Cubicle Coach: Eating in?

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  Posted by make.money28 Wed May 14, 2008 6:42am PDT

  I didnt do so good.. on the money or the "diet" part lol

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  Posted by Daniel Mandell Wed May 14, 2008 8:13am PDT

  There are still associated costs with packing a lunch.

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  Posted by CL Wed May 14, 2008 8:45am PDT

  I've been on a money diet for a while now. I track all my expenses on my amex and an excel spreadsheet. It helped me target how much I spend on everything. I work in the times square area in New York, and everything is too expensive. I buy bags of bagels/bread/english muffins/fruit preserves, and leave them in my office fridge so i can make my breakfast every morning. I can also do that at home, but i like the extra 10 min of sleep. I also have tea or coffee at work (free - provided by the company). I refuse to spend money in the morning at a deli for something that isn't too good for me anyway. I don't pack my lunch that often, but I do have snacks and such at my desk so I don't go to the vending machines at work. I try to stretch a large lunch for 2 days, especially when the meal portions are huge. I try to spend less than 150 on food (not including groceries).

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  Posted by Rare Find Wed May 14, 2008 9:33am PDT

  $150 per week?

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  Posted by CL Wed May 14, 2008 10:55am PDT

  * I try to spend less than 150/month on food (not including groceries)

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  Posted by Jasmine Wed May 14, 2008 11:24am PDT

  Packing a lunch is not $0 but is significantly less than eating out every day. I usually treat myself to lunch out once a week and take something the other four days. My packed lunches range from $1 noodles to $3 microwave meals and I drink water (not bottled!!!) with every meal $0. When I eat out I would say I spend $9 so my weekly lunches are at most $21.

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  Posted by chantlove Wed May 14, 2008 11:49am PDT

  My 2nd week closing will end tomorrow (Thurs), in Cairo weekend are Friday & Saturday, so Thursday night = Saturday night = big spending. But this time i WILL NOT. My spending for the past 6 days is as follows:

  Food $71 (much more reasonable for 2people than $220 last week) and we still have some seafood and meat in freezer to carry on for next week.

  Lunch date with hubby $35

  April electricity bill $96

  Household staff $14 (tips for gardener & driver)

  90% of the time i cook dinner from scratch, i love cooking :) lunch, hubby packed cereal bar, since i'm staying at home, i mostly eat fruits (plum & grapes). He ALWAYS has breakfast. Our main meal is dinner. No un-necessary shopping, nothing! My goal is now to reduce electricity bill. I think i run too much laundry last month and not efficient enough in terms of not turning off power, etc. We'd do better next month

  Anyway, I'm very pleased with myself for this week. Thanks for the article :)

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  Posted by pixie Wed May 14, 2008 12:39pm PDT

  HMM PACK YOUR LUNCH THE NIGHT BEFORE AND MAKE SURE YOU MAKE ENOUGH FOR DINNER FOR LEFTOVERS. IT'S REALLY EASY IF YOU JUST PLAN AHEAD AND REALLY WANT TO SAVE MONEY AND TIME IN THE MORNING. I HATE MORNINGS BUT WILL NOT WASTE MY MONEY ON LUNCH,SO A LITTLE PRE PLANNING GOES ALONG WAY. NOT TO MENTION YOU CAN CONTROL PORTION SIZE AND WHAT GOES INTO YOUR LUNCH,YOU MAY LOOSE A BIT OF WEIGHT THIS WAY. SLOW DOWN AND IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO BRING YOUR LUNCH.

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  Posted by superkate Wed May 14, 2008 12:40pm PDT

  I have been making larger dinners and then we have leftovers for lunch. Not glamorous but downright cheap. I am still trying to cook 3-5 pounds of meat on Sunday (there are only the 2 of us) and make as many meals as I can or freeze whats left over and cook later or early the next week. I have been cutting back so much that our groceries are costing approx $50 for a couple for the week. I don't think thats 2 bad. Do you?

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  Posted by pixie Wed May 14, 2008 12:42pm PDT

  NO MATTER HOW LITTLE YOU SPEND ON FOOD IF IT'S NOT HEALTHY ORGANIC FOOD YOU WILL BE DEALING WITH EXPENSIVE MEDICAL BILLS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. TRUST ME,I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TO MANY TIMES!! GET RID OF THE PREPACKAGED CRAP IN YOUR HOUSE,GET RID OF THE SUGAR AND PROCESSED MEAT AND OTHER PROVESSED SO CALLED FOOD. BETTER YET GROW YOUR OWN FOOD OR SHOP AT A FARMERS MARKET,LIMIT YOUR MEAT INTAKE AND UP YOUR FRESH VEGGIES,FRUIT AND GRAINS. PEOPLE WAKE UP AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF LIFE IS SHORT!!! GET OFF THE PROCESSED FOOD DIET!!!!

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