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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:
rookiemere · 15/08/2019 20:49

I used to happily spend my money on coffees lunches and even breakfast Blush, can't quite believe I did that and it's not as if I was loaded.

Now I bring my coffee in a flask ( changed since they introduced plastic cups that make the coffee smell ) and try to bring in lunch a couple of times a week. If I do buy lunch it's generally soup and small salad from the canteen £2.15 or a subway salad of the day. Once every couple of weeks I meet a friend for lunch and I don't begrudge the cost of that as it's social and generally something nice.

mommydragon · 15/08/2019 21:17

No you are not tight... I do what you do, and the money saved is then put towards a family day out or takeaway or a nice meal out. So the 4 of us enjoy, rather than just me.

woodhill · 15/08/2019 21:20

No I never buy lunch and make tea their bringing milk and teabags.

£10 a day soon adds up and I'd rather spend it on other things.

woodhill · 15/08/2019 21:23

Plus if I'm busy and hungry my lunch is there in the office

Binforky · 15/08/2019 21:24

I take in my own sometimes that is only an apple and a packet of crisps. I only get a 20min lunch break so no chance of going out for food and having time to eat it.

3boysandabump · 15/08/2019 21:28

Everyone where I work takes lunch with them.

If she wants to waste her money that's up to her but she should keep her tight opinions to herself.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 15/08/2019 21:36

Not tight at all. I have better things to spend my money on!

Riverviews · 15/08/2019 22:39

I commute by train and tube do I have to be careful about how much stuff I carry.

I take left overs or food that I've cooked specially for lunches, but things like nuts, avocadoes, tomatoes etc, I buy in the supermarket near work. It's a Waitrose so more expensive than my local Aldi, but I have to find a balance between saving and carrying too many bags.

I never buy coffee as the coffee machines at work make better coffee than any Costa. We have posh machines 🙂

FromRussiaWithGloves · 17/08/2019 01:37

You're not tight. I bring lunch in to work whenever I can, home food is so much nicer. And where I work the food is subsidised (e.g. £4.40 for a 'proper' meal like lamb skewers, couscous and roast veg).

Your colleague may be operating subconsciously on the idea of the conspicuous consumption of food as an indicator of status.

FromRussiaWithGloves · 17/08/2019 01:42

Too bad the article is paywalled, would be an interesting read.

"The results of this study provide empirical evidence that the basic motivational drivers of Korean Gen Y consumers’ premium coffee consumption in cafés are similar to dimensions of luxury value such as materialism, conformity, conspicuous tendencies, and functional dimensions."

journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1096348014525633

AdoraBell · 17/08/2019 21:06

Not tight at all. Some people have no idea.

Iwantacookie · 17/08/2019 21:20

I remember working in a shop where they would spend £8ish on lunch (which was more than they were earning nmw) and tell me I was weird bringing lunch in when there was so much choice here.
I always replied I wanted more than a meal deal for a hour of work.

Original poster
Skaife · 17/08/2019 21:28

@FromRussiaWithGloves

That’s really interesting, thank you.

OP posts:
ThighThighOfthigh · 18/08/2019 00:13

There's been a huge change in on the move consumption since perhaps mid 90s. I first noticed it with water, people walking around everywhere with a bottle of evian. Now coffee.

When i was growing up in the 70s/80s people only drank tap water and survived until they got to the next domestic tap. My Dad always took sandwiches and a flask of tea, i don't think it was possible to buy a packaged sandwich or salad.

MiniMum97 · 18/08/2019 00:25

It's not "tight" it's frugal and sensible. If you work full time £10 a day is £200 odd a month! That could be spent on much better things. My DH commutes a v long way so he buys his lunch and coffee but has a £25 pw budget. I make my breakfast, lunch and coffee and take it to work. I usually take in a second coffee to heat up too! Saves loads of money! You are not tight. Your colleague is a spendthrift!

Equimum · 18/08/2019 06:38

I’m currently a SAHP but DH does a long commute and earns a good salary. We invested in a couple of good quality, non-leak lunch boxes and a similar coffee cup. He now takes his lunch and a coffee with him, and keeps a large stash of snacks etc, bout at the supermarket near work, in his drawer. When he is very late leaving the office, he will usually buy a Boots meal deal.

NoMrsLevinson · 18/08/2019 09:31

Frankly, if you're a decent cook and have access to a fridge at work, your leftovers are usually nicer than most of the premade sandwiches people tend to grab for lunch. It's not even just the money, although that adds up. It's the quality.

DH and I made a decision to be strict about this a few years ago because we realised otherwise you often end up spending loads on mediocre food that isn't even that nice! Then with the money saved you can do an actual nice work lunch out sometimes, a planned thing rather than a hangry run to Tesco to get whatever is left. I know Costa is a bit nicer than your Boots meal deals etc, but hardly amazing.

proseccoaficionado · 18/08/2019 09:38

I think it's great on so many levels, definitely not tight! It's cheaper, healthier, more environmental friendly (rather than buying plastic!!)

Lunches can get to an extortionate amount yearly. Well done, OP. Definitely not tight

Defender90 · 26/09/2019 01:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

autumnleaves99 · 27/09/2019 18:46

No way I'd be spending £10 a day on food to eat at work! I take leftovers or make a sandwich. On the odd occasion there's not much in the fridge or I just can't be bothered, then I usually get a £3 Tesco meal deal.

MittsMajuna · 27/09/2019 18:55

YABU if your porridge pots are the single use plastic pots with porridge in that cost £1 each, that you add hot water to?

If you put your own porridge from a box in a pot and add milk in the microwave then YANBU!

Mackerz · 29/09/2019 13:24

@MittsMajuna

The question was a financial one, not an environmental one.

BlueLines · 29/09/2019 14:27

Mackerz

And that is exactly why I asked the question.

5 pots a week is around £230 a year (give or take 6 weeks A/L)

A big bag or box of porridge that you portion out will go a lot further for your money.

Groovee · 29/09/2019 14:31

I eat breakfast at home.

Lunch is leftovers or something I specifically make.

I buy my own teabags for when I fancy tea but I tend to drink water.

Redwinestillfine · 29/09/2019 14:32

Tight to me indicates not putting much in the charity box (whilst simultaneously spending ££ on crap). You are being normal. She is being rude and judgy.