Cost of Brown-Bagging It

[nuisance26]

~I was just doing some math to figure out how much of my food budget went to DH's work breakfasts and lunches. Last year I figured we were spending $2.40 a day(about $48 a month) for his Pop-Tarts, deli ham sandwiches on white bread, Tastycakes, chips and Cokes. Now that Evie is older I have more free time in the kitchen. I now make whole grain sandwich rolls, banana cake, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies and pies(in which I often sneak in wheat flour, oatmeal, flaxseed or whole grain cereal). I eliminated chips last year and will purchase Chex Mix or low-fat flavored pretzels or coffee/lime/chocolate yogurts when they're on sale. He still gets Coke but I now buy it at $.18 a can instead of $.33 a can. So the final number now is $1.50 a day($30 a month). It's so nice having the time to be sure he gets(mostly) healthy foods. Now if I could just get him to like water and fresh fruit and veggies I'd save even more! How much are you all spending a day?~

[Marie78]

Right now I eat leftovers for lunch or whatever I find that we already have here. My fiance takes his lunch, he brings a bagel sandwich, yogurt, banana, and a bottle of water, sometimes a homemade goodie if he wants a treat with lunch. We usually have home made brownies, cookies, or muffins on hand. His lunch costs $1.68/day which averages out to $33.60 a month. Before I convinced him of the savings of time and money by bringing a lunch, he was spending that much per week eating out for each lunch.

[acidcookie]

I am not sure, but now I'm interested in figuring it out. It really depends on when I go to campus that day and how long I stay because the amount of food will vary. But if I spent $99 last month and assume I use 1/3 of that on lunch then it can't be more than roughly $33 per month, eh? I will figure it out.

[AmyBoz]

I think it's pretty cheap. Dh brings PBJ, an apple and baby carrots. The kids bring PBJ, yogurt, banana and a cheese stick. I'm guessing it's under $1.50 per lunch, maybe under $1.00 each, due to good shopping.

[jinx]

I have never really figured out how much my lunch from homes costs on a daily basis. I will have to sit and figure it out.

[sunshine]

Most of my lunches are under .50 each

For example:

boiled egg - .06
baby carrots - .20
pear - .20
water

[kabin63]

My Dh takes leftovers every day, unless we don't have any, then he uses his money for the week for anything he buys out.
I figured out before that we were saving more than being spent when he takes his lunch, even when I make him tuna salad from the can. I don't have a dollar figure though. I will have to figure it out.

[Emjo]

DH takes a sandwich (made w/homemade bread), 2 pieces of fruit and homemade cookies for his lunch each day. It's probably around $1 per day.

[Neeley]

Dh lunch and breakfast breaks down like this:

Breakfast
instant oatmeal - $0.12 ($1.47 box/12 packets in box)

Lunch
Sandwich
wheat bread $0.07 ($0.69 loaf from bread store/20 slices in loaf)
Turkey - no cost (I stock up on sandwich meat when wine vendors put out meat coupons in November and April - then use them w/B1G1 deals. So lunchmeat is always free)
Cheese $0.09 ($5.97 package/72 slices in package)
Chips - $0.20 ($9.97 box/50 bags in box)
Banana - $0.14 ($1.14 for 7-9 bananas)
Soda - $0.17 each ($2.00 for 12 pack)


Breakfast and lunch:$0.79

[lisettelovebug]

Dh usually takes leftovers from the night before. Occassionally we don't have any leftovers (like today - he decided when he got home from work at midnight last night that he was going to eat the alfredo I made... - So now he took money with him and will probably buy a salad at McDs.) It's a bad week, because we're leaving on vacation Thursday so I really don't want to cook - more dishes to do before I go!!! So I ordered a deal at Pizza Hut for 3 pizzas for $5 each. I figure that will give us enough for the next three days until we leave (and I don't have to do anymore dishes ). He usually brings the leftovers, yogurt and a banana. So that probably costs about 60 cents a day. A lot cheaper than him eating out that's for sure. (and healthier)
Lisette

[Ani]

Hubby and I both bring leftovers for lunch, supplemented by various crackers, fruit, yogurt etc. I think we probably spend about $1.50 - $2 per lunch per day, but that's cheaper than eating out, and we don't scrimp on our lunch items. We like to buy healthy and organic stuff like multigrain crackers, soft cheeses, organic fruit snacks etc.

[justpeachy92]

I have never figured it out, but I am certain it is less then if he was buying luch everyday from a restuarant.

[Katybird]

I take either leftovers or soup and crackers. My lunches are always less than $2 per meal.