DISQUS

Trent Hamm · 1 year ago

Keeping really careful (almost neurotic) track of your spending is a great way to psychologically keep yourself focused on saving. It really works well, for me at least.

Steve (Brip Blap) · 1 year ago

@Trent: The more I do it, the better I find it helps, too. I think the "writing down" part helps a lot, as opposed to just tracking through Mint or Yodlee or other online sources. It's one thing to see it and another to actually put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and write that number down.

SavingDiva · 1 year ago

I love to eat out at lunch! Dinner is fun, but lunch is fantastic! I walk with a few coworkers to different restaurants...we catch up, get away from work, and I get to try different types of food that I probably wouldn't try. Most of my coworkers foreign are very persuasive. Plus, they really enjoy sharing their food likes and dislikes...

42 · 1 year ago

lemme see: big tub organic spring mix: $4-5, 16 cans of tuna at Costco: $10, organic dressing $2-3 a bottle. so for a 5-day workweek that's what, like $1.75 a day for my lunch, and it's good for ya.

too bad my breath smells like cat food, and by Friday I just want a cheeseburger, but I sure am saving money on lunches!

AJC @ 7million7years · 1 year ago

Makes me wonder how much we could cut down our spending if we all carried around a 'Future Value Calculator'? :)

squawkfox · 1 year ago

Ahh, the cost of not investing the "lunch money" brings the total to 9K. You got me in a panic there. My work colleagues always poke a little fun at me for brown bagging my lunch daily. I'm laughing all the way to the bank to be honest. I even put together a guide to eating lunch frugally: 5 Frugalicious Lunches (A Visual Guide).

Basically, being honest and less lazy is a good start. ;)

No Debt Plan · 1 year ago

I have to take 2-3 clients out to breakfast/lunch per week. So it looks like I spend a lot too -- on my AMEX Blue Cash. But I don't really have a choice... eating healthy with clients is hard, too.

Mrs. Micah · 1 year ago

Whew, so not $9000 out of pocket. I was wondering where the heck you'd been eating. And thinking that we made a little bit over twice that this year (since I was a student for the first half). Crazy. But even $1300 is a lot.

Steve (Brip Blap) · 1 year ago

@42: Haha :) and ewww :) Actually, you inspired me - I had tuna fish for dinner.
@AJC: True - although you could end up obsessing too much...
@Squawkfox: Thanks - I hope it is, at least. Actually as I mentioned I've been much better recently.
@No Debt Plan: I have found there's only one way to eat healthy if you go out frequently, which is to become a whiny jerk. In the last few weeks I've been trying to cut back on carbs and I just refuse absolutely to participate in any departmental activities that are carb-heavy.
@Mrs. Micah: $1300 is a lot although if you saw my $5 salad today you'd realize that an average of $6.50 per day in New York is not exactly buying the filet mignon, so short of bringing food I'm doing well. Today, I had lettuce, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds, olive oil, and some lentils. $5. Argh...

Designer Diaper Bags · 1 year ago

I put EVERYTHING on my Amex Costco Cash Rebate card - food gets me 3% cash back. I also pay it off every month, so its essentially free money.

Two years ago I found out that I had spent about $6,000 on eating out. On the flip side, we did get $427 back at the end of the year!

The Financial Blogger · 1 year ago

Steve, why don't you just cook more food for dinner and brown bag it for the next day? It will be cheap and healthy :-D

calgirlfinance · 1 year ago

One thing that makes bringing salad to work easier is leaving a bottle of dressing at work and just bringing the veggies everyday. That way the salad doesn't get soaked in the dressing before you eat it.

Frugalchick · 1 year ago

Heh, that $9K spent on lunches really caught my attention. But you're right, one way to really control the spending is to think how much that money will be if you invest it. Gosh, I don't think I'll be eating out for lunch anytime soon!