Tips for Saving on Lunch Costs as an Office Worker

I had a similar concern, but I solved it by making several side dishes over the weekend, freezing them, and then packing them with rice in the morning. It's a bit of a hassle at first, but once you get used to it, it only takes 10 minutes, and you can cut each meal down to 3,000–4,000 won.

Convenience store lunchboxes are okay sometimes, but I usually order kimbap or tteokbokki from a snack bar near my office. I can eat my fill for under 5,000 won, and the taste is pretty good too. It's even cheaper if I share with a coworker.

Does the company have a microwave or a small kitchen? I buy instant rice and canned side dishes (like tuna, mackerel, etc.) and heat them up for lunch. It costs less than 2,000 won and tastes better than cup rice.

If you don't have time in the morning, how about packing your lunch the night before? I just cook rice in advance and fill the rest with leftovers from the previous day's meal—no extra prep needed, and it saves both time and money.

I skip lunch and instead just have a handful of nuts or some fruit, then come home and eat a hearty dinner. It's great for saving on lunch costs, but I can't really recommend it for stomach health. Still, I save over 100,000 won a month.

Is there a place near the office that sells 'discount lunch boxes' these days? I found a restaurant that gives a 20% discount if you buy before 12 PM. Alternatively, collecting delivery app coupons or points is also a good option. It's way better than convenience stores.