Choosing to bring lunch from home, forgoing a lunch break outside, can translate into annual savings of up to 3,200 euros, a sum comparable to almost two months’ salary. The economic advantage is quantified by an analysis conducted by Bravo, a fintech specialized in debt management.
The “schiscetta” and the burden on the monthly budget
According to the study, the habitual use of the so-called “schiscetta” allows, on average, to put aside 263 euros every month. Extending the calculation to the entire year, the figure reaches 3,200 euros per year, an amount that takes on a significant value when compared with the average net salary in Italy. In fact, Istat data places the monthly income between 1,700 and 1,850 euros.
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How much does a lunch break away from home really cost?
The analysis also takes into consideration the average cost of a lunch eaten outside: for a standard meal consisting of a plate of pasta, water and coffee, in the North the average expense is around 16 euros, while in the South it drops to around 13 euros.
Preparing the same meal at home would instead cost around 1.70 euros, including elements such as home-cooked pasta, water from the vending machine and coffee from the machines.
The cities where savings are highest
In absolute terms, the areas in which the potential savings are highest are Milan, Monza-Brianza, Parma, Modena and Bologna, where it can reach up to 3,630 euros per year. In the Central and Southern regions the economic benefit is reduced to around 2,760 euros per year, above all due to the lower prices of meals consumed outside the home. When compared to local incomes, the advantage remains significant.
Organization and meal prep: an increasingly widespread strategy
To reduce the organizational impact linked to the preparation of meals, Bravo suggests concentrating the work on the weekend or in a single evening, an increasingly common method, which also finds space on social networks, where content dedicated to “meal prep” and quick recipes designed for the working week proliferates.
A simple choice in times of high cost of living
In a phase characterized by the general increase in the cost of living, bringing lunch from home is confirmed as a concrete and easily accessible solution, useful for lightening daily expenses and improving the balance of the family budget.
