Lunches and Coffee

[No Name Guy]

Lunches:  It has been since June 17th since I went to the cafeteria at work.  All home brought lunches since then.  I figure its about $5 / day in savings.  The tracking spreadsheet really helps keep me motivated.

Coffee:  Started making my own vanilla syrup for use in the daily (at home) latte.  Roughly 1/2 the cost of the store bought Torani syrup.  1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, gently bring to boil while stirring until sugar is totally dissolved, let cool, then add 1 TBSP quality vanilla extract, pour into existing Torani syrup bottle, store in fridge next to milk.

[Mr.Macinstache]

*High Five*

I always tote my lunch to the office, along with tea to drink in a quart mason jar.

[seattlecyclone]

Nice job! I go out with coworkers once every couple of weeks just to keep up some minimum level of social contact, but generally eat in the office.

[icefr]

Nice job! I go out with coworkers once every couple of weeks just to keep up some minimum level of social contact, but generally eat in the office.

I actually meet people for lunch who also bring their lunch or meet people in the cafeteria with my brought-lunch. That way, I'm spending less but I'm also getting some social time!

[kkbmustang]

Lunches:  It has been since June 17th since I went to the cafeteria at work.  All home brought lunches since then.  I figure its about $5 / day in savings.  The tracking spreadsheet really helps keep me motivated.

Coffee:  Started making my own vanilla syrup for use in the daily (at home) latte.  Roughly 1/2 the cost of the store bought Torani syrup.  1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, gently bring to boil while stirring until sugar is totally dissolved, let cool, then add 1 TBSP quality vanilla extract, pour into existing Torani syrup bottle, store in fridge next to milk.

Congrats on the lunch and thanks for the vanilla syrup recipe. Totally making that!

[FiveSigmas]

I actually meet people for lunch who also bring their lunch or meet people in the cafeteria with my brought-lunch. That way, I'm spending less but I'm also getting some social time!

Same here. I'd say about half the folks I eat lunch with brown bag it and the other half grab from the cafeteria or food trucks.

[davisgang90]

Lunch taker here.  I also bike in with a thermos of french press coffee in my pannier.  Yummy!

[wing117]

90-95% of everyone at my work already eats alone - mostly at their desk. The food options aren't appealing either (chick-fil-a, cafeteria food or Bojangles, anyone?) so mostly everyone sacks their lunch. So I don't look out of place when I bring in my lunch bag - usually soups, crackers and sandwiches. I need to branch out more for some variety.

I alternate between coffee and tea, but keep all the supplies at work and make it when I come in (I get in an hour earlier than everyone else). There's a student on campus who is roasting his own beans and is willing to give me roasted beans at cost ($3/lb) so I got in on that deal too!

[pachnik]

Since getting on board with MMM, I have been bringing my lunch from home.  In the last 7 weeks or so, I only bought my lunch twice - once was to meet a friend. 

The place I am at has a great 'coffee' machine that makes cappucinos, lattes and mochas + regular coffee.  I will miss it when my contract position ends in Sept.  I still see co-workers with stuff from Starbucks and Timmy's but I guess the novelty has worn off for them.

[olivia]

Awesome!  I'm doing the same as a challenge for the month of August and plan to continue it forever. It really hasn't been difficult and now the thought of paying $10/day for lunch seems ridiculous.  Plus I've dropped a few lbs. from less junky food!

[EK]

Ditching my habit of having coffee and snacks out was really hard for me (something I really loved) but has saved me a fortune.  Before I could really kick the habit though I had to convince myself that that I could make stuff at home that I really PREFERRED.  Before I wrapped my head around the possibility of the homemade thing being better than the paid-for thing it felt like sheer torture.

Now that I've mastered making my very favorite coffee at home (French press with fresh ground beans, my preferred sweetener, and a drop or two of whatever flavored extract(s) in in the mood for), the temptation to go out is legitimately gone.

Same with snacks and lunches.  Once I figure out how to make my exact favorite thing- boom!  I save money while feeling like its MORE of a treat for myself than before when I'd go spend $3 on a scone at the coffee shop.  And I can make it healthier so I don't gain weight from too many treats!

