Lunch Log Challenge 2008

A question about : Lunch Log Challenge 2008

I'm sure I'm not the only one who fritters away money on buying lunch during the working week - which can add up to a serious amount, especially when something else catches my eye... magazines... smoothies... etc, etc!

So, would anyone like to join me in a new challenge for 2008?

The Lunch Log challenge will involve logging how much, if anything, we spend each day on our lunch. Each Friday (or daily?!), we can compare totals to keep us motivated.

Ideas for cheap, tasty lunches to make at home would also be a great addition to this post!

For my first day on the challenge, my lunch spend is ZERO! I resisted temptation and had toast. The £5 in my purse is still intact!

Lunch Log Challengers

Cassie123 #1
Linniestorm #2
Finding my own way #3
HBFS #4
Lucy1982 #5
Hypno06 #6
Lindsaygalaxy #7
jm28cardiff #8
Minimoneysaver #9
spud30 #10
Skint Monkey #11
babes12 #12
redsquirrel80 # 13
Little Pickle #14
MissKJ #15
Miss Eyre #16
Millionaire in training #17
maxjessdru #18
rachelmk #19
emzig123 #20
fletch3163 #21
wannabe_a_mum #22
girlfrommars1980 #23
NumptyMonkey #24
Zeddy #25
Tustastic #26
Emmylou #27
Tete en l'Air #28
Frugal Freda #29
gladysrocker #30
Beckyneedstosavecash #31
Charaxes #32
pollyanna24 - #33
Betty Boop - #34
prophecy_grrl - #35
jlynncsf - #36
betti911 - #37
lemonpie-86 #38
Chrissie55 - #39
Jadeylee - #40
Skintmummy - #41
gems2381 - #42
deq123 - #43
headoutthesand -#44
MadCad -#45
Scorpio04 -#46
taka -#47
SPL -#48
maz3374 -#49
ihatedebt -#50
heavenleigh -#51
wannabefree - #52
reventon -#53
london_saver - #54
kmfry - #55
Needcash - #56
Discount Diva - #57
1canshortofasixpack - #58
SarahNeedle1872 - #59
superpup- - #60
Shelley84 - #61
Looby Lou - #62
Bubblebrain83 - #63
Pengwern16 - #64
mark88man - #65
Jo1972 - #66

Best answers:

