It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

EssexHebridean

We both take packed lunches for work every day - have done for years. I confess it might happen less often if I had to be the one to make them up in the morning, but MrEH does that, then I look after making tea when we get home, which works well for us. My boss does buy his lunches but often opts for something like buying a couple of cans of soup and a baguette one day to cover him for the next, too, so not as costly as many folk opt for. Not sure what the norm is in MrEH’s office but as he’s in central London with a Pret or similar on every corner I’m going to assume most folk go out and buy each day. 

It definitely works out better value for us to drive than to use public transport - a shame as if it were more practical we’d both rather “let the train take the strain”. I checked recently and discovered that for MrEH to use the train from our local station (which is nearly 2 miles away, with no direct bus) it would cost over £500 a month - far in excess of our costs by car even before you factor in that we car share into London currently several days a week meaning MY commute carries no cost at all. 

The really disheartening thing here currently is that ai know I’m reducing the amount of energy we use, but of course still seeing far higher costs than the equivalent time a year ago. It can’t be helped, but still…Grrrr! 

tooldle

Most of my workmates take their own lunch in, as do i when i'm in the office. Some people do buy ready made on a daily basis and these are most often the people who are a little chaotic, and not planners as such. We have a small branch of T**** on campus and it is common for staff to pop in to fill their work fridge with lunch materials, for the week. If people can afford to buy their sandwich and it is less stressful to them to do so, I can see the value. It also keeps the catering team in jobs. 

-taff

Datchet said:

I was tittered at for taking a packed lunch into work (2 consecutive days) I asked how much they spent on lunch- £5 a pop… I said they should try a lunchbox. I didn’t mention that money saved went to sponsor someone doing the Ration Challenge.

Do they still titter when you tell them they're spending £1200 a year on lunch as Jackie said?

t14cy_t

just picked up 3 boxes of frozen jacket spuds, four in a box for free using cashback site. never had these before, who would of thought frozen jacket spuds would ever become a thing!!! willing to try anything once especially if its free!

joedenise

I wouldn't buy frozen jacket potatoes but I do cook a batch and freeze them myself sometimes.  Not very often these days though as don't eat jackets too frequently.  They were handy for me to take to work and just reheat in the microwave with some beans or some tuna mayo for my lunch.  Made a nice change from sandwiches!  Glad I don't work any more as commuting costs were bad enough more than 10 years ago when I packed up - £250 a month; would probably be more than double that now!

Bluegreen143

While you do have extra costs WFH (electricity and possibly heating) I’m sure it’s much more cost effective not to have to go in as the diesel cost for commuting is so high. Public transport not an option as takes an hour each way rather than 20 mins and doesn’t fit with school/nursery drops also needing done. Before I had kids I always used public transport (different office) but too many time pressures now.

When I work in the office I arrive late and leave early (due to the school run) so as well as the diesel cost I also have to use electricity at home anyway to catch up in the evening. My work are investigating what will be in place longer term re hybrid/home working so I’m hoping we will continue WFH most of the time - it also removes temptation to buy lunch out!

Wednesday2000

When I left uni I used to buy lunch out every day as I worked in Cannon Street. Now I don't work but I know better and make my husband a packed lunch to take to work.:)

joedenise said:

I wouldn't buy frozen jacket potatoes but I do cook a batch and freeze them myself sometimes.  

That is a good idea! I keep meaning to try out my air fryer with jacket potatoes. People online say to boil them first to cut down on cooking time.

Brambling

Wednesday I microwave mine for 4 or 5 minutes first depending on the size and finish off in the Air fryer they then taste just like oven jacket potatoes.  I don't like microwave ones as to me they don't taste right 

joedenise

Now I'm at home I tend to microwave them and then use either the halogen oven or the Remoska to finish them off so they crisp up a bit.

Spendless

I can only think that colleagues who are amused by someone fetching their own lunch have a different set of dynamics to yourself. I've also come across someone whose husband won't eat 'leftovers' on a budget meal social media page I'm on. I think the consensus on there was 'rename it and don't tell him' hahahaha, but also others who say they don't eat 'freezer food' I never understand what is meant.  I mean if you put a fresh pork chop in the freezer because you're not going to use it before it goes bad, does that become whatever 'freezer food' is or do they just mean stuff like pizza??

Though the fresh stuff is running very low I've still got enough elsewhere to  eek out meals. The faddy vegetarian did slightly sulk one day when I wouldn't go to Tesco for something different to what we already had in. I can't remember what I made now but I remember her saying how nice it was. Yesterday with just me and her in for tea, I made us Toad in the Hole each, some pork sausages that needed using for me, some veggie ones for her and the batter mix made up and poured between the two oven dishes, served with potatoes, veg and gravy