Let me start with this: I’m not easily defeated by a budget. I’m a budget-friendly recipe creator. I plan. I prep. I thrive under grocery store pressure. But trying to eat a packed lunch — a main, a drink and a sweet treat — for under $5, tax included, in the middle of downtown Toronto? That’s the budget Olympics!
“If I could’ve found a discount that said buy nothing, get one free — I would’ve taken it,” said I, halfway through this adventure. But spoiler alert! I found a great deal and let me tell you more about it!
Setting the Rules
First, I gave myself a simple challenge: to spend a total of $5, tax included, on a complete lunch. The setting? Toronto’s Financial District — home to some of the most expensive cookies I’ve ever seen in my life, no, literally, this one place charges $5 per cookie, and I was shocked.
I had three non-negotiables:
It sounded simple, but we all know that in this economy, it definitely isn’t!
When the Cookies Cost More Than Your Lunch
My first few stops were eye-opening and, honestly, a little disrespectful to my wallet. I saw cookies for $6.50. Cookies! I’m not naming names, but let’s just say these weren’t dipped in gold.
Even water bottles were ringing in at over $3 at some spots. “Do I just get a cookie and call it lunch?” I asked myself. For a moment, I almost tried mentally justifying it. “Maybe the cookie has oats… oats are filling! Right….” That’s when I knew it was time to regroup.
The Breakthrough: Patty Express
After wandering through the PATH, I landed at Patty Express. I asked for a patty on a coco bread. It was my first time ever having coco bread and when the total came out to $4.20, I actually gasped. It was a miracle that was very filling too! But I still needed a drink and something sweet, and I had exactly $0.80 left.
You May Also Like: The Best Jamaican Patty Recipe With Flakiest Crust
The Hustle Continues
I went next door to a fast food spot and asked for a cup of water. Free. Score. (Pro tip: some places do charge for the cup, so don’t take it for granted.)
With hydration taken care of, I was still on the hunt for something sweet or a snack. I knew my only option now was a market or bulk store, somewhere I could buy a single item. A few steps later, I found the market by Longo’s, and the heavens parted: bananas for around $0.30 – $0.35 each. I got two. Yes, two!
Would I Do This Again?
If I were in a pinch for time? Absolutely. But would I recommend it as a lifestyle? No. Finding a filling meal for $5 — taxes included — is a major challenge, especially if you’re also trying to hydrate and satisfy your sweet tooth. Even if something is listed as $4.99, the tax puts you over. And most affordable items are small, snack-sized, or just not enough to keep you full.
Don’t get me wrong. Today’s challenge was successful! It was filling and dare I say I was actually full at the end of lunch!
But if I had $5 again and needed to stretch it? I’d honestly head to the grocery store and grab rice, canned beans and a few vegetables. I could cook up a meal that feeds me multiple times for the same cost: it’s what I do best.
You May Also Like: One Ingredient, Three Ways: Butter Beans
But Here’s the Real Takeaway
This $5 lunch challenge reminded me of how tight food budgets can really be, especially when you’re out and about with minimal preparation; we all have our reasons. It takes creativity, patience and a little luck to make it work. However, it also demonstrates just how far a few small decisions can take you.
So, is it possible to find a $5 lunch in Toronto? Absolutely! But is it easy and quick to find? Not really.