My Favorite Thrifty Breakfast Hacks

Breakfast is easily the meal I spend the least amount of money on.  Thriftiness in this area allows our budgeted dollars to go much further.  I have already done a post about breakfast before but I wanted to share some of my favorite hacks with you once again.

Homemade yogurt

Most of the time we need our breakfasts to be portable as we aren't home to eat them during the week.  We take advantage of the weekends to slow the pace and make larger breakfast that we eat together as a family at the table.  I prefer to eat later in the day as my stomach isn't ready to take on food first thing in the morning.  My oldest tends to be the same way.  My youngest is happy to eat breakfast first thing and then again later (I think she may be part Hobbit).

Homemade bread and granola

Because I am blessed with an employer that provides us with a great set up in the employee kitchen we have everything we need to prepare any number of things.  It helps a lot. 

Here are some of the things I like to have on hand to pack a simple portable breakfast:

Hard boiled eggs

Homemade bread to toast, butter, jam, or peanut butter

English muffin or homemade English muffin bread, butter, jam

Bagel, cream cheese

Peanut butter sandwich with jam or honey (my youngest's favorite)

Homemade oatmeal or hot cereal, milk

Homemade granola, milk

Homemade yogurt, frozen berries

Homemade pancakes or waffles, syrup

Homemade muffins

One of my favorites is bagels with cream cheese.  I usually buy my bagels when I find them on the bakery markdown bin at the grocery store for 99¢ to $1.99 for six.  When cream cheese goes on sale for 99¢ for an 8oz package I stock up.  Since I only eat half a bagel at a time I end up with 12 breakfasts for only $2.98 or 25¢ each.

Homemade bread makes it even less expensive.  I place half a stick of butter in a half pint canning jar and keep it in my desk.  A thick slice of whole wheat or oat bread toasted with some butter and sometimes a bit of homemade jam costs just pennies.

On the weekends I often make oatmeal or hot cereal.  I'll make extra and divide the leftovers into dishes with lids.  I put some milk in one of the bottles my girls use to take drinks in their lunches.  I reheat the oatmeal in the microwave for a minute, add a little milk and breakfast is served.

Homemade granola is another favorite.  I buy my oats in bulk which makes the cost quite a bit less.  I buy coconut and dried fruits on sale and nuts from the bulk bin to save money here too.  I sweeten the granola with homemade pancake syrup which costs very little to make.

Since I pack my lunch every day in an insulated lunchbox with a frozen ice pack it is no trouble to add a couple more things for breakfast too.

Homemade yogurt & frozen raspberries

Do you eat breakfast in the morning?  Do you prefer to dine at home or at your desk?  What are some of your favorites?

Homemade pancakes from scratch cost very little
Add some frozen blueberries - yum!

Click on highlighted items in the list above for recipes!