How to Save Money on Lunch

Lunchtime can be an expensive time. Whether you eat out every day, or bring your own lunch, expenses can really add up. While spending money on lunch is inevitable, there are opportunities to save money by taking advantage of teacher discounted school lunches, or making your own lunch. For example, the average daily cost of eating lunch out is $6. So during a five-day workweek, one can spend $30 a week on lunch. This adds up to $1560 a year just on lunch! However, the average daily cost of packing a lunch from home is $2.20, adding up to $11 a week. This adds up to $572 a year, with a savings of $988 a year!
I recently visited Pueblo High School for a few presentations on Budgeting. I had a short break in between classes and decided to head down to the teachers' cafeteria and get a bottle of water. I happened to notice while standing in line, the wonderful price breaks teachers got on a nice lunch. For example, one could get a bottle of water, a freshly made sandwich, and a cup of fruit for $3.75. Not only is that a great deal on lunch, it is a great deal on a healthy lunch.

Here are some tips for saving money at lunch:

• Go home for lunch, or bring a sack lunch
• When eating out, order water, soda and tea can add up
• Order lunch specials, they are usually offered at a discounted price
• Avoid dessert, they are pricy and full of calories
• Budget how much money you are going to spend weekly on lunch
• Put your business card in the fish bowl at the front of the restaraunt, you may in fact win a free lunch

Resources:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/save-998year-by-bringing-your-lunch.html
http://www.helium.com/items/1360387-saving-money-on-lunch
http://www.ehow.com/how_4668949_save-money-eating-lunch-work.html