How to Save Money on Work Lunches?

Food is an important part of any budget, but it is one area that varies a great deal from one person to another based on budget and the amount of time one has at their disposal. Living at such tough economic times that have characterized the recent past, saving money and cutting down on expenses should be top on your priority list. How do you save money on work lunches while still enjoy your favorite meals? Be advised that you do not save money by forgoing your lunch, as a matter of fact; skipping lunch could be detrimental to your health, if not for anything else because you will end up overeating at dinner time. Following are some ideas to save money on work lunches while making healthy eating choices.

 

Carry snacks with you to work

Not allowing yourself to get to the point where you feel ‘I am so hungry I could eat a whole horse by myself’ will help you make a more logical choice when you go out for lunch. Getting to a point of extreme hunger often always translates to eating large burgers and sandwiches. Carrying simple snacks and salads at work is not only affordable and healthy but will also help you feel full throughout the day, so you end up eating less during lunch hour and saving some cash in the process.

 

Carry packed lunch

This is the greatest money saving tip on work lunches you could ever find anywhere in the world today. Fast food choices costs a significant amount of money, and opting for a healthy quality meal would cost you even more. The main challenge most people face when it comes to packed lunch to work is dealing with appetite fatigue i.e. getting tired and bored of the same thing day in day out. The good news is that if you take the time to prepare your meals, you can be able to vary your lunch menu each day of the week. You can also bag leftovers and bring them with you to work.

 

Potluck lunches

Rather than go out every day of the week to eat lunch with colleagues, you can arrange with colleagues where each people brings a different dish. You could also rotate among colleagues where each one would have a turn to prepare lunch for the group. This not only introduces variety to your lunch menu but you also get to cut down on the cost of preparing or buying lunch each day of the week.

 

Plan a lunch exchange program

This is more or less like the potluck lunch program where a group of friends or colleagues come together and plan a lunch exchange program every two weeks. Most people prefer doing this over the weekend or in the evening. Each member prepares one meal that can be refrigerated or frozen and portions it out such that each member can carry a serving home. This not only cuts down on the prep time needed for lunch meals during the week, it also saves one a significant amount of cash in the long run.

 

Denis Bowler is a freelance writer that contributes to www.paydayloansuk.org.uk and really like to share tips in order to help people make some savings.

College Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

College tuition gets more expensive with each passing year and, unfortunately, federal grant programs aren’t keeping up. The same grants that used to cover college tuition now may barely cover one semester. This discrepancy between cost and aid can make paying for college feel almost impossible. If you want to go to college without going broke, here’s how:

Commute

Rather than attending a large college far away from home, go to a college more local and commute. By driving back and forth the class you can save thousands of dollars a year on boarding fees. You’ll also save money on laundry and food by not having to use on-campus services.

Many colleges offer online degrees which can whittle your costs even more by saving you money on gas. See what the schools in your area offer in the way of online courses.

Attend a State School

State Universities are notoriously cheaper than privately run colleges. Expect to pay around $15,000 a year at a state university versus $30,000 or more at a private college. Tuition at a state college is often further discounted if you can prove at least one year’s residency in that state.

Go Part-Time

While attending school part-time will take longer to complete, it will give you the opportunity to work to pay your tuition. By paying your tuition as you go, you won’t have a mountain of debt to pay back when you graduate. Even a minimum wage job can help pay part of your tuition. Make sure, though, that you are disciplined enough to work and go to school at the same time so your grades don’t suffer.

Scholarships

Almost everyone can qualify for some type of scholarship. Go to your local library and check out a book on the available scholarships for the coming school year. Apply for every scholarship you qualify for and apply early. While one scholarship probably won’t cover the cost of your tuition, several scholarships may.

Many schools offer attractive financial aid packages as well. If you have your heart set on a specific university, contact their financial aid office or look online and see what types of scholarships and aid they offer to students directly.

Explore Other Options

Unfortunately, student loans are a part of almost every student aid package awarded today. While student loans will help you pay for school, they also ensure that you graduate with debt.

Yes, college is expensive; there’s no getting around that fact. However, if you are creative, you can afford to go to school. By exploring alternative avenues, you can both save money on tuition and pay for it without going broke. Start applying today and you can find yourself in school by next semester!

Photo credit: classroom by velkr0/flickr; 2/365 by jin.thai; Piggy savings bank by alancleaver_2000/flickr

As an author and financial consultant, Thomas Hathaway suggests that there are times a pay day loan might be the perfect solution to your financial situation.