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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be considering school dinners for DC

26 replies

Holepunch · 11/03/2015 20:11

They're at secondary and would love to have money on their "thumb" to be able to use the canteen and/or snack bars. So far I have resisted it on the basis that when they do have small amount to spend they spend it on junk but mostly that it seems like a huge amount of money. The recommended daily spend for a "meal" is £4, which for us means £160 pm on school food.

So, ATM, they take a packed lunch and I charge their thumbs with £20 per half term for emergencies and treats. They have to budget it and it's been a useful lesson - since DS2 spent his first lot in the first week, he's done much better!

Anyway, I've got a new job it's lots more money (c.£1000 pm extra) and lots more hours.

We get by fine but without much left over on our current incomes, so my extra money is for luxuries. Would you spend £160 of the extra on school lunches, to save the faff of making lunches, baking cakes etc for lunch boxes and chasing DC to bring their lunch box to the kitchen? Yes, I know they could/should do all that themselves but, at least in the early weeks, I don't need any last minute panics over who has/hasn't made lunch.

I've already arranged a cleaner and can see my extra money slipping away...

OP posts:
CupidStuntSurvivor · 11/03/2015 20:22

How much do you spend on their lunches currently, including the £20 thumb money?

Original poster
Holepunch · 11/03/2015 20:27

I was trying to justify it like that earlier Cupid, but it's not much. I reckon £10pw for all 4 of us, plus £40 every 6 weeks or so.

OP posts:
profpoopsnagle · 11/03/2015 20:33

I was against school dinners for ages on cost grounds (estimated it saved us £700/year). But this year we have gone for it and I would be hard pressed to change it back. I have 3 DC and get 1 dinner free as infant age. It is so nice not to have to make packed lunches and remember to buy stuff in- does free up a lot of time. Also, we switched to a tea style evening meal- which is easier to prep and do after a busy day at work.

As an aside, I reckon I am saving money in other ways, less on 'top up shops' for bread and on dishwasher tablets for example- it goes on every 2 days now... >

CupidStuntSurvivor · 11/03/2015 20:37

So packed lunches are much cheaper then.

Personally, an easy life is more important to me than money. If I can meet all my outgoings and have enough spare for conveniences, I'll fork out on conveniences. It's not for everyone though.

Are you saving for anything in particular?

If your DC want school dinners so much, could they earn the extra cash by doing jobs around the house for you?

WorraLiberty · 11/03/2015 20:37

£4 recommended spend??

Jeez, what are they eating, caviar? Shock

It's £2.50 here

Original poster
Holepunch · 11/03/2015 20:40

Is that secondary Worra? What do they get for £2.5? £4 is apparently just enough for a meal, a pudding and a drink, if you choose carefully.

OP posts:
MissMuesli · 11/03/2015 20:41

Maybe you could put on enough for a school dinner a few times a week? Maybe have a Friday school dinner treat? To be honest I wouldn't want to spend 160 a month when you could do it yourself so much cheaper at home! YANBU to consider it if it's within your means now but I wouldn't spend that much I don't think!

froggyjump · 11/03/2015 20:42

How much per hour do you get paid at work?
How much time does it take you to do packed lunches, including the baking, washing lunchboxes, chasing teenagers etc?
Not asking you to put the answers on here, but just to see if it is an economical use of your time, now you are working more hours, your free time is more valuable.

Alternatively, could there be a compromise of making a more basic lunch, say just a sandwich, teens to be responsible for sorting out own lunchboxes etc, and a bit more credit so they can top up their lunch (ie buy a muffin to go with their sandwich instead of you baking)

lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine · 11/03/2015 20:43

for ds1 I'm giving him 3 pounds a day. so 15 a week. I could give him more but he can get plenty with that. also manages toast in the morning

cookietrue22 · 11/03/2015 20:47

I think £4 is a lot for a school lunch. I work in Secondary and our students can get a meal, drink and pudding for £2 (either hot or cold options). It is set at that amount so that any students on free meals don't have to pay any extra.

WorraLiberty · 11/03/2015 20:51

Oh I wouldn't buy them a pudding as they don't need it

For £2.50 they can have jacket potato (various fillings) and a drink. Or a wrap (various fillings) and a drink. Or pizza + garlic bread with a drink.

