This is a question we need to think about seriously. Eating out with co-workers is fun, but can our budget handle it? Following the group could be part of the problem siphoning our hard-earned money each payday.

No one wants to be left out. Eating lunch together is a way to bond away from the office. Besides, it was only six dollars.

This scenario demonstrates how we think about spending money on food. Food and good times go together in our culture. Eating out is not the only way to bond over food.

When setting up a budget, a category is created for groceries. A weekly or biweekly shopping trip to the grocery store brings enough groceries into the house to feed the family. Buying lunch when there is food in the house blows the budget.

Ask co-workers to try bringing in their lunch at least three times a week. Make a plan to eat in the break room together or outside at a picnic table for lunch. They will save money also.

Choose the same one or two places when you eat out. Make some of your favorite dishes at home and take them for lunch. The grocery trips are for more than just breakfast and dinner items. Buy foods that are good in a packed lunch. Most workplaces have a microwave and a toaster oven. You can prepare your food and eat it piping hot.

Suppose you have a group of co-workers with whom you spend most of your time; why not start a lunch club? Each person takes a day and fixes something for the others in the group to enjoy. No one has to prepare a meal more than once a week, and they will know in advance when it is their turn.

The extra food can be figured into the grocery bill. The lunch club idea may catch on, and more people will want to join. The more people are involved, the less often each person has to contribute to a meal. The meals don’t have to be elaborate. Many delicious meals require only a few ingredients.

You can still eat out once a week or twice. Add it to your budget. Pay for your meal in cash. This eliminates the temptation to overspend that can happen when using a credit card. Eating lunch out means eating dinner at home to balance spending habits.

Lastly, opt out if the group still wants to eat out more often than your budget allows. Tell them politely that you can’t go and brown bag it. They’ll still be your friendly co-workers, and you’ll have learned a valuable lesson about resisting the temptation to follow the crowd at the expense of your money.