Sivan Segev | 
06 17th, 2008| 
An expensive burger:
So how much do you spend on your lunches? If I go to a restaurant every working day, and there are at least 20 of those each month, and spend an average of 8$ the sum can easily top 160$.
Some months are more tight than others and frankly I’d rather spend that 160$ on other things I enjoy more. I’m not saying don’t eat - to the contrary, just consider what it does to your budget.
As you read through this, remember that you don’t have to be like this everyday to save money, just some days when you feel like tightening your budget control. So here goes, 10 ways to spend less on lunch time while working:
- Bring it from home - You already paid for the food in the fridge - if you have a microwave in the office or you are making room temperature sandwiches, this is a great way to save. The only drawback is that you must find time for this in the morning and remember to bring it with you. Today I had 2 slices of yesterday’s Pizza we bought for the family.
- Dollar menus are your friend - Be it McDonnald or taco bell, a small portion yet cheap meal could be all your body needs right now anyways. I personally have a 1$ double cheese burger or a 79 cents burrito once a week. I usually don’t have the 1$ side salad - but it’s a good deal just as well.
- Drink water - Do you really must have a cup full of ice and some sticky gooey pop? Don’t get me wrong - I drink lots of pop, but when times demand it - no pop for me. The same goes for coffee. You can drink that office thing (if you must).
- Stock up on frozen meals in the office - You are probably starting to hate me right now. Sorry, but there’s nothing cheaper than just grabbing that 1.5$ box of frozen meal you bought two months ago and warming it. Keep a variety, just so you wouldn’t get tired of it.
- Office paid meal - Is there a birthday party? Friday grill? Customers need to be entertained and are fed on company’s expense? It all depends on how shameless are you and where you are positioned in the company. Join the diners and merge in the conversation.
- Coupons - Goes without saying, right? I usually have a set of fast food coupons in the car. It arrives by mail or I seek it online. Reducing that 7$ wendys number 2 meal to a 5$ is a worthy cause.
- Per Diem - If your company pays for your meals when you are on the road, you should consider spending much less than what you get paid. I know you really love that 16oz steak, but pocketing that difference might feel better when you spend that extra cash later on something more rewarding than the 15 minutes it takes to gorge a steak
- Little Caesar Pizza is 5$ - and you can share it with at least 2 other people and still get full. I really wish they had a place close to my work. They even closed the closest location to my home. Bummer.
- Decline group workers lunches where you pay for your own - now I’m turning you into a snob. Consider this, you will probably feel uncomfortable sipping water and munching on the tiniest cheapest thing on the menu when everyone else buys food like they just won the lottery. If it is a sit-down restaurant you are also expected to tip. Checkout the DVD link at the bottom for more help avoiding this situation…
- Credit card points and gift cards - Always buy lunches with the same credit card and make sure you get valid and as many points for it. Then use the points to order gift cards to restaurants. I usually use those gift cards to take the family for a good dinner and I have just ordered an “On The Border” gift card.
 If you really like sit down restaurants and sports bars, let me recommend you a movie that will put an end to all that - waiting. |
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