I enjoy lunch.
Primarily I like the way it breaks up the day. It is a good respite from the rest of the work hassles. Back when I was a recent college grad I used to eat out every day, even if it was just in the cafeteria. I enjoy having a hot meal prepared for me, and it is a whole lot cheaper than dinner. In fact, I used to eat in every night for dinner, but out for lunch. I know, I know, I am strange. I bring this topic up because I am lazy. You see, I have been disciplined as of late. I have been trying to bring my lunch four days a week, under the pretense that it is saving money. But, I hate making it in the morning and usually refuse to make it the night before. And, I am not so convinced that is significantly cheaper. I have been wanting to do this for awhile now - and it is time. Welcome to Michael’s lunchtime analysis.
On the cheap end of the spectrum I can go to McD’s and get me a nice #3 meal (the good ole Royale with Cheese) that leaves me full. It is probably the cheapest of the options, and with tax comes in right around $4.30. It is not representative of what would be purchased every day for lunch, but is ok for comparison.
Here is a typical four part Michael lunch, not neccesarily in the order consumed:
Sandwich - Bread (Aunt Millie’s Italian average loaf price $1.50, presume 2 slices from the 17 in the package) - $0.176 Meat (Carl Buddig large package, enough for six sandwiches, price $2) - $0.333 Cheese (presume 16 slices and purchased on sale for $2) - $0.125 Mustard (Kosciusko brand only given my partial-Pole heritage, figure 20 sandwiches $1.89) - $0.0945 Sandwich Bag - (presume 40 per box at $2, and reused once) - $0.025 Sandwich sub-group total - $0.754
Fruit - Apple (typically purchased as a 3lb. bag for $3, usually 8 apples) - $0.375
Fruit Snack - Gushers (6 per box, purchased on sale when $2 or less) - $0.333
Carbohydrate - this can range from Triscuits to pretzels to Peanut Butter and Wheat Crackers (8 packages per $2) - $0.25
I do not normally bring a beverage with my lunch, but let’s add one to compare appropriately
Beverage - Dr. M (1 can of generic store brand cola from a 12 pk, excluding deposit) - $0.292
Total - $2.00
I expected it to be more than that. It always seems more than 50% when I do this calculation in my head. Of note is that if I bring my lunch I often bring an extra snack with me, or purchase one, since I am usually still hungry at some point in the day. Regardless, I am flustered. I genuinely thought this would make a sound argument. Time to alter the numbers, tee hee.
Apologetic for this lame argument yet strangely hungry all of a sudden, -Michael
It probably would be more, but you re-use your baggie… um, why? are times that bad? Should I mail you the dollar/box of baggies?
Haha. I appreciate the sentiment. Would you believe me if I said it was because I was trying to be eco-friendly? Of course not.
It is not so much the cost as the mere premise of it. I feel guilty discarding the baggie after one use. I feel like it has so much left to give.