Even if you purchase a name brand variety, you’ll fall far short from the $5 cup of joe you’d pick up through the drive on the way to work.
Make Overnight Oats
One of my favorite meal prep steps on Sundays is to make 3-5 overnight oat dishes for my morning breakfasts. My favorite recipe includes ½ cup of whole rolled oats, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, 1 tablespoon of ground flax, 1-2 tablespoons of sliced almonds, a dash of cinnamon, a drizzle of maple syrup, and ½ cup of milk. I use oat milk because I like the flavor. Typically in the mornings, I add berries or apples. You could add peanut butter or chocolate. It’s a great dish to change every day. And the best part is that it’s ready first thing in the morning with very little prep.
DIY Frozen Pancakes Or Waffles
A hot breakfast is ideal but doesn’t always happen in our house because of the convenience factor. Instead of buying pricey pre-packaged, pre-cooked toaster pancakes and waffles, make your own. Make an entire box worth (or more) of mix and freeze in a reusable airtight container or gallon Ziploc bag or in serving sizes of 2 or 3 in individual bags. To reheat, place in the air fryer, oven, microwave, or toaster. You’ll save plenty of money and have a hot breakfast in no time at all.
Precook Bacon
I love bacon in the mornings. But it’s messy to prepare and no one has that much time. Many weeks, when I’m meal prepping, I will prepare an entire package of bacon. I like cooking it in the oven to cut down on the mess and so I can focus on preparing other foods at the same time. Spread crinkled aluminum foil in a 9×13 pan. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes, checking the bacon intermittently to turn it when necessary.
Realize Eggs Are Still an Affordable Option
The temptation any time a common grocery item spikes in price is to panic. We all become Chicken Little thinking the sky is falling. It’s likely that egg prices will remain high for a season. And we may see that trickle down to egg products we love. But in the end, eggs aren’t that expensive – especially if you’re eating them at home. The average price per dozen is $4.25 nationwide. At my local Kroger, they’re still coming in at under $3. But even at $4.25/dozen that still shakes out to roughly $0.35/egg or $0.75 for two for breakfast. Breakfast for under $1 is always a winner in my book. And if you add milk to yours to scramble them or make a casserole, they’ll stretch even further.
Odds are good that prices will return to closer to the prices of a year ago. However, in the meantime, don’t get wound up in panic. You can still make a huge impact on your budget by eating breakfast at home.
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This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
