Author Topic: Lunchbreak conversations  (Read 7164 times)

Bjorn

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Lunchbreak conversations
« on: March 09, 2015, 08:15:23 AM »
People discussed food expenses during lunch today at work and they were astounded to hear that me and DW spend about $100 per person a month on food (edit: alcohol included), whereas they spend anywhere between $400-$1200.

They concluded we probably have a lower quality of life with those expenses.

I concluded they will still be sitting there eating lunch at work for the next 30 years, wondering if weekend is going to come soon.

Exflyboy

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2015, 09:38:20 AM »
Oh yes the water cooler conversations.. love them.

My best one was.. yeah, think I'll retire in the next three months or so... Silence...:)

mamagoose

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2015, 10:48:56 AM »
I would love to see what your $100 grocery bill includes :) that's awesome

Bjorn

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2015, 11:01:54 AM »
Well, I stick with the cheapest vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, onions. Cut/slice, freeze and use them in stew or wok.
I eat meat, but not alot and always the cheaper kinds like chicken or pork.
Alot of the cooking is based on rice bought in big bundles.

When something is on offer I always buy a good amount of it, hence some months its higher than $100 and some are lower. There are weeks I practically spend zero because I empty the freezer.
I get cheap spice and other things from abroad (have friends who enjoy traveling and my wife is Kenyan).

We love spice, don't eat out and cook everything from scratch.

I only eat an apple for breakfast and rely on heavy lunches, which are free at work.

:)

Retired To Win

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2015, 11:52:03 AM »
People discussed food expenses during lunch today at work and they were astounded to hear that me and DW spend about $100 per person a month on food (edit: alcohol included), whereas they spend anywhere between $400-$1200.

They concluded we probably have a lower quality of life with those expenses.

I concluded they will still be sitting there eating lunch at work for the next 30 years, wondering if weekend is going to come soon.


LOL!!  Your conclusion is spot on.  And what those people conclude about you is most likely just a whimpy justification for them to allow themselves to continue to throw their money -- and their lives -- away.

lakemom

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2015, 04:08:59 AM »
I only eat an apple for breakfast and rely on heavy lunches, which are free at work.

Well, that does help a lot as nearly 1/3 of your food expenses per week are covered by your employer!  But way to go on keeping costs so low.

marty998

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2015, 04:42:02 AM »
This belongs in this thread??

Point taken it might get lost amongst the other banter. Can see why you may not want to bury it in there :)

Gone Fishing

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2015, 09:52:18 AM »
I only eat an apple for breakfast and rely on heavy lunches, which are free at work.

Well, that does help a lot as nearly 1/3 of your food expenses per week are covered by your employer!  But way to go on keeping costs so low.

You could almost argue that they cover closer to 1/2!  Awesome!  So, I am assuming the others are spending $400-1200 even after free lunches?!

Bjorn

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2015, 02:20:09 AM »
I only eat an apple for breakfast and rely on heavy lunches, which are free at work.

Well, that does help a lot as nearly 1/3 of your food expenses per week are covered by your employer!  But way to go on keeping costs so low.

You could almost argue that they cover closer to 1/2!  Awesome!  So, I am assuming the others are spending $400-1200 even after free lunches?!
Yes, thats what they said. Who knows, maybe they spend more. Going out is expensive: I can cook a dinner for less than $2, but eating out is $20 or more plus alcohol. Beers are $10 and upwards.

We are 10 employees who share a kitchen at work, and the food is bought for everyone to eat. So I could in theory have a secret meal before heading home too, reducing my need for dinner. I would be awfully sick of eating bread all the time though:)

Thanks for the "Overheard at work" thread tip, will check it out!

coachese

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2015, 10:44:10 AM »
Funny. Had similar discussion yesterday.

My 2 co-workers and I go out for a longer lunch every Wednesday to a local taqueria that we all love. Lunch costs $45 with tip and we rotate between the 3 of us.

