While some Canadians bring a packed lunch to work, many are spending hundreds of dollars a year on their midday meals.
A recent poll by Angus Reid has revealed that the majority of Canadians buy their lunch more than once a week.
Ontarians eat out for lunch most often – with over 20 per cent eating out more than three or more days a week, compared with the national average of 15 per cent.
Unlike their Ontario counterparts, 50 per cent of Quebecers pack their own lunches almost every day – making them the most cost-efficient of all Canadians.
Sixty per cent of Canadians surveyed said they buy their lunch at least once or more a week, a habit that is putting a large dent in their wallets.
Those who buy their lunches spend between $7.00 and $13.00, whereas packing a lunch would cost just $2 to $3 per day.
It’s been also observed that men tend to spend more on lunch than women, forking out an average of $9.30 – a dollar more than women typically do when eating out.
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Young Canadians eat out the most – twice as often as the average at more than two times a week.
Most of us eat out to enjoy lunch with friends or to break the work-day routine by getting out of the office.
However, Canadians may be becoming more budget-conscious.
The survey also suggested that 30 per cent of Canadians plan to spend less on lunch this year.
It’s easy to see why. If you buy lunch just once a week at $9.30, it will cost you nearly $500 a year.
What’s stopping most Canadians from packing their own lunches and saving the big bucks?
It’s all about making and breaking habits.
In this case, it’s a matter of getting yourself in the habit of spending an extra few minutes a day making a sandwich or packing leftovers.
If you feel you’re always pressed for time in the morning, try making your lunch the night before.
It’s also never too late to break a habit.
According to Charles Duhigg, New York Times business writer and author of The Power of Habit, every habit begins with a psychological pattern called a “habit loop”, which is a three-part process.
The trigger, the routine, and finally – the reward.
Once you address the cause of your habit, it becomes much easier to break it.
If what you actually crave is just a change of scenery, instead of that pie at the bistro near your office, why not bring a dessert with your sandwich to eat outside on a nice day?
Do you think it’s worth it to spend a little more time in the kitchen for a little less money out of your wallet?
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