100-Peso Lunch Challenge

I just spent an exorbitant amount of money last month, and I'm not happy about it. That included my credit card bill containing  the charge for my parents' birthday dinner, a five-digit withdrawal for a family emergency, and online shopping expenses because I have the emotional intelligence of a gnat.

So far, I only listed admittedly one-off expenses, but during that time, I also went out for lunch often, spending 200-300 pesos a meal. I usually just bring last night's leftovers to lunch at the office, but last month, I didn't really feel like bringing food from home too often.

Now, I'm really going to have to force myself to bring leftovers for lunch, but if I must go out to eat, I want to limit my budget as much as possible. Why? I'm saving up for my next trip to Los Angeles or my first trip to Toronto, which are both cities where I have relatives (therefore, free lodging and food!). I plan to fulfill at least two of my life goals on that trip:

• See my favorite band, Manic Street Preachers. I consider it a pilgrimage.
• Watch a Boston Celtics game in which my favorite player, Paul Pierce, is actually playing—I did see a Celtics game last time, but Pierce was injured and didn't play. Urgh, wrong timing.
• Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Orlando.
• Explore New York and possibly Boston with my best bud Therese.

I also intend to see Conan O'Brien for a second time, but I don't really need money to do that, because his show is free.

I'll be trying to keep my weekday lunches to just about 100 pesos or under, and ABSOLUTELY NO FAST OR INSTANT FOOD. So far, my purchased lunches have included a fresh lumpia (67 pesos) and a cheese donut (30 pesos) last Friday. Today, I didn't like any of the leftovers back at home, so I bought fried tofu (30 pesos) and cold taho (35 pesos), which I'd been craving for for months.

Yes, it's very light, but I also brought some macadamia nuts from home to tide me over.

That's what a 1/4 cup or 230-calorie serving looks like. ...Yes, macadamia nuts are very high in fat, but they're the good kind of fat! Or so I hope.

So far, writing down my travel goals in a blog has helped me reconsider how much I spend on my lunches, with the latent benefit of keeping my lunches light. I'm also going to have to pass on the iPhone 4, I'm afraid.

Is there anyone else who'd want to join me on the 100-peso lunch challenge?

Friday
Breakfast: Chocolate chip walnut banana cake, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: Fresh vegetable lumpia
Snack: Cheese donut from Cello's, green tea
Dinner: Dinuguan with puto
Dessert: World Market 64% cacao dark chocolate with sea salt

Saturday
Breakfast: Bacon, fried egg, whole wheat pan de sal, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: (at Causeway Restaurant, Libis) Asado siopao, sliced beef congee, oolong tea
Snack: Apple cream cheese pecan tart, coffee with low-fat milk
Dinner: Roast beef, roast potatoes, ginisang pechay
Dessert: Milk chocolate salted caramel macadamia, chocolate covered macadamia

Sunday
Breakfast: whole wheat pan de sal with peanut butter, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: roast beef, brown rice, almondigas
Dessert: Magnolia ube queso and buttery sweet corn ice cream
Snack: Nova country cheddar chips, a bite off a corn dog
Dinner and dessert: (at Charlie's Grind & Grill) Fish and chips, key lime pie, turtle pie

Monday
Breakfast: Whole wheat pan de sal with peanut butter, coffee with low-fat milk
Lunch: Roast beef, brown rice
Snack: Green tea
Dinner: Breaded porkloin, ginisang pechay, fried lumpia, brown rice
Dessert: Mo's Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar