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Wednesday, June 01, 2022

The new headache for workers: ‘Lunchflation’

As millions of Americans return to the workplace, they’re discovering that higher prices for just about everything are putting a bigger dent in their pay. 

Economists call the trend “lunchflation.”

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“Before, you could get lunch for $7 to $12. Now there is no way you can get a decent lunch for less than $15.”

Seven to twelve bucks for lunch? Shee-it, when I was working I was fine with a couple ham sandwiches,  an orange, and a bottle of water I brought from home. On my last workday of the week, I'd splurge and buy a burrito for $3.50 from the taco truck on site.

16 comments:

  1. Brown paper bags are still pretty cheap. And you don't give away the game if it's kept in your briefcase.

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  2. I carried a small cooler with freezer packs. I always packed my own lunch. A sammich or two, orange/apple/banana some fruit or fresh vegetables from my garden. Even had salt an pepper shakers. I like milk and had that in a mason jar ice cold. Some would sit on the floor or find something to put their ass on. I'd sit on my cooler with my back against a wall all comfy. When it comes to chow and comfort I don't screw around.

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  3. Work? Are people still doing that?

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  4. I've almost always packed my own lunch. It was hard at first, but once in the habit took it was only an extra 5 minutes in the morning to get ready for work.
    Even back in the 90's it saved me $25 a week. Hate to think about spending $300 a month!

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  5. I don't eat out at all anymore. Haven't in many years. Better food and a ton less costly. Some of the guys I work with go do fast food every day. What a great way to spend the hard earned money. Right, 300 bucks a month! I'd rather have 300 dollars in silver or lead.

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  6. I'd often make a big pot of something, chili or pasta sauce or stew, and that'd make lunch/dinner for the week, just had to make some pasta for the sauce. Always had the option of tuna/chicken salad sandwiches, too.

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    1. Same here. Cook once a week, usually Sundays, and reheat all week long. Once in a blue moon I'd splurge and buy something at a local eatery.

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  7. The sheeple, normies, and cucks are either too lazy, too stupid or both to realize how much money they could save by packing their own food. It just amazes me the number of clueless idiots I see lined up every day at Taco Bell, Mickey D's, etc. And this whole designer coffee thing is absurd. I make a pot of coffee and put it in a thermos and take it with my food to work. Even though I only work part-time as a substitute teacher, I am still saving a lot of money. What I save I invest in more needful commodities having to do with self-defense. When the debt buck goes and there is no more Taco Bell or Starbucks, I will need to protect myself and my tribe from the legions of Walking Dead. Bleib ubrig.

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    1. Good thing commas are free cause you used a bunch. 😆

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  8. A sammich you make yourself, with some fruit, is far healthier than any restaurant food. That said, you can score a few hot dogs from RaceTrac for under $5, and I paid around $9 for a chik-fil-a salad when I splurged today. Normally I make a sammich or eat leftovers. Another good option is nearly any grocery store. Most have soups, retail sushi, sammiches. That said, nothing will increase your GVW and empty your wallet faster than fatty fast food.

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  9. I haven't had breakfast in years and rarely eat lunch. It helps me rationalize what I spend on beer.

    I see guys I work with spend $10 - $15 every day on cheese steaks and hoagies (yeah, Philly) and I know they can't afford it. For what they spend in one day, they could be eating ham, turkey, or my favorite, Bologna samiches every day for the week.

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  10. What did you make for supper last night? That's what is for lunch today and an insulated quart mug full of ice to fill at the water fountain for drinks. You go to the cafeteria for a quieter, cleaner place to eat and refill that mug with more ice to make it the rest of the shift.

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  11. During tax season I take myself out to lunch on Saturdays as a reward for the sixth day. (What do I have a coupon for?) Tax season is over and it's not a Saturday so fruit and left over pecan smoked spare ribs.

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  12. (Old Tech) When I was younger, many of us would sit in the lunchroom with what we brought from home. It was easy to tell which of us had young children, as it was common for many Dads their kids' lunch from the day before.
    We eventually ended up bringing potluck once or twice a month and having a short BBQ over lunch break - we would all chip in for hot dogs or burgers and buns. And it was still infinitely cheaper than going through MickDeez.

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  13. 27 years I've been workin on the railroad, I've always been on the road so I can attest to the fact how much can be saved by taking lunches and other meals. A lunch pail is one thing I don't leave behind. Many guys I work with eat every meal from a restaurant or convenience store. Lots of leftovers and much better than the crap some call food.

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  14. I work with a lot of young people and I see a lot of people who come into work with a starbucks coffee , and later they go out for a fast food lunch ,then they are always griping about having no money. I have a severe soy intolerance, can't eat anything with soy . So I cant eat most fast food . I pack a lunch every day so I know whats in it , and i have a big travel mug full of good coffee I made myself .Sure beats racing over to the closest franchise food emporium and sitting in line at the drive through, getting the gut bomb of the day , and spending fifteen bucks on a garbage meal . And maybe if you get luck your soda will spill allover the goddamn truck on the way back to work .

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