[Dan T]

Since getting on board with MMM, I have been bringing my lunch from home.  In the last 7 weeks or so, I only bought my lunch twice - once was to meet a friend. 

The place I am at has a great 'coffee' machine that makes cappucinos, lattes and mochas + regular coffee.  I will miss it when my contract position ends in Sept.  I still see co-workers with stuff from Starbucks and Timmy's but I guess the novelty has worn off for them.

I am also lucky enough to work in a place with an awesome espresso/cappuccino machine, and I am constantly amazed to see people still walking around with their Starbucks.  I guess it doesn't taste as good if it didn't cost you $5?

[annod]

I love the paleo packed lunch ideas from this website. (I am not affiliated with them)
http://nomnompaleo.com

[AJDZee]

I split my days with bringing in lunch from leftovers and buying from my work's caf.
It is partly subsidized by my employer so a full lunch (main + 2 sides) comes out to $3.95 (they keep it under $4 so no tax). And the food is pretty darn good - a well established catering company has permanent staff at our 3 locations.

I've done the math, and I *could* make my lunches and it would work out to less than $3.95/meal, but I would have to limit myself to 'cost effective' ingredients (in the caf they serve chicken breasts, ribs, etc..), and even still, it wouldn't be THAT much savings.

I bring my lunch about twice a week, when I have dinner leftovers that need to be eaten promptly.

[dorkus619]

Coffee at my work SUCKS, ew. Extra strong, burnt maxwell house. ha! I brought my french press and good coffee to work since I only ever drink 1 cup. I like taking the time and care to make my own cup.

Been taking my own lunches for about 2 weeks now.

Thanks for the vanilla syrup recipe!

[No Name Guy]

In my (former) building at work, there was a small cafeteria.  It was always so easy to just go there, literally 30 yards down the hall, instead of bringing from home. 

At the new year, I made a resolution to cut cafeteria food to only 50% of my lunches.  Yes, I know.....aimed low, but figured I'd meet that goal, then step it up later.  I should have aimed higher from the start.

Anyways, I did the tracking spreadsheet to keep myself accountable to the goal.   Early in the year, while still breaking the bad habit, I dipped as low as 62% from home, but improved since.  I'm currently at 87.5% from home (98 home lunches, 14 cafeteria / going out) year to date, with the mentioned no cafeteria since June.  (I work a P/T schedule, plus some vacation, hence the only 112 working days year to date).  Previously I'd guess it was well north of 90% cafeteria lunches. 

It is only a matter of keeping good lunch material at home - either dinner leftovers or good bread and sandwich fixings, plus fruit.  I can whip up a great lunch in only a few minutes.  If worked out to an hourly rate, the payoff of DIY lunch is big bucks per hour.

I've really noticed how little I actually spend in cash now, since I made this change.

[EMP]

Nice!  I'm having oatmeal in a jar for lunch today.  Just add water.  Didn't have any leftovers last night, and I was short on time this morning. 

And since there are so many people interested in the vanilla syrup recipe, you can make your own vanilla extract super cheap by sticking a couple of vanilla beans in a bottle of cheap vodka and waiting a couple of months. 

[dorkus619]

Nice!  I'm having oatmeal in a jar for lunch today.  Just add water.  Didn't have any leftovers last night, and I was short on time this morning. 

I need more mason jars! This is a great idea!

[umterp1999]

I work in a school, and since we all eat between classes or between meetings, no one ever goes out.  Actually if you do go out, you end up missing out on talking with others.  It's sort of peer pressure to not go out. 

[galliver]

Nice!  I'm having oatmeal in a jar for lunch today.  Just add water.  Didn't have any leftovers last night, and I was short on time this morning. 

I need more mason jars! This is a great idea!

I get PB's and J's in glass jars and reuse those. Free jars! :)

[Mr.Macinstache]

I work in a school, and since we all eat between classes or between meetings, no one ever goes out.  Actually if you do go out, you end up missing out on talking with others.  It's sort of peer pressure to not go out.

I would bring my lunch and still go out to eat it. I'm social like that.

