So here we are — a new year and the same goal: saving money by being smarter with our food spending.
Last year, I set out to stick to a £150-per-week food budget. Working out how we managed over the year was a bit of a mission, but we did well overall, and you can find the full breakdown in the 2025 end-of-year review.
Honestly, there are moments when I’m not quite sure how we keep it up, especially when the odd guilty treat sneaks in, but that balance is exactly what makes it sustainable.
How Did We Do on the Food Budget?
January certainly didn’t start quietly. With Christmas and New Year celebrations still in full swing, food was indulgent, comforting, and exactly what it should be at that time of year.
We enjoyed plenty of home-cooked favourites, including slow cooker pulled pork, salmon rice bowls, General Tso’s chicken, and a proper Burns Night with haggis, neeps and tatties. Breakfasts featured homemade tattie scones, and we also celebrated our niece’s birthday with a mountain of cupcakes and a butterfly birthday cake.
It was one of those months that really reminded me why we budget, great food doesn’t have to break the bank.
January Weekly Food Spend
As with every month, our shopping is based around payday. January included five weekly shops, as we shop on Saturdays and include household toiletries.
- Week 2 (3rd): £119.66
- Week 3 (10th): £156.27
- Week 4 (17th): £171.53
- Week 5 (24th): £182.74
- Week 6 (31st): £145.25
👉 Total for January: £775.45
👉 Weekly Average (Food Shop Only): £155.09
For full transparency, we also spent £36.33 on “Guilty Foods” over the five weeks, around £7.27 per week on treats and takeaways.
That’s the power of planning. When meals are filling, homemade, and genuinely enjoyable, extra spending naturally stays in check.
How Do We Compare?
The average UK family spends around £44 per person per week on food. For a family of five, that’s roughly £220 per week, or £880 across a typical four-week month.
Our total January spends, including treats and takeaways, came to £811.78, and it’s worth remembering this was a five-week month.
If we kept this up all year, we could save over £3,000. Even better, it gives us flexibility. If a month runs a little higher, there’s room to absorb it without stress.
Monthly Memories
January’s standout memory must be baking a huge birthday cake for our niece, with a helping hand from our daughter, who did a brilliant job.
Burns Supper was another highlight, especially seeing the kids enjoy haggis for the first time. Simple moments, good food, and time together, exactly what it’s all about.
What’s Coming in February
February is shaping up to be cosy and comforting, with plenty to look forward to, including:
- Slow cooker favourites
- Leek and thyme mash
- Lamb and lentil shepherd’s pie
- Baked cod in parsley sauce
- Chocolate fondants
For more recipes click here
If there’s a recipe, you’d love me to try, let me know in the comments.
And before you go; what’s your favourite budget meal? I’d love to hear it and maybe even feature it in a future post.
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