SAVE MONEY BRING YOUR LUNCH TO WORK
People in Ireland work an average of 48 weeks during the year. On average most will spend €10 a day on lunches amounting to €2400 a year which is a tidy little sum in any ones book, also there's the time spent queuing during you valuable lunch break, so time and money are going to waste!
This guide will help you reduce this amount and in turn provide you with a healthier lunch option, if you so desire!
1) Firstly get the right utensils for what you like to eat!:
- Spoon
- Fork
- Knife
- Thermos
- Lunch bag
- Lunch box/Reusable food containers (Chinese clear containers)
- Bottle for milk or water
- Small container for sauces
- Resealable plastic bags
- Napkins
2) Now that you have the right equipment its time to choose your menu and when you want to prepare your lunch. As time maybe a luxury in the morning the best way to prepare is the night before, giving you those extra precious minutes in bed in the morning!
- When you make your meals, plan extra portions so that you can use them for lunch the next day. If you had chicken for dinner, you could use left over for a chicken salad.
- While doing your weekly shopping plan for your lunches, buy in bulk, use Promostop to identify special offers on fruits, bakery, juices etc that can easily be added to your lunch, hence saving money and effort.
- Does your place of work have microwave, fridge, kettle etc?these will help you plan the versatility of the lunches you can bring to work, such as ahot meal, soup, toasted sandwich!
- If you are partial to the odd toastie, ToastaBags are extremely handy. Also, toasties are cheap to make and very tasty.
3) It’s essential you pack a lunch that you will look forward to and enjoy, no point in making a lunch the night before and at 1 o'clock deciding you want to head to your local Café or fast food outlet, a likely occurrence if you bring a soggy sandwich!
- Pack a balanced lunch. Include all the essentials fruit, veg, pasta, rice, and don't be afraid to include some goodies, after all you are saving money so you deserve a treat!
- As mentioned above if your work place has a microwave, fridge etc you could easily buy cheap microwavable meals in your local grocery store, or bring your own healthier versions or leftovers from the night before.
- When making sandwiches make sure to add the right fillings and bread so as not to have a soggy sandwich or ideally bring bread and filling separate and make sandwiches during your break.
- Do you need to buy soft drinks for lunch? They are expensive and unhealthy, and water is free if you have a quality supply and a much healthier option! However, if you need your sugar fix, it’s an excellent idea to buy multipacks of your favourite soft drink and put them in the fridge at work.
- While we advocate saving money by bringing your lunch to work, you should treat yourself one day a week, maybe your least favourite day, by going to your favourite café for your lunch. We get sick of things quickly, and by breaking up the monotony, it is easier to stick to the plan!
- Finally, and most importantly, when you are weakening and heading towards the door to get that shop bought sandwich, think of what you can buy yourself with all the money you save! Save it, or blow it on a holiday or mad buy!
