by Michelle Jones, GrocerySavingTips.com
Tip # 1 - Sales
Cereal can be a great bargain food when purchased on sale and/or with a coupon, but if it's not on sale don't buy it.
Tip # 2 - Bigger is Always Better
It's often cheaper to buy the smaller boxes of cereal, whether on sale and/or with a coupon or not. The cereal companies know we like to buy in bulk so the bigger boxes can sometimes be priced at a higher amount per ounce.
Tip # 3 - Bulk Breakfasts
Bacon, sausage and other breakfast meats can be purchased in bulk when on sale and stored in the freezer!
Tip # 4 - Bacon, Bacon, Bacon
Try cutting bacon strips in half (before cooking) so everyone will eat less - while feeling like they're eating more.
Tip # 5 - Grits
Grits are a wonderful economical breakfast food and can be found in the cereal section next to the oatmeal. At least throughout the South. ;o)
Tip # 6 - Instant Savings
Don't waste your money on those small 'instant' packages of oatmeal, grits, or cream of wheat. Just make the real stuff yourself. Not only will you save money, but the real stuff tastes soooooo much better!
Tip # 7 - Cheap Breakfast Recipe
Eggs are also a very inexpensive breakfast food...
* * * BONUS RECIPE * * *
Omelets
by Michelle Jones
Ingredients:
2 -3 eggs (per serving)
Water
1 thin pat of butter (about a teaspoon or less - and you can use margarine but it melts down to mostly water, which doesn't work as well)
Any of the following Omelet add-ins: (precooked) diced green, or red peppers, onions, broccoli, ham, shredded cheese, even crumbled bacon or sausage... you can add just about anything!
Directions:
Heat an omelet pan, or small frying pan, with small pat of butter over medium heat. Wisk eggs with about 1 T. water and pour into heated pan. As the eggs begin to cook, holding pan with a hot pad if needed, gently move cooked edges from the side of the pan with a wooden spoon or plastic spatula - while tilting pan in a circular motion to let the uncooked eggs from the middle spill over to the edges so they will cook too. Continue this process until the eggs are setting up well all over. Add desired ingredients and fold half of the egg mixture over (lifting gently from the side with a spatula) to create the half moon shaped omelet. Continue cooking for a just a minute so added ingredients will warm up. Serve immediately.
* When camping outdoors, you can place all of the omelet ingredients (including beaten eggs) into a plastic zip bag and cook in a pot of hot water over the campfire. When eggs are thoroughly cooked simply remove the bag from the pot (with tongs and hot pads), and slide the finished omelet onto a plate! It's one of our family favorites!!
Enjoy! :o)
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Tip # 8 - BOGO Cereal Sales
Many grocery stores offer special sales on cereal (either 2 for $4.00, 2 for $5.00, or my all time favorite, "Buy 1/Get 1 Free"). These sales will often change each week so if you or your children like boxed cereals be on the lookout for when your favorite brands go on sale and buy a little extra.
Note: "Buy 1/Get 1 Free" sales often have a limit of 2 free items, but you can always visit the store more than once if necessary.
Tip # 9 - BOGO Coupons
And don't forget you can use two coupons with each of these special sales, unless the coupon requires you to purchase two boxes. In this case, you can use two coupons and buy four boxes... for the "Buy 1/Get 1 Free sale you'll get two boxes for free and the other two at a great price!
Tip # 10 - In the Bag
Bagged cereals are also a great buy, especially when compared to purchasing boxed cereals at regular price. If you're unsure just compare the ounces on each package to see what I mean. And if you get them at a discount store like we do, you'll save even more!
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Readers' Tips...
"I buy a 9 pound box of old fashioned Quaker oats for $6.49 at Costco. It comes in two 4 pound bags. There are 102, 1/2 cup servings. This comes out to about .06 cents per serving. To make it I simply put 1/2 cup dry oatmeal and 1 cup water in a large bowl and cook on high in the microwave for 2 minutes. Then I add in fruit, honey, nuts, cinnamon... whatever I want for flavor. My family of four eats oatmeal several times a week and it takes months to use up the 9 pound box. This is truly a savings. We also use it in breads, muffins, cookies, fruit crumble, etc." Lenora R.
"I no longer buy boxed cereal at the grocery store. Instead, I buy it at Dollar General or Dollar Tree. It is still named brand, but in a slightly smaller box that is marked anywhere from $1 to $1.75. THEN, I used my coupons (yes, they accept them) The result?? I get our name brand cereal for free to 75 cents a box." - April
Copyright 2003-2013 © by Michelle Jones, Founder of GrocerySavingTips.com. All rights reserved.
