Home > Feeding Frenzy > Archives > 2008 > November > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAre you brown bagging it more?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CNBC recently reported that with budgets tighter than ever, more people are bringing their lunch to work instead of going out to eat or buying from a cafeteria or takeout.
“In terms of value, it’s always going to be cheaper,” says Harry Balzer, an analyst at market researcher NPD Group. “Besides saving money, consumers are looking for convenience,” Balzer adds.
I’ve always been a “self-packer.” In fact, my husband and kids are too. It gives us control over what we eat. Bringing my own food lets me vary what I’m having depending on my mood (or what we had for dinner the night before). Sometimes it’s a sandwich, other times leftovers or in a pinch I’ll just throw in some hummus from the fridge and a pita. For me, there’s a sense of security of knowing I’ll be eating something I like instead of being dependent on what the cafeteria is serving that day or what will be left by the time I get there.
Also, being able to eat when I want, where I want, instead of having to go out foraging for food saves time, which face it, always seems tight these days.
On the other hand, I have friends who want the break. They need to be able to get up and get out of the office to make it through the day. Having the excuse of going out for food provides that. Others I know, especially my single friends, often make lunch their main meal and treat themselves to something really yummy.
What about you? Do you brown bag it or is buying lunch a must for you? Have recent financial situations influenced your decision?
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By Stan
November 5, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
I bring my lunch probably 97% of the time. Sometimes it’s a sammich, others it’s leftovers. Today it is 4 oz of Ribeye, some corn, broccoli, and edamame. MMMMMM Ribeye…
ok going to heat up my lunch
By justine
November 6, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
With me it is not an issue of brown bagging because I work from home. However, what I have done is to eat more meals at home. If I am out, I always say I will wait until I get home. I do try to eat a nice meal out, lunch, once a week. I have always believed that dinner should be eaten at home or with friends. The upturn from all of this is that I have been able to keep more of my money. I am also a strong believer of the practices of Michelle Singletary and Suzy Ormand - Determine if It is a Need or a Want and act according.
By MamaS
November 6, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
My kids school lunches are $15 per week for small servings of carbohydrates, cheese, canned fruits and carrot sticks. Over their protests that it is not “cool”, I send lunches with them four days a week. They eat more healthily and it is so much cheaper. At work, we are bringing “covered dishes” and eating in the workroom instead of running out for burgers. Saves on gas and food money! We have more time to eat, it is cheaper to do, and again, healthier.
By dee
November 6, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
I brown bag daily and have lost 5lbs.
By Dear Leader
November 6, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
I used to eat out and tip very well. now with tax increases looming I am going to brown bag it and save my money.
I figure the food service workers do not need the money as much as someone else does.
By Employee
November 6, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
It is more sanitary and healthier to bring your own lunch. Why should you pay money to pollute your system with open handling and others people’s germs? It may seem anal but the truth be told the number of people breathing on the food.
By CoCo
November 6, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Yes I brown bag it at least four days a week. It is healthier and yes It keeps a few extra dollars in the pocket. If I don’t cook I will bring a sandwich or salad, and I am very satisfied. These restaurants are getting too expensive and some of them are very nasty! Beware!!!
By Dave in Marietta
November 6, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
I have been a brown-bagger for years. But my office friends and I make it a point to treat ourselves to perhaps one lunch per week at a restaurant. While we do have a cafeteria, I prefer my own cooking because I know what’s in it.
By LaVita
November 6, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
I have been brown bagging since May 07’ and especially enjoy beginning of week because I have about 2 to 3 different lunch options from weekend and Sunday leftovers. I have also dropped lost weight in process watching what I eat more closely. PBJ with 2% milk my favorite though…
By Sunny
November 6, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
I bring my lunch at least 4 days a week. When I cook dinner, I always make a little extra, so I can have lunch leftovers. It does save money!
By Sam P
November 6, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
I have been brown bagging my lunch ever since I was 4. That $12/day not spent on lunch lets me pay for dinners, drinks, football, baseball, golf, etc.
By Malikah Jessamy
November 6, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Yes, I have been brown bagging it lately, since I don’t even make enough to last for the 1st week after payday, most of the time I am “no bagging”it and not eating for every other day for the 1st week and no days for the 2nd.
By mechi
November 6, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
I always bring my lunch to work. It started off as a way to eat nutritious. Then I noticed that I did save time and money. So now I’ll eat out for lunch about once a month, but prefer to keep my splurges on the weekend when I can sit down, take my time, and eat whatever I want.
