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Finances & Money • Frugality

Frugal Lunch by Clever Dudette

February 27, 2007
By Clever Dude
- Leave a Comment

Looking to save some money on your work lunches? Check out these three delicious, nutritious, and cheap lunch ideas and save yourself hundreds of dollars per year!!

I would like to announce the first guest article by my wife Stacie, aka Clever Dudette. Stacie is a Registered Dietitian in the D.C. region, and runs her own nutrition site at Building Nutrition.

Enjoy!
———–
Clever Dude and I frequently disagree on lunch purchases. I work in a hospital (and therefore have ready access to the cafeteria) but have packed my lunch daily for over 6 months. The Dude works at a client site with expensive lunch options (cafeteria and food court). I believe that to be frugal (and health-conscious) for lunch, it is imperative to pack your lunch!

Average cost of an insulated lunch box:
$10 at Walmart or on Amazon.com. You can use the Amazon.com product search on the sidebar.

What are good and healthy options for lunch?
Let’s assume that you have a refrigerator but no microwave to heat foods:

Monday Lunch:Peanutbutter Sandwich
PBJ sandwich on wheat bread, raw carrots, baked chips and an apple:

  • Peanut butter ($0.11)
  • jelly($0.07)
  • wheat bread ($0.30)
  • raw carrots ($0.12)
  • bag of baked chips ($0.28)
  • apple ($0.50)
  • water from the fountain (free). It’s safe, except where the Dude works, but they provide water coolers.

Cost: $1.38

Tuesday Lunch:Turkey Sandwich
Turkey sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, light mayo, carrot sticks, canned pears in light syrup and a snack pack of Oreos (the Dude’s favorite):

  • turkey sandwich on wheat bread ($1.30)
  • lettuce ($0.25)
  • tomato ($0.25)
  • light mayo ($0.14)
  • carrot sticks ($0.12)
  • canned pears in light syrup ($0.69)
  • snack pack of Oreos ($0.41)
  • fountain or cooler water again (still free)

Cost: $3.16

Wednesday Lunch:Tuna Salad Sandwich
Tuna salad sandwich, banana, celery sticks with peanut butter, baked chips

  • tuna sandwich (light tuna canned in water on wheat bread with light mayo) ($1.00)
  • banana ($0.25)
  • celery sticks with peanut butter ($0.25 + $0.11)
  • bag of baked chips ($0.28)
  • the infamous water from the water fountain (free again)

Cost: $2.00

Thursday lunch:
Repeat of Monday.
Cost: $1.38

Friday lunch:

Repeat of Tuesday—have to use that lunch meat!
Cost: $3.16

So to calculate the comparison costs, let’s ignore that you may work from home some days, or don’t work all 52 weeks each year:
Cost of eating out (average $6 a day) = $30.00
Cost of packing a lunch for 5 days = $11.00
Total savings = $19.00/week * 52 weeks = $988.00!!!

What if you have no microwave and no refrigerator?
You could spend $10-15 for a lunch bag that comes with a freezer pack. You can also just throw a few ice cubes in a re-usable Zip-lock bag to use as a “free” ice pack.

Each of these lunches will provide about 600 calories, which is appropriate for the average man or woman. So, not only are they inexpensive, but they are healthy too!!!

More from Cleverdude:

  • Personal Lending Group Shares 5 Key Things to Be Sure You Get Right on Your Loan Application
  • Review: National Consumer Panel – Pure Awesomeness or Waste of Time?

  • Meal Delivery Service: Blue Apron Review

  • Which is Cheaper: Keg or Canned Beer?

  • Save Money on Water if You have a Pool (Utilities)

Photo Credits to [Progodess], [basykes], and [RatRanch]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steve says

    June 25, 2009 at 4:45 am

    You mean that we can save upto $1000 in a year if we pack our lunch? Amazing statistics!! Thanks!!!! I’ll pack my lunch hereafter.

