It’s completely obvious that you will save money every single day that you bring a lunch to work, as opposed to eating out. Very, very obvious.
What’s amazing to me is how many people seem to give this no consideration! Maybe if they saw the numbers laid out, they’d wake up and smell the savings.
Every day you don’t pack your lunch, you’ll spend an average of $7.00 to eat. And that average seems to be steadily increasing. I used the free wi-fi at Panera last week (shh, don’t tell!) and observed as customers payed for their soups and salads.
“That’ll be $8.76.”
“Your total is $9.14.”
“Sir, that’ll be $9.58.”
This adds up quick! Think about it - 5 days a week at a (low) average of $7.00 a day - $35.00 a day or $140 a month or $1,680 a year. That is a heck of a lot of money.
Don’t like sandwiches? Me neither. Let’s a start a Facebook group together - “No, Boar’s head, we don’t like sandwiches but we will still brown bag our lunch.” Instead of ham & cheese, I just make a little extra dinner and pack the rest for lunch. It’s as easy as cleaning up after dinner.
Takeaway: Pack your lunch. Please.
Total Yearly Savings: You saw the math. Even if you currently eat your lunch out only 2 days a week, you are still looking at a savings of $672 a year if you switch to brown-bagging it full time. Love it.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am SO guilty of this one.
Same thing goes for school lunch, although the advantages are more in avoiding the greasy fare than saving money (3.00 for a school lunch).