By Lisa
November 6, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
I eat lunch at my desk 4 out of 5 days per week. I have a small fridge where I keep Cokes and other foods cold, located just under my desk. The fridge cost about $150 at WalMart. I save on hitting the vending machine and I can bring what ever I want each day or bring in bulk for the week (ie: salad, meat, cheese, etc…)I figure the fridge paid for itself in a few months of use. I’ve done this for 3 years now!
No telling how much $$$ I’ve saved…
By Employee
November 6, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
It truly is a savings. Sometimes I notice that I have not used my debit card at all for a week. Now, I seem to have money left in the bank when I get paid. Before that I would have to rush or run to the bank to catch a check.
By Sugar
November 6, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
I go back and forth. I do go out every day for lunch, to get out of the office.
One week I’ll brown bag, the other I’ll dine at the restaurants. Even if I do brown bag, I still go with a co-worker to a restaurant and eat my own lunch.
However, when we go out for lunch, 99.9% of the time I just order a salad, and use my own dressing.
By GT BUZZ
November 6, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
After Osama takes office you won’t be able to afford lunch.
By jenny
November 6, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
I bring my lunch at least 4 days a week. Most the time a sandwich or leftovers, sometimes a lean cuisine if I was in a hurry in the morning. I eat at my desk while I work and then go to the gym during lunch. It has helped out with my eating better, saving money and I rarely skip the gym because I have no excuse.
By Lynn
November 6, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
I started brown bagging my breakfast and lunch. I save about $60 a week, or at the least that sixty is going toward something more valuable such as gas and groceries. I have two growing boys 4 & 15. I can’t keep enough food in the house. My team members are brown bagging their breakfast and lunch too. It’s amazing, you think oh, breakfast is three dollars lunch is about seven. That’s ten dollars a day, and don’t forget that dollar bag of chips or candy bar in between. I’m really proud of myself for the changes I have made. I wish I would have done this sooner.
By ccs
November 6, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
I definitely bring my own lunch. I work in a school, so we are not allowed to leave for lunch! Even if I could go out for lunch daily, I wouldn’t. I really can’t afford to eat out daily. I do get tired of bringing my lunch though and I’m always looking for new, easy lunch ideas. About once a week, I treat myself to breakfast and/or coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Otherwise, I make my coffee at home and bring it to work.
By reservoirDAWG
November 6, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
I eat out every day for lunch, but we cook at home more now. I have been looking for cheaper lunches, though.
By Atlanta Native
November 6, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
I own my own firm and have 10 employees. I now bring my own lunch. I miss going out to lunch, as my office is near Buford Hwy and lunch is cheap and good. However, until things turn around, I’ll be brown bagging it. If hit with any more costs, I’ll have to let people go. I hope that the new administration realizes I cannot cannot give everything to employees that I now do if I am faced with higher costs and taxation. In other words, raise taxes on my s-corp and I am forced to fire people, thereby creating more unemployment. I prefer employees who brown bag, instead of ex-employees holding brown signs by the side of the road.
By mayretter local
November 6, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
been brining my lunch for years, but do eat out every week or so.
Sugar, eating your brown bag in a restaurant?? at a fast food restaurant i hope. that’s really kinda rude in most places.
By southern hope
November 6, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
I have a very bad habit in that, yes, I”m fine with brown-bagging..but after I”ve finished with that lunch (say an hour later), then I’ll go buy a lunch…it’s almost like the home-packed lunch doesn’t feel like the real thing.
By leigh
November 6, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
My husband and I both take our own lunch and have saved a ton of money. Even though it would only cost about 2 dollars a day for each, that adds up— twenty a week, eighty a month and so on. Leftovers are great and there is no point in wasting anything these days.
By Atlanta Native
November 6, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
I agree with mayretter about Sugar. Only toddlers should eat their own food in someone else’s restaurant.
By Grace
November 6, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
I’ve always brown bagged it, even though I can afford to eat out every day of the week. 3 reasons: the food from home is better, I don’t have to go out and drive someplace on my lunch hour, and it’s by far more economical.
By Munnah
November 6, 2008 8:16 PM | Link to this
I never “brown bag” it. Buy my lunch every day. The wife works full time, I work full time. The last da#n thing I want to do at night or in the AM is make a $2.50 lunch. Getting out of the office for a couple of hours each day allows for some down time, reflection, maybe even shopping!!!
By tied up
November 6, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Had to start ‘brown baggin’ about a month ago. I’m a manager for a small retail outlet and corp had me layoff two of my three employees. The third is out of office about 70% of the day . All that said, I can’t even leve the office to go get something, but hey, I still have a job so It’s a lunch box and a thermos of coffee for me every AM
By Tyrone Biggums
November 7, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
I brown bag 4 days a week, and have been my entire working life. My typical lunch is turkey on whole wheat with spinach, cheese, and a few other veggies. I drink it with water and have fruits later in the day.