• I'm in Cassie, this is where the majority of my disposable income goes I think. I keep Tesco going, if only I was a shareholder!! Clubcard points are the least they owe me! I'm off all this week so I'll do particularly well, as I intend to make it a no spend week, except Thursday when I'm going to a play centre with a friend and her kids, so might treat myself to beans on toast and a coke (well you've got to live haven't you!!). Zero on lunch today, as I'm having beans on toast and a feta cheese and ham sandwich made from last night's leftovers. Yum!!! Feta is my new obsession!
  Edit: Perhaps it'll work better if I just edit this thread this week, are you going to start a new thread each week or just keep posting on this thread?
  Wednesday 2nd - Zero
  Thursday 3rd - £1.85 (was £2.85 but found a pound on the floor so knocking it off my lunch!)
  Friday 4th - Zero!
• Cracking idea for a challenge!! I REALLY need to stop buying breakfast and lunch at work.
  Weds 2nd - Ј2.50
  Thurs 3rd -
  Fri 4th -
• Today: £2.60
  I can't stay away from a crab flake, onion and Chinese chicken baguette
• Hi All,
  Thanks for the responses!
  Linniestorm - will probably just update this thread while we get started at least, so maybe best to update our posts daily. I'll make this mine!
  Lunch Spend:
  Jan 2nd: £0!
  Jan 3rd: £4.40 - oops!! Grapes, crumpets, vie shots, butter and crisps - will do me for tomorrow but still naughty!!
  Jan 4th: £0! - phew!
  Jan 7th: £0! Homemade soup - red pepper and sweet potato. Gorgeous!
  Jan 8th: £0 - going well! More soup and fruit!
  Jan 9th: 4.05. Ooops!! Still got a lot for my money and will defo last me until end of week.
  Jan 10th: £0
  Jan 11th: £0 - going to be good today and stick with parnsip soup and grapes.
  Jan 14th: £0 - Homemade soup pulled out of the freezer last night.
  Jan 15th: £0 - soup... again!
  Jan 16th: 89p - mini eggs. I don't even feel guilty; I needed them!!
  Jan 17th: £1.26 - mini eggs and crisps. I know, I know... silly girl!!
  Jan 18th: £0 - Yay - back on track and lowest weekly spend so far this year! (on lunch at least!)
  Jan 21st: £0 - back to the soup and feeling strongish!
  Jan 22nd: £6.35
  Jan 23rd: £0
  Jan 24th: £0
  Jan 25th: £0
  Jan 28th: £0
  Jan 29th: £12.95
  Jan 30th:£3.17
  Jan 31st: £0
  Feb 1st: £0
  Feb 4th: £0
  Feb 5th: £4.87
  Feb 6th: £5.61
  Feb 7th: £3.72
• Fab Idea! This can be my big downfall. So:
  Jan 2nd - Ј2.85
  Jan 3rd -
  Jan 4th -
• I'm in from Monday - I start a new job then and they have a very reasonably priced staff canteen that I need need need to stay away from. Tuesday is the only day I can justify a cooked lunch at work as I go straight from work to college without time to eat in between.
  I will be reporting in on Monday after work!!
• Hello
  Im in
  This is what I am also doing for the XYZ challenge for Jan too.
  this is my first day back, so 1st - Ј0. I had yummy beans with sausages, and guylian chocs given to me for xmas. Yum.I always find the afternoon snacking the hardest, so will just have to keep eating the chocs
• I spent about Ј1,900 on food last year just for me, and a big majority of that was on food bought during work. I've worked out that to make my own lunch each day would cost me about Ј1 a day (for a ham cheese and pickle wrap and a banana) so this is my aim for the year.
• I'm in too! This is the first time I've been on MSE at the beginning of the year so looking forward to taking part in a few challenges!
  This was my new years resolution as I started to get really naughty with buying lunches most days!
  It's my 1st day back at work today so will start now!
  Jan 2 - £0 (used my boots advantage points - can I get away with this???)
  Jan 3 - £0.60 - I HAD to have a can of fizzy pop! Brought in Vegetable rice and a banana
  Jan 4 -£3.88 - whoops - little food in house so bought some squash, yoghurt and crisps - brought in a tin of soup and a banana! 13.20pm - rats went for a wander and ended buying a sarnier and a lemon meringue dessert d'oh!Thats another 2.44 on the total (would have been 3.44 but had a voucher!)
  Onwards and upwards - next week I am going for a no spend all week!
• At last, a challenge I could succeed at - I'm very lucky to get a free lunch at work every day
• I'm in too - this is one of my spending demons, so will begin tomorrow - slipped up today and spent Ј3.03 - am going to buy some bread and spread and keep it in the office so if I don't manage to bring in lunch I have a very cheap alternative waiting for me, rather than the shop!
• Great thread.
  Not back at work until tomorrow, so shall update then x
• I think this one is a downfall for a lot of people - all those little bits that add up! I've been trying really hard over the last few months to bring in all my food but I still get lazy - maybe reporting in will shame me into making more of an effort!
  First day back today...
  Jan 2nd - £2.11
  Jan 3rd - £0.10
  Jan 4th - £0.10
  -----------------
  Total - £2.31
• I'm in!!!
  Jan 2nd - £1.05
  Jan 3rd - £1.00
  Jan 4th -
• I'm in! I bet we all lose weight too. My DH made home made soup yesterday using left overs. first time he has ever made it, I was quite worried about trying it, but it was gorgeous and was definitely a portion of veg at least. Even the kids and their friends ate it (it was a big pa).I made home bread to go with it. I will definitely be encouraging him back into the kitchen!
  I listed all the items in my cupboard/ fridge and freezer yesterday, and was surprised how much stuff we have. It certainly gives you ideas for home cooking. Why have sarnies when you can have pasta or rice salad, or home made soup. Lets make every one jealous in the workplace, save cash, and lose pounds!!!
  Spends for coming week - Zero.
• What a great idea! Count me in - back at work next Monday, so will update my post from then x
• Count me in too. I was horrified last year at the amount I spend on lunches between myself and 2 kids. Going to try and be mega organised and take packed lunches every day and also give kiddie sthem too. I think they prefer them to be honest. I can easily spend Ј50 per week on this and it stops now. x
• I'm in as well! Since I'm now working part-time I really need to cut down on daily spending on "bits" - problem is I am on the same floor as the canteen so seem to be doing breakfast, lunch and snacks! Not a good start today, porridge, coffee, JP with tuna and sweetcorn. Will try to do better tomorrow.
  2 Jan - £3.05
  3 Jan - £2.05 - still had porridge and coffee but brought in filling for JP so slightly cheaper!
  4 Jan - £2.09 - someone annoyed me so I bought cake!
  total week one - £7.19 - MUST TRY HARDER!
• I'll have a go at this too!
  I generally tend to take lunch to work as we don't have a canteen and I'm normally too lazy to walk/drive to the shops.
  My big downfall is Diet Coke out of the vending machine - at least 2 cans a day. I'm going to try to limit myself to 2 cans - £1 total - and keep to a spend of just £5 a week instead - any less in the first instance won't work as I'll rebel and go mad spending left right and centre!
  So ...
  2nd Jan - £1
  3rd Jan - £1 (diet coke again!)
  4th Jan -