Lunch rarely feels like a financial decision. It feels like a convenient, short break, maybe a little reward in the middle of the workday. But according to “Shark Tank” investors Kevin O’Learythis daily habit adds up faster than most people realize—and he has little patience for the math people ignore.
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In a 2023 TikTok video, O’Leary reminded people of their daily expenses in his typically forthright manner, calling expensive lunches and coffees a silent budget killer. “You go to work and you buy a sandwich for $15 — are you an idiot?” he said, arguing that small, repeat purchases can quietly cost thousands of dollars a year without people noticing.
O’Leary used simple comparisons to prove his point. Making a cup of coffee at home might cost about $0.20, he said, compared with about $5.50 at a coffee shop. In his opinion, lunch follows the same pattern. “It costs 99 cents to make a sandwich at home and take it with you,” O’Leary said.
Over time, he said, these daily choices become more complex. “You start adding it up every day and it’s a lot of money.”
He said the problem is most pronounced among younger workers early in their careers, especially those making about $60,000 a year in big cities, where spending on everyday conveniences can creep up. According to O’Leary, small purchases like take-out lunches, coffee and other daily expenses can add up to $15,000 a year if left unchecked.
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When Kevin O’Leary talks about wasting money, he’s not just talking about a takeaway lunch or coffee. The broader problem is that money can easily slip away through habits that feel harmless in the moment. Data from a CNET survey in August showed the pattern isn’t limited to restaurant spending. American adults spend nearly $3,000 a year on restaurants and takeout, and about $1,500 on groceries that are never cooked or eaten. Combined, that’s nearly $4,500 a year in losses from convenience, waste, or both.
The figures also highlight another side of the debate. Some people spend more on groceries, intending to save money by cooking at home, but then throw the food away when schedules get busy or plans change. The survey found that adults spend about $236 per month on restaurants and takeout, while grocery shoppers report wasting about $125 per month on unused food. In this sense, O’Leary’s point is less a criticism of any one choice than a reminder that it’s the habit of repeat consumption that matters most—whether the money is spent on the counter or left in the refrigerator.
