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Bringing Lunch to Work Does Not Have to Be Boring!

One of the simplest ways to save money is to bring your own lunch to work everyday. It is easy to make excuses, “I don’t have time to pack a lunch,” “I get sick of sandwiches,” “I hate leftovers.” Enough already! There are a ton of lunch foods outside of sandwiches that are just as easy to bring to work. There are also many ways to kick your standard sandwich up a notch. Many foods even taste better the next day and are especially easy for cooking newbs!

Chili, Soups & Stews

These meals do not take long to put together. The most time consuming aspect is letting them simmer for 30-60 minutes but you can just watch TV or do pilates while you are waiting.

Chili is nothing other than tomatoes, meat, beans and spices! Put it all in a pot and walk away. Leave it in the fridge and bring it to work the next day. It’ll smell great and taste even better!

Chicken noodle soup is just as easy! I’ve already posted my favorite super-easy chicken noodle soup recipe. It’s simply chicken broth, chicken and veggies. Again, just boil, simmer then eat. Soup reheats perfectly and the flavors usually blend together to taste even better when reheated.

Similarly, beef stew is just beef bouillon, beef, water and veggies. You can season it to your preference. This will be a super easy dinner and an even yummier lunch.

Chili, soups and stews work so well when reheated because it completely eliminates the “soggy food” complaint. It is also very filling and not too messy to eat for lunch. In fact, you probably already purchase soup or chili for lunch at that overpriced cafe down the street!
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Weekend: Thanksgiving Break

Every weekend, I will detail my activities and expenses to provide an example of how to implement a frugal mindset while still having a fun and active life.

Since this was a long weekend, I’ll start by detailing Wednesday night (the 25th) through Sunday (the 29th).

Wednesday

I left work around 3p then went home, snacked on some vegetables and spent the rest of the afternoon beating Ratchet and Clank!

I made a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner then met up with a friend at a local bar to chat and listen to a cover band. She bought a round of shots and I bought myself a White Russian ($6 including tip). I lounged around some more at home after the bar then fell asleep.

Wednesday Total Cost: $6 Continue reading »

Weekend: November 13-15, 2009

Every weekend, I will detail my activities and expenses to provide an example of how to implement a frugal mindset while still having a fun and active life.

Friday

On Friday night I made myself a quick pasta meal using the marinara I made earlier in the week. I had it three times last week so I just froze the rest for later in the month. My friend let me borrow his PlayStation3 for a week so he can write a paper without distractions. So, Friday night around 7p, I made the mistake of starting the game Uncharted 2…. and that was my entire Friday night.

Friday Total Cost: $0 Continue reading »

Weekend: October 16-18, 2009

Every weekend, I will detail my activities and expenses to provide an example of how to implement a frugal mindset while still having a fun and active life.

Friday

After work, my boyfriend came over with two free student tickets to the Rutgers Vs. Pittsburgh game at 8p.
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Weekend: October 9-11, 2009

Every weekend, I will detail my activities and expenses to provide an example of how to implement a frugal mindset while still having a fun and active life.

Friday

After work, I met up with a friend at the Skylark Diner. This is a wonderful restaurant that has delicious food and a cool ambiance. I ordered a turkey/avocado wrap. The food was just-okay but the conversation was wonderful. In hindsight, I wish we went to a cheaper place but I still consider the $11 (after tip) to be well spent. Continue reading »