Saving dough by cooking at home: Begin to change your perspective on eating out vs cooking at home. Eating out is supposed to be a rare treat rather than a way of life. Sure, it’s an easy, convenient and instant satisfaction on a busy day, but start to think of  ways you can prepare and make meals in advance instead.

Bonus: You will know what exactly in the food and who is handling it. 😊It just takes a little forethought and planning.

Preparing breakfast at home–

We like to make a week’s worth of breakfast burritos when we are making a Saturday or Sunday breakfast. We are already doing the work, and it only takes a few more steps to complete this delicious and handy and delicious breakfast.

I asked Barb to share with you how she makes the burritos for us, and other yummy breakfast ideas

• Scramble extra eggs-6-12 (depending on your appetite), bacon or sausage and set aside. I like to get the Jimmy Dean tube of breakfast sausage and cook all that up. If you like chorizo, cook up that. Hashbrown potatoes, are a good filler- cook up frozen hash browns and set aside, or boil your own potatoes until tender and chop, or shred and fry up yourself.
• We like to mix in a small can of mild green chilies for a little zip and some shredded cheddar. (those who like more spice can kick it up a notch with hot sauces)
• Flour tortillas are next, we use 8”. Warm up both sides in a hot skillet, place in a folded towel to keep warm until you are ready to roll them. It is okay to let the eggs, potatoes and meat cool off (it is easier to handle).
• When you have all of your ingredients ready. Cut off a piece of plastic wrap, 8” wide and lay it on your counter top.(you will do this for each burrito)  I mix all the eggs, chilies, potatoes and meat together. Take a warm tortilla, place it on the plastic, add a scoop of egg mixture onto the middle of the tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Roll up burrito style and then hold closed with the plastic wrap. Do this until supplies are used up. You can keep some in the refrigerator wrapped up for a week or so and freeze others for a couple of weeks. Pull out the night before from the freezer. Thirty-45 seconds in the microwave does the trick. Make your coffee at home or fill a to-go cup with juice. Easy peasy! Give yourself a big high five- you are doing great.

Next- add up in your mind what that same breakfast might have cost you and smile to yourself, you are on your way to saving dough.

Other fast delicious breakfasts to make at home:

Fresh fruit and yogurts– pack at night

Toast with peanut-butter and sliced banana

Oatmeal- Prep everything the night before. We like to add dried fruit that we have cut up (pears, apricots, cranberries and mangos) a dash of cinnamon and a quirt of vanilla.

Muffins– lots of recipes out there from banana to zucchini- these can be baked and frozen. So pull them out the night before and go.

Avocado Toast– Either have on hand ripe avocado or pick up individual packages of chunky avocado. You can slice your tomatoes the night before, scramble or cook an egg while the toast is toasting so everything is hot and ready at once.

Make extra bacon when you are cooking breakfast and save for BLT’s. Barb cooks a pound at a time in the oven on cookie sheets- Put foil on the pan first, then bacon in single layers. Lay a piece of parchment on top of the bacon and bake at 400 degrees. Remove the parchment after the bacon starts to brown and shrink. Watch the bacon because it can cook quickly. Drain on paper towels and store in ziplock or airtight container for future bacon ideas.

If you have to eat out—Keep an eye out for coupons to your favorite restaurants including deals to purchase gift cards that include a bonus card.

GIFT CARDS– We take advantage of buying gift cards from our local grocery store or Costco especially when the local stores have double bonus points, (which equal more points for cheaper gas).

Think ahead- who has birthdays or special occasions coming up? If you can purchase those cards when they are double points that is smart thinking.

What are the restaurants you might go to this month- get the gift card in advance.

Are you ordering something from Amazon or another store- get the gift card in advance and use that.

WE NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR GAS and you shouldn’t either

Next week- Apps and saving even more $$

Share your favorite ideas for cooking at home or using gift cards.