Big Time Savings at Work

OK, how can you make big time savings a work, say maybe around $200 a month, which works out to $2,400 a year or $72,000 over a 30 year career? Note that this 72,000 is also excluding any compound interest on your savings, which would rise to $242,000 over 30 years, at 7% interest. You can do this through stockpiling a precious resource at work. What is it? Well, it’s food of course!

I have previously discussed how brown bragging your food can have a huge impact on your budget, but there is a way to take this to the next level. This way is to get your own mini-fridge at work, to store all your nutritious needs throughout the day. My mini-fridge really helps me avoid the fast food joints, or the super expensive snacks on campus, some of which are admittedly are really rather tasty. This mini-fridge ends up being a huge help, for both my diet and for my wallet! It supplies ample storage for lunch, and healthy mid-morning and afternoon snacks. I also have brought some plates and cutlery to work, so I can avoid using plastic knives and forks, and paper plates and the such like, as I don’t like the waste and negative impact on the environment of these.

I’m fortunate that there are many food choices surrounding me at work, but these also trying to tempt me away from my mini-fridge and it’s savings. However, some poor individuals even have to go and jump in their car to get to the closest restaurant or supermarket, adding even more expenses to the daily grind, and so keeping them at their job for many more years to come.

OK, so what do I have stored in this fridge right now, well, I currently have a loaf of break, some jam (used when I need a sugar kick), some banana’s, peaches, strawberries, and blueberries, as well as yogurt, soft cheese, a salad prepared at home, and filtered water. Every Monday, I re-stock it, to help through the week by keeping me in a better mood, and powered by nutritious organic fruits and veggies throughout the day.

The good news is that my students have now taken up this mini-fridge habit, so spreading the frugal habits to newer generations!