How to save $$--work lunches, etc.
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How to save $$--work lunches, etc.
| Wed, 10-05-2005 - 1:53am |
Hi, everyone. Read the posts on eating out and how sneaky and expensive it can be. I spend about $45-$60 in two weeks, eating out at work. Nothing fancy. Salad, soup, yogurt, etc. However, I have no idea what DH spends when he goes out. He does it to get "out of the office" type of thing, as they have no cafeteria. Sooo---Chinese buffet; ribs; KFC; Japanese food and sushi. Sodas! (not for me--DH). I know it has to be about $50/week he spends. I want to try eating (or taking) breakfast items now---carrots, hb eggs, yogurt, etc. Any ideas on saving on this appreciated. Do you just pack lunches, or just breakfasts? Most people I eat with get those Lean Cuisine things, but those can add up! I need ideas. Thanks. Whiz.

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Most of the time I pack my lunch. Sometimes, I will buy turkey, bacon , cucumbers, and croissants and be happy all week with my fancy sandwiches (for just under $10, total.) Other times, I will buy a cheap frozen dinner (I bring soda and water to work everyday regardless of whether or not i pack my lunch), and bring snacks from home. Pretzels, veggies and dip, snack pack bags of cookies, whatever. (Snackpacks, by the way,are a ripoff, but not nearly so much as the vending machine!!) Once you are successful for a week (and maybe make yourself a deal that you can go out once a week), it gets easier and easier. I would much rather bring food I like from home than have to deal with the hassle of going out looking for something that sounds decent every day!! Sometimes, the trick is to pack as much as you can the night before, and just make your sandwich in the morning, so that packing your lunch doesn't become another thing keeping you from getting out the door on a busy morning.
I used to use the vending machines $1-2 at work evey day, and I gave it up as my New Year's resolution, and I bet I haven't spent more than five bucks in there all year. After the first week, I didn't miss it at all. Good luck, heather
I take my lunch to work with me as well. A lot of times it is left-overs from dinner from the day before. Today I have wraps that I made myself. We are really really restricted in the amount of money we have each week and so often I just cook noodles and put margarine, garlic-salt and pepper in them. Since we have a microwave at work I can either heat that up or eat it cold, which ever. I either drink tea or tap-water at work. Sometimes, very very rarely, when I can't handle my chocholate craving anymore, I go to the vending machine and spend 50 cents or 1 euro on sweets.
I have found a whole website once with ideas for brown paper-sack lunches... I think I printed them all out. I'll check when I get home and let you know the URL.
Sushi
Dh likes:
sandwiches
hardboiled eggs
cereal in a bowl shaped container
crackers and cheese
homemade muffins (he likes them better homemade because I make mini ones, which he likes to snack on)
chili with biscuits
wraps
apples
granola bars
trail mix
Anyway, this is what I do. I do go out for lunch once in awhile, too, but it definitely is an improvement. Good luck, heather
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