Most days of the week I eat what is known colloquially as a "sad desk lunch."
Typically it includes some turkey slices and spinach sandwiched between two pieces of bread slathered with mayonnaise. There is also usually an apple and sometimes cheese and crackers or chips.
My lunch (circled in red) surrounded by all my desk items.
Is your mouth watering? No. Fine. I know. My lunch is boring. It can get especially tiresome at the end of a long week when I have the same thing every day. But it fulfills my most important qualifications for a successful work lunch: It's filling and cheap.
I often wonder why more office workers don't share my austere view of the midday meal, especially since most of us scarf down our lunches at our desks.
The Chipotle near my office is filled with people just released from the confines of their cubicles spending $8 for a burrito like it's nothing. The same thing is happening over at 'wichcraft, a local gourmet sandwich shop where office zombies fork over $10 (on debit cards, of course) for simple sandwiches. TEN dollars for a turkey sandwich -- sure it's tasty, but c'mon!
Meanwhile, I spend about $19.05 for an entire week of sandwiches and snacks. By my calculations I'm saving about $1,547.50 a year.
Below are two receipts: On the right is my grocery store receipt and on the left is a receipt from 'wichcraft (my editor agreed to foot the bill).
I have tried to convince my colleagues to join me in bringing lunch with this simple logic: They remain unmoved. "I can't eat the same thing every day," I'm told.
"Deli meat is disgusting. It's always wet. Flaccid," one said.
My favorite excuse: "Going out to lunch makes me happy."
Think of how happy your future children will be when you can fund their college education, people! Or just look at this:
Still not convinced? I enlisted the help of a behavioral economist at Cornell University, David Just, who has studied extensively why people choose to eat what they do. He explained that bringing lunch to work is the more rational choice, even if it's not the most popular one.
Besides being cheaper, a homemade lunch is typically also healthier because you can better control the portions and ingredients. Packing your lunch in advance also helps workers avoid using hunger as an excuse to buy something terrible, he said.
"If we're hungry, we're pressed for time and then we start responding a lot more to how the food tastes and how convenient it is and we think a lot less about how healthy it is," Just said. "We think only about the short term goals. If you're putting your lunch together in the morning, you're usually doing that right after you eat breakfast so you're not in that hot state."
So why do most workers opt for the less logical, but more unhealthy and expensive lunch?
First of all, most people like things that are easy. Packing lunches can be sort of inconvenient. I often find myself rushing around on Sunday nights to make sure I have enough time to buy my turkey, apples and bread for the week. If you're the kind of person that packs your lunch before work, you usually have to set aside a little bit more time in the morning -- cutting into much needed sleep.
"You don't want to go to the hassle of putting your lunch together or you don't want to go through the hassle of having to buy things a week out," Just explained.
Most workers are looking for an excuse to chat. Many people relish the opportunity to eat lunch with a co-worker; even just walking to grab lunch is an attractive social opportunity, Just said.
"It can be a little off putting if one person is bagging it and another person is buying," Just said. "There's a little bit of peer pressure."
I can personally attest to this; I typically agonize for 43.5 seconds every time I get a gchat that asks "wanna get lunch?" Usually I respond by pretending to think it's lame that I brought my own lunch, just so they don't feel like I don't like them. Sometimes I propose just walking with the person wherever they're going, an offer that is typically declined.
Networking books like Never Eat Alone would have you believe that I'm missing out on some very important career opportunities by insisting on bringing my lunch to work. I beg to differ; I've gathered a lot more workplace gossip and advice at happy hours or run-ins in the kitchen than I ever have walking to lunch.
Also, there are plenty of ways to socialize during lunch without buying it. You can eat in a public space at work or *gasp* sit outside in a park if it's nice out.
And science says if I don't want to socialize during lunch that's okay too. An October study from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that having lunch with co-workers can cause more stress than eating alone if you're doing it because you feel pressured.
But probably the strongest lure towards a lunch bought at a restaurant is the sense of freedom the decision gives most workers, Just said. People who buy lunch can eat whatever they want whenever they're hungry. If they're feeling Mexican that day, they can get a burrito, if they feel like they want a gut bomb, they can order a burger.
In most cases though, that freedom will push you to make an unhealthy choice.
"Part of the reason that trick works to eat a little healthier when you pack is that you're committing yourself to something" that you might not actually want to eat later Just said. "There's a bit of freedom with (going out). In the moment you end up skipping the apple and going with a side of fries or tater tots."
You could also end up throwing away cash on lunch better spent on booze, retirement or the much more pleasant dinners out!
