I woke up today craving for a sumptuous breakfast at a nearby diner (consisting of pancakes, bacon, fried eggs, muffins and fresh brewed coffee - yum!). The girls and I used to go out and enjoy breakfast bonding time to let Dr. D hubby catch up on his sleep on the weekend. A standard $8.99 per head once or twice a month is not that expensive...but when you sum it all up in a year's time...it costs a lot.
Cost estimate without tax and tips:
($ 8.99 x 4 )
One month: $71.92
($35.96 x 2 breakfast sessions)
Six months: $431.52
($71.92 x 6 )
One year: $ 863.04
($71.92 x 12)
$800++ per year??? That's a lot of pancakes --almost the cost of a year's worth of car insurance? Yikes!
Thank the stars for my kitchen gadgets, well stocked pantry,frozen fruits and forever diet thinking - -I am able to veto my tummy's yearning for more calories.
Which led me to share with you my "cut the cost brunch" to save $800 dollars per year by coming up with a "Breakfast in Bed Tactic"
Here's the gameplan to eliminate the craving for those uncalled brunch run:
STEP 1: CREATE THE LOOK:
IF you don't like to eat in bed...sometimes, all you need is to jazz up the look of your breakfast table ! Create a great setting by getting up early and setting an ambiance to your breakfast room! Light a candle, use your best linen, take out the tea set, set a centerpiece or as simple as placing a flower in a vase to induce you to dining in! If you are tired with traditional pancakes and toast - -invest in a waffle maker to make the familiar dough look different!
STEP 2: STOCK UP ON BASICS:
The temptation to go out may be avoided if you have a well stocked pantry and refrigerator. How many times have we complained .."but there's nothing to eat!" Yeah yeah - -you don't need deli food but just the basics! Always have the staples on hand (pancake mix, eggs)and it will go a long way. Also, purchase bacon/ham on your next visit to the grocery . Don't eat them at one sitting! Get a freezer bag and divide them into three separate bags . Keep them handy till you have the next craving to go out.
STEP 3: PRETEND TO BE THE ONE DAY DESSERT CHEF:
Drizzle your pancake with chocolate syrup like you are recreating a Picasso! Cook strawberry with honey/red wine sauce as topping to your french toast! Flare up some apple dipped in caramel butter sauce to go with your toast! Serve ice cream at 7 am! No rules..just look at your pantry and freezer and discover your inner creative soul! The art of making food look tempting and more pleasing to your eye will make you leave your car keys hidden in your bag in the morning.
STEP 4: COUNT YOUR CALORIES:
Check the website and dare to discourage yourself by looking at caloric content of those crazy pancakes sold at fast food chains! Not sure about you ...but this is always the show stopper for me!
