Having worked in an away-from-CBD area for years, I've gotten so used to hawker centre food that is usually in the below $5 price range, kopi included.
Recently, I've shifted to a new workplace in the city and found myself experiencing instant lifestyle inflation. It's really hard to find a decent lunch at below $5 in town. It's not unusual for a lunch to be in the region of $20 even. WTF.
It's either the meal is expensive, or else it's "cheap" with a bad taste! I experienced the misfortune of being served a plate of rice which came with one tiny piece of meat and not much else. Really. I counted. It wasn't difficult. Their average customer must have the appetite of a rat. Had to hunt for an additional Ya Kun toast after that. I'm no rat.
Assuming an incremental cost of $5 per meal, that's easily an additional expense of $100 per month, or $1,200 a year.
There's of course the alternative of bringing your own lunch. But I very much prefer to walk around for lunch to get a bit of my step count going and get a bit of Vitamin D. It's a vice. And I'm no Dracula either.
Is that a nice slab of red meat?
14 comments:
My lunch is below $3 with kopi. With fruit juice its $4. Hehehe
Yesterday my lunch at Paya Lebar Square food court was $6.75c. $5.40c for a bento and $1.35c for coffee. The prices are with Kopitiam card discount. What deflation?
I have worked in Shenton Way area for many years and then to Orchard area for another many years. I could have saved more on cheaper meals if not working there. :-(
Easily $10 a meal if you work in the CBD area.
I started bringing my lunch a couple of days per wk
I work in the Shenton Way area and eat my lunch often at the Shenton House coffeeshops or Amoy food centre. Those are probably the cheapest places with decent portions of food but it's crazy at Raffles Place and City Hall areas!
Sillyinvestor,
That sounds like the kind of price at my other office. $4 with kopi. I like.
CW8888,
Looks like a major loss of many years!? Hahah.
SweetRetirement,
Expensive, and not necessarily a better meal.
starlight,
I suppose your office has a fridge and microwave? But I find it a wee bit cumbersome to do so. And I'd rather get a bit of walking in, and get out of the office.
Finance Smith,
Yep, City Hall and Raffles City area definitely crazy. Despite the many places, the crowd is still there. Gee whiz.
Anon,
$6.75, so it's somewhere in between.
Or pack your own meals to work! I do that often.
Budget Babe,
Haven't found the motivation to pack meals. I prefer to get a bit of movement in for lunch. Do some leg work. And opportunity to socialise with colleagues?
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