The lunch bill is one of the most popular budget drainers. It feels innocent enough spending an average of $5 to $10 dollars a day on lunch, but this means the total cost of meals for the average work week is about $25 to $50 and for the month $100 to $200. Cutting the lunch bill then may very well free up as much as $50 to $100 extra for the month. This could go towards paying off debt or saving towards a goal.
The good news is that it is not difficult to reduce the amount spent on lunch. The following tips will explain how to cut the lunch bill without having a boring peanut butter and jelly sandwich five days a week.
Research Lunch Specials
Lots of restaurants have lunch specials to attract the working public. By checking through neighborhood delis and restaurants it may be possible to find a special for every day of the week. Consider approaching a local deli for a special company price if a group of colleagues would like to arrange to buy on a set day.
Eat with a Friend
Restaurant meals can sometimes be large enough to share with a friend. This way there is no real sacrifice, because there is the ambiance of the restaurant, the company of friends, a nutritious meal and half the price.
Prepare Meals at Home
One of the easiest ways to control the lunch bill is to brown bag it. Packing lunch from home may take a little extra time and call for a bit of preparation but it can really save a bundle. It is quite possible to cut the amount spent on eating out in half simply by bringing lunch from home. Even if it is too difficult to stick to every morning, try implementing a lunch from home policy at least three out of five days for the week in the beginning.
Drink Tap Water
Having soda or juice with lunch can push up the total bill by as much as $3 or $4 dollars. If this is happening daily there is a lot of room for savings just by cutting out the drink and having tap water instead. The bonus is that water is the healthier option anyway.
Isn’t it time to stop spending so much on lunch? There are several easy ways to have great food without breaking the budget. All it takes is a little creativity and of course the commitment to stick to the plan.
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