As the sun made its long-awaited return to the UK, we soaked up every last drop—and yes, we may have slightly scorched our budget in the process. But was it worth it? 100% yes. This week was all about sunshine, seaside trips, and serious eats, with a family BBQ to remember and a spontaneous Sunday at the beach.
Let’s break down the numbers, the meals, and the moments that made this week one to savour.
🟡 Family, Food & Sun-Soaked Memories
With record-breaking UK heat, we couldn’t resist throwing not one but two BBQs back-to-back. On Saturday, we welcomed family from London with garden blankets, bean bags, deck chairs, and a feast fit for 13 hungry guests. There were burgers, sausages, salads, king kebab, and of course, music, prosecco, beers, and mocktails flowing freely.
Sunday took us to Bridlington for a classic family day out—think sandy toes, seafront strolls, fish and chips, and an impressive investment in 2p machines. The nostalgia was thick, and so was the batter on our fried haddock.
💷 Weekly Food Budget Breakdown
Our goal is to stick to £150 per week (including toiletries). This week? Not quite. But here’s how the numbers crunched:
- 🛒 Food Shop Total: £257.93
(£106.18 of that was dedicated to our epic family BBQ) - 🍟 Takeaways & Treats: £96.44
- 👨👩👧👦 Daily Spend Per Person: £10.13
Our highest-spending week in a while, but when you weigh it against the memories made, it’s hard to call it anything but a win.
📊 How We Compare to the UK Average
According to the latest 2024 figures, the average family of five spends around £210 per week on food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Even with our splurge, we’re still sitting in the ballpark—and with a bit more planning (and spice) than your average trolley run. Plus, we fed 13 people, enjoyed fish and chips by the sea, and made meals last with leftovers.
🍽 What We Ate This Week
Here’s a look at our deliciously chaotic menu:
- Monday: Loaded Jacket Potatoes with Coleslaw, Cheese & Beans
- Tuesday: Freezer Raid Dinner (aka, surprise supper)
- Wednesday: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Cheddar Courgette Waffles
- Thursday: Chicken Wings Two Ways + Couscous & Tomato Mozzarella Salad
- Friday: Impromptu BBQ Night
- Saturday: Family BBQ Feast
- Sunday: Fish & Chips at the Beach
From midweek slow-cooker wins to seaside treats and garden grilling, it was a week of real food and real joy.
🌱 Coming Up in May on Looks Good Let’s Eat
There’s more tasty goodness on the horizon! Keep your eyes peeled for:
- 🥐 Homemade Scones for weekend brunching
- 🐟 Hand of Cod – a cheeky fish dish for the whole fam
- 🍛 Vegetable Curry – warming, cheap, and packed with goodness
- 🥪 British Sandwich Week Ideas – creative and crave-worthy combos
💬 Let’s Chat
What’s your all-time favourite budget meal? I’d love to hear from you—and if you’re happy to share, I might just feature your recipe on the blog!
Until next time…
Real life. Real food. Real budgeting.
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