Deciding where to lunch and what to snack on presents a daily dilemma. Your lunch break is your time to relax and refuel for the rest of the day. However, relaxation goes out the window when you spend 20 minutes queuing for a soggy sandwich. Moreover, it can be difficult to balance nutrition with good value. Seemingly, the more substantial lunch comes at a more substantial price.
Many people are absent-minded when it comes to paying for a morning coffee, a mid-morning snack and lunch to boot. When you calculate how much you spend on food and snacks throughout the working day, five days a week, the cost is sure to surprise you. However, you can save money by sticking to a weekly lunchtime budget.
€15: Homemade lunches
Without doubt the cheapest way to fill up is to prepare home made lunches.
- At the beginning of the week, buy a number of items that will produce 5 substantial lunches. For example a slice pan, ham, cheese, fruit and muesli bars
- If you’re sick of sandwiches, a cold pasta salad will make a welcome and affordable change
- Alternatively, bring left over’s from dinner to work the next day
- If you must drink bottled water, buy one large bottle at the beginning of the week and pour five individual bottles from that one source
- In the morning, prepare a flask of tea or coffee to avoid purchasing take aways during the day
While you may feel like you’re reverting back to your school days, you will make considerable savings. Since you know what you like best, it’s hard to beat homemade lunches. Dust off your old lunch box and throw in penguin bar for added retro kudos.
€20: Deli counters
If you’re unable to give up your hot chicken roll, carefully select your deli. At present, a number of delis are offering some great deals.
- Centra are offering a chicken fillet roll with 2 fillings for €2
- Spar’s November Meal Deal consists of Cajun chicken wings and crispy crinkle slices for €2.99
- Londis are offering a Meal Deal of BBQ chicken wings and potato cubes for €2.99. At Londis, you can also buy a chicken fillet roll for €1.77, or a chicken fillet roll and wedges for €2.50
- At Fresh, you can buy a bagel with three fillings for €3
€30: Sandwich bars
Unsurprisingly, you can expect to pay more if frequenting sandwich bars.
- At Insomnia you will find; a muffin and any hot beverage for €3.50, soup for €3.75, a sandwich and any hot beverage for €5.00 or a panini and any hot beverage for €6.00
- In Café Sol you get a sandwich from €1.50 or a sandwich and a hot drink for €5.00. Soup is priced at a reasonable €1.50
- Munchies offer quality sandwiches and salads, with prices ranging from €4 to €8
- At O’Brien’s you can buy a sandwich with two fillings for €2.95
- While Subway doesn’t quite suit everyone’s taste, the ‘Sub of the Day’ represents good value at €2.99. Caffeine fiends will be happy to hear that Subway is currently selling all coffee (americano, cappuccino, latte etc) for 99c
Tags: Eating out, money saving tips
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