Your lunches are very, very expensive. I’ll demonstrate it to you.
Marcel writes to me to thank me for my column on coffee. He tells me that at 58 years old, he has already accumulated 15 years of service in the pulp and paper industry and 24 years in the aluminum industry. That’s 40 years dedicated to industries typical of the Quebec economy.
Marcel always brought his lunches to work, even though his employers’ factories had a cafeteria. Thanks to his lunches, he calculates that he has saved $76,000 in his career!
Here are his figures: at 4 meals per week x 48 weeks of work, that gives 192 meals per year x 40 years, Marcel calculates that 7,680 meals, at $10 each, correspond to the rounded sum of $76,000.
Marcel is careful to point out that he could have set an average of $15 per meal, to take inflation into account, but he prefers a conservative estimate.
He adds that his lunches were made with leftovers from meals cooked at home, instead of ending up in the trash. A true eco-friendly before his time!
A good amount to invest
What to do with $76,000? Used to repay a mortgage, this sum represents $17,786 in interest for an amortization period of 25 years, a term of 5 years, a rate of 5% and a payment made monthly, the mortgage calculator tells me. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). With this amount, we can afford a dream kitchen!
In Canada, the average cost of a new car is $60,000, according to the Canadian Black Book. As it costs on average $1,300 per month, or $15,600 per year (maintenance, fuel, repairs, financing, depreciation) according to the CAA, Marcel’s lunches would have allowed him to afford a new car and drive it. first year, net of debt.
Finally, I offer you another calculation. Invested for retirement, these $40 spent on lunches per week could have brought in $81,762.07 over 40 years, taking into account an annualized return calculated monthly of 3%, according to the compound interest calculator from Gérezmieuxvotremoney. That.
This is a nice war chest to allow Marcel to spend his retirement doing something other than just watching Netflix.
Personally, I admire Marcel. I couldn’t help but treat myself to a meal, once or twice a month, with my work colleagues. Everyone has their own discipline in life…
There are different ways to save money on a daily basis. It’s with pennies that we save dollars. Each week, my column will offer tips for reducing expenses. Feel free to send me your money saving tips: [email protected]
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