When you’re having a busy day at work, popping out for lunch is a nice break from the to-do list. Whether you opt for a quick sandwich, street food or maybe a hot meal, it can be a good idea to get away from your desk and grab a bite to eat.
However, there’s a huge range of price points when it comes to lunch. And if you find yourself buying lunch out every day or even most days, you might be shocked to find out how much this adds up to over the course of a year.
The average spend
According to employment experts Reed.co.uk, the average UK worker spends around £15 a week on lunches while at work. Over 12 months, this adds up to an enormous £750 a year. Even spending just £5 a day adds up to way over £1,000 a year – enough for a holiday!
Shop around
It pays to consider what offers there are when you pop out for lunch. If you work in a city, there are often some great street food options, which are both good value and delicious!
Many high street shops offer meal deals, which often include a snack and a drink, making them a good value option. Bakeries do a roaring trade at lunchtimes – fresh sandwiches are one of the UK’s top-selling lunch choices.
A typical meal from a fast-food restaurant now costs around £6 to £7, and there is little in the way of nutrition involved!
Also, office lunch catering from a specialist provider such as https://www.crumbsdelivered.co.uk/shop/office-lunch-delivery/ can be a low-cost and super convenient way to eat lunch during the working day.
Eating a healthy lunch with protein, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit can make a big difference to your afternoon energy levels and give you better focus to crack on with your work. Remember the importance of drinking water not just at lunchtime but throughout the day – this keeps you hydrated and leaves you feeling fresh and energised.
Who buys lunch out and who brings it
Lunch habits vary a great deal from one worker to the next. One survey of 1,000 UK office workers found that nearly a third had set themselves the goal of making more homemade lunches, alongside eating better, getting fitter and saving money. Four in ten said they had already cut back on what they spend at lunchtime.
Age makes a big difference. In the same survey, people aged 35 to 44 spent the most, averaging £29 a week, while 18 to 24 year olds spent just £4. Men were more likely than women to buy lunch from a cafe or shop each week, at 51% compared with 40%.
Almost one in five said they felt their lunch was judged at work, which may push some people towards buying food they would not otherwise choose. Bringing lunch from home a few days a week, and keeping bought lunches for a treat, is one of the simplest ways to bring the weekly total down.