Eating lunch out may be draining your bank account

By MoreFood
lunch

At the end of a busy day, the last thing you want to think about is packing tomorrow’s lunch. And waking up early to pack your lunch before work doesn’t sound fun either. Sometimes it’s easier to just grab a meal out instead of packing a brown bag lunch. It may seem like a harmless habit, but the weekly stops at your favorite sandwich shop or Thai restaurant can take a toll on your wallet.

In a survey conducted by Visa, people reported eating lunch out at restaurants an average of two times per week. Each meal out costs around $10, which quickly adds up to $80 per month or nearly $1,000 per year!

All of a sudden, packing your lunch doesn’t seem like such a hassle. The $80 spent on eight lunchtime meals can be stretched a lot farther at the grocery store! In addition to saving money, another benefit to packing your lunch is that you can use your EBT card to purchase food items. You can’t use your EBT card at restaurants, so packing a lunch helps to stretch your food budget even further.

Not sure what to pack for lunch? Here are some ideas to get you started: 

  • Sandwiches. These are a lunch box staple, and can get boring if you pack the same thing every day. Instead of the usual peanut butter and jelly, try peanut butter and banana. Or add a slice of avocado and bacon to your turkey sandwich.
  • Leftovers. Don’t let last night’s dinner go to waste. As you’re putting away leftovers, pack one or two meals into a microwaveable container. Lasagna, stir-fries, and casseroles taste great the next day.
  • Prepared Meals. You can find a variety of individual meals in the frozen food section, but you’ll likely end up paying more per meal for the convenience. These can be a good option when you forget your lunch or don’t have time to pack something.
  • Cook meals in bulk. Over the weekend, make a meal that you can freeze and pack in individual containers to heat at work. A pot of chili or stew are perfect for freezing.

What do you like to pack for lunch? Share your ideas with us!

 

References

Hamm, T.  Does Brown Bagging Your Lunch Really Save You Money? Retrieved from: https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2013/1029/Does-brown-bagging-your-lunch-really-save-money 

Practical Money Skills for Life – Visa Lunch Spending Survey. Retrieved from: http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/resources/pdfs/Visa_LUNCH_SPENDING_RESEARCH_0913.pdf

Zelman, K M. Cheap and healthy brown bag lunch ideas for grownups. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cheap-and-healthy-brown-bag-lunch-ideas-for-grownups