    Reply
    • Lucy says

      April 26, 2016 at 5:58 am

      Hi Kanika,Thanks for your feedback about my blog. These signs are all over – mostly in the mountains though. All you need is look out for them. Often they just stare at you and you cannot miss th#eeCh.mrs&e8230; Ajay

  2. July Luis says

    December 8, 2009 at 10:36 am

    I was shopping online yesterday trying to buy for my son a Super Mario Bros Game.. I stumbled upon a site called EZWINGAME…they are running a free contest this week for a free Nintendo… Wanted to know if anyone has heard of this site..and what they think…thanks

    July

    Reply
  3. Dottie says

    January 5, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    I work for an airline and pack a 4 day lunchbox. The ziplocks with ice usually leak so I invested in a $12 medical icebag made of rubber from the local pharmacy. Works great and is worth the investment. I also love Trader Joes for their no chill needed menu items. They have ziti & lasagna for $1.99 that are shelf stable. Yummy too.

    Reply
  4. Chris says

    January 6, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    I don’t usually drink any kind of soft drinks or soda. But the other day I got a small container of ginger ale (it was next to the tonic water at the grocery store). I’ve been drinking it slowly, DILUTED! I put a lot of ice and water in a cup, then add about one tablespoon of ginger ale, more or less. Tastes fine to me! Would be even better with sliced lemon added, I bet.

    Reply
  5. Kiki says

    November 8, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Just came across this site. Love it! I now work at home 95% of the time, but even when I was in an office, I generally would take leftovers from the night before for lunch the next day. This saved a ton of money, and gave me the “ethnic” food I loved. When leftovers weren’t available, then I’d do the tuna sandwich, PB&J or PB&Banana. Saved a lot of money this way, and ate healthier. When making dinner, I try to plan enough so there will be leftovers. For example, pasta with meat sauce (dinner for 3 and one or two lunches); pot roast with carrots and mash will easily make enough for 2 dinners, and 2 lunches, and if meat is left it can be made into a 3rd dinner by adding to pasta sauce, or make gravy and add sliced meat, and some rice, add veg you are done. I find thinking this way challenging and I enjoy being food frugal. I hate wasting the fresh fruit and veg that always get forgotten in the fridge. Have a cure for that?

    Reply
  6. Scarletgunn says

    April 18, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    I dont see much hope in slowing the obesity epidemic when a dietitan recommends fruit in sugar syrup.

    Reply
  7. deoliveira says

    April 20, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Train travel is a genuine chance when men and women retire, to after so long working and raising a family finally enjoy travel. Travel by train also avoids just so much of the stress that is now associated with air travel. Railway travel is also very surprisingly cheaper than most people think. There’s a significant selection of rail travel possibilities out there to choose from. So, there’s definetly a travel offer, best suited to you. The next time, you find yourself looking for a retirement travel adventure, why not decide to jump onboard, with a great railway journey!

    Reply
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    May 1, 2015 at 11:30 am

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  10. Email List says

    December 27, 2024 at 3:17 am

    Hey there! Remember to treat yourself with love. Self-care is essential for your mental health.

    Reply
« Older Comments

Trackbacks

  1. “ We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” Native American Proverb. « MissFitMama says:
    April 29, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    […] extra waste and calories you’ll avoid by passing on heavily packaged & processed foods! Click here or here for some great ideas on healthy lunch options. Source: Cleverdude.com & Rasisingkids. […]

    Reply
  2. My Mother in Law is Visiting and I am Sleeping on the Couch. | DINKS Finance says:
    March 15, 2015 at 4:27 am

    […] also passes the pen to his wife Stacie AKA Clever Dudette from time to time. Check out her post on Frugal Lunch by Clever Dudette Follow Him on Twitter […]

    Reply
  3. Where to Find Money to Invest says:
    April 11, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    […] other day?  Do you need all those premium movie channels that you never watch anyway?   Can you brown bag your lunch a few times a month instead of eating out every day?  Small sacrifices like these can add up to […]

    Reply

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