Survey Says American Workers Spend More on Lunch than Commuting

January 31, 2012 1:00 am

American workers spend an alarmingly high amount of their hard earned cash on somewhat average daily expenses, according to a new Workonomix survey by Accounting Principals, a finance and accounting staffing firm. The survey found that 50 percent of the American workforce spends approximately $1,000 a year on coffee, or a weekly coffee habit of more than $20. And the spending doesn't stop there. Two thirds (66 percent) of working Americans buy their lunch instead of packing it, costing them an average of $37 per week – nearly $2,000 a year.

Despite these high costs, the survey suggests workers are unclear about the biggest drain to their wallet. When asked which work expense they most want to be reimbursed for by their employer, 42 percent of employees chose commuting costs and only 11 percent chose lunch expenses. However, the average American's commuting cost is $123 a month or approximately $1,500 a year, which is well below the average annual lunch tab of $2,000.

This is especially true for young American workers. The survey found that younger professionals (ages 18-34) spend almost twice as much on coffee during the week than those ages 45+ ($24.74 vs. $14.15, respectively). They also shell out more for lunch, spending an average of $44.78 per week on lunch compared to their older colleagues who spend $31.80 per week.

However, it seems American workers of all ages are starting to realize the effect this incremental spending has on their personal bottom line. According to Accounting Principals' survey, one-third (35 percent) of employees have made it a financial goal to bring lunch instead of buying it in 2012.
Other survey findings include:

Better food and coffee in the office might help cut back personal spending. Perhaps because of how much they're spending outside the office, American workers would like companies to invest in better food and drinks in the office. One-quarter (25 percent) of Americans wish their company would invest in better vending machine snacks and 22 percent of American workers would like their company to invest in better coffee in the office.
Employers should focus on the "simple pleasures" to keep employees happy. Although better food and drinks would be a plus, employees most want to see their companies invest in better office equipment (46 percent) and more comfortable office chairs (32 percent) in 2012.
Corporate discounts do not factor into employees' purchase decisions. Companies looking to attract new candidates shouldn't focus on corporate discounts as a selling point. The majority (82 percent) of employees say corporate discounts matter little or not at all when buying a new product or service.


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