Lunch rarely feels like a financial decision. It feels like convenience, a quick break, maybe a small reward in the middle of a workday. But according to \u201cShark Tank\u201d investor Kevin O’Leary, that daily habit adds up faster than most people realize \u2014 and he has little patience for the math people ignore.<\/p>\n
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In a 2023 TikTok video<\/a>, O’Leary delivered one of his characteristically blunt reminders about everyday spending, calling out expensive lunches and coffee runs as quiet budget killers. “You go to work, you spend 15 bucks on a sandwich\u2014what are you, an idiot?” he said, arguing that small, repeated purchases can quietly drain thousands of dollars a year without people noticing.<\/p>\n Over time, he said, those daily choices compound. “You start to add that up every day, it’s a ton of money.”<\/p>\n He said the issue shows up most clearly among younger workers early in their careers, especially those earning around $60,000 a year in larger cities, where daily convenience spending can quietly pile up. According to O’Leary, small purchases like takeout lunches, coffee runs, and other routine expenses can add up to as much as $15,000 a year when left unchecked.<\/p>\n Trending: Designed for investors with strong market convictions, REX Shares builds ETFs for income, leverage, and tactical positioning \u2014 explore the lineup.<\/a><\/p>\n Real Cost Of Everyday Convenience<\/p>\n See Also: Own the Characters, Not Just the Content: Inside a Fast-Growing Pre-IPO IP Company<\/a><\/p>\n What Happens After The Savings<\/p>\n Once you’ve saved that $15,000 a year by mastering the art of the 99-cent turkey club and the home-brewed roast, a new question shows up: what do you actually do with all those sandwich savings?<\/p>\n Read Next: From Moxy Hotels to $12B in Real Estate \u2014 The Firm Behind NYC’s Trendiest Properties Is Letting Individual Investors In.<\/a><\/p>\n Image: Imagn<\/p>\n Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n