I Resolve To . . . Save Money & The Environment By Brown-Bagging!

Do you buy your lunch every day?  If you are looking for ways to trim spending and save a few bucks, packing a lunch at home and investing in a travel mug to transport home-made coffee are two easy cost-cutting strategies.  Last year, on most Thursdays, I bought lunch while working on-site with clients.  Each time, I spent an average $10.00 for lunch and often purchased gourmet coffee as well for an additional $5.00.  This year I'm brown-bagging a healthy lunch on Thursdays and enjoying my coffee in a nifty travel mug.  I'm saving $500-600, depending on how you calculate the costs (and considering that I do buy lunch goodies at the grocery store, but at a fraction of the cost of eating-out).  I still buy gourmet coffee occasionally, but not weekly.  Bottom-line:  When you really scrutinize 'how' you are spending your hard-earned money, there are plenty of ways to improve!

I intend to Pack My Lunch As A Way To Save Money And The Environment, as part of my I Resolve To . . . Challenge:  365 Resolutions For Health & Happiness.  Why not join me?  The objective is very simple:  Do at least one thing each and every day to promote health and happiness for 'YOU'.  Banish the 'Someday, Someday, Someday Syndrome'.  Instead, make every day New Year's Day.  Make every day count.  The list of possibilities is infinite and can be tailored to your own dreams, resolutions and daily goals.  If you need some help - a little nudge, a bit of inspiration, tips, advice, and news about the best ways to make resolutions a reality - please use IResolveTo.Com and the I Resolve To . . . Group at Gather as two of your resources.  Resolve365 in 2009.

Let me give you five solid reasons why bringing your lunch is a good, healthy habit to build into your daily routine, and a great way to multi-task toward achievement:

1. If you pack a small re-usable cooler and avoid fast food restaurants during your lunch break you can reduce your Carbon Footprint by eliminating food wrapper waste!
2. If you spend 10-minutes in the morning bagging your lunch you can reduce stress.  Instead of spending half your lunch break waiting in line for food, you can grab your lunch, a good book and a bench in your favorite park, and in turn, enjoy a nice calm, relaxing break.
3. If you do a little planning before your grocery shopping, you can purchase the kind of healthy, wholesome food - including fruits and and vegetables - that will enable you to shave inches off your waist and thighs, and pounds off your figure, particularly if you combine healthy eating habits with a good brisk walk to and from your lunchtime venue!
4. If you are reducing stress, cutting unwanted pounds, lowering your blood pressure, increasing your exercise and relaxation - you stand to improve your overall health and happiness - and do it by just making one small change that takes 10-minutes in the morning (or the night before): packing your lunch!
5. If you are spending less money on daily fast food, you are putting more money into your own pocket (and perhaps even your savings account).  Consider this:  If you spend $10.00 each day for fast food and coffee, and instead purchase food and drinks for $5.00 that you will brown-bag, you will save $50 each week, and an incredible $2,450 in a 49-week work-year!

Remember:  I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.  It's your choice.  Do it today. Turn your resolution into reality in five simple, common sense steps:  Dare To Dream, Decide, Define, Develop A Plan, and Do It Daily. Make your resolution a permanent Lifetime Resolution, something that's with you for good!  Above all, Be A Resolutionista, someone who makes resolutions, keeps resolutions, and enjoys the journey!  Let's Go For It!

Kim Simpson, a former journalist, provides communications, fundraising services and strategic planning, for Members of Congress, non-profit organizations, corporations, and associations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. A self-employed entrepreneur, with more than 30 years of experience, she launched IResolveTo.Com in 2005 in an effort to help others to achieve their New Year Resolutions, Dreams and Goals. Her motto is: I Resolve To . . . Achieve My New Year Resolutions, One Resolution, One Day At A Time For One Year.^TM Let's 'Go For It'.

Get your daily dose of inspiration at: http://www.iresolveto.com - As added incentive, why not make and keep your New Year Resolution by wearing it? Drop by: http://www.cafepress.com/iresolveto

This article is Copyright © Kim M. Simpson, I Resolve To, Inc. * All Rights Reserved.