Not sure where to look,need ideas on taking lunches to work

Frankie100

Tink_04 wrote: »

I do a tuna pasta salad and make enough for a few days worth too - I also make soup in the winter and take it in a flask so its ready to eat. When I used to do 12 hour shifts id take something like a Muller rice as a snack which filled me up till my main meal. If your drinking lots of water too you will prob find your less hungry.

Thats the only thing I dont like Tink,tuna:( but I can substitute that with ham or chicken.I absolutly adore pasta and will admit I eat way too much if im truthfull.
As for the flask,were not allowed to bring a flask to work,however i can make some soup and bring it in a air tight container.
I think water could be the answer to stop me from feeling hungry,no one will understand why im doing this but if it saves me some money(and it definatly will do)then its something I have to do.
The links on here are fantastic so well done and thanks everyone!:T

Frankie100

ms_night_ryder wrote: »

I just make it up depending what I cook, today for dinner I had a salmon fillet, chunky coleslaw and a sald, with a pitta bread it was yummy! So for lunch tomorrow, I will have a wrap which I have just taken out the freezer, coleslaw and a salmon fillt, I just made 2. Dunno abt tuesday, will prob make atuna pasta saad and bring that in.

Gosh thats alot of fish!!wish I could get used to fish but I cant,even the smell makes me heave.:(

Tink_04

I do chicken - if we have a roast on a sunday - bacon for a change is nice - have even had sausage in when had some that needed using up!!! Soup is always a cheap option and i take nice bread in too (normally discounted rolls or something from the supermarket that i freeze) so i feel a bit better about my soup lol i would always have something you can just grab for days when you are running late or havnt prepared anything the night before too so you dont end up taking money and spending because you forgot.

Good luck - ive done my own lunches for years and people always comment on how nice my food looks compared to the canteen food

Tink_04

oh and RE the water if you dont feel like telling people about why your not spending loads of money and bringing in your own lunch and drinking water just tell them your on a health kick - they dont need to know!

Frankie100

Tink_04 wrote: »

oh and RE the water if you dont feel like telling people about why your not spending loads of money and bringing in your own lunch and drinking water just tell them your on a health kick - they dont need to know!

They,d never believe me!!:D
But to be truthfull Ive just come out of hospital(total thyroid removed :T)and I am absent from work until next Monday where I,ll be working a 12 hour shift and Im itching to get started on this money saving venture.
Ive spent so much money at work and its silly because I could of saved so much,not bringing money in to work with me will save me so much but when youve been doing it for years it seems an impossible habit to break,I never thought id say Im looking forward to work!!:D

foxgloves

Just wanted to say (if you need any extra motivation) that my husband & I reckon that we started saving around £2000 a year (for both of us) by taking packed lunches instead of going out to M&S or Boots every day to buy sandwiches & salads, crisps, yoghurt, drink etc. Also, because this meant we didn't need to go out to the shops in our lunch hour, we found we were spending loads less on impulse buys, such as magazines & making fewer trips to the hole in the wall to take out extra money. It's been well worth doing for us, and was probably the first thing we successfully managed to do financially leading up to when we had our LBMs.

geri1965_2

I have sandwiches twice a week (tuna/salmon - not much use to you as you don't like fish!) couscous for two days (I put in chick peas, sliced black olives, raisins and toasted flaked almonds) and on the other day maybe home made soup (curried parsnip, lentil, butternut squash or whatever).

Frankie100

foxgloves wrote: »

Just wanted to say (if you need any extra motivation) that my husband & I reckon that we started saving around £2000 a year (for both of us) by taking packed lunches instead of going out to M&S or Boots every day to buy sandwiches & salads, crisps, yoghurt, drink etc. Also, because this meant we didn't need to go out to the shops in our lunch hour, we found we were spending loads less on impulse buys, such as magazines & making fewer trips to the hole in the wall to take out extra money. It's been well worth doing for us, and was probably the first thing we successfully managed to do financially leading up to when we had our LBMs.

Your post is great foxgloves:T

Yesterday I was trying out different things at home which might appeal to me when Im at work from next week onwards and I know I can and will do it.
Ive been looking back at past statements of when Ive gone to the hole in the wall and I am absolutly staggered on where my money has actually gone.:eek:there was sooooooo many £10,s here and £20,s there,all while Ive been at work, all from the hole in the wall.

This is just a small way (but big way in money terms)that I can save money and put it all on my credit card to get it out of th eway.

At the moment I have one card which I owe £1,300 on so my savings can go on to that each month most definatly.

I am paying back a loan at £81 per month and that finishes next February 2012
One other loan that I pay £118 per month and thats finished next October 2012
My only other bill is yet another loan paying £158 per month but that finishes in almost 5 years time,after that Im debt free!!

So I guess my savings from my packed lunches will go on my credit card so soon I,ll have that finished,most definatly by January of next year.Ive been a bloody fool with my money over the past few years but its something I will never let happen again.

I retire in just 6 years time and I know I,ll definatly be debt free by then.

Leaving my money and card at home will save me even more,wish next Monday would get here!:T

You,ve all be inspirational and i thank you so very much,the motivation is with me and i cant wait!

Kei

Good luck with this challenge of making your own lunches! It quickly becomes a habit just like your buying lunches was a habit.

I have saved so much money this year taking my own lunches, I havent had to take any money out of the hole in the wall whilst I am at work for the week, and my purse remains untouched except for the weekends.

When i forget lunch or cant be bothered I feel so guilty at spending £4 or so at lunch, I think to myself that it could have come off my debts..........

I would rather have £20 to spend on 'me' than £20 a week spent on lunch in the canteen!

I read this book once that said 'its not like packaged sandwiches are so amazing or that we are so incredibly rich that we dont mind spending £4-5 on lunch everyday', which is so true!

Frankie100

Kei wrote: »

Good luck with this challenge of making your own lunches! It quickly becomes a habit just like your buying lunches was a habit.

I have saved so much money this year taking my own lunches, I havent had to take any money out of the hole in the wall whilst I am at work for the week, and my purse remains untouched except for the weekends.

When i forget lunch or cant be bothered I feel so guilty at spending £4 or so at lunch, I think to myself that it could have come off my debts..........

I would rather have £20 to spend on 'me' than £20 a week spent on lunch in the canteen!

I read this book once that said 'its not like packaged sandwiches are so amazing or that we are so incredibly rich that we dont mind spending £4-5 on lunch everyday', which is so true!

So do you actually take your purse with you Kei?
Im going to try and leave it at home because that would be too much temptation I think.

Theres just one thing I would like to ask which isnt related to the packed lunch thread and was wondering if anyone knows the answer so here goes.....

Like I have mentioned my first priority is to get my credit card balance to zero and 2 of my loans are up next year(giving me an extra £199)per month that I dont have to pay out which leaves just one more loan,the £157 per month.
Now would I be able to change the payment on that loan,meaning pay more than the £157 so I can finish it earlier than the 5 years its taking right now??Do loan companys allow this or will I have to stick to paying the same amount each month for the next 5 years?