I asked the 2 guys if they knew within a few hundred dollars if they knew what they spent every month. Both laughed and shook their heads. One said, "Well I know I spend about $40 buying you 2 lunch every month." I replied, "It's actually $64 a month for lunches for us 3"

Long pause....."How in the hell do you know that?"

"Well, 52 weeks in a year, divided by 3 is 17, times $45, divided by 12 months = $63.75 per month."

Long pause........

I ended the conversation with "Don't worry when I retire in 10 years, the lunches will be less expensive for you two."

Bjorn

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2015, 03:38:06 AM »
Hahaha, epic comment!

Avidconsumer

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2015, 10:33:42 AM »
Funny. Had similar discussion yesterday.

My 2 co-workers and I go out for a longer lunch every Wednesday to a local taqueria that we all love. Lunch costs $45 with tip and we rotate between the 3 of us.

I asked the 2 guys if they knew within a few hundred dollars if they knew what they spent every month. Both laughed and shook their heads. One said, "Well I know I spend about $40 buying you 2 lunch every month." I replied, "It's actually $64 a month for lunches for us 3"

Long pause....."How in the hell do you know that?"

"Well, 52 weeks in a year, divided by 3 is 17, times $45, divided by 12 months = $63.75 per month."

Long pause........

I ended the conversation with "Don't worry when I retire in 10 years, the lunches will be less expensive for you two."

How will the lunches be less expensive when there's 2 of them?

Why do you have to do that math thing to make them feel like idiots? Someone with your intelligence and better people skills>your salary. Think about it!

bigalsmith101

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2015, 07:02:36 PM »
How will the lunches be less expensive when there's 2 of them?

Exactly! When you leave, it'll still be $65/mo! 52 weeks in a year, divided by 2 is 26, times $30, divided by 12 months = $65.00 per month/person.

Quote
Why do you have to do that math thing to make them feel like idiots? Someone with your intelligence and better people skills>your salary. Think about it!
What do you say?

They asked for it?
Quote
Long pause....."How in the hell do you know that?"

Just because our friend coachese is aware of his/her expenses, and demonstrates it, doesn't mean he/she is attempting to, or succeeding in making them feel like idiots. They probably don't even care! Coachese is probably like this all the time, and those coworkers are friends. That "math thing" is the reason we're able to understand the concept of financial independence.


Avidconsumer

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #13 on: March 14, 2015, 03:49:36 PM »
How will the lunches be less expensive when there's 2 of them?

Exactly! When you leave, it'll still be $65/mo! 52 weeks in a year, divided by 2 is 26, times $30, divided by 12 months = $65.00 per month/person.

Quote
Why do you have to do that math thing to make them feel like idiots? Someone with your intelligence and better people skills>your salary. Think about it!
What do you say?

They asked for it?
Quote
Long pause....."How in the hell do you know that?"

Just because our friend coachese is aware of his/her expenses, and demonstrates it, doesn't mean he/she is attempting to, or succeeding in making them feel like idiots. They probably don't even care! Coachese is probably like this all the time, and those coworkers are friends. That "math thing" is the reason we're able to understand the concept of financial independence.

There's a difference between showing off and being helpful. That and I'm going to be retired in 10 years. What if one of his coworkers is more frugal and has a higher net worth than himself and retires next year. He'll feel like an idiot and he should do.

bigalsmith101

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Re: Lunchbreak conversations
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2015, 06:46:18 PM »
There's a difference between showing off and being helpful. That and I'm going to be retired in 10 years. What if one of his coworkers is more frugal and has a higher net worth than himself and retires next year. He'll feel like an idiot and he should do.

If one of my coworkers retired early, right after I proclaimed that I would be retired in 10 years, I wouldn't feel like an idiot. What for? I would be happy for the person. Hell yes!

These are Lunch break conversations. It comes with an expectation that it's an easy going conversation. No big deal.