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Is It Worth The Time To Pack Lunches?
Oh yes!
When you're hungry in the middle of the workday, temptation calls and you end up feeding from the snack machine, the food court around the corner, or the pricy cafeteria
While these stops can work in a pinch when you have nothing prepared, it really is financially unwise to eat out for lunch everyday when you can make delicious, healthy, CHEAP lunches at home. You can save $3,000 a year or more in expenses simply by packing your lunch on a daily basis. And not only are there significant cost benefits, but health and well-being benefits as well.
Keep these tips in mind when considering whether or not to make your own lunch:
1. Savings. Making your own lunch will typically cost between $1 and $3 per meal, effectively saving you as much as $35 or more for every work week or around $2,880 a year.
2. Food Preferences. You can make food exactly how you like it. Add your favourite condiments and vegetables to spice up a sandwich, or toss grated cheese and crackers into your favourite cup of soup. You can spruce up your own homemade lunches quickly and easily without extra expense.
3. Leftovers. Leftovers make excellent packed lunches the next day and are virtually a free meal. Make a little bit of extra dinner or better yet trim down portions to the recommended size, instead of loading up plates just to use up cooked food, and you'll have a lunch or two. You can then enjoy reheated chili, soup, casserole, pasta, rissoles, and other favourite dishes from the night before.
4. Pack your lunches the night before. Because mornings can be unpredictable and hectic, prepare your lunch the night before. I make the lunches while I'm waiting for dinner to cook. I'm in the kitchen anyway so everything is handy and the job is then done. Pack everything together in preparation for the next day so you can just grab your lunch and run out the door in the morning.
5. Keep track of your savings. Saving money by taking your lunches will only be effective if you keep track of the savings. Take the money you save on a weekly basis and keep it separate so you can enjoy it later on. Make your effort count by ensuring that the money you save actually goes into your savings.
6. Designate a specific lunch time if your workplace doesn't have a designated meal time. Eating lunch at your office, rather than going out, also saves you time and petrol money. Designate this extra time to do something relaxing or productive to get even more benefit out of packing your lunch.
Bringing your homemade lunch to work every day offers numerous benefits. Not only are you benefiting your wallet and your savings, but your health and your productivity at work as well!
When you're hungry in the middle of the workday, temptation calls and you end up feeding from the snack machine, the food court around the corner, or the pricy cafeteria
While these stops can work in a pinch when you have nothing prepared, it really is financially unwise to eat out for lunch everyday when you can make delicious, healthy, CHEAP lunches at home. You can save $3,000 a year or more in expenses simply by packing your lunch on a daily basis. And not only are there significant cost benefits, but health and well-being benefits as well.
Keep these tips in mind when considering whether or not to make your own lunch:
1. Savings. Making your own lunch will typically cost between $1 and $3 per meal, effectively saving you as much as $35 or more for every work week or around $2,880 a year.
2. Food Preferences. You can make food exactly how you like it. Add your favourite condiments and vegetables to spice up a sandwich, or toss grated cheese and crackers into your favourite cup of soup. You can spruce up your own homemade lunches quickly and easily without extra expense.
3. Leftovers. Leftovers make excellent packed lunches the next day and are virtually a free meal. Make a little bit of extra dinner or better yet trim down portions to the recommended size, instead of loading up plates just to use up cooked food, and you'll have a lunch or two. You can then enjoy reheated chili, soup, casserole, pasta, rissoles, and other favourite dishes from the night before.
4. Pack your lunches the night before. Because mornings can be unpredictable and hectic, prepare your lunch the night before. I make the lunches while I'm waiting for dinner to cook. I'm in the kitchen anyway so everything is handy and the job is then done. Pack everything together in preparation for the next day so you can just grab your lunch and run out the door in the morning.
5. Keep track of your savings. Saving money by taking your lunches will only be effective if you keep track of the savings. Take the money you save on a weekly basis and keep it separate so you can enjoy it later on. Make your effort count by ensuring that the money you save actually goes into your savings.
6. Designate a specific lunch time if your workplace doesn't have a designated meal time. Eating lunch at your office, rather than going out, also saves you time and petrol money. Designate this extra time to do something relaxing or productive to get even more benefit out of packing your lunch.
Bringing your homemade lunch to work every day offers numerous benefits. Not only are you benefiting your wallet and your savings, but your health and your productivity at work as well!
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