It’s funny how cutting back on expenses can sometimes reap unexpected rewards…
In our case, we spend way too much money eating out. There are a host of reasons. I work, my husband works and the kids are busy with after school activities. It has become very easy to swing by one of our local eateries and grab a quick bite – far easier than dashing home to cook. It has also become a huge money suck: eating out is one of our biggest expenses.
To be fair, I love to cook but I also enjoy eating out. The kids consider it a nice treat, too. As a result, I think it has taken some of the shine off of eating at home. And that needed to change. So I tried to think about how I could make eating at home fun for the kids – and for me – again. The answer? Make it a family tradition.
Now, every week, we have Pancake Sunday at the house. Every Sunday that we’re at home (and even when we’re on vacation when we could swing it), we make pancakes. I usually rely on my handy dandy King Arthur “Simple but Perfect Pancake” recipe but I try to vary what I make depending on my mood and the season. Sometimes, the variations are a hit (kids loved the pumpkin and maple pancakes) while other times, they’re a flop (thumbs down on the potato and onion pancakes). Sides could be anything from berries to bacon – or nothing at all. The one constant: pancakes.
It has become a lovely family tradition.
The savings are also pretty significant. Today, I glimpsed at the brunch menu at our local eatery. At $18.95 each for adults and $9.95 each for kids, with tax and tip, that works out to nearly $85. At our local diner, we can get by with about half of that. But the ingredients for pancakes are just a few dollars. And the time with the family: priceless.
Do you have any family traditions that double as a cost-cutting measure?