15 Ways To Save On Eating Out
Buy Cheap Gift Certificates(01 of15)
Open Image ModalSnag Online Coupons(02 of15)
Open Image ModalCheck In(03 of15)
Open Image ModalAsk For Special Occasion Deals(04 of15)
Open Image ModalFollow Restaurants On Twitter(05 of15)
Open Image ModalSocial media-savvy restaurants post special deals on Twitter. Some even post code words. If you tell your server the code word, you'll get a discount or a freebie. Last month, I got a free dessert for saying "Free Sean Payton" to my server. (I live in New Orleans, and the code words referred to our NFL coach who has been suspended by the league.)To find a restaurant's Twitter info, visit its website and look for the "Follow Us" links. One should be for Twitter. Another should be for Facebook. Speaking of which... (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="26" data-vars-position-in-unit="28">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevegarfield/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" stevegarfield" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/stevegarfield/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="27" data-vars-position-in-unit="29"> stevegarfield</a>)
Become Facebook Friends(06 of15)
Open Image ModalHere at Money Talks News, we take surveys, hold contests, and give out freebies on our Facebook page as a way to keep in touch with you. Many restaurants do the same thing. By "liking" the restaurant page, you'll get access to special deals not mentioned anywhere else. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="24" data-vars-position-in-unit="26">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/johanl/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Johan Larsson" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/johanl/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="25" data-vars-position-in-unit="27"> Johan Larsson</a>)
Use Apps To Find Deals(07 of15)
Open Image ModalDine In Off-Hours(08 of15)
Open Image ModalMany restaurants in my area extend their lunch hours until late afternoon. By eating dinner early, I get the lunch prices, which are often 25 to 50 percent cheaper than the dinner prices for the same entrees. Before you try somewhere new, visit the restaurant's website and see if they have a lunch or early bird special. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/churchstreetmarketplace/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" churchstreetmarketplace" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/churchstreetmarketplace/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="20"> churchstreetmarketplace</a>)
BYOB(09 of15)
Open Image ModalIt's uncommon, but some restaurants let you bring your own beer or wine, which is usually cheaper than the cost of paying per glass. Before you go, call ahead and ask if the establishment is BYOB. If they're not, skip the cocktail and have one somewhere else. Some places will charge a "corkage fee" if you bring your own wine, but even at $10 per bottle, it's still often cheaper than buying the same bottle in the restaurant.Most restaurants in my area overcharge for alcohol. For example, my local bar charges $3 for a mixed drink, but the restaurant next door charges $6. I save 50 percent stopping by the bar for my after-dinner drink. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/elleyo/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" l . e . o" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/elleyo/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="18"> l . e . o</a>)
Split Your Meal In Two(10 of15)
Open Image ModalRestaurant meals are over-proportioned, so split your meal in two. You'll eat dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow for one price. It may seem like obvious advice, but it's harder in practice. If you're not careful, you'll end up eating everything on the plate. To beat the extra calories and save money, I divide my plate in half before I start eating. I only eat from my "now" half of the plate and ask for a to-go box for the rest. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="13" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/marc_smith/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Marc_Smith" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/marc_smith/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="14" data-vars-position-in-unit="16"> Marc_Smith</a>)
Know Your Steaks(11 of15)
Open Image ModalPlan Before You Travel(12 of15)
Open Image ModalPick The Place(13 of15)
Open Image ModalI'm fortunate to have very cheap friends. "I don't care where we go as long as it's cheap," is a common refrain on a Friday night. But I also have some less-than-frugal friends who visit from out of town. Since I know they'll want to try that expensive five-star restaurant they heard about on the Food Network, I jump the gun and suggest a similar but cheaper place.If you're dining out with a group, suggest reasonably priced places ahead of time. It will keep you from having to choose between a $25 salad or a $30 piece of chicken. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/littledebbie11/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Debs (ò‿ó)♪" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/littledebbie11/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="7"> Debs (ò‿ó)♪</a>)
Become A Regular(14 of15)
Open Image ModalAround here they call it lagniappe - the little something extra you get for being a great customer. Like the free cup of gumbo I've gotten every time I visit a diner in my neighborhood. I get that little something extra because I'm a regular.Trying new places is great, but you can get a discount (or a lagniappe) by building a relationship with the servers or owners of local restaurants. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="4">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/26254305@N08/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" roanokecollege" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/26254305@N08/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="5"> roanokecollege</a>)
Take Surveys And Earn Cash Back(15 of15)
Open Image ModalWith iDine, you can earn 5 to 15 percent back any time you eat out. Just sign up on their website. Within 30 days of your meal, sign on and complete a quick survey. For every survey you take, you'll earn cash back. When you reach $20, iDine will mail you an American Express gift card. It takes some effort, but it's free money.See? Dining out doesn't have to mean going all in - or staying in. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="2">Flickr:</a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/daquellamanera/" role="link" rel="nofollow" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name=" Daquella manera" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5bb30a39e4b0480ca6626077" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/people/daquellamanera/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="3"> Daquella manera</a>)