S/O Hour lunch break -- Break offsite, but need to be frugal -- How do you do it?

[Anonymous]

For those of you with an hour lunch break, but don't have a 'break room' or cafeteria, or just don't want to be on-site during your lunch break, where do you go? Additionally, what about if you're on a budget and really want to bring your lunch every day (but don't really have anywhere to eat it)?
I don't want to be a pity party and sit in my car for an hour. But, I don't really have anywhere to bring my brown bag lunch and eat it. Is it bad to just go to Panera/Au bon Pain/etc and bring my own lunch and just order a lemonade or iced coffee? I feel kind of pathetic writing that. I think I know the answer, and that's it's most likely frowned upon by staff. But I also see people in there for hour(s) at a time on their laptops with just a coffee in front of them.

What do you think? I'm overanalyzing, I know, but I really need to stay on budget and buying lunch every day just isn't an option.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

If I don't go out to lunch, I close my door and eat at my desk. I generally won't work while I'm eating...I'll just mess around online or do online bill pay.

[Anonymous]

You could sit in your car and read or listen to an audiobook. When the weather is nice just be outside walking around. No, don't take your luch into a restaurant to eat, they are in business to sell food not provide seating.

[Anonymous]

Is there a park nearby?

If I don't go out to lunch, I usually sit at my desk as well, and eat there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you. I share an office, and we switch off on lunch breaks, and customers can enter the office to speak to one of us throughout the day, so I really need to leave the office. Yes, if it's nice out I will definitely sit outside somewhere and eat. When it's cold or rainy/snowy, I guess I can find some errands to do and eat my sandwich in the car. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

I have a 'soccer mom' folding chair in the trunk of my car and I set it up in the shade. I sometimes eat as I walk around the neighborhood. I have no problem just putting on the headphones and eating in my cubical.

[Anonymous]

Is there a mall nearby? they might have a food court that you can eat in.

[Anonymous]

Pretty much any business park has benches somewhere that you can sit on.

And if you have a car, you can drive to a mall. Again, benches you can sit on.

As for frugal -- pack your lunch. The whole thing, including drink. Don't buy anything.

[Anonymous]

Get a pair of walking shoes and walk for an hour. That's what I do when I'm being frugal. I will eat something (from home) at my desk later in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a pair of walking shoes and walk for an hour. That's what I do when I'm being frugal. I will eat something (from home) at my desk later in the afternoon.

NP here. I like this! Maybe I will try it.

[Anonymous]

I used to sometimes drive to the library nearby and then eat outside the library or at my desk later.

[Anonymous]

OP here. These are all great ideas, thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to sometimes drive to the library nearby and then eat outside the library or at my desk later.

If you live in the Metro area but work downtown you can get a library card for the DC library. I did this and it has been great for both me and my school age kids. If my kids can't find a book they need for a report in Arlington they can do the online search in DC and then I walk over on my lunch hour and pick it up. Suprisingly this has worked many times. The DC library also seems to have odd books that the Arlington library does not have.