bring my lunch to work.

Making lunch in the morning became a daily process, I would also make it a task my children helped with, and they would remind me to take my lunch. I’ve done it for about a month

Starting this week (First full week back to work), I’m going to pack my lunch for 6 weeks, and during the six weeks I plan to pack 4 of the 5 work days, or roughtly $35 a week, or $210 over the six weeks. Eating out is costing me way too much, and It’s not worth spending $5.50 on a sandwich, that I can can make at home for less than thirty cents.

Today is Day 1

I’m not against bringing lunch to work, It’s just that I either forget or just don’t have the time to put together my lunch. Yesterday my children ask for a way to make a little extra money, so now I buy my lunch from my children. They actually made a nice lunch, and they also kept me from leaving without it (and of course paying them).

I established this goal almost a year ago, and was spotty… but this week I’ve had 3 days of success at bringing my lunch to work. This really adds up, the cafeteria here charges 6.50 for a sandwich, chips and drink. If I have the same sandwich chips and drink packing it at home it cost about 80 cents (using of course a recycled grocery sack). The most expensive item is the diet Pepsi, which I paid 15 cents for at the grocery store, if I drink more water I could even save more. My motivation now is to save more… spend less… which means not getting ripped off by these convenience retailers.

Each day I’ve packed my Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Orange, Granola Bar, Pretzels, and can of Diet Pepsi. I think this lunch has an average cost of $1.23, So I’m saving $4 bucks at least per day – that’s $20 A Week! My goal is to do this for an entire month—- only 3 more weeks to go.

Today I brought Leftover Enchiladas, rice and beans. Thanks to my wife she packed everything up nice and saved me $5.

It’s been a stressful week, lots of meetings, and I’ve had go out to eat 3 of the last 3 days, today I didn’t pack, so that means I need to eat in the Cafe’ or go out. Next week I’m going to make a point of packing every day. I need to start out with simple goals.

Turned out that Friday was an Off-site for my department, we went to a park and had BBQ (Beef Brisket trimmings), potato Salad, Cole Slaw and tea, and of course to finish things off Bannana Pudding (this is a truly Texas feast). Better than packing a lunch, is of course getting a free lunch. But Next week I plan to bring lunch 5 out of 5 days.

Sliced turkey and smoked Gouda on whole what with Lettuce tomato and Mustard. Then I had a side salad with Feta Cheese and fat free reduced calorie ranch (not as good as real ranch but it’s 0 fat and reduced calories) with a few walnuts thrown in for texture. topped off with a bottle of water ( which I re-fill at the drinking fountain, I think I’ve had the same Ozarka bottle for about 3 months.) And yes, my lunch is still under a buck. It’s really sad, last week I went looking for a place to eat for less than 2 bucks, and all I found was McD’s, where I could get a burger and small fries (no drink) for about 1.75. Even at work my Cafeteria charges $2.50 for 12oz of soup or $3.75 for a small salad. I’m feeling good about this goal and I know I can do it!

On average a typical lunch at the company cafe will cost me between $5-$8, this consists of a sandwitch, a salad and a softdrink. I went shopping at my local grocery store - Loaf of whole wheat bread, 22 slices $.75
10 slices of guiare cheese $1.35
1 lb of ham (19 slices) $2.99
that comes out to $.35 per sandwitch, and
the Salad I put into a tupperware, I get: —12 servings for 2.99 – .24 cents per serving. --
Soft drinks 2 cans of Diet Coke – Usually 24 for $5 and it comes out to about $.20 a can . —The entire lunch now cost me $1.00. I’m saving $4$7 a day in a month that is about $88 savings if my daily lunch cost $5 bucks.

My goal is to pack a lunch for an entire month starting today.