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Original poster

Tight for bringing my lunch and coffee to work?

144 replies

Skaife · 14/08/2019 22:55

Just wondering how other people feed themselves at work?

I eat breakfast at home but have a stash of porridge pots to take with an apple, if I’m running late. I also make my own coffee and take it in a flask cup.

I take either leftovers or make a salad/sandwich at home, to take in for lunch. Always nice food. The girl that sits next to me said this is tight! She spends just under £10 a day on breakfast lunch and coffee, as she buys breakfast and coffee at Costa then gets a chain sandwich at lunch - I think this is nuts.

What do other people do? Am I tight?

OP posts:
PickAChew · 15/08/2019 00:15

More fool her. Costa coffee isn't even nice.

FrederickCreeding · 15/08/2019 00:22

I agree with everyone else. Each to their own, but I think you're sensible. And also she doesn't appear to know the meaning of the word tight. To me, being tight affects someone else (never buying your round in the pub or never leaving a tip, or nursing one cup of coffee for hours in a busy coffee shop whilst using the free wifi etc).

Taking your own lunch has no effect on anyone else, so why should they care?

RubbingHimSourly · 15/08/2019 00:25

2 grand a year on shit coffee and food??

She's a fool.

LemonPrism · 15/08/2019 00:30

I do the same - Ican't afford to pay every day when I could just make it myself.

£10 a day is £3.5k... I'd rather have a luxury holiday tbh. She sounds unworldly and wasteful.

LatteLove · 15/08/2019 00:38

I generally buy stuff like rolls and fillings and keep them at work and I have a nice coffee machine and a contigo mug, but if I’m disorganised I will end up buying a coffee and a sandwich. I definitely wouldn’t be spending £10 a day on a Costa, that’s nuts!

Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 15/08/2019 00:43

Definitely not tight . Sensible. It's such an easy area to make a saving. I bet she would be horrified if she realised how much she was spending on lunch over a year.

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/08/2019 00:43

Packaged sandwiches and salads give me the gags, definitely make my own. Plus I have a small flask that holds 2 cups of coffee.

Bookworm4 · 15/08/2019 00:52

Point out she’s spending £2500 per year on crappy lunches plus all that packaging waste.
I’ll guess she lives at home? No kids?

museumsandgalleries666 · 15/08/2019 00:54

You're not tight. Just because someone says something stupid you don't have to believe them

1300cakes · 15/08/2019 01:00

Each to their own, but I don't think it's tight. Yes it's cheaper, it also can be healthier and nicer. It's also more environmentally friendly - less packaging.

Gingerkittykat · 15/08/2019 01:33

I often buy a supermarket meal deal for £3 for the evenings where there is no other food available.

I otherwise make my own meals and snacks, I'm not wasting £1 on crisps from a vending machine!

abitoflight · 15/08/2019 02:01

She said you were tight???
More fool her
Has she got a mortgage? She could overpay by £150 a month if she got her own snacks lunch etc
I take my own lunch and I have no need to save. I just don't like wasting money 🤷🏼‍♀️

managedmis · 15/08/2019 02:33

I try to take lunch at least three days per week. I reckon I save £15 per week doing this, a bought lunch is around £5.

I always buy myself a coffee every day, that's my ' treat'.

Mummaofmytribe · 15/08/2019 02:39

I think you're very sensible!

littleorangecat22 · 15/08/2019 02:41

I take my own coffee and lunch. I wouldn't buy lunch at work unless it was a thing where everyone was going for lunch together. It's hardly 'tight', it only affects you and you don't want to spend your money on expensive lunches. 'Tight' would be insisiting someone else didn't, but you don't, so keep doing your thing and ignore her.

plantwhisperer · 15/08/2019 02:41

I always take a packed lunch, can't afford otherwise! It's much healthier too I find and I always have something I actually like to eat rather than settling if somewhere doesn't have something I want.

I occasionally buy a coffee out but not as often as I'd like too.

user1471439310 · 15/08/2019 02:44

She is a fool. Bring your lunch and save for a holiday, car or home.

BogglesGoggles · 15/08/2019 02:46

No. I hate those meal deal things. I can feel myself getting fat just looking at those sandwiches. I also take my own coffee in my keep cup to drink on the train. Coffee options aren’t great where I am and I’d rather not leave five minutes earlier to be able to get coffee on the way.

MrsFezziwig · 15/08/2019 02:55

I took my own lunch in for years, canteen prices were ludicrous.
I occasionally have a coffee from Costa or the like, but every time I do I always think “how did coffee get to be the best part of 3 quid?” (I am old)

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 15/08/2019 07:01

I take my own lunch to work. I just bought myself a Lego Disney castle. £300 but my colleagues easily spend that on a month and a half of sandwiches so I don't feel guilty.

BluebellsareBlue55 · 15/08/2019 08:08

You are very sensible and wish I could be like you.

My one a day latte habit runs at about £60 a month

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/08/2019 08:08

I used to work somewhere where breakfast and lunch were free, only then would i not take my own lunch.

It's frittering money that keeps you poor (not genuinely poor).

KatherineJaneway · 15/08/2019 08:11

Not tight at all. I take tea and coffee supplies in as well as my lunch most days.

Is she one of those who moans about having no money while buying both her breakfast and lunch in Pret every day?

NoLeopard · 15/08/2019 08:28

Tight is such a horrible thing to say! I bring my own lunch because I prefer it. Reheated leftovers, fajitas, lasagne, roast dinner - yum! Sandwiches, salads or cereals on other days. Nothing to do with money at all. Hope she didn't make you feel bad

CornishMaid1 · 15/08/2019 08:50

I always bring in breakfast from home and when I was drinking coffee I brought it from home (don't really drink it now but I have a great coffee machine at home compared to the horrid instant at work).

I try to always bring in lunch as well, but if I am really unorganised or have run out of options at home I may pop out and buy something for lunch.

I really couldn't do it every day as I couldn't bear to spend the money. One of the people I work with is the same as your colleague - buys breakfast, coffee and lunch every day so does probably spend about £10 a day. The difference is she will say a week or so before payday that she is running out of money, but doesn't see that bringing her own would make her the best part of £200 better off a month.