Feb-YOU-ary 2013 - Take your lunch to work thread

[PositiveBalance]

I've brought another lunch today so I am feeling very proud of myself...since starting last Friday I've managed the equivalent of a whole week without buying lunch! I'm very happy about this and hope to continue...I honestly can't remember the last time that happened!

I think a drawer store might not be a good idea although I maybe tempted to eat it out of boredom.

[Candlewick]

More savings for me today and am 1/4 way to my target.

I am not sure what to make for lunch tomorrow so it may be soup again unless I can muster enough energy to make something a little more exciting.

Am looking forward to warmer weather so I can start taking salads

CW

[blue_mango]

For the first time ever...I've made lunch for 3 days!! And it worked out around 1.40 per meal which the cheapest I've ever made...

Reading about meal planning, taking lunch to work, emptying your cupboards etc does have an effect after all.

[mrsdee]

I love those sesame ryvita things from Lidl (Rivercote brand) and sometimes bring those in to work with some home made smoked mackerel pate. Following recipe makes lots (also good starter if you have friends round as looks and tastes impressive but is v easy to make and cheap and nutritious!!) :
packet of smoked mackerel fillets (preferably peppered, imo)
some cream cheese (half fat)
a dollop of horseradish
lemon juice

blitz in blender or mix by hand - delish!!!

I bring in lunch every day apart from one day a month (last workign day) when I go out with a colleague from work and we either have nando's or have a sandwich and diet coke in nearby pub. We look forward to it and it feels like a real treat!

[mrsdee]

Originally Posted by lbnblbnb

I had another bread dough pasty today, really nice. I have some frozen leftover curry and rice so when the boredom hits withe never ending pasties I will take that instead.

ooh please tell me about the bread dough pasty - sounds yum!! I tire of same old bread based sandwiches every day (we have a breadmaker but are not very adventurous with it!).

[PositiveBalance]

I've brought another lunch today...6 in a row!

I'm disproportionally proud...what would a Nobel Prize feel like?!

That means another £3 saved, although I cracked and bought a small bottle of coke as a treat.

Still proud, though!

[lbnblbnb]

Originally Posted by mrsdee

ooh please tell me about the bread dough pasty - sounds yum!! I tire of same old bread based sandwiches every day (we have a breadmaker but are not very adventurous with it!).

I have found the recipe here:
http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recip...recipe=2203283
BUT I just used my breadmaker dough recipe and a pasty filling from River cottage veg everyday as I don't eat meat. I like pastry but it makes me want to go to sleep (?), so I found this much better. I would only do it if I was making the full quantity and freezing them as it is a bit of a faff, but they are lovely. PROOF: I have had a pasty everyday this week and still not bored!

[FatVonD]

Thursday was Boirsin cheese (which I stocked up on and froze while it was half price) and cream crackers from my store drawer, it was smelly and very anti social but lovely!

Last night I made my favourite courgette and salami pasta so had that today and I have another portion in the freezer for Monday. I cooked too much pasta but I found a jar of (only just) out of date pesto so I made another couple of days worth of pasta with that to go in the freezer too.

Well done everyone and long live the store drawer!

[kittiej]

Hello everyone.

You all seem to be doing fantastically well

I must apologise for not being around much lately - I had a marketing assignment to complete for my course so this has been taking up me every waking thought

I have managed to take lunch every day except Friday when I had a planned treat of curry for my lunch. So now I've got that out of my system I am craving banana sarnies so that's Monday sorted and it does make a nice change from cheese

Keep up the good work everyone

[SmarterNotHarder]

I'm amazed! I got through another whole week! Although I did cave and buy a packet of crisps on Tuesday, my bad

However, at an average of £2.50 per day saved and this also meaning I'm not having chips with every lunchtime meal I'm a very happy bunny!!

I can NOT believe that I've saved £30.00 already! Especially given the £2.50 is a conservative guesstimate and didn't include "full fat coke" days, crisps and choccies or brews from the machine!! (I take my own brew stuff in now too)

Now all I need to do is kick the nicotine habit

[kittiej]

Now all I need to do is kick the nicotine habit

SNH if you could manage that then you really would save a small fortune and it is better for your health. I wish I could get DH to quit but he doesn't have the inclination.

[SmarterNotHarder]

Originally Posted by kittiej

SNH if you could manage that then you really would save a small fortune and it is better for your health. I wish I could get DH to quit but he doesn't have the inclination.

I've tried and failed previously, and the more you fail the harder it is to set yourself up for even more disappointment, add to that that it's not just you you're letting down and it's difficult

I defend it as it's my only "pleasure" generally, I don't tend to go out much, I don't have any hobbies, expensive or otherwise really, I don't even go to the cinema as I'm very aware that any "fun" money I have goes up in smoke.

I started doing that when I was in debt, and now, even though I'm not I essentially ban myself from doing stuff because I smoke. Sad eh?

[kittiej]

Aw don't be too hard on yourself SNH, we all have our addictions if you scratch the surface. Mine is tea and cheese ( but not generally together)

[SmarterNotHarder]

Thank you, KittieJ I think it's just been one of those weeks :S

[kittiej]

Well put your feet up and chillax over the weekend and start a nice new shiny week with your head held high and a bounce in your step!

I have a new motto which I will share with you, anything is possible and everything is negotiable, I plan on using this at every opportunity to see where it takes me cos life is an adventure. Even from the comfort of your lounge you can explore endless possibilities with the power of the internet. You should try it, choose a subject and see where it takes you

[tealady]

Hi and thanks all for the lunch ideas. Especial thanks to 365 for the cous cous mention (something I like, must drop in on Aldi soon).
Also haven't been to B and M for ages, will make a trip there this week sometime.
Hope you all do well this month and to those quitting (or thinking of quitting) smoking, well giving up paid for a new carpet for me. I put the money in a jar to keep me goion track.

[Twiggy_34]

Originally Posted by kittiej

I am craving banana sarnies so that's Monday sorted and it does make a nice change from cheese

Funny, I just hopped on to announce that lunch for me this week would be banana sandwiches. After over a week of egg mayo fillings I was in need of a change. Also got a loaf of fresh bread from the shop at a reduced price so that will make them extra yummy!

Originally Posted by SmarterNotHarder

Now all I need to do is kick the nicotine habit

It sounds like maybe you're toying with the idea, and that's half the battle. I'm 36 days into my attempt to quit but it took a few months of thinking about it to actually bite the bullet and have a go. I haven't been perfect and have had the odd ciggie here and there when an opportunity has presented itself (the last 2 times have been as a result of a trip to the pub). But instead of focusing on the one's I shouldn't have had, I'm concentrating on the one's I haven't had. Very easy thanks to the app I have on my phone which tells me I've NOT smoked 340 and saved nearly £30. I bought one of those e-cigs which have helped tremendously to resist the temptation when my dp has rolled himself one to smoke

[kittiej]

Hello darlings

tealady - loving the name and we're all glad to be of service.

Twiggy - well my best laid plans have gone off somewhat. My DS2 decided he would scoff all the nanas before I got up this morning - that'll teach me for having a lie-in Never mind all is not lost, I will call into ASDA first thing in the morning after dropping the boys off at nursery. I am determined to have banana sarnies tomorrow at least

For everyone who is trying or thinking of stopping smoking I wish you every success because it is a really difficult thing to do.

Enjoy your evenings everyone

[juno]

My boyfriend came over, and decided to eat my lovely (reduced) rosemary and herb foccacia (I can't spell that) that I had intended for sandwiches.

[kittiej]

Oh no juno, naughty bf!

what will you have instead?