Working stiffs, what is your meal budget, per day?

[compuwiz1]

I'm getting ready to pull my 12 hour shifts for the next two days. I must eat twice (lunch and dinner). I cannot leave for either.

So, for tomorrow, I have planned, a couple of Marie Callendar's frozen dinners, which cost me about $5 for two. I also have a bag of Dorito's, a couple Tootsie rolls, a Red Delicious Apple, an Asian Pear, and a couple cans of diet Pepsi, as well as 3 bottles of water. I guess, about $13 for the day, and with smokes, it will cost me about $20 to get through my 12 hour shift.

So, what does your daily work budget look like?

 

[S Freud]

When I was farming this summer I was on a tractor for 14hrs, couldn't leave(even if I could there was nowhere to go I was in the country).

I would take about 4 sandwiches, 3-4 hostess cakes, 2 lunch bags of chips, crackers and cheese, liter of gatorade, couple pieces of fruit and a gallon of water.


All in my lunch pale

 

[SeaSerpent]

Marie Callendar's is the gourmet of tv dinners.

 

[fs5]

$10 a day for lunch, usually spend less though.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: SeaSerpent
Marie Callendar's is the gourmet of tv dinners.

It's not too bad, if it does not become too repeticious. I will alternate between those, lien cuisine, and certain hot pockets. I suspect these are better for me, than most drive thru fast food. Once in a very great while, I can send a messenger for my fast food.

 

[Reckoner]

Mix in Stouffer's. They make awesome microwaveable foods.

 

[compuwiz1]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Mix in Stouffer's. They make awesome microwaveable foods.

Like their Lasagne!

 

[Slew Foot]

Free food at the cafeteria. Not great, but its free.

 

[Adn4n]

Buy some cup Ramen.

 

[Jeeebus]

dinner is free up to $25 if we work past 8pm (free in the sense that it's being billed to a client). lunch generally between $5 - $9.

 

[Exterous]

Usually about $30. I work 6 days a week and can put together 4 meals of lean cuisine (or the like ) with a banana and crackers for ~$4 a day and eat out 2 days a week for ~$6 each time (there are alot of places with lunch specials around here)

I work (2) 14 hour days a week as well (the joy of 2 jobs) and only eat one meal that day - lunch

 

[FoBoT]

i spend toooooo much
i buy a snack/soda that the gas station to eat in the car, $2-$4
i eat lunch, $6-$7
if i work late and eat dinner, then another $4-$8

snack and soda from the vending machines, $2-$5 per day

 

[KB]

Lean Cuisine, Pretzels, apple, and granola bar.. about $4 for lunch.. can of Chef Boyardee for dinner $1..free water cooler..
so all day = $5

occasianlly replace Lean Cuisine with cup of noodles $0.33

 

[tw1164]

I normally eat a PB&J sandwich, a cheese stick, pop tarts, and a tastycake. I think it costs me less then $2 a meal.

 

[Al Neri]

i budget $10 a day for lunch, and I eat frozen dinners (healthy choice/lean cuisine that I buy ~$1.50-2 each) I also bring in boxes of cereal that cost me approx $2 per week for breakfast... ill eat out 2x a week say averaging $40 twice (me and my gf)...

($2*5) + ($10x5) + $2 = $62 per week on work days.
($40*2) = eating out Fri and Sat nights
~$2 for breakfast sat and sunday (box of cereal) + milk
~$10 lunch on sat.

I go to my parents on sundays for dinner (which is at 2PM, italian)

so approximately $160 per week.

 

[amish]

milk $1
cereal $3
fruit $4
crackers $2

weekly total $10

 

[radioouman]

Rarely do I have to do dinner at work.
But for lunch, I'm in the $2-$3 area.
Two pieces of bread with lunchmeat and cheese
Chips or crackers of some kind
Apple
Two or three cookies
Water from home.

 

[sswingle]

Get cheaper frozen foods and drop the smokes.

 

[nageov3t]

'bout $10/day.

I work late afternoons, so I'm usually at work during both lunch and dinner (1 pm - 9 pm), so I consume a liquid breakfast on my way in to work (large coffee, sugar no milk from DD), skip lunch, and then spend $8-$9 on dinner.

 

[Descartes]

There's no way I'd eat frozen meals everyday, or any day for that matter. For me, part of lunch is getting out with friends and enjoying a decent restaurant; that means no fast food, ever.

I don't budget, but that's only because lunches are almost always around the same price. I'd say I spend on average ~$20/day on lunch and a few extras.

 

[JS80]

wow your lives are more depressing than mine. i try to enjoy my food

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: JS80
wow your lives are more depressing than mine. i try to enjoy my food

What's depressing about it? Do you really need gourmet cuisine every time you eat? I appreciate a good meal as much as anyone, but most days I'm perfectly happy chowing down a $3 sandwich and an apple.

 

[Baked]

Lunch: Chinese takeout + juice - $5

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: S Freud
When I was farming this summer I was on a tractor for 14hrs, couldn't leave(even if I could there was nowhere to go I was in the country).

I would take about 4 sandwiches, 3-4 hostess cakes, 2 lunch bags of chips, crackers and cheese, liter of gatorade, couple pieces of fruit and a gallon of water.


All in my lunch pale

Lunch pale? Must have been a light lunch, eh?


Ahah, ahah....hm.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Well My family of 4( 2 adults and 2 children) our weekly grocery bill is $60-$80. We will eat out at a resturaunt maybe once a month. My lunches I bring to work never cost more than $2.00 a day. I usually have Ramen or Campbells soup and a sandwich.