[little stache]

Killing that lunch cost is killer to getting the costs of life down. My lunch cost, when I am good, which is almost everyday is......$2. There is a fruit cart near my office and I spend two bucks on whatever fruit looks good. :) And it is helping me shed some pounds. I walk around the block or sit a bit in a park....

[MakingSenseofCents]

I always bring my lunch to work, except for this week (was lazy this week). Saves me so much money!

[johnjm22]

I've cut my expenditures drastically over the last few years, and have paid off all my debts, but food and drink are the only things I can't help but splurge on. 

I like good food and good beer, and I love drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.  The nice thing is, I don't feel bad about spending money on these things anymore since my finances are in order.

[Cinder]

In my (former) building at work, there was a small cafeteria.  It was always so easy to just go there, literally 30 yards down the hall, instead of bringing from home. 

At the new year, I made a resolution to cut cafeteria food

...

Anyways, I did the tracking spreadsheet to keep myself accountable to the goal.   
...

It is only a matter of keeping good lunch material at home

The hardest part is changing your habit.  'I don't have time to make the food ahead of time' or 'but it is just right there' etc...  At first, it really sucks, then it becomes routine and you hardly notice it as a part of your daily/weekly things that you just do. 

ex.. http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/03/19/a-lifetime-of-riches-is-it-as-simple-as-a-few-habits/

Congrats on making the change!

[Ottawa]

60% of the time I pack a full or partial lunch of leftovers from the night before.  However, when there are no or partial leftovers...I have a secret backup plan at work...I split the cost of a small $120 Zojirushi rice cooker with a co-worker about 4 years ago.  We use it almost every day and split the cost of buying (on sale) rice in bulk and quinoa (for variety).  I also have a stash of salmon and srirachi sauce to accompany the rice.  A delicious and filling lunch costs $2 this way. 

I also started a coffee club at work (12 people) to eliminate the need for going out to get coffee or suffering (unnecessarily) the indignity of sub-standard coffee.  4 years ago we bought the initial automatic espresso machine (Delonghi Magnifica) for about $800 on sale.  It has produced about 9500 coffees over this time.  The price has always been 50 cents, about 2/3 of which pays for overhead.  Overhead includes bulk purchased coffee beans, sugar, milk, cream, tea, hot chocolate and repairs(~$100 done ourselves to date).  Additionally, we have invested in a separate grinder (for french press), a backup used manual Saeco Aroma and a kick ass Kitchenaid blender (smoothies, iced coffee).  We now have $1500 in savings in the event of catastrophic machine failure.  We have reached the point where we don't require further savings and will now be doing some interesting things with our ongoing savings (~35-40/month).  For example: random free coffee months, charitable stuff, etc...

I estimate that most of our staff that drink coffee used to buy Starbucks at the same rate, which resulted in time lost to the round trip (1/2 hour per day = $50*220 days = $11,000 lost productivity plus their own vehicle wear/tear) .  Additionally, people were often tricked into buying a food item.  It would not be a stretch to say that on average $4 per 'drink' was spent.  That would be 8X our 50 cent charge, for a LOWER QUALITY product ($8300/year)!  That's a collective savings of almost $20,000 per year or about $1600 per person! 

[grantmeaname]

I also started a coffee club at work (12 people) to eliminate the need for going out to get coffee or suffering (unnecessarily) the indignity of sub-standard coffee.  4 years ago we bought the initial automatic espresso machine (Delonghi Magnifica) for about $800 on sale.  It has produced about 9500 coffees over this time.  The price has always been 50 cents, about 2/3 of which pays for overhead.  Overhead includes bulk purchased coffee beans, sugar, milk, cream, tea, hot chocolate and repairs(~$100 done ourselves to date).  Additionally, we have invested in a separate grinder (for french press), a backup used manual Saeco Aroma and a kick ass Kitchenaid blender (smoothies, iced coffee).  We now have $1500 in savings in the event of catastrophic machine failure.  We have reached the point where we don't require further savings and will now be doing some interesting things with our ongoing savings (~35-40/month).  For example: random free coffee months, charitable stuff, etc...

This is ridiculously awesome.

