Homemade meals: eat well, spend less

I've been trying to remain faithful to my pledge in taking my own food to work daily. So far, I've been "self-sufficient" most days and I've managed to cut down my frequent trips to the till by about 65 per cent. This is a great feat, considering that I used to deposit lunch and snack money every day in the office canteen.

I have a lot of reasons for doing this:

• The meals I take are much healthier than the greasy and artery-clogging fare I always find at any fast food joint or restaurant.
• Since I make the meals myself, I know what I put in them. No surprises there, such as too much salt, chilli powder or other ingredients from God knows where.
• A neat-freak like me can take comfort in knowing there's no strand of hair swimming in my soup.
• There's no food wasted. I take only what I can afford to swallow, so I don't feel guilty for not finishing the plate and throwing food away. The portions you get from outside your kitchen are sometimes enough to feed an army.
•  I save time, so I become more productive. The queues at the office cafeteria can eat up about five to ten minutes of one's lunchtime. Double or triple that waiting time if I eat outside.

Above all, I save money. If packing my meals to work is turned into a daily habit, I can save at least Dh3,900 to Dh5,200 a year. How's that possible, you ask?

The lunch and snacks at the office cafeteria, though relatively cheaper than elsewhere, cost me about Dh30 a day or Dh150 a week. With 52 weeks in a year, that could add up to Dh7,800. On the other hand, my homemade meals cost about Dh10 to Dh15 a day. That's about Dh2,600 to Dh3,900 a year.

Savings bonanza

Here's the most important part. If I put the money I save, say Dh433.3 monthly, in a savings pot, I will have enough money to pay for my next holiday at the end of the year. If placed in a high-interest account, at 3.5 per cent, the same monthly saving can reach more than Dh60,000 in ten years' time.

I know a lot of people who are married to the convenience of pre-packaged foods, takeaways and restaurant meals. Consider how much more they will save if they take out their lunch boxes instead. A restaurant meal can cost Dh35 to Dh40. In one year's time, the expenses can reach Dh9,100 to Dh10,400.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can save some money on food at work:

• Buy fresh fruit, vegetables, meat or fish just enough to feed you for a week.
• Pre-cut the vegetables and freeze them. Nothing's more convenient than having the ingredients ready whenever you feel like cooking.
• Prepare your food the night before, so cook more than what you normally eat for dinner and set aside something for the next day. If you dislike recycling leftovers, cook a different meal for lunch, but it will save you time if you prepare it while making dinner.
• Invest in an air-tight food container. For tea drinkers, it doesn't hurt to buy a flask.
• If you really have to, bring your own soda or juice.
•  For snacks, pack some fresh fruits and nuts. They're not only cheaper, they're much healthier.
• For those who love regular doses of sweet treats, make a considerable batch of your favourite dessert during the weekend. Baked tarts, cookies and even puddings can last for three days or more, so you will have a full week's supply of sweets.
• On lazy days, go for sandwiches, they're easy to prepare and cheaper on the wallet. Toss some green salad on the side for a healthy twist.