I admit it I'm too cheap to buy a sub at a gas station or deli

I do this a lot of the time. I am a soda miser too. I would much rather pay 50 cents a bottle than 1.00+

It is really unbelievable what a store's deli can charge for the pre-made sandwiches. And the convenience stores at the gas stations....outrageous! When I worked at the store where I used to live, one of the fellas would come through my register line and pay for a burrito, a small container of yogurt, and a banana. That would ring up to right around $2.00. He ate this nearly every night for his lunch (we worked overnights). If I were to do like you do, Saundyl, and buy the fixings for the sandwiches, there's a possibility about half of it would go to waste. I don't like eating the same thing for several days in a row. I usually go to the grocery side and get an individual serving of a frozen dinner.

If I need a lunch, I try to make sure I get one packed, as I can control what goes into it, as well. I get wonderful breads, and fresh veggies and my choices of meats and cheeses. It is astounding what ready assembled food costs, and then you get there and get it open, and it is stale, even though it has a sell by date two weeks in the future.

What you mentioned is the exact reason that I don't eat at Arby's or Subway. Why should I spend all that money on one sandwich when I can get the fixin's myself and make a few of them for pennies more? I do this sometimes with Penn Station too. For the ten bucks I would spend getting two of the philly cheesteaks I want, I can put two dollars with it, go to Kroger, get a JTM Philly Cheesesteak Kit and some Land O Lakes spreadable butter, and have four of them. And if I want all the toppings, they are usually in the fridge already. Now I have to go to the store tomorrow. I want a philly cheese steak lol.

Quite often it is cheaper to buy and make than it is to buy ready made. But they are accomodating people that are constantly on the run or just don't cook. THose of us that are smart, do like you do - spend a few extra minutes and make in quantity and have it ready when we need it - Our own Ready Made deli in our house! I won't buy without a coupon. If I dont have a (usually) BOGO free, I don't buy at fast food or places like that. That way I have two meals at half price. But more than price, I don't buy at gas stations or mini marts and such is the quality of the food, how long it has been there, who all has handled, breathed or messed in some way, shape or form with the food = wrapped or not! Just to gross for me to go buy a hotdot that has been in that cooker thing and others have taken some out - who knows what they left in there? And even if the sandwiches are wrapped - how do I know they haven't been UNwrapped? ANd just to much traffic, hands and breath floating around food at those places. Much "safer" and seems much cleaner to go acros the street to a fast food if you need something to eat. At least you can know the minimum of handling has been done to it! Sometimes even made just for you (like at BK - where you can add/take off whatever you want) I traveled for some time while back and seeing the people going in and out of those gas stations and mini marts and such - and seeing the openly displayed foods there - sorry - just absolutely gross to me!! I'm make and take, thank you!

One of my favorite pet peeves since I've been a mostly SAHM! Affording the lil luxuries like a pre-made anything seems foolish in most instances. Like you I'd rather find some alternative than pay what they want in a store or restaurant. Even if I like the flavor it's hard to want to pay $5/sub when you have 5 people to feed and half of them will still be hungry. Like you I can make a cheaper version at home or even a very good hearty meal for the family for that cost.

Yes it is much cheaper to buy your own ingredients and make your own, plus you know what is in them. I try and buy when in balk is on sale, like first of this month they had slabs of rib eyes, whole slab was $63. when cut I had 19 steaks and that made 10 meals if my hubby was here. Any thing you find in a deli, some one had to take the time to make and that time takes money, so that is why the price is so high. I like fresh made sandwiches from the meat department if they make sandwiches. And they are not to expensive.

I worry that the food isn't always kept as cool as it should be in a convenience store. Getting a sub with at a convenience store sounds like playing high odds of getting sick to me, so I avoid it. If I have to have something to eat and a conveninece store is my only option, I grab a protien bar to make it until I can get a better meal somewhere else.

im right laon gwith you im not gonnna pay for that expensive sub :( and like you said theres a great benefit on you making it becaus eyou never know who had there hands on your sub at the deli they couldve not been clean hands :/

I think that you did the right thing. Those subs at the grocery store are expensive and frankly they do not taste good to me! I would not buy one myself. The sub you made sounds very good! Plus 8 subs for the amount of money that you spent is really a good deal! I do make pizzas and sandwiches for everyone for their lunches. It is much cheaper when you have 4 people eating outside of the house for lunch every day!

You did the right thing, Saundyl! In my country food at McDonald's or Subway costs a fortune! I like Subway sandwiches but I don't see any reason to give a lot of money for something that can cost maybe five times cheaper. But I see a lot of young people who give their money and don't bother to use a few minutes and make their lunch at home.