The Brimstone

Pack it vs. Purchase it

Friday, February 27, 2009 By Joslin James & Laura Young

People always say that you should try to save money and pack your lunch instead of going out to lunch and spending money everyday… But then what’s the point of having off campus lunch? Not very many schools are given the opportunity to drive somewhere and get whatever food they are craving that day. Many schools are fighting to have off campus lunch while we are given the satisfaction of going to delicious places around town. Why have the same thing in your packed lunch everyday, when you can go out to lunch and get something different everyday. Off campus lunch is also a good way to get out of the school. We are in school for many hours a day as it is, so it’s good to get out of school for the 55 minute lunch that we are given. And for those of you who think that it’s cheaper? Well it’s definitely not. If you go to the store and get bread, meat, chips, drinks, and other snacks, to pack a lunch everyday of the week, that rounds up close to about $20-$25. If you are smart with spending your money like me, then you can spend just that, even going out to lunch everyday. Many places give out deals to the students and with the use of the Demon Card, you can also get deals that will save you money. And there is also the hassle of waking up early to pack a lunch. If you go out to lunch you can wake up later, have your money in your wallet and go enjoy whatever you want when its lunch time! Face-Off Packing your lunch from home is the only way to go. It’s healthier and it saves time, but most of all it saves you money. Going to McDonalds, Arby’s, or Wendy’s everyday couldn’t be worse for you; for those of you who haven’t watched “Super Size Me,” it’s also completely disgusting. I don’t know about you, but eating processed chicken parts is not exactly my idea of an appetizing lunch. And that’s not even beginning to mention the amount of calories and grease you pack down with every bite. You would be much better off bringing a nutritionally sound meal from home. Now for you students who have a heavier work load, those 55 minutes at lunch can be a huge help when you need to get homework done, or to stop in and ask a teacher a question. If you’ve brought your lunch with you, perfect. There’s no need to leave the building. You can sit somewhere quiet and get to work with your food supply handy. For this example let’s use Qdoba. A burrito is nine whole buckaroos. If you go out to lunch everyday, that’s $45 a week, $180 a month, and close to $1500 a school year. I know there are much better things to spend $1500 of my hard earned money on. I do realize that going out to lunch can be way more fun than sitting in the school lobby for 55 minutes, and that’s understandable. And sometimes you do just want to get out of the building after a hard morning of tests, but use going out as a treat and only go once or twice a month. So, I can’t see it any other way, Pack It! is the clear winner here.