The Lunch Challenge
Posted onSo I've decided to challenge myself to not only brown bag my lunch every single day from now until March 31st, but to also refrain from buying coffee or tea or any other sort of snack during the work day. It's so tempting to just be lazy and go to the building next door and eat at their delicious cafeteria (really, the food is pretty good), or to walk a few blocks to the nearest Starbucks. But that's not going to happen anymore.
I need to start seriously saving money and watching every dollar. So from 9-5pm, Monday-Friday until March 31st, I will not spend a single cent on food.
Why until March 31st? Well, I'm thinking of starting "Monthly Challenges" for myself, just to keep this whole Personal Finance thing interesting and fresh. And since I'm mid-month at the moment, I figure I'd just extend the first challenge a little longer. For example with these "challenges," one month I'll try stay within a $30 dining out budget, or I'll try to find a way to make/save an additional $200, or I'll try to make $150 by selling things on eBay ... things like that. It may or may not pan out. We'll see! :)
Labels: monthly challenge
This is seriously one of the best ways to save money. If you think that the average lunch costs $5 or more -- that's $25 a week at least, so for sure $100 a month.
Good luck!
I do ok cuz I'm out in the country (pretty rural) but if I worked close to a Starbucks, I don't know what I'd do!!
In your previous post you wrote that you worked the whole weekend..It is insane!What kind of company is that? I mean I'm entry level accountant making $40K and I work 8-5 and weekends are mine..Your schedule is not normal, it can not be..
Chicky Finance
www.chickyfinance.com
I wish you good luck on your mission...I know how hard it is. I'm trying it now, and I can tell you staving away from the caffeteria and mid afternoon snack machine is extremely hard!
But I am desperate to save money...
Great idea! I think I'll join you from March 1.
Maybe we could call it 'Munch From Home March' or something? :-)
Good luck! Maybe I'll join in for March...
What a great idea! I want to join in, too--the only thing that stops me is that I can get a fantastic bowl of homemade soup with a roll for $2 near my job and I have yet to figure out if I can actually bring my lunch for much cheaper than that.
No! No excuses! I want to try! :)
I budget a $20 gift card for either Starbucks or Dunkin Dounts each month so I can have a treat. When it's gone, it's gone. I still get a treat occassionally, but also have some control over what I can spend.
awesome
I love that challenge
I don't brownbag it enough
I'll try to get my coworkers in on it. That way when someone thinks of inviting me to lunch, they'll also remember to bring their lunch and not expect us to go out to a restaurant.
Good luck!
I pretty much do this already, so I could join you in your challenge... but it wouldn't be much of a challenge! I've yet to discover the location of the vending machines (probably luckily) and always bring lunch from home.
This is a great idea! It's on my weakest links. Right now I'm trying to spend no more than $15 per week on lunches. So far so good, but it's only tuesday :)
Good luck with your challenge!!
I know its a little late, but I'd love to join your challange! I will start today and I'm already at work with a packed breakfast & lunch :) Thanks for the challange, its so easy to stay motivated when you have the support of others!
I'd like to join the challange too, better late than never I guess. I get all my meals for free at work but will stop buying any snacks to bring into work.
I will have to start the challange as of tomorrow.