[frugalecon]

In my (recent) spendier days, I was prone to buy $10 chopped salads at a fairly posh quick-salad place (Chop't, have them in DC and NY). But I have switched to bringing homegrown salads, chock full of tomatoes, lettuce, and other greens from my garden. Throw in some other miscellaneous goodies (pumpkin seeds? feta cheese? a hard-boiled egg? some tuna? olives? any leftover bits of vegetables from the night before?), and I am happy. I have a system of plastic containers, one for greens, one for add-ins, and one small one for dressing (which rides in the greens container). Works well, and they all fit together for easy carrying home.

I have also been making my own granola, which is easy and much cheaper than store-bought.

And I have given up Starbucks! That is clearly worrying them, as they send me more coupons, trying to lure me back with the "savings" of $1 off a $5 salted caramel mocha coffee, which packs over 400 calories.

[theSchmett]

I eat regularly with the same crowd, we go to a place in the Gateway Center in Newark  NJ (feels a little like walking through a mall with only a few tenants) and some of us buy, and some bring, but we never get hassled even though people are bringing. I think they figure if some are buying, they want to eat with their friends who bring - and those who bring sometimes buy a drink or bag of chips.

Either way, we get the social and the food choice, and get OUT of the office for a spell.

[zinethstache]

I was able to give up my coffee habit completely, I have tea once in a while. I could not however break my dt. mountain dew habit at lunch. I bought a tiny fridge long ago and bring  2 liter bottles (or the smaller bottles) depending on what is cheapest. Cost is about .40/day now. Had to stop drinking 2 bottles of that stuff daily at full price. I now restrict myself to 1 or 2 ice filled glasses of it per day. I bring lunch every day. I think I've bought lunch 4x this year and it kills me every time. Cafe prices here are ok, but its still $5-$7 for a full lunch. Il try to get 1/2 a wrap so its not so painful, runs me about $3.50. I too see folks with huge salads, or entrees and have seen lunches ring up for $10 or more.

At home I have a single cup coffee maker, I will make a cup every other day for about .40 per cup. I buy the supplies on sale and tend to stock up a couple of times a year when they have 20% off sales. I buy online to save on tax and shipping is free over $50. I have a surplus of Starbucks cards folks give as gifts out of habit (the joys of living in the Seattle area) I have 7 of them right now and re-gift them when it makes sense. A lot of my crew of friends are totally over Starbucks so I don't have many options to give them out!

[galliver]

zinethstache, have you considered what it is that makes you drink diet mtn dew? Is it the flavor, the bubbles, etc? Have you considered juice, iced tea, or mineral water as alternatives? There are extract-flavored (lemon, lime, grapefruit) mineral waters that have a nice flavor but are sugar-free and chemical-free. Might not be the cheapest option, but could help you make the transition (since you seem to want to). :)

[non geordie beth]

My husband, who for as long as I've known him has needed an absolute minimum of 6 cups of coffee a day to function, got a dental abscess a few months back and couldn't bear warm drinks. He said the caffeine withdrawal was so bad that he wouldn't risk ever having to go through it again and has now given up coffee (and tea too, although he never drank much tea). We are saving a fortune (even though we didn't go out for coffee THAT often) (and his teeth are in much better shape too!) but I wouldn't recommend a dental abscess to kick start the process. He was in agony for a week :(

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Still, yay to saving money on coffee and milk and sugar!!

[Freckles]

I'm like umterp1999 in that I work at a school, and therefore, bring my lunch to work.  We all do.  My school is a little bit out in the country so you'd have to drive at least ten minutes to get to any place where you could buy lunch.  Considering we only have 30 minute lunches,  20 minutes spent driving doesn't work.  The other choice would be to buy the public elementary school cafeteria options.  Not surprisingly, none of us do that!  This is the one area I've always behaved like a mustachian-  I don't even really have the choice to waste money on lunch!

[galliver]

The other choice would be to buy the public elementary school cafeteria options.  Not surprisingly, none of us do that!

Not that you should be buying lunch at the cafeteria...but if this is how you feel about it, doesn't it indicate a problem with the school lunch system?

[SJS]

  The nice thing is, I don't feel bad about spending money on these things anymore since my finances are in order.

