Working away

Owain_Moneysaver

Crazycard37 wrote: »

Thank you for all of your kind replies.

I think the company could be providing money for an evening meal however, I am assuming it would have to go through expenses.

If the company has booked you a hotel can't they book dinner at the hotel for you as well.

Or ask for a prepaid payment card with the agreed weekly expenses limit already credited to it, so you don't have to fork out up front.

belfastgirl23

Whatever you eat definitely keep your receipts and reclaim them. The likes of Pret and Marks and Spencer are really handy if you're away from home and wanting to eat something light and not too expensive. But also bear in mind that eating in a hotel bedroom five nights a week would start to get depressing after a while. I'm not suggesting a sad meal for one in a restaurant (having once spend valentines night as the only single in a restaurant when in Birmingham on business lol), but you might just fancy having something simple somewhere outside of your hotel every so often.

FairyPrincessk

Well, hopefully after your first month you'll have either more info about expenses or at least more slack in your budget to be able to avail yourself as this would get a bit tedious and unbalanced--but here are some ideas for now. I also think there have been several similar threads.

Things you can cook with boiling water:
Cous Cous (with or without stock cubes, herbs, dried or tinned veggies or beans)
Porridge (yes you're probably used to it with milk but you can make it with water)
Mug Soups
Eggs
Pasta (smaller pasta works better-consider toppings like pesto)
Hot Dogs
Pot Noodle/Ramen (if you have a Chinese or Japanese supermarket near you or can find one in London they have far more varieties--also check out their vacuum packed soba and udon noodles which could be added to a bowl of stock with a few veggies and slices of pre-cooked chicken or eggs)
Stuffed pasta (these are particularly cheap at Aldi and don't need to be refrigerated)


Shelf-stable things:
Tuna/Salmon/Anchovies
Olives
Mustard (try stirring in for some flavour)
Tinned veg (see if you can find the smaller tins of things like peas and sweetcorn)
Pulses--kidney beans, chickpeas and the pouches of lentils could be combined with your kettle food from above to add protein)
Smoked Sausage
Wraps/bread/crackers
UHT Milk, cereal


Things to look out for the in the YS section when you finish work/on your lunch break:
Pre-cooked meats
Fresh Pasta
Stir-Fry veggies (make up stock, add some sort of noodles, plunge into bowl just before eating)
Hummous/pre cut veggies

jackyann

If you are in London, then one of the best ways of spending an evening is to walk around. I think you will see quite a lot of special promotions & similar that you can take advantage of as you get to know the area.
I have manage to wander in to galleries and other places doing exhibitions and get free food!

Chinese shops often do the much tastier equivalent of Pot Noodles. Another "from a kettle" meal is the packets of cous-cous with stuff added.

welshbookworm

Some ideas here
http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2012/02/the-quickest-easiest-way-to-make-a-hot-meal-without-a-kitchen/

Crazycard37

Thank you for all of the replies

I feel more comfortable now knowing that there several different things I can eat in my hotel room, no doubt a couple of days I will eat out but some days after a long evening shift I will just eat something in the room and then go to bed.

THIRZAH

Check out the Salad Pride blog. He has lots of recipes for salads that can be prepared at a desk so you could make them in a hotel room.
If you are in Central London it might be worth visiting Wholefood markets as they do lots of food that you could take back to your hotel room.

maddrivingmamma

Also look out for vouchers and offers on the main site ....

HOWMUCH

You may find a small Tesco express or the liike close by so watch out for YS items in your way back

VfM4meplse

I intensly dislike being away for work, particularly not being in my own bed at night and having to put up with hotel meals that I don't want.

For me, the best evening option is buying a sandwich and some fruit for dinner along with a pint of milk for lattes. I then settle in for the evening with a good book and the door firmly shut. This costs the company a lot less than a meal and drinks at the bar, and I get to eat what I want.