If you’ve decided to give frugal living a shot then give yourself a pat on the pack. Most people associate frugal living with deprivation and sacrifice. This assumption is far from being true. It is not about depriving yourself. It is about being wise about how you manage your funds so you can live a comfortable life.
If you’re not sure where to start, here’s an easy tip that will get you going on the right path:
Brown bag your lunch to work or school
Brown bagging your lunch can easily save you a couple hundred (possibly thousands depending on the individual) per year.
There are several reasons you should brown bag your lunch
1. Your lunch is homemade so it will be healthier then eating out. You know what you put in your food and are not eating processed foods that are fried and rich in saturated oils and bad fats. Not only that but, a homemade meal will always taste better.
2. You will save a lot of money. It is estimated that most people spend at least ten dollars everyday on their lunch break. That adds up to over three thousand dollars a year. Brown bagging your lunch should cost you no more than 1-3 dollars a day. That adds up to a savings of seven to nine dollars a day and more than $2500 per year.
One of the easiest brown bag lunches are sandwiches. Sandwiches are cheap and you don’t have to do a lot to make it delicious. Just go crazy and add your favorite meat, vegetables, and condiments. Packing two sandwiches will surely keep you full throughout the day. One can also use leftovers to brown bag there lunch. Leftover dinner meals from the night before can surely make a great lunch.
Here are some tips to making sure you stay consistent:
Prepare your meal the night before- Don’t wait till morning time to prepare your lunch. Mornings are usually crazy and are not the time to try to do anything other than get ready for work or school. If you wait till morning there is a good chance you will run out of time and decide not to do it all together. Thus it is important to prepare you lunch the night before
Pack Snacks- Even with brown bagging your lunch, there is still a good chance that you may get hungry and decide to go out for more food or hit the vending machine. Packing healthy snacks will ensure that you do not get hungry. Munching on snacks such as nuts, fruits, and yogurt throughout the day will surely be all you need to keep you full until dinner time.
If you are consistent with it, brown bagging your lunch as opposed to eating out can save you thousands of dollars every year.
Rita Harmon – Rita Harmon has been working in the medical field for the majority of her adult life. She is currently an RN case manager at a …