I’m not really frugal, I just don’t like to part with large amounts of money. For this reason, I suspect I won’t become much of a traveller1, as I’m more interested in hoarding my money, or spending it on something tangible. Even so, I’m not as materialistic as many people, and avoid spending where I don’t have to. Mainly because I’m constantly thinking “Oh, it took me forty-five minutes/three hours/one week to earn that much money; it’s not worth it!”
However, there’s one thing I spend too much money on: lunch. I’m not going to put a cap on spending whilst out with friends, but buying lunch solo at uni becomes far too expensive. I’ve resolved to limit my spending on food, opting to take it with me to university instead. What with this resolution and my “can’t-be-bothered”-ness re: actually making lunch, I went pretty hungry yesterday. Over seven hours, I had a combination of lectures, tutorials, and work at my on-campus job, armed with only a bread roll to satisfy my appetite. Now, I’m someone who has a large appetite. I’m in constant need of fuel. Essentially, I want to have my cake and eat it too (both literally and figuratively, of course), as I want to have lunch, but don’t want to make lunch.
Anyway, this week’s lunch budget was spent (very wisely) on a vanilla thickshake. I just can’t resist! One of the benefits of donating blood, is that I can get a free large milkshake afterwards. To be honest, that’s secretly the main reason I continue going. The nurses once inspected my veins to see if I was eligible to donate plasma (which can be donated every two weeks, as opposed to three months for blood), but alas my veins are to small. Woe is I, I have to pay for milkshakes.
That last bit was random and off-topic, but hey, I’m passionate.
The first time I donated blood, I got a large slice of chocolate brownie cake for free with the most delicious icing ever
I’ve started budgeting how much money I spend on food, too. My options are very limited as I live in dorm housing at my school, but I think if I keep track of where my money goes, I’ll be able to make better decisions about how much I should spend for each meal.
Lunctime food is over priced but I am the same way about making my own and bringing it somewhere. Such a hassle!
Mainly because I’m constantly thinking “Oh, it took me forty-five minutes/three hours/one week to earn that much money; it’s not worth it!”
I’m like this too! I want to get a new iPod, since I lost mine and I actually depend on it a lot, but I just can’t part with the money. I want to have $1000 leftover, which means that I’ll need about $1400 total – and it takes me a month to make $400!
I buy my lunch every day, and it’s ridiculous. I love food too much to limit myself, so if I buy lunch, it ends up being expensive. I want to stop, but there’s nothing particularly good that I can make myself… so it’s just an endless cycle.
I think we’re money-spending twins! My biggest problem is spending money on lunch. I’ve been trying really hard to bring a lot of food from home to school, but it’s difficult because I have a huge appetite and I’m hungry all the time.
I was just telling a friend that I want to donate blood now that I’m old enough… because of the free cookie
Oh crazy, I just resolved this week to eat out less with friends and not to be afraid of spending to get food for lunch. For occasions with friends I often treat myself to random smoothies and all the expensive desserts the place has to offer so we can sit around and chat, setting me back a couple of “hours” at work, lol.
But I think the key to not being hungry all the time is to munch on (somewhat) healthy snacks during the day, like a bag of cereal and some fruit. It doesn’t take much to prepare! All you need are small ziploc bags or containers you can throw in your backpack.
With eating alone, since I already have my drink/dessert from home, I narrow it down to the essential meal and usually don’t go over $5.
Hahaha I can relate to the buying lunch thing, too. In my case, also buying coffee. On Wednesday afternoon, I feel like my brain will explode without a $4.70 large coffee. Lunch itself is only between $3 and $4 if I buy from the student-run vegetarian restaurant, but everyone in the entire university has clued on to the affordability of this and there are massive queues. Next cheapest is sushi, at $4.80 for two longish sticks.
I’m also one of those who semi-reluctantly parts with large sums of money. Basically, this article could describe me, if you replaced “milkshake” with “coffee” and “donating blood” with “any boring activity in which coffee is involved”.
I also take my lunch to work. Some people were making jokes about it at first, but it stopped after a while. They can laugh all they want. At least I’m not spending 2€ – 4€ on a sandwich each lunch.
I always pack a lunch for school, but I think I’m going to have to budget myself for food next year at university. I eat a lot as well, which doesn’t help with the whole saving-money thing.
Wow, I wish they offered us free shakes if we donated blood! I’ve always wanted to try donating blood, but I always happened to be sick when they set them up at school.
As for lunches… throughout college my mum made us the most amaaazing lunches. Virtually daily. She’s still making my younger sister lunch, but since I’m having to ferry into town for university (yes, yes, a first year, as of this month), I’m always the first person awake and am usually running late so run out of time to make lunch… which results in me getting tempted by all the expensive, unhealthy array of foods that seems to grow in tasty aroma the hungrier i get! Let me know if/when you come up with an effective way to combat this… monetary hazard of sorts. Pleeease.
[...] Today, in particular, was a mess. Uni from 8am-4pm1; work from 5.30-10.15pm. Further, with my resolution to stop spending so much on lunch, I got very hungry, which seems to make my face fairly pale by the end of the day. That, of course, [...]