Ultra-Hyper Minimalist Travel Tip: Lunch For Two On $3 Or Less

With a dash of creativity and a pinch of courage you can eat lunch for less than $3 while on the road.

Just because you’re on the road doesn’t mean you have to eat fast food, stop at a diner or make a can of Pringles last the day.

A good meal will keep you healthy, feeling good and prevent you from wasting money later because you’re miserable.

We’ve taken the liberty of putting together a small menu for you.

Ramen – two cups of Ramen at Wal-Mart will run you $.70.
What’s that?  You have no way to heat water?
Most coffee shops will give you hot water for free if you ask nicely or at least sell you a cup for a quarter.
If you take your own cup into a 7/11 they’re happy to let you fill it up with hot water for free.

Bread and cheese/meat – A little browsing, and possibly a scavenger hunt for the clearance rack can normally net a bakery loaf of bread for $.99.
Now for something to add to it.
Bypass everything prepackaged and head straight to the deli.
As a general rule whenever you’re buying anything, a quarter of a pound (4 oz.) is a good portion for one person.
At the deli you can find a half pound of cheese for under $2, or salami for the same price.  If you’re feeling frisky buy a quarter of a pound of each.

Deli Salads – Macaroni salad, potato salad and cole slaw each generally run between $1.49 and $2.79 per pound.
A pound of deli salad is a huge meal for two people.  Obviously, a pound of one salad is a little sickening.
So get two, a half pound of each.  Mix them up a bit.  Don’t get two mayonnaise based salads.
Get a mayonnaise based potato salad for one and a nice pasta salad for the other.  Or try a creamy macaroni salad for one and a Greek salad for the other.
Or substitute a loaf of bread for one of the salads.

Peanut Butter Sandwich – This one is an investment.
A small jar of peanut butter is about $1.50.  A loaf of bread is about $.99.
You can keep the peanut butter around for later, no need to refrigerate it and buy fresh bread each time.
Pair your sandwich with some fresh fruit and you’re in business.

Tuna Sandwhich – Mmmmm, delicious tuna sandwich.
Tuna costs less than $.50.  Fresh bread costs about $.99.
But mayonnaise needs to be refrigerated right?  Wrong.
Mayonnaise needs to be refrigerated after opening.  A lot of grocery stores will have tiny bottles of mayonnaise for sale near the deli for about $.75.
But a better option is to stop by a fast food place, to-go diner, or sub shop and ask for or steal some mayonnaise packets.
Two mayonnaise packets is just the right amount for a single can of tuna, which should net three sandwiches.

Be creative—$.00 to $3.00.
Today we ate cheese and pickle pita sandwiches.  Sharp cheddar cheese and pickles are an extraordinary pair.
Saltines or Triscuits are great.  You can pair them with peanut butter, cheese, sardines, spam or cottage cheese.
Fresh fruits and vegetables will keep you feeling good.  Peanut butter or cottage cheese is good on almost any fruit.

Important things to remember:

#1—It’s amazing what people are willing to give you if you have the audacity to ask.

#2 – Don’t settle for what you can see from the highway.  Find a grocery store, eat good.

#3 – Stock up.  When you know you’re going to be traveling collect tons of ketchup, mustard, relish and mayonnaise packets any time you get a meal out.  Sometimes you can even find red pepper and Parmesan cheese.

#4 – Keep an open mind.  Try things like sardines, grapefruit, bean sprouts or whatever else is on sale.

Remember, when you don’t feel good or aren’t happy you’re more likely to spend money.  Keep yourself healthy and you’ll notice the difference in your wallet.

Comments

This is great.  I know that being frugal helps a lot.  It would be great if you are able to continue to use these ideas if/when you stop the road trip.  You’d save a truckload of money.

It’s true.  That’s exactly what we’re thinking.

First I read :

A good meal will keep you healthy, feeling good

Then I read :

Ramen – two cups of Ramen at Wal-Mart will run you $.70.

It is my experience in life that a good meal precludes oil-encrusted starch-swirlies with MSG flavor-powder packets.

But if you ARE going to go that route, check out Uwajimaya downtown or on the eastside, or Wayne’s in Burien. For probably a buck more, you could get two BIG soup bowls with at least some chili powder and dried veggies and such.

Haha.  Good point Jim.

Ramen isn’t the healthiest meal.  Better than McDonald’s though and you can’t beat the price. 

I have even been known to eat uncooked Ramen.  It kinda tastes good.

Hi..
If we are going for tour buying lunch is very difficult job..These tips are very useful for all of them..thanks for sharing this informative post..

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