This is a question we need to seriously think about. It’s fun to eat out with co-workers, but can our budget handle it? Following the group could be part of the problem that is siphoning our hard earned money each payday.
Everybody wants to fit in, and it’s important to do so in an office work environment. Since eating lunch with co-workers only costs a few dollars and helps establish friendships, why not?
This attitude is very prevalent in our culture, where eating out together is considered a great way to bond. Dining with friends is a classic way of having a great time for most people.
A good budget always has a section for groceries. Eating out when there are plenty of groceries at home is an extra, unnecessary expense that doesn’t help you stick to your budget.
Ask co-workers to try bringing in their own lunch at least three times a week. Make a plan to eat in the break room together or outside at a picnic table for lunch. They will save money also.
The times that you do eat out, you more than likely frequent the same few restaurants. You can plan out grocery trips, buying the ingredients for your favorite dishes and preparing them at home instead. Most jobs have a toaster oven or a microwave available for use in the break room. That way you can savor the same delicious food at a much lower price.
You could set up a lunch club with a group of co-workers, too. If you tend to eat lunch together anyway, assign each person a day to prepare lunch for the whole group. That way each person only has to make one lunch every week and everyone gets to eat an exciting variety of meals.
Since such a lunch club arrangement will mean spending more on groceries, you’ll need to adjust your budget slightly. As other people at work notice all the benefits of your lunch club, more people will no doubt join in. The more the merrier, since it will make things easier on everyone else in the club. Lunches don’t have to be a big deal. Even simple and inexpensive dishes can be delicious.
All these plans don’t mean that you can never go out to eat. Make dining out part of your budget and pay with cash so that you won’t be able to spend too much. If you eat lunch out, don’t allow yourself to again for dinner. Balancing your expenses this way will help you develop great financial habits.
Lastly, if the group still wants to eat out more often that your budget allows, opt out. Tell them politely that you can’t go and brown bag it. They’ll still be your friendly co-workers, and you’ll have learned a valuable lesson about resisting the temptation to follow the crowd at the expense of your money.