Lunchtime strategies

[CNF2002]

What are your office lunchtime strategies? It amazes me that some people eat fast food and other expensive meals every day. $5-6 a day for lunch? Crazy!

I used to eat soup, but soon realized it was costing me almost $3/day to eat that soup. Thats $60 a month!

I've switched to making sandwiches. A loaf of bread is $1 that lasts all week, a bunch of small meat packets (50 cents a piece) will last 2 days each, plus a bottle of mayo lasts 2 weeks for $2.50. Tap water is free so I estimate a cost of $14 a month for office lunches. Not bad. Plus if I want it frees up a nice meal at a local cafe for $5 (so long as I get water) every other week, and I'm still way ahead.

So what do you eat at work?

[camthepyro]

I eat a roast beef sub (made at home), meat probably averages 75c a day, cheese 25c, bread 50c. Plus a green tea, if you buy in bulk that's like 50c. And one of those little pringles cups, which are probably like 25c. So that's what? $1.75? Not bad I guess, and I prefer to eat that over fast food anyway. If I wanted to be really stingy, I'd eat a pack of ramen (11c), and drink some tap water.

So for the sub, green tea, and pringles, it would be: $38.50 a month
For the ramen and water: $2.42 a month.

So I could save $36 a month buy eating ramen for lunch, lol. That's more than enough to pay the insurance on a motorcycle.

[CNF2002]

Ramens a great food! Not very nutritious though. I usually eat the Ramen for breakfast if I have to eat in the morning.

[Candy750]

I have fallen into a bad habit of buying lunch - what a waste of $. I got a Quizno's salad yesterday that was disgusting for $5.35 (incl tax). I can get a subway veggie sub for $2.89, and drink bubbler (water cooler) water for free. That is the best option. Today I had a cup o' noodles that was .89. Now I am dying of thirst - good thing for free water. I generally don't eat fast food - my assistant and I went to McDonald's a month or two ago, and she ROTFLOL when I asked the question "What is in a Happy Meal?". I honestly had no clue! (I was hoping for a prozac and a beer!)

I usually have a yogurt and a cereal bar from home for breakfast. That's about $6 for the yogurt (Stoneyfield farms) and maybe $3 for the bars.

As far as a regular sandwich from home - it just isn't appetizing. What else is there? I don't want to have to refridgerate or microwave - heaven forbid I go upstairs to the lunch room and - gasp! - have to socialize with the the other employees

[sharpmagna]

It amazes me that some people eat fast food and other expensive meals every day. $5-6 a day for lunch? Crazy!

That's me up there!

I'm young, make good money and no wife/GF to make me lunch. Lately though I've been muching on those frozen meals. Not bad, not great but I still go out for lunch.

[CNF2002]

no wife/GF to make me lunch

Not to worry, once you get married you still won't have anyone to make your lunch, but you will have a constant reminder about mowing the lawn.

[ZooTech]

I eat out daily. It's nice to leave grounds for an hour or so and listen to Sirius or meet up with friends. Usually I hit one of three Chinese buffets but I've been known to patronize chain restaurants from time to time as well. I'm not a huge fan of the microwave and cold-cut sandwiches from home get old after a while. It's a simple pleasure and something to look forward to each work day. I make up for it by skipping breakfast and eating cheap at home for dinner.

[jonnythan]

Lean Cuisine. Relatively healthy, tasty, no preservatives, veggies, $1.50 each at the grocery. Combine it with a piece of fruit and I'm all set at around $2/day for lunch.

[flynrider]

I just skip it. Sitting on my butt all day in front of a computer, I don't burn enough calories to warrant lunch.

[NorthernPete]

Ilisten to Sirius

XM is better.

As for lunch, well, I pack my own. Have to (lack of eating out options when your a kilometer underground) your not just limited to sammies though, if the office has a microwave, bring some leftover supper, some Chef Boy R crap or something along those lines. also, heating up meat sandwhiches makes them super good...melty cheese is awsome.