Shop bought sandwiches

[Blondie1984]

Went out with a colleague to grab lunch today - ended up in Tesco where she got a cheese sandwich - and it kinda baffles me because I don’t understand why you’d spend so much on a shop-bought sandwich you could’ve made at home for cheaper - surely you want something a bit more exciting than what you’d make at home if you’re going pay that much or is it just me?

I am relieved I am not the only one who doesn't want to eat lunch (or anything really) straight out of the fridge.

At my old workplace (one of many odd things about it) all my colleagues insisted on keeping their lunch in the fridge until just before they were going to eat it as it might go off if exposed to the ambient air in the office. Goodness knows what they thought of me with my chicken and mayo salad sandwich just sitting on my desk all morning. Ice-cold salad tho - yuck.

As far as the rest goes, well my DD (vvv picky eater - long story) loves a shop-bought sandwich. I end up getting her dull ones bc she is vegetarian and the vegetarian choice is often sadly dull.

I don't mind a shop sandwich for variety tbh - prawn mayo or smoked salmon and cream cheese is tricky to do on a small scale on the spur of the moment at home.

As for the money people are spending, well, isn;t that up to them? If they then complain of always being broke, that is the time to chime in with the fact that a home-made packed lunch will cost less than a quid most likely. But until that point I can't get excited about it.

I am often amazed at what people spend cash on, but I keep it to myself. They probably think the same about me. I like expensive skincare and make up (advent calendar addict) and I often buy takeaway coffee for me and DD to enjoy together. Yes, if I saved that money I would have maybe £1000 in a year - which I could, well, spend on what? A two-day city break with the family? I would in all honesty rather have the lipsticks and coffees with DD.

I know people who spend £35 a month on their phone or £400 a month on their fancy car. That's not for me, but if it makes them happy and their children are not going hungry then happy days.

oh yes really agree re "grab lunch" it makes it sound as if you really have to race to get it and eat it.

My new work gives us an hour for lunch; I sit and read or drink my takeaway Costa in blissful time. I even go for a run sometimes. yay.

@SnowWhitesSM

Sainsburys did a whipped feta with red onion and beetroot sandwich in the summer. I know I could have made it but who really wants to waste time whipping feta and shredding beetroot. It was such a nice sandwich that I still think about it now

Oh I would love one of those!

Honestly can’t get excited about this 🤣

You sound like a nightmare colleague judging someone for their (fairly standard) lunch choices!

Our office has a full kitchen so I always make food for lunch, even something speedy like an omelette or something.

If we don't have time then I will pop into the local supermarket and grab a sandwich

@AndWhatNext

I love a shop bought cheese and onion sandwich.

God me too. Absolutely delicious.

I never buy shop bought sarnies, I prefer to make my own and find it more cost effective to do so. I also prefer my cheesy wholemeal pittas heated in the microwave slightly until the cheese melts. Having gone off shop bought sarnies many years ago when I discovered a grey hair in one and was generously sent a voucher for £5.00 to buy more but decided to file the voucher in the bin! 🤣🤣

I always think they taste odd.

@summerlovin12

As someone who used to work in a sandwich factory, I would generally go for homemade....

Do tell us why...

You sound really judgmental @Blondie1984 maybe get some excitement in your life so that you’re not so invested in your poor colleague’s lunch choices!

I now have a really strong craving for a cheese sandwich, but I’m out of bread

It’s what I would always choose from the supermarket. Because it’s my favourite, simple as that. I only really like cheese sandwiches or cheese and crisp sandwiches. I’m not going to pick something fancy or special, knowing I won’t enjoy it as much as a plain old cheddar sandwich!

@MorrisZapp

If you want to eat cheese sandwiches every day for a week, it's cheaper to buy a loaf and a block of cheese.

If you fancy a chicken salad sandwich today and who knows what tomorrow, the pre bought will be cheaper and less wasteful. Plus you don't risk accidentally inhaling it at 9.30 am.

I feel seen

@summerlovin12

As someone who used to work in a sandwich factory, I would generally go for homemade....

But what happens if then someone who works in a cheese or bread factory comes along?!

I still have wistful thoughts about a BHS chicken and lemon mayo mighty white type sandwich I used to get in the late 80’s. I blummin loved it.

I like a cheese and onion one but for the life of me I don't understand why there is a post on this but fair enough

I get the OP's point. I like Pret and M&S sandwiches (which I consider a bit of a treat), but sometimes I've grabbed a quick sandwich from Tesco or Coop to fill me up, and I find them a waste of money as they're something I could easily make. We've bought the plain cheese or ham ones a few times for DD (who won't eat anything too complex) and I do resent buying them, they'd be so cheap to make at home (but only when I've been to lazy/disorganised to do it).

Since the first lockdown I've been making sandwiches at home to take out the next day (I used to spend all our lockdown days in the park with DD). It's a bit of a chore to do, but I try to make it fairly interesting (adding things like rocket or basil leaves to copy Pret recipes). It's mainly for convenience than cost, it means we have our lunches ready to go and don't have to find a sandwich shop or queue. And definitely much cheaper to add a single apple or packet of crisps from a supermarket multipack than pick up one from places like Pret.

@toppkatz a tandoori chicken naan

@AnaViaSalamanca nah - we do it to each other - only in a light hearted way though

Mumsnet can be a weird place...barely anyone here would ever dream of eating one, apparently, yet soooo many are sold every day. Must only be men and common women that buy them, in that case 😉

Love those M&S ultra deluxe prawn sandwiches. Partial to a Pret sandwich too.

Quite like a chicken/stuffing/mayo sandwich too from wherever sells them.

Miss those days, "prawn and avocado, touch of mayo and pepper in a granary roll please" brought from a sandwich shop. I don't think there are any left in Central London!

I live in the US and only use mayo not butter on a sandwich. Any sandwich I buy out is usually from Panera bread.

@KaptainKaveman

shop bought sandwiches are crammed full of salt and chemicals. They are disgusting.

Name a single physical thing that isn't chemicals!

@dorkfink

They say because they can't be bothered to make their own lunch each morning... So laziness I guess

I'm not sure it's laziness, maybe they just have better things to do with their time in the mornings

I have better things to do too but I'd rather spend 5 minutes a day making a sarnie than spending £5 a day on lunch. Each to their own though.