Before I share this tip, I wanted to let you know that “Monday’s Money Saving Tips” are now just “Money Saving Tips.” Forcing a post on a particular day is not good for me. I’ll post the same amount of tips, if not more, if I do so at random!
I’ve never really thought about sharing this tip because it seems so matter of fact, but I’m always shocked to see the crowds at lunch and hear people say they buy their lunch everyday!
I never had a choice to buy at work since I was a teacher. With a 30 minute lunch break, including walking your kids to the lunchroom, settling any problems regarding lunch (forgotten lunch, arguments in line), saying hello to a parent, and taking a bathroom break, I never had much time to go grab a bite. So, what did I bring to school everyday? A good ol’ “sack lunch!”
Let’s do some math: Let’s say you grab your lunch somewhere during your lunch break because you “don’t have time to make one” – You spend $5 a day, 5 days a week. That’s $5 x 5 days = $25/week or $100/month. Now, that’s if it’s only $5. Say it’s $10 and you could be spending $200/month. And that’s not including any other dining out. That’s twice our “Dining” budget for an entire month (read more about Eating Out On a Budget). Not to mention, in most cases, it’s healthier to bring your lunch.
I still make my husband’s lunch everyday most days so he just has to wake up and go. I make it the night before since he wakes up before me (I did that for myself also when I was teaching). I’m not a morning person, so one less thing for me to do in the morning is what works for me. I leave a note so he’ll know I packed one.
What do I pack:
-Sandwiches (PBJ, Turkey, Tuna)
*If it’s turkey or tuna, I pack the meat separate from the bread so it’s not soggy.
-Chips
-Fruit
-String Cheese
-Yogurt
OR
Leftovers
Don’t get me wrong, every now and then, grabbing a bite is a must, but you can save $100-200 a month if you limit it! Personally, Beckham and I will go meet Ryan for lunch once a week if he’s able to get away. Never have we spent more than $10 total for lunch though (usually it’s $5 with coupons). This entire month, we haven’t spent a dime because we’ve been using gift cards from Christmas.
Do you have any lunch ideas or tips regarding bringing your lunch to work? I’d love to hear!
Bringing packed lunch to work is definitely a useful money-saving tip. If you list down the food you bought within a month and compare it to the cost of having packed lunch everyday, you can see a big difference in the cost. Not only does it save you money, but also time and energy you spend on going out to buy food. @ Sunset Payday