Look on the bright side - you wouldn't have had time to eat it anyway. Oh wait - if the money was there, you wouldn't have wasted all your break time on the phone... Yep, that's a double FYL, OP.

You always call your place of employment first, if your pay check wasn't deposited. They can tell you very quickly whether your pay was processed on time and how it's being delivered. I work in payroll.

You have to learn to budget a little better. I live paycheck to paycheck as well, but being disciplined with finances is an important skill to learn, especially when it determines whether or not you will have enough funds to eat.

That's actually illegal an employer can have serious fines for forgetting to pay their employees.

Lol How would your bank know where your check is anyways? You should have known to call your employer first thing. THEY are the ones making ACH payment to you. Silly girl. :)

that would be illegal

Don't suffer in silence. Borrow lunch money from someone.

Justice dictates that your boss owes you lunch.

If it happens again, don't come in for a day and tell your boss that you forgot they needed you to work.

CupOfSoup costs a buck and has vegetables for $1. Buy some for emergencies. Also if you are THAT strapped for cash you should stop buying lunch out and bring lunch. It is significantly cheaper.