How to Save Money on Food at Work

Anyone who's ever worked an office job knows how easy it is to drop a ton of money on food. Even if you think you are only spending a little bit of money ($3 for a coffee here, $6 for a sandwich there), buying food and snacks at work day in and day out can really sink your budget. With a little planning, however, you can minimize the amount of money you spend eating at work.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lunch bag
• Storage containers
• Snacks

1. Bring your lunch to work every day. This is where you can save the biggest chunk of money. Buying lunch at work or going out with co-workers can cost you $5 to $15 per day. Brown-bagging it doesn't have to be boring. You can make fresh sandwiches mix your own salad or pack up leftovers from last night's dinner.

2. See if your co-workers are interested in arranging a weekly or monthly potluck lunch. Everyone brings in their favorite dishes, and no one eats out that day. It will save everyone some cash that day, and you can bond with your co-workers over pot roast and pasta salad.

3. Stock your desk with snacks from the grocery store. These can range from healthy (whole wheat crackers, seeds and nuts) to not-so-healthy (candy bars, popcorn, chips). It doesn't matter what snacks you bring from home, as long as they'll keep you from hitting up the vending machine when the 3:00 munchies attack. You can save $5 to $10 a week by not buying snacks at work.

4. Keep sodas, bottled water and some fruits and vegetables in the office fridge. Be sure to label everything with your name if you don't want anyone else helping themselves to your food.

Tips & Warnings

• If you drink a lot of coffee at the office or during your commute, consider investing in a travel mug and brewing coffee at home. Keep tea bags and instant coffee at your desk for that much-needed afternoon caffeine rush.

[ebnickiea]

on 9/2/2008 great article-thanks for the tips- I easily spend $15 bucks a day at work