Fast food breakfast and lunch Could be Costing You $4,500 A YEAR ~ IMAGINE THAT!
@cookiecrumbles (629)
United States
July 10, 2009 4:53pm CST
The same morning I wrote the article about the pants I made another observation. Since I am in a wheelchair and don't have a car; I either the bus or medical transportation. When I have the money I take the medical transportation. That cost me $5.00 round trip. But the city bus only cost me a seventy five cent transfer, that last me 4 hours. So, on nice days it's the city bus and a savings of four dollars and twenty-five cents. You have to be a tight-wad these days. That is why I am writing this discussion.
The bus stop is right on the corner. It is sitting in front of a very busy gas station ~ convenient store. Inside they sell the most fantastic homemade food. They have it all. From biscuits and gravy to fried chicken is served piping hot. They have chicken liver and gizzards and muffins with bacon, egg and cheese like that place with the clown. But the cheese they use is sharp cheddar cheese and taste so sinfully good.
So while I am sitting there at 6:30 am I am watching all kinds of cars and work trucks pull in and out. The majority are getting gas. But 8 out of 10 are walking out with a drink and some form of food.
Now since I live 3 blocks away I know the food cost between one dollar to three dollars. Now I am sure that most of these men have wives or girl friends. And maybe some of those women offered to make these guys something to eat before the left for work.
Now I am betting the the typical answer the men gave was something along the line like this: "Sweetheart, I just don't have time to mess with that. I'll be late for work." But yet here they are at the gas station spending up to 20 minutes with the gas. They spend time talking inside eating and talking and smoking then leave.
So these in a hurry men have spent about four dollars on breakfast with coffee. They will also have to buy lunch and that will cost about five dollars or so. Now if you multiply that buy a girlfriend it will cost the two of you for a month about three hundred dollars eighty seven dollars a week. In one years time comes to $,644 for the year. That is on only 5 days a week. Most men are working 6 to 7 days.
If a couple is living in an apartment and making this expence. It would be worth their while to make food the night before for the next day. Bring to work that way. Pack lunches and sandwiches.
By making a effort and saving the breakfast and lunch money they could be on their way to having a down payment for a car or a real home.
See most people have never looked at these kinds of options. Or they don't know how to budget. If you don't know how to work your bills I can show you how to budget. PM me and we can work something out. Good luck :)
3 people like this
11 responses
@celticeagle (169873)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jul 09
Oh yes, what you say makes so much sense and would save us alot. I think we have become lazy and it is just EASIER to stop and get fast food than to think ahead and do the extra it takes to save. It all makes alot of sense but again, it so much easier and tastes so good. I am good at budgeting, I know what i need to do. But........?!?!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (169873)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jul 09
Bad habits and yes laziness as well.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Jul 09
WE do fastfood some weekends and for our family it costs from 25 to 50 dollars one time depends on where we go and sometimes there is enough left over for another meal.
We couldnt afford this every day for sure.
but I get tired of cooking the same old thing and know its cheaper to make at home.
1 person likes this
@cookiecrumbles (629)
• United States
11 Jul 09
Do you know that if you spend $35 dollars a week for 52 weeks(a full year) that is $1,820 a year you are spending.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
11 Jul 09
I figure up our money and bills daily. I have myself a budget worked out also. I pay my bills and do not spend more than we have to for anything. Going out to eat like that will cost you an arm and a leg. I know alot of people who do it and say they have no money. No wander.
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
12 Jul 09
Yes, I know it's money, but I still eat out most time at lunch. No, I only work five days not six or seven. I wouldn't like working more days. I always eat breakfast at home, and I usually only eat lunch at home. :). I know some people who don't even eat lunch, that's not good, right? Well talk to you later.
Pablo
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
12 Jul 09
OOPS!
Sorry, I meant to say "I usually on eat lunch outside of work" :D
Pablo
1 person likes this
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
23 Jul 09
yes, you are right that is why i buy lunchmeat and snacks for my husband to take to his job. the lunchmeat cost between $1.50 and 2.28 depending if there is a sale and it last all week. the loaf of bread is $1.38 and will last for about a week depending on whether i have a sandwich for lunch. it is alot cheaper than him buying lunch at a fast food restuarant. the snacks are $1.00 a box six donut sticks in eat. now a days we do need to budget what we eat.
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3335)
• United States
11 Jul 09
I live on a tight budget and I've OFTEN wondered how people I work with can afford to eat out for lunch every day, sometimes breakfast too. I have to pack my lunch. I save time by doing it the night before.
@cookiecrumbles (629)
• United States
11 Jul 09
I have to amend a sentence up there. T yearly out put is not 644 I meant to write $4,644 dollars. Sorry. I have not been sleeping very good. They spend 387 dollars a month which could be your entire mortgage payment if you got the right house.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
23 Jul 09
I bring my own 95% of the time, I see the average lunch is between 8 and $12. I eat healthier and cheaper. I don't make a lot of money and don't understand how these people can afford to eat like that. It is not once in a while, it is every day.
You are right.
One lady who works 2 jobs..buys a sandwich, several cups of coffee and chips and other trash every day. The sandwich is at least 6 or 7. She says she does not have time to shop. Yet goes to the deli every single day.
1 person likes this
@ShirleyBillingsley (1544)
• United States
11 Jul 09
Very good, and sensible discussion. You are right, eating out, costs a fortune, and it is not all that healthy for you either.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 Aug 09
Ok, I actually took time to figure this out on paper. Here's what I got: I can go to McD's and get a sausage-egg bagel, a hashbrown and a coffee off the dollar menu for $3.00. OR I can go to the store and buy eggs, bagels, sausage, hashbrowns and coffee for under $20.00. Now, the thing is I can make between 10-12 breckfast meals at home for that $20.00 where it would cost me between $30-36.00 for the same 10-12 meals at McD's. Sure it's a little extra time to go to the store and buy it and to make it but I also know that it's fresh ingredients, it's made just the way I want it, I'm saving money on gas not having to drive to McD's and there's no spit or hair in my food.
I think if ppl took the time to look at how much money they waste on fast food and convenience food, it would shock them. Ppl have gotten to used to having everyone do everything for them that they see it as they'd rather waste their money then do something for themselves.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
12 Jul 09
Hi cookiecrumbles, I used to take my lunch to work when I lived in England and worked in the city and it certainly saved a lot of money. Luckily we had free coffee provided there from a decent coffee machine as well. I agree with you that it is always a good idea to multiply the cost of what you are buying by the annual amount, it really makes you think. I had no choice but to have train fares paid from my salary but if I added extras like buying food out I would have had to work a certain number of hours just to get to work and eat.
By the way, why on earth has your star gone from your name?