| If you are clipping and using grocery coupons to | | | | be eating for lunch. Keep the menu simple but be |
| save on your grocery bills to stay within a budget | | | | creative and prepare something different |
| each month, you know the importance of cutting | | | | everyday, and always think healthy. Simple |
| your spending in other areas, too. | | | | sandwiches with whole gain breads are fine, but |
| You are most certainly familiar with the routine. | | | | try to include some nuts, at least a serving of |
| The clock on the wall in the office says noon and | | | | fruit or yogurt. Also, brown bag a treat for |
| the usual group of coworkers decide where to | | | | yourself that you can look forward to, maybe a |
| have lunch. In many modern offices in cities and | | | | health bar or your favorite snake. |
| towns, where the driving time to the nearest | | | | Keep your brown bag lunches in mind when you |
| eatery takes up a good portion of the lunch hour, | | | | are shopping for your groceries, which means |
| not to mention adding wear and tear to the car | | | | planning ahead and buying in bulk. Instead of |
| and using up gas for the car. | | | | buying small individual packaged bags something |
| Its difficult to find a decent lunch for fewer than | | | | which usually cost more, buy it in large packages |
| ten bucks including tip. You swallow your food, | | | | and divide up smaller portions and put them in |
| share a few laughs with coworkers and run back | | | | smaller re-sealable plastic bags. |
| to the office wishing you could take a nap | | | | If you dont like sandwiches or you prefer home |
| somewhere. | | | | cooked meals, plan to cook larger than normal |
| As you make your way back to your desk, you | | | | dinners and save some left over for lunch either |
| notice this gal putting away his brown paper bag. | | | | for the next day or the whole week. Put the |
| She seems calm, happy and ready to get back to | | | | lunches in individual containers the night before so |
| work, some of which he apparently did while | | | | you can brown bag it and go the next morning. |
| enjoying his lunch and thinking how delicious it was, | | | | Even with all the planning, youre bound to be |
| the hassle she avoided by eating at she desk, and | | | | running late on some mornings or just dont have |
| how much money she saved. | | | | time to prepare lunch the night before. Theres |
| But is the money you save really worth the time | | | | nothing wrong with occasionally eating out a can |
| and effect needed to prepare and bring your | | | | once in awhile. Leave a can of soup or vegetable |
| lunch to work each day? Lets take a few minutes | | | | chili at the office. Most offices have at least a |
| to do the math to see how much money you | | | | small kitchen with toaster ovens or microwaves |
| can save. | | | | that you can use for heating up your soups. |
| For example, lets say you can fix your own lunch | | | | Dont forget to bring your drink. Dont rely on the |
| at a cost of about $3.50 a day. Its probably much | | | | soda venting machines that are also in the office |
| cheaper if you are buying in bulk and using | | | | kitchens. You can stock up on a 12-pack of soda |
| grocery coupons. That works out to $17.50 for a | | | | for as little as 10 cents a can. Of course, you can |
| five day work week. | | | | always just drink water, which is usually free |
| And lets say you spend $10.00 per lunch eating | | | | provided by the office, with your lunch. |
| out five day a week, which comes to $50.00 | | | | Depending on your work load, you may or may |
| each week, not counting wear and tear on the | | | | not want to have working lunches. Thats up to |
| car and gas money. | | | | you. The time is your time and you can use it to |
| The difference comes to $32.50 each week that | | | | catch up on personal emails or just take a break |
| you are spending on lunch with the gang. That | | | | from work. You just may find that you are more |
| works out to $1,625 a year. Is that money that | | | | relaxed, less hurried and more productive. Dont be |
| you could use for something else more essential? | | | | surprised if your coworkers come to you for tips |
| A great way to get started with brown bagging | | | | on brown bagging their lunch. |
| your lunch is to talk people you know who are | | | | There are lots of good points to brown bagging |
| already doing it. But here are some tips to get | | | | your lunch: You eat healthier, save time and |
| you rolling: | | | | money, and youre more productive. Now you |
| Prepare the lunch the night before so youre not | | | | have a new task of figuring out where in your |
| hurried in the morning. You dont want to be | | | | budget to allocate the money you saved. |
| stressed early in the morning over what you will | | | | |