What do you do for lunch?

[disneysteve]

I pack lunch every day. What I bring varies. We make pizza at home every Thursday night so Friday or Monday, I usually bring the remaining slices for lunch. Sometimes I bring deli turkey and stuff to make a sandwich. I bring a can of tuna and some stuff to go with that (cheese, applesauce). I also will buy the healthier frozen meals (Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine) when they are on sale for $1.99.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't go to work, so I have all the choices of home. Sometimes leftovers, sometimes a combination of leftovers and freshly prepared (especially now with garden), sometimes sandwich maybe with something else. Often a bit of yoghurt with whatever else, sometimes an omelette. Today it was spahgetti squash left from last night's bolognese, but I chopped it up, seasoned with curry and olive oil. On the side I had some some dark leaf lettuce, green onions, mint sprigs and a 1/4 cup or so of yoghurt. Husband is often here for lunch and that might affect what we fix.

[My English Castle]

My lunches are leftovers or sandwiches or salads made with leftovers.
I'd like more exciting lunches, but I feel obliged to eat what's around.

[Ima saver]

My husband brown bags his lunch and that saves a ton of money. None of his workers do that, and they are broke all the time. I eat leftovers and seldom go out for lunch unless meeting a friend.

[disneysteve]

My husband brown bags his lunch and that saves a ton of money. None of his workers do that, and they are broke all the time.

Funny you say that. My wife used to work with a bunch of people who were always broke. I mean broke to the point that on payday, they'd run out at lunch time to cash their checks so they could afford to eat lunch that day. My wife brown bagged her lunch and had direct deposit. Half the time, she didn't even know when payday was. It never occurred to all of her coworkers that maybe if they didn't buy their lunches every day, they wouldn't be perpetually broke.

[nmboone]

Today I calculated how much I spent on food for just the month of June so far... 66.43!!! And only a week in! That is absolutely insane to me. And yes I have been eating out just about every day lately. I am a single person, no kids or husband. I knew I was spending a lot, but today, I forced myself to add it all up. Thankfully I never gain weight from all of it, but still I just can't afford it. I will buy groceries this weekend and eat in from now on, lol!

[akrogers]

I am proud to report that I didn't eat lunch out at work for the whole month of May! One of my lunchtime favorites is Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwiches... they are really yum and you feel like you are getting a special treat. Also- for Christmas I generally ask the family for gift cards to places where I like to eat and when I feel like treating myself I use one of those gift cards. I use them pretty sparingly and I still have a ton of money left on them after 5 months.

[tripods68]

I made an conscious effort to bring lunch from home more often than eating out few years ago. If I have to translate that to a percentage, I'd say about 60% consistently. Sometimes, I go 100% for a month. I save anywhere from 50 to 100 bucks a month. I also eliminated buying mocha from Starbucks during work week. That's another $100 a month we saved.

Those extra $$ we saved enabled us built EF, vacation fund, and paid off our car. It's amazing how much you can accomplished when you can "tweak" the spending habit just a bit.

[Judi Dial]

We both work at home and do the same as you do, we eat leftovers. Isn't that what lunch is for?

Judi

[raygong2000]

sandwhiches that is all

[GREENBACK]

I also eliminated buying mocha from Starbucks during work week. That's another $100 a month we saved.

I've never been a Starbucks person. Actually have only been in one once and I ordered a black coffee that wasn't as good as my homebrew. I can't believe you can really spend $100 a month on this stuff. Really defines "Latte factor".

[Miss Curly]

I'm a homemaker so I am generally at home for lunch, however, I make my husband's (DH) and son's (DS) lunches everyday.

Sometimes DH takes leftovers. Sometimes I cook something specifically for him to take to work. In cooler weather especially, I'll make a big batch of chili or soup or some other one dish type meal. I'll add a green salad or veggies for a side. In warmer weather, I'll make a big batch of some kind of tasty salad, like a bean or grain base and make a big batch of grilled chicken. I'll use the chicken as either a main dish alone with veggie side or throw in some extras for him to make a wrap, or add a green salad base with feta, pepperoncinis, sunflower seeds (something to make the salad more entree style). DH also gets fruit, snacking veggies, and some nuts.

This year, DS is taking a thermos with hot food. He gets noodles or rice on the bottom, then I have to add a ziploc style bag to protectthe rice from some kind of protein, usually the leftovers from a dinner, i.e. chicken (grilled or crockpot, turkey, etc. Add fruit and a couple small chocolates (like Dove or kisses). Gotta have the chocolate.

[marvholly]

I am 63 y/o. Have worked 26 years of my adult life (was a SAHM for 15 years). I have ALWAYS carried my lunch to work. It never made sense to me to spend the time or $$$ on eating out constantly.

While by training and experience I am a microbiologist I have been my company's purchasing agent for nearly 2 years (firm belief in NEVER paying list/ertail for ANYTHING). Yesterday a vendor bought me lunch at a common medium $$ place with my BOGO coupon. It was still $15.33 for 2.

Because of my age, heredity and general health conditions I tend to eat cottage cheese + a fruit or bunch of veg for lunch 2-3x/week. The other work days I take fresh/frozen leftovers.

I batch cook something most weeks, eat several times and freeze the rest. Afte a month or 2 I have a freezer FULL of meal options and only have to add fruits, veg, and/or salads. I even batch cook rice & freeze. I always cook 2 portions of past and either use in a couple days or freeze.

Sat is my junk food day whether it is frozen /french bread pizzia, Italian sausage, fast food.............Keeps me sane.

[alac1980]

when my children are in school, i pack their lunches. i try to avoid prepackaged items as much as possible, for example, i'd rather bake muffins that buy a package for their dessert.

we do very simple lunches. a sandwich. juice. water bottle. some carrot sticks or other raw vegetable. a few cheese cubes. crackers. a piece of fruit. my girls are very young.

they do have 'hot lunches' that can be ordered through the school....for an astronomical price. i started feeling badly about it because i don't want my girls to be the odd ones out. so i followed along with the menu, making similar things. for example, on pizza day, i would send homemade mini pizzas that were suitable for eating cold.

myself, i try to pack my lunches as much as possible. i'll admit i fall off the wagon quite a bit. i struggle with full time shift work. on night shifts, i barely eat a thing because i'm too tired to worry about planning and prepping a proper lunch. i'm much better for packing a good lunch on day shift.

i haven't been the best wife in terms of packing lunches for hubby
he fends for himself for the most part.

[krantcents]

I have been taking my lunch to work since the seventies! I saved a bundle and I actually invested it. To me savings is not savings unless I put it to work.