Money Spent on Lunch

The best way to save money on weekday work lunch is to mass prepare everything.  Inexpensive ingredients can be combined into meals which can be frozen and taken when needed.  This is a great idea because the cost and time per meal is extremely low.  Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lentil soup, and salads are all quick and easy.   I'd like to recommend that you do this, but I can't.  I have never done this and here's why.

In grade school, my mom would pack the same five or so lunches and send me on my way.  Ham and cheese or Lunchables with a couple snacks were mainstays.  I'm not complaining, that was a full meal and I never went hungry.  In college, Ramen, PB&J, and Granola Bars were a staple of my diet.  Now, I'm repelled from those foods.  They just don't elicit any desire to be eaten.  Eat something long enough and you'll grow to hate it.  This tends to happen to a lot of the mega-ultra-family pack purchases at discount wholesale stores like Costco, Sams, and BJs.  I'll buy a mega pack and wear myself out eating the same thing over and over.  Monotony is a struggle.  My co-workers bring brown bag lunches everyday and I'm a bit amazed at their resolve.

As with most things, moderation is key.  I'm not a mega ultra saver on lunch, but my wife and I do make mega portioned meals on Sunday.  We pack an extra few lunches for later in the week and save a bit that way.  Plus, the healthy and nutritional aspect of home cooked meal helps to balance out our other unhealthy eating habits.  The money saving aspect is only slightly influential in my food choices.  Compare the inexpensive lunch to eating out and you can save $5 per day or more than $1,250 a year.  Personally, I budget and spend about $8 per work lunch, which equates to about $2,000 a year.  That is a little painful to type, but this is my luxury item.  I bargain with myself by declining unnecessary extras such as soda, chips, and sweets on a regular basis.  The dollar saved sates my inner accountant.  This also sates my inner athlete and health-nut who is buried somewhere deep inside.  [Story about health and medical costs.]

I find the time spent lunching is more valuable to me than the dollars spent.  Here's a flowery and wistful view.  Lunch is a restorative time when you can get away and breathe fresh air in a peaceful, meditative trance.  All my bitterness subsides and I exhale a deep, easy breath.  While that isn't always the case, it does occur and is sometimes needed.  That time when no one needs me can be the best part of my day.  In contrast, the social lunch is the more important part.  Friends keep you mentally and emotionally stable.  Friends are crucial to enjoyment and career growth.  The information gained about your sphere of influence, upcoming possibilities, and new technologies will be the hammer you use to drive the nail into the rat race.  You'll gain a better understanding of your options, where you stand, and when to make moves.  More than once, this has helped me pull away from life's habitual periscope and open up my peripheral vision.

The emotional side of money is rarely discussed.  Losing $5 a day on lunch may be worth it.  Evaluate the importance levied your luxuries.    [Story about Consumerism & Luxury Items]  Manage your self alongside your finances.  Mental and emotional health matters.  Breaking for lunch allowed me to start new endeavors and find enjoyable hobbies.  Money Glider began as an idea during lunch.  Do you think it was worth it?

Thanks,
Dan