Is it financially worth making packed lunches instead of school dinners?

[mamhaf]

DDs (15 and 12) have £10 each a week for packed lunches...around £80 a month for us.

We're thinking of saving money by all having packed lunches instead...do you reckon it's worth it? (Dh and I already tend to do this).

And if so, any ideas for lowish cost packed lunches for four people?

tia

Are they big eaters? If so, then it might be cheaper for them to eat their largest meal at school.

Yes, saves a bomb.
Hate making lunches though. Its a real fag.
Boo.

DS2 has a packed lunch, and always has:

sandwich (ham/cheese or turkey)
packet of crisps
carton of fruit juice
apple
chocolate biscuit

I don't actually know how much it costs, but the most expensive items are probably the sandwich filling, especially because I buy nice ham - although I have also realised that I buy more than he uses, so will cut down there.

The second most expensive thing must be the carton of fruit juice, because I buy organic juice. I may stop doing this soon, though.

As far as the other things are concerned, I buy Sainsbury's basics:

Basic white sliced loaf - 37p
Basic savour snacks - 49p for 12 individual bags
Basic chocolate covered digestive bars - £1.11 for 20

Oh, and since he went to secondary school he has been making his own packed lunch.

The other thing I do, which is a useful economy tip, is to give him any leftovers from our dinner the night before in a thermos flask - left over pasta, stir fry, fried rice, etc. This is in place of the sandwich.

I made my own packed lunch when I was that age. 12 is well old enough to manage that.

They're not huge eaters and usually end up buying themselves a sandwich in school anyway.

I suspect (well, know) that dd2 also gets off the school bus and buys rubbish in the local Tesco Express - I'd rather keep healthy snacks at home for her to control that.

We always have a proper cooked meal together in the evening - this is all part of a bigger economy drive to cut down the amount we're spending on food, especially Tesco, but still eating nutritionally.

Oh, and we're going to take it in turns to make the packed lunches the night before...I agree 12 is easily old enough...in fact dd2 is a handy little cook and will often come in and do something like put a chicken in the over to roast.

if you're already having a big tea, then yes, you can save money by having htem pack their own lunch.