This is a blog from my neck in the woods and she has an interesting challenge for Feb/March in the goals of saving money. She has 46 people joined in this challenge so far.   Is this something anyone is interested in doing here? I know a few of us try to make this a goal.

http://krystalatwork.blogspot.com/2008/02/february-march-lunch-challenge.html copied from her blog

 "Alright, let's make this February-March Lunch Challenge official. If you would like to join me in my challenge to not spend any money on lunch/snacks/coffee/tea during work days from now until March 31st, please leave a comment. Also, if you could indicate whether you're starting with me NOW, or on March 1st, that would be great! :)

Every Friday I'll post a little review of the week to see how I've done, and it would be awesome if you'd also leave a comment on your blog, or in my blog with how you're doing!

P.S. if someone else takes you out for lunch or treats you to something, that doesn't count. Also, if you have to do 'business lunches,' that you get reimbursed for, that doesn't count either. The only thing that counts is if you pay for the food out of your own pocket.

Hello,

I like your idea about saving lunchmoney but the funny thing is that spending lunchmoney at work is the most frugal thing I can do. We pay a dollar a day for our lunch which provides for bread, toast, milk, juice, fruit, vegetables etc. We make a pot and one of us goes shopping for lunch in the supermarket. This works fine for us and is a moneysaver

Hi, Dutch Treat!  Welcome back. E or edey

 

That's great Dutch treat, here that is not a common thing. Usually you only get good deals or free meals if you work in a restaurant or a market etc. School caferias maybe depending. but for most office workers etc here it would be $5 and up a day. even macdonalds meals are $5 now.

That's a good idea if buying lunch/coffeee/snacks has become  a habit.

We homeschool so we don't buy lunch, snacks etc......I always pack dh's lunch because he's a contractor and eats lunch on the job site anyway.

Yes, this lady works in an office, that is why she has that challenge. She is planning to have some reg type of challenge to keep her on the past of money savings.  Smart young girl getting her money in order at this stage of life.

I did that for years before I retired even though I worked in an office. I'd pack a lunch or bring a cooler with a salad in it and buy a 2-gallon jug of water and keep that on a file cabinet. Lunches out were pretty rare.

 Very occasionally dh and I take the three littlest girls and go to Noodles for noodles and water, after noon kindergarden pick up- I am leaving this open for the first two weeks of March as dh is home during the day- starting March 17 he has 15 weeks of class and internship, and I'm in for eating only at home those 15 weeks!  I guess I'm leaving a lunch out open, though for the first two weeks.  It costs about $20.  

Does anyone prepare food at home ahead of time?  Cut up veggies, etc.  I think I need to do that when I work in the morning, otherwise all I make is peanut butter toast or mac and cheese and sides.  Very boring.   

on a different note...Tracy, how is your daughter enjoying Holland?

I try to be organized for the next day. makes things easier. doesn't happen as much as I like but I try to get things started..defrosting meat etc or have an idea what is for dinner easy or not.

Weekends, I try to cook up at least two big pots of something. Usually, a pasta dish , meat loaf, mac and cheese and maybe soup. Sometimes a huge pizza. Then I pack DS lunchs so no one eats them. Have at least two nights dinners cooked.  I also make up ice tea, lemonaide. The other thing that I try to do during the week.....make egg salad or pimento cheese. Something for sandwiches. Some days are so busy and cooking gets on the bottom of the list. In the past, we spent way to much on eating out or ordering take out. Trying to change that in our life. We are making progress. I find Fri the worst evening for caving into the urge to not cook.Babs