Bag It

Everyone knows it is far less expensive to pack your lunch than go out to eat every day.  You didn’t need this site for that frugal nugget.  What you may not have considered is how to make lunch packing even cheaper.  Put your lunch in a reusable shopping bag, insulated cooler, or simply throw everything into a plastic bag from a department store purchase.

The main course can be anything from leftover pasta in a glass container, ready to pop in the microwave, to harkening back to your elementary school days with a tried and true PB&J.  If you do pack a sandwich and use up the last couple pieces of bread, put the finished product right back in the bread sack, twist it up and toss in your lunch.

Save money on packaging.  Avoid purchasing prepackaged snack items such as those (expensive) 100 calorie packs.  Instead, buy the full-sized box and put your desired portion in a baggie.  Better yet, rather than using baggies, save old bread/tortilla sacks, plastic cereal liners and produce bags.  If you are packing the last little bit of the Wheat Thins, do not dig them out of the plastic liner and put them in fresh baggie.   Instead, take the whole liner (crackers included) out of the box, roll the top closed and insert in lunch bag.  Use this tip for the remainder of the chips, crackers, carrots and more. 

Beverages can be a very costly part of your meal.  Refill disposable plastic water bottles at the drinking fountain at work, instead of buying/packing two or three.  You could even consider purchasing an aluminum water container for repeat use.  Bring your own soda, juice, or coffee from home rather than paying an arm and a leg at the vending machine.   

Packing your lunch every day is certainly not the most glamorous thing to do.  But, you just might look forward to some peace and quiet while eating your PB&J at Headwaters Park.