Vent: My train ride budget was blown on snacks until I tried packing lunch

Last week, I was on a cross-country train trip and kept buying food at every stop. The prices were crazy, like 8 dollars for a basic sandwich. I remembered my mom used to pack lunches for road trips, so I gave it a shot. I bought a cheap container at a store and filled it with stuff from a grocery store. For two days, I spent less than 10 bucks total on meals, saving maybe 30 dollars. Now, I plan to do this for all my long rides. It does take a bit of effort to pack, but it's worth it. In my experience, this small change helps a lot, but your mileage may vary.

3 comments

3 Comments

finleyw581mo ago

Agree with @thomas.parker, packing lunch is a total win. I mean, those train stop prices are insane. Idk why it took me so long to figure this out. Maybe it's just me, but saving that cash feels better than any overpriced sandwich. Now I pack for every trip.

thomas.parker1mo ago

That "$8 for a basic sandwich" line is too real. My buddy Mark used to do the exact same thing on his weekly train to see his girlfriend. He'd blow like twenty bucks just on overpriced burgers and chips. Then he finally started throwing a couple of homemade sandwiches and an apple in his backpack. He said it felt silly at first, but after a month he'd saved enough for a nice date night. He still packs a lunch every time.

ninasmith1mo ago

I used to be that person buying the ten dollar airport banana. Now I bring my own snacks and feel smug about it.