I do eat out once a week, mainly because I love eating out. I find that only eating out lunch one day a week causes me to enjoy the meal even more.
By Janie
November 7, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this
I brown bag every day. I work retail and get 1/2 hour for lunch so there really is not time to run out and buy a lunch. Saves alot of money and truthfully I would rather buy a Starbucks specialty coffee a few days a week after work. :)
By Peaches
November 7, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
I’m blessed that my job caters food for us everyday without charging us. So I don’t have to worry about it.
By Puchi
November 7, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
My mother always cooked us a warm meal from scratch and I still enjoying eating home-made cuisine verus going out to eat.
I cook everynight and ttry to bring leftovers for lunch the next day. The economic times have not changed my diet since I prefer eating what I make versus restaurant or fast-food options. I enjoy well-seasoned food, but not salty foods. Also the price sticker of eating out is ridiculous for what you get. I can make a full meal for less than $10 for a family of 4.
I’m thankful that my mother taught me to cook at a very young age and has instilled in me a proper diet etiquette. More and more people eat out and do not know how to cook at all. That is a poor state for anyone especially in these tough economic times, but if they need to purchase some good food I can sell them mine.
By Losing weight
November 7, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
For a while I was on the CELGBG diet. (Can’t Eat Lunch Gotta Buy Gas diet)
That got me out of the habbit of going out for lunch so I go for leftovers if possible or boring sandwiches or cheap micro meals. If I do go out its the fast food cheapie menu without a drink or kids meals.
Sit down restaraunt with servers and tipping are a no go anymore unless its a business lunch than its the cheapest item I can eat and water to drink.
Sorry but with a frozen salary, no raises in the last several years, rising gas and insurance costs and impending furloughs or layoffs my money is staying home as much as possible!
By C J
November 7, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
I’ve brown bagged for years. My mother was a factory worker and once you got to work you were there until time to leave. I saw her do that for 35 years, so the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Although on some Fridays I may treat myself out.
By Conservatively Speaking
November 7, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
I bring my lunch everyday have for years, it became very expensive eating out with tips and taxes, I was never satified with the food or service I received and I honestly do enjoy leftovers. The savings of about $10 a day conservatively ($100 every two weeks) some of which can be targeted toward a small reward to myself for saving maybe a banana split at Dairy Queen every now and then.
By Ms. Lady
November 7, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
I’ve been bringing my lunch for years. I have saved a lot of money. I very seldom go out to eat. I cook a lot. And because of my frugalness and penny-pitching self I now drive a 2008 Mercedes. Of course, this is after I tithe and save for the future!
By Sugar
November 7, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Yes, I should have clarified that. When I go out with my co-worker, and I brown bag it, yes we go to fast food places. We are regulars at most places around work, and they employees know us, so they don’t mind. Sometimes, I do order a little side salad.
I make a bunch of pancakes on Sundays, along with some muffins, and freeze them. In the mornings, the kids will grab a stack of pancakes and zap them in the microwave, and eat them in the car (no syrup, they like them plain), and off to school and work we go.
The kids like brown bagging it at school too, as they don’t have to stand in line. My oldest is in high school, and by the time they get through the line, the bell is ringing and they don’t have time to eat.
By Hayley
November 7, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
I want to know where Munnah gets a $2.50 lunch and a 2 hr lunch hour. I’m doing good if I get a lunch fifteen minutes…
By Star
November 8, 2008 12:00 AM | Link to this
In my unit we brown bag a lot. Most of the time we have salads. We all chip in and et a large spring mix, tomatoes, cukes form Sams . bag of chicken tenders,wings and that is lunch for the week. Eveybody is responsible for thier own sald dressings nd enough sld fixins for the whole. Didn’t realize how much money I saved. Still would like to have some fresh ideas though!
By lovelyliz
November 10, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
I’ll brown bag it and leave the office. Nothing says you have to eat it at the office.
By I'm Eatin' Good
November 10, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Well, fortunately I work for a company that has meal subsidies for it’s employees. Generally,I spend no more than $6/day for lunch, which definitely beats using the gas, travel time and the extra $$ on a restaurant meal + tips. Saves me a little change weekly, but I must admit…it’s hell on the waistline, because it’s really GOOD FOOD! For example, today’s lunch was a meat lasagna, side salad & garlic bread AND a drink for $6.72. Now tell me-where else can you get gourmet grub (well, as close as you can get) for less than $10?