Jun 16, 2009
The Daily Poverty Post.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and in this case it didn’t fall from a tree but instead was purchased at the local food co-op and what Bossy is really trying to say after only three hours sleep: Bossy’s son packs a lunch every day to take to his summer internship.
We all know how lunches, even when purchased from cheap places, add up in cost, because we learned it on Oprah. Still it takes a level of commitment to purchase lunch ingredients and set the alarm a few minutes early and, mostly, to skip giving yourself that midday treat, especially when most of the coworkers around you are heading out to their daily lunch spot.
That sandwich looks good.
Smart man. I would think that more people would brown bag it these days since 1) less expensive and 2) many Mom and Pop lunch places are closing because of the economy. Also, isn’t it healthier to port your own?
Last place I worked, I didn’t eat lunch out once in the entire three years I worked there. My husband brought lunch every day to law school. We were way poor. Then I packed his lunch every day for three more years while he worked. I think it was just habit by then. Now we’re both at home, and I do not AT ALL miss making sandwiches or cobbling together leftovers into a lunch at 6:30 a.m. every day.
But I’m sure we saved thousands. What I’d like to know is where those thousands are now?
Yay Bossy’s Son!
I have my 19 yr old nephew living w/ me for the summer. He is up at 7:00am making his lunch and getting ready for wk 5 days a week. Of course he is exhausted when he gets home and goes to bed by 8:00pm. But so far I am very proud of how he is managing it all!
(I have him cuz my sister said he was sleeping all day and up all night and NOT looking for a job, so we said we take him and get him a job, so far so good)
jp
ps……I was married w/ a baby @ 19!
May I be so bold as to make a suggestion? Why not put lunch together the night before? Sandwich dressings could be added right before consumption to avoid soggy sandwiches. Leftovers could be separated while cleaning up after dinner. I only ask because I don’t eat lunch, so I don’t brown bag it.
–>I have made my own lunch since I was in first grade. It sucks on a regular basis but I’m sure it’s why I get excited today (in my 30s) about eating out once in a while for lunch; it’s a Treat! (My waistline and wallet are happier too.)
Um, is that pepper on that turkey? Cause that looks delicious.
Back in the good ol’ days (when I was employed), I saved money by buying a thermos and taking my own coffee to work (or drinking the crappy, but free, office swill). Daily trips to the local coffee shop got to be too expensive.
Most nights, I cook enough dinner to make one more plate for my husband. He takes it to work the next day and warms it up in the microwave. It keeps him from getting tired of the sandwich routine.
Their boss buys everyone lunch on Saturdays.
Have you seen the price of deli meat lately??!!
I make a week’s worth of sandwiches on Sunday night, saves a lot of time.
I worked in the receiving department of a bookstore for a year between college and grad school. My rent took something like 2/3 of my pay and my bus pass took another 1/6. That left 1/6 for the peanut butter and jam sandwich I ate for breakfast and lunch every. single. day. for. a. year. It kind of sucked.
I loved packing my lunch when I worked. I would eat it at my desk before lunch time, then nap on my lunch hour….or go for a long walk, depending on my level of sleep the night before.
I also made a pot of coffee in the morning, drank one cup and put the rest in a thermos.
The bottom line? I put two dollars a day in a vacation jar, and I was still ahead of the game.
Looks like a healthy lunch. I pack my kids’ lunch every day but somehow don’t get around to doing one for myself half the time. Which would explain the Pizza Hut Supreme mercilessly assailing my insides at this particular moment.
This cheap chick is so proud of Bossy’s son that she’s appointing him the Official Chef of the Cheap Chick Empire. Even though I’ve never: a. met him, b. ate any of his cooking, or c. actually have an Empire.
Because that’s how proud I am!!!
Bossy’s son forgot to pack the cookies!
bossy’s son must be a member of the poverty party!
Sister Mercy, that’s a lotta pepper on that turkey!
My husband would rather go without FOOD than spend money on a takeout lunch. He will tote whatever leftovers there are from last night’s dinner, or the night before that, in to work. He claims my cooking makes him the envy of his young single coworkers. I think maybe he’s just sucking up though.
That sandwich does looks good! Posted another poverty post…..http://confessionsofacountrygirl.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/i-had-a-credit-card-cutting-party/
I also make mine and Grumpys.. I mean Grampys lunch everyday and I work at a place with an entire gourmet, (well for a hospital) cafeteria.
It does take commitment to pack a lunch everyday to save money, and I’m feeling a little guilty for going into my day today knowing I’ll be buying lunch and breakfast. But, those are small potatoes compared to my totally maniacal spending lately.
Had lunch out with The Fam yesterday (pizza, as dictated by children) but otherwise I bring a protein bar, a little bag of almonds/cashews/cranberries, and a piece of fruit for lunch, every day. Except in the winter, when it’s a can of soup and an apple.
GAHHH I ‘m boring. And now hungry.
I have decided that Bossy must come raise my daughter, because otherwise I suspect I might f^$* it up and NOT have a daughter who is committed to taking her lunch to work every day.
Is there anything less than perfect about Bossy’s son and Bossy’s daughter? I would love to hear about it so I will feel better about my own kid, who turns up her nose at the healthy lunch I make her every day (she’s 3, so I’m not pushing her to make it herself quite yet).
Oh Bossy’s son is so wise. So very wise. I wish I were as insightful as he when I was a youngun’….
I wonder if this is something we learn at our parent’s knee? Because I’m amazed that people think this is revolutionary. My parents brought their lunches to work every day (regardless of the cafeteria). We brought our lunches to school every day. As an adult, I bring my lunch, not just to be frugal or healthy, but because That’s What You Do.
It may be difficult but bringing your own lunch is the easiest way to save $100 a month or so. (Well, unless you are willing to part with your precious cell phone but that another story.) I also have found that it also makes losing a few pounds/month a lot easier too. But damn, I love me some Daisies Bistro Burger…