Budget helper -
How to save money on lunchbox snacks
With school going back in the next week or so, it’s time to think about lunchboxes. Here’s a budget hack that can save you some money at this expensive time of the year.
While convenience is everything on busy school mornings, all those pre-packaged snacks can add up at the checkout.
Our tip here is to go big, not small. That means, buy full (or even bulk) sizes of what your children enjoy for snacks at school, and make them up yourself in reusable mini plastic containers, refillable eco pouches or paper snack bags. This will eliminate plastic packets going into the environment too.
You can do the maths yourself, but buying a large tub of yogurt, a large packet of veggie crisps, a large block of cheese and a full-size pack of crackers, will be a lot cheaper per portion than convenience-sized snack packs.
This will be easier to manage timewise, if you set aside 10 minutes on a Sunday night to pack up a week’s worth of snacks. Making up the lunches will still be quick in the mornings, and you’ll save a lot of money at the checkout.
Here are our ideas for easy-to-assemble lunchbox snacks:
Cubed cheese and crackers - cube the cheese in bulk, place in small plastic tubs, and add a few crackers in the morning.
Yoghurt and fruit - portion between small plastic tubs or reusable pouches and then add a few berries on top in the morning.
Vegie chips or popcorn - portion into small plastic tubs and seal - these will keep fresh all week. And popping your own popcorn will cost a fraction of the price of a large pack.
Veggie sticks - cut up carrot, celery, cucumber or make a fruit salad – just add a squeeze of lemon or a dash of orange juice to prevent browning. Prep these and portion them up into small plastic tubs; they will remain fresh for a few days, if refrigerated.
Have a look at more tips on making school lunches easier, here.
