How to Save Money on Lunch

Since my arrival in Dublin just a little over a week ago, I have been very surprised by the price of simple things, especially the cost of food. A bottle of water in a shop will cost you no less than €2. Tea is much more part of the Irish tradition than coffee, but due to my addiction to a cup of Joe I have been going out of my way to make sure I find at least one cup of coffee per day. The only problem is that it costs at least €2.50 in most places, so I've had to plan my expenses likewise.

Though things are very expensive here, there are ways to cheat the system. I've found that one of the best places to save a little extra cash is to have picnics for lunch instead of spending €15 on a ham sandwich and a bag of chips. All over Dublin there are lovely little grocery stores where you can buy lunch meat and fresh Irish cheese and a small loaf of brown bread, a big bag of chips or some fruit to snack on and a drink all for under €10. You can easily feed 2 or more people off of the amount of food you've purchased, and Dublin is so full of beautiful parks and public spaces that it is more fun to sit in St. Stephen's Green or by the River Liffey and have your own lunch then in an over-crowded café or sandwich shop. Use this suggestion when you find yourself on one of those Dublin days when the sun decides to peak through the clouds for a few hours!

Written by Joe Gayk - Summer of Travel 2007