Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
We all know that eating lunch out everyday can be a major money suck. Even if you keep things on the cheap side, you can still spend around $25/week which equals $100/month and that totals $1200/year. Just think what you could do with that cash if you made the extra effort to take your lunch! The King of Free has made a strong commitment to taking his lunch to work with him, both saving money and maximizing his working hours. We also pack the Princesses’ lunch during the school year which helps us save money and them both eat much more healthfully. But the questions remain, what should you pack? How much should you pack? And what can you do to shave a bit off the cost of bringing lunch from home? Here are some lunch ideas to help you save money!
What to Pack
Obviously leftovers are the top choice for grown ups. I usually try to make enough for at least one extra serving at dinner for this very purpose. Sometimes this doesn’t work, though. During temperate weather, I marinade and then grill an entire bag of frozen chicken on Mondays. That night we have a dish that features the chicken and then I chop the remaining breasts and store them in the fridge or freezer. It is simple to toss this delicious lean protein source into a salad, some pasta, or make it into a sandwich. I find that I’m at ease knowing that the chicken is always there as an option if we don’t have enough leftovers.
What About Beverages?
Ditch the juice boxes, sodas, and even water bottles. At the beginning of our debt slaying journey, we were purchasing juice boxes to place in the Eldest Princess’ lunch box. A few years ago, for both economical and ecological reasons, we chose to purchase a nice reusable bottle that we pour bottled juice into instead. It saved us a $3-4 week and the bottle paid for itself in only a couple of weeks! She also enjoyed having milk occasionally or water (by far the most economical beverage) instead of juice, too. For big people, bring a reusable bottle of tea, water, or another beverage from home to cut costs (I’m crushing on this glass bottle right now which I fill 4-5 times daily). The King actually only drinks water and keeps cups at the office to drink from his office’s filtrating system.
Be Sure You Have Enough
Don’t blow your lunch bringing strategy by packing too light. The last thing you want to do is to have a moment of weakness and pay 10x what you should on a vending machine purchase and probably something you’ll regret eating later, too. Pack snacks like fresh cut vegetables, whole fruits, whole grain crackers and cheese, whole raw nuts, string cheese, yogurt, or granola. Any one of these snacks will still be good later in the week if you don’t get to them on the day you bring them with you.
Stash PBJ or Non-Perishable Snacks At The Office
If you can, keep a jar of peanut butter and fruit spread in your break room or desk. That way if push comes to shove, you can grab a couple of pieces of bread on the way out the door and have a simple lunch. And more than likely, you’ll have a leftover snack from a day earlier in the week to pair with this childhood favorite. It is also a great idea to keep some instant oatmeal at work in case you have skipped breakfast because you were pinched for time. Crackers, nuts, and granola bars are all great desk mates, too!
Step Away From The Chips
As tasty as they are, chips and pretzels are not a wise lunch choice. Sure they taste great with your deli sandwich but they both usually prove to be more expensive than fruits and veggies. Processed snack foods also leave you feeling hungry only an hour later causing you to eat and spend more in the long run. Choose high quality nutritional foods (lean meats and cheese, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, etc.) that take longer to digest so you stay full longer and keep the munchies at bay.
Don’t Baby Your Carrots
It is much more affordable to purchase full sized carrots, peel and chop them. Typically you’ll pay 2-3 times less for traditional carrots. It does take a few minutes, but it certainly pays off.
Break out your brown bag and keep your hard earned green. Your waistline and wallet will both thank you.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
Great suggestions!
Thank you! 🙂