Processed foods are much cheaper but I'm not going that way. One thing I won't bargain shop for is what I put in my body. So other things have to give, such as dining out and going on vacation.
In my early days of marriage, my wife and I would always go out to breakfast on weekends. We explored all the diners in our area and would even go 20-30 miles to find new ones. Back then, a typical breakfast would run you $5-6 with unlimited coffee. Now like you we make breakfast at home. It's actually the easiest meal to cook once you settle into a routine. I can cook up a good breakfast in about 10 minutes.
My daughter just bought a new waffle maker and we are having fun with that. Going out to breakfast used to be a family tradition on Sundays (after church) - but it has gotten prohibitively expensive for all of us, especially our young who are just starting out. Going out is now a rare treat for us, usually birthdays only.
We’ve had a lot of fun cooking up great food at home, you just have to take the time to shop and prepare it - but we’ve even made that fun.
“It’s actually the easiest meal to cook once you settle into a routine. I can cook up a good breakfast in about 10 minutes.”
Yes, me, too. I’m very efficient at it. Heat a nonstick small frying pan at low. Crack three eggs into a bowl, toss in some parmesan or creme fraiche, and whisk together. Start the water for the coffee. Cut a large slice of sourdough in half and pop in the toaster. Start the eggs. Set up the coffee “pour-over” filter. Stir the eggs (and keep stirring). About 10 minutes is right.
Clean up takes maybe another 10 minutes, too. I hand-wash everything and put it away, wipe down the counter, and done.
On lazy days, it’s a bowl of cereal or some fresh cut fruit and a yogurt.
It’s amazing how fast you can be and the amount of money you can save.
I do miss the socializing at the coffee shop, though. I’m good friends with the owner and enjoy chatting with her. Plus, she has a delightful rear patio which is a wonderful leisurely spot when the warm weather arrives. I’ve cut that down to about twice a month now, down from twice a week.
What galls me is this was all unavoidable. When we invaded Iraq, our Debt/GDP ratio was 40%. Today it is 120%. The country is in a debt death spiral and there’s no money to build up our military. The ridiculous over-reaction to COVID ignited inflation.