That's just it - to the folks who do NOT have their debt paid off - they cannot afford these "little luxuries" that those of us who do have our finances in order and are FI can enjoy.  But I still can't bring myself to buy a overly-priced coffee!  I guess I don't enjoy it very much more than I do a cup from my home Keurig - so what's the point? Unless I'm out meeting a friend - otherwise, I'd rather spend the money towards another frill! 

[MMMdude]

I am only half Mustachian in this respect.  I do make my own latte's in the morning rather than buy from Tim Hortons or McDonalds about 90% of the time, so I still have about $10 in coffee purchases out that I could/should eliminate.

As for taking lunch to work, I just can't do it.  I go home everyday for lunch as otherwise i would be in the office from 730 to 430.  No thanks.  I need that break from there and being we are in an industrial area, i can't really just hang around there and find anything to do.  So I am saving $ by eating at home, but am using up about $2 worth of gas to do that.  For my own sanity though, it is worth it.

Some people at work of course tote in a coffee every morning and go out to lunch every day.  We are talking $10+ per day in waste.  Yikes

[Freckles]

The other choice would be to buy the public elementary school cafeteria options.  Not surprisingly, none of us do that!

Not that you should be buying lunch at the cafeteria...but if this is how you feel about it, doesn't it indicate a problem with the school lunch system?

Well, I don't think the food would hurt me.  It's not nasty and moldy and disgusting, I just don't like how it tastes.  OK, smells and looks.  I can't actually say I've eaten it since I was a kid myself.  I don't think most school cafeterias are known for their tasty food.  Maybe in France.  :)

[lifejoy]

Woo! Thanks for sharing the vanilla syrup recipe, and way to go!

[blake201]

Very cool! I also haven't eaten takeout lunch since I started reading this blog two months ago ... I pack lunch most days, but also keep "emergency lunch" supplies on hand in my desk and pantry and the office fridge, so I can ALWAYS make a PB&J sandwich, or microwave some couscous and palak paneer, etc.

I think my average lunch was costing $8-$12 out, and probably $1-$2.50 homemade. So a BIG savings. My husband is doing the same.

Also, my office has a lot of big lunches and dinners where leftovers are then offered to anyone who wants them, so I've been keeping a closer eye on the lunchroom ... if I've already eaten my lunch for that day, I'll pack up a lunch for the next day and stick in the office fridge. There's no price like free!

[galliver]

I thought this was pretty hilarious. I didn't really feel that way (most of my grad student coworkers bring lunch most of the time). But I'm sure many people do! http://thehairpin.com/2012/03/how-to-bring-your-lunch-to-work-a-guide

*note* I seem to be sharing links on not-link threads today.

[Meggslynn]

I have typically always been a brown bagger for lunch.

I have worked in a industrial park for the last 5 years that is 10km's from two different towns that have plenty of lunch options. Out of 96 people in my office I am one of five who does not hop in the car make the 10km trek for lunch and the 10km trek back. I will go out for lunch once a month or two to keep up the social appearences but that is about it.

I am also the one of very very few who brings there homemade coffee to work in a thermos everyday instead of whipping thru a starbucks or timmies drive thru. Granted when I was pregnant I did get into the habit of stopped at the mcdonalds drive thru for a earl grey tea every other morning as it was the only thing that keep my nausea away. Tried buying the exact same tea bags to make at home and for some reason it didn't work as well .... ?

[No Name Guy]

Update:  Here it is nearing the end of the year.  Today is my Friday and I have only a 3 day work week next week until I'm done until Jan 6th (wuhoo to part time* + vacation + end of year company shut down).

Anyways - I've only bought lunch in the cafeteria once since June 17.  Year to date numbers stand as follows:

From home:  147 lunches.
Bought:  15
From home percent:  90.7% of the total (and waaaaayyyyyyy better than that since June 17 - 80 out of 81 from home, 98+%).

On the coffee syrup:  I've experimented with cutting down the sugar a bit, and upping the vanilla a touch to adjust the sweetness to flavor profile.  I'd highly recommend this to folks.  You may like the slightly stronger vanilla and less sweet combo.