Yet another way to brown-bag it

Get tired of bringing your lunch every day? Smart Spending message board reader "toucan77" has a solution: Split lunch duty with someone else.

This reader and a co-worker take alternate days bringing in lunch for two. According to toucan77's suggestion, posted on a thread about general frugality, this takes almost no extra work and it provides several very nice benefits. 

Just as having an exercise buddy gets you to the gym on time, having a lunch partner keeps participants away from the Dollar Menu -- you wouldn't leave the other person high and dry by not bringing lunch, would you?

• Bing: Why you shouldn't skip breakfast
  

Eating someone else's cooking adds "a nice variety" to the week's lunches because you're not eating your own recipes day after day. The co-workers are enjoying "healthy, home-cooked meals" instead of fast food. Lunch is ready when you are -- no need to drive to a restaurant, or tip a waiter or counter person.

"Last but not least, we're saving money. Lots of it!" toucan77 writes. 

Having heard from Brown Bag Challenge participants, and also being a long-time lunch carrier myself, I know that the savings can be huge.

Obviously, this tip won't work for everyone. But if you're lucky enough to work with someone who wants to take turns cooking -- and who can be trusted not to surprise you with peanut butter and sardine sandwiches -- this might be a solution to the lunchtime doldrums.

Published Feb. 20, 2009