I don’t like to admit it, but occasionally, I hit McDonalds for breakfast. I have plenty of other cheap, quick breakfast options, but sometimes I just want to get out the door and have something hot. Apparently, I’m not the only one… McDonalds does a great breakfast business.

If you are going to eat fast food (and deal with the health implications), you might as well save money, right? I’m a big proponent of making the most of fast food value menus, which for McDonalds means focusing on the Sausage McMuffin… without egg. There are other breakfast items on the menu, but paying a buck for fried potatoes (hash browns) doesn’t work for me. It’s almost completely void of protein and not filling. The sausage and egg burrito is a little better, but it isn’t enough of a breakfast by itself.

The last time I was at McDonalds ordering the Sausage McMuffin they asked if I wanted the one with the egg. I like egg, so I thought about it and looked at the price. With the egg, the McMuffin jumps to $3.00. At $2, that’s an expensive egg. It probably wouldn’t seem so bad were it at a dinner. Or maybe it just seems worse to me because the Sausage McMuffin is so cheap in the first place… the 200% increase in price just knocks me over.

It feels like a restaurant charging you a dollar for a soda and then another dollar if you want ice in it. Ice is nice, but I can make due without it. If McDonalds would make the price competitive to get the extra egg, I would definitely consider it. For example, if it was an extra 50 cents for the egg, I would get it. McDonalds could profitably offer it too because that’s $6 per dozen and their bulk purchasing power probably has them getting a dozen eggs for under a dollar. That would kill the margins on their Sausage McMuffin with Egg though.

I’m not the only one who sees McDonalds with some crazy pricing inconsistencies. McDonald’s Secret Menu details a poor man’s Big Mac that you can get for $1 instead of $3 or $4. Hint: it’s a customized McDouble.

Some might wonder why I would write an article encouraging people to save a couple of dollars like this. There are a lot of Americans who can’t afford a $1000 expense. Maybe a little creative thinking on some routine purchases would be a significant difference for these people. It all starts with being mindful about the spending… even on the little things like a $3 breakfast.