Stop buying sandwiches

smartcat04

Just got a loaf in the breadmaker so may take some to work tomorrow for toast and mums doing a chicken casserole later so asked to save a spare portion for me to take into work for tea tomorrow. Got loads of crisps and cakes still left from christmas so will take some of those maybe.
Trying to be organised!

wontfallforit

enigma82 wrote: »

I find that I'm spending a reasonable amount of money buying sandwiches for lunch when I am at work.
I go through stages where I make sandwiches at home to stop spending this money, and it works for a bit, but one day i'll get bored of what's in my home made sandwiches, or I forget to make them one day and I end up buying one, then i'm off again. I also find I like to go out of the office at lunch, and walking to get a sandwich is a good, but expensive excuse.

So, any tips on how to avoid spending this, or how to make varied and interesting sandwiches at home, that don't cost much?

This is "me" too!

What has helped me a lot is a bit of a compromise between home-made and work-bought sandwiches. I've taken to stocking up on fillings from the supermarket, yet buying the bread rolls individually, every day.

If you have a supermarket or mini-mart that's convenient to get to daily (i.e. without incurring extra travel expenses), it might be an idea to pick up a different fresh bread roll everyday, or every 2 days. Morrissons, for example, do a wide range of rolls that cost around 20-30p individually, and there's at least a dozen to choose from. Of course you could always pick up half a dozen different types in one trip, freeze them if needed, and still have a different choice everyday.

It works out slightly dearer than buying bread / rolls in bulk and freezing them, but its a damn sight tastier and more interesting than eating the same old filling on the same old bread everyday, and is still much cheaper than canteens, or non-work suppliers.

Also what works is keeping more than one 'long lasting' sandwich filling in your home, such as cheese, tinned tuna, etc. That way you can have a choice over the filling, as well as the bread, and can try out all kinds of combinations.

bramble1

Today, was a massive fail!! I had Mc Donalds! To be fair, it's my last one ever, me and my co worker are starting healthy eating, so we had our last ever Mc Donalds....from now on, no more buying food!

nekosuki

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=327342

This is the "exciting sandwich fillings on a budget" thread from the Old Style board. Some good ideas here!

I try and make more dinner the night before so that I can take leftovers to heat up the next day. HOWEVER... portion control isn't always as it should be and leftovers don't always materialise!!! :rotfl:

Paulgonnabedebtfree

enigma82 wrote: »

I find that I'm spending a reasonable amount of money buying sandwiches for lunch when I am at work.
I go through stages where I make sandwiches at home to stop spending this money, and it works for a bit, but one day i'll get bored of what's in my home made sandwiches, or I forget to make them one day and I end up buying one, then i'm off again. I also find I like to go out of the office at lunch, and walking to get a sandwich is a good, but expensive excuse.

So, any tips on how to avoid spending this, or how to make varied and interesting sandwiches at home, that don't cost much?

I'm lousy at food prep but I have helped myself by using visualization. I imagined myself sitting by an open fire and throwing the money I spent onto the fire.
That cured me LOL.
It may also help to start a small spreadsheet/book of ALL expenditure and keep a running total.
Just my chocolate bill was frightening.

nekosuki

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

Just my chocolate bill was frightening.

Now I'm thinking about what mine must be like... :eek:

firesidemaid

you can grate cheese and then freeze it in tubs (2-3 days worth or such at a time).

if you see joints or sliced meats cheap, freeze those in portions too for sarnies.

i find tomatoes and celery last for a couple of weeks easy in the fridge (cheaper as less waste - celery, cheese and salad cream is nice). boiled egg doesn't take long either.

'this week i've mostly been eating.....leftover homemade vege lasagne, vege stew, cauli/broc cheese.....'

splatt30

You never know when you're going to get a break in my job and there's always a chance of missin gthe canteen so I always bring a packed lunch.

I use chutneys (current fav is Baxters Victorian) to brighten up a boring cheese or ham sandwich. Makes such a difference. Also nice bread. Costs a bit more but you're saving on buying made butties.

I'm not big into hot drinks either. I always have a litre bottle of squash with me to prevent trips to the can machine.

Oneday77

Try the Maths approach.
I know the CCCS recomends no more than £35 a month on work related food. Taking an average month of 22 working days that gives £1.59 a day to spend, and that is being good.
I used to spend £3.50-£4.50 a day at the local burger van which meant £77-£99 a month...ouch
I now have a tin of soup, 2 for £1 offers in the supermarkets makes 22 lunches £11 + a bag of crisps that a colleague and I go halfers on with the multi-packs we keep in my bottom drawer. Soup is great as variety is a doddle and buying a soup sized mug makes work prep even easier in the micro.
I am tempted to buy a Wii for work with the savings to fill in the lunch break, excercise and lose some weight

Butti

About 2 to 3 evenings a week I cook double portions of my dinner and put half in a plastic takeaway dish to take for lunch the next day. They tend to be one of three recipes - I'm very exciting!

About 100g Chorizo and 1 onion fried, cherry tomatoes and 2 tins of tomatoes added, seasoned and reduced down, pasta added. parmasan added at end.

Veg and chicken curry made with one of those jar sauces diluted with 1 jar of water.

A bunch of spring onions stir fried for 2 minutes in butter. Add about 250g of spinach and allow to gently absorb butter. Season - s&p, nutmeg and a sprig of herb. Add parmasan. Add 200g cooked pasta and mix. Add one pack of ricotta mixed with a couple of tablespoons of milk. Put in a dish. Sprinkle with parmasan and grill. Nice hot or cold.

B