I'll have to ask DS tomorrow but a basic light lunch with a drink is £2.50

midnightmoomoo · 11/03/2015 20:57

Ours sets a £4 daily spend on the thumb too, but the canteen is so cheap DS could spend less than that. He takes sandwiches but I put £15 a half term on the thumb and its up to him to make it last! Mostly he's had a hot pasta pot on cold days but I like to know that if he forgets his lunch, or if I was poorly he can still eat enough during the day.

My DH has just got a job after 18 months unemployment and the highlight was when he got job seekers and the kids qualified for free school meals.... Not having to make three lots of sandwiches was bliss!

I think it's one of those things which you have to decide if the cost outweighs the advantages. Check the menu, maybe you could reduce the limit to £3 a day, or limit it to three days a week on days when this would be most helpful to you.

midnightmoomoo · 11/03/2015 20:59

Oh, and with ours i can check what he's eating, it gives the the item and price so it's a good way of checking he's not only eating doughnuts!!! Grin

SoonToBeSix · 11/03/2015 21:58

£2 is enough in my dd's high school also.

SugarplumKate · 11/03/2015 22:02

£2 for main meal and pudding at secondary here too. The treats, drinks and junk are expensive but the main meal is v. good value and big portion.

CliveCussler · 11/03/2015 22:04

what about them taking a round of foil wrapped sandwiches and 2.50 to spend on other stuff?

I loved mine having hot dinners (Primary) as we could just have a light tea, but they wont have them now.

Original poster
Holepunch · 11/03/2015 22:08

If I'm going to make sandwiches I may as well pop a few other bits in and call it lunch, as I do now.

There's no financial justification for it and I know the school food is expensive, but not the dearest round here! £4 is what the school recommends though and whilst, maybe they could get "something" cheaper, we're not hard up enough (at all) to be stinting on lunch.

Profpoopsnagle's response is what I was hoping for Grin Thank you.

OP posts:
teadog · 11/03/2015 22:20

How about enough for food but not drinks? As an option for busy weeks at least? I refill water bottles and pay around £2.30 a day (averages through month) for meals. Drinks can be around £1 each which soon adds up

MrsMook · 11/03/2015 22:29

My school lunch is a meal deal of mains and pudding for just under £2. Water is available for free from fountains.

I find it more appealing and satisfying than a pack up. It's a much better use of my time, and on the costs of my school, more cost effective.

ILovePud · 11/03/2015 22:59

I think £4.00 is steep, a sandwich meal deal from tescos or local buttie shop costs £2.50. That said if it makes your life a bit easier then that's reason enough, all mine are on school dinners for that reason.

Fluffyears · 11/03/2015 23:34

You know you can make a weeks worth of sarnies on a Sunday and freeze them. Just take out night before required. I do this for my lunch, so easy.

AlpacaMyBags · 11/03/2015 23:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

backwardpossom · 11/03/2015 23:46

£4 is ridiculous, frankly. I am staff, so pay extra, and I'm only £2.50 for a hot main meal (e.g. curry, rice, veg), a pudding and unlimited free water. I'm sure the pupils only pay £2.

mudkicker · 12/03/2015 00:30

I would keep it as you are - packed lunches and the extra money for emergencies/treats.

I get what you're saying re saving the time, but why can't they make their own lunches? They're in secondary school. Does your DH/P, if you're not a single parent, ever make the lunches?

I'd allocate a shelf in the larder and fridge for school lunches, top it up every few days, and your DCs can make their own. Absolutely do not spend £160 a month on school lunches if your DCs are fully able to make their lunches themselves! Why are there 'last minute panics' whether they have their lunch or not? Again, they're in secondary school. There won't be any 'last minute panics' over who has their lunch if they have to make their own/not make their own and go to school without. Honestly. They are old enough to make their own lunches, which - hey presto - saves YOU having to worry. They won't starve.

Spermysextowel · 12/03/2015 00:38

One son has been told to avoid tomatoes & often school lunches don't state whether an item contains them or not. I do sandwiches for him with 'finger' money for the other so something of a worst of both worlds scenario. I'm often making a sandwich at 11pm but still paying over the odds for son two's lunch.