We set out with a goal this month: stick to a £150-per-week food budget. How did we manage it? Honestly—sometimes I’m not quite sure! But the numbers are in, and there’s a lot to share.
Life Got Busy, But We Still Budgeted
March was a whirlwind, and while I consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to meal planning and budgeting, even I had a few curveballs thrown my way. I’m usually super structured—weekly menus, precise shopping lists, and calculating exactly what we need for each week. But sometimes, life doesn’t go by the plan… and that’s okay.
Despite the chaos, March brought us so many amazing family moments. Here are just a few highlights:
- 🎤 The Brit Awards and a Barnsley FC match (Week 9 wrapped up with a bang!)
- 🎶 Seeing The Wombats in concert
- 🐕 Family walks with the dogs
- 💑 A rare and wonderful weekend away in the Lakes with my fiancée
Honestly, it was one of those months that reminded me why we budget in the first place—to make space for the moments that really matter.
How Did We Do on the Food Budget?
Let’s break it down from the last few weekly posts, finishing off with Week 14 which kicks off April.
- Week 10: £122.72 (including toiletries)
- Week 11: £114.02 (including toiletries)
- Week 12: £212.05 (including toiletries)
- Week 13: £134.92 (including toiletries)
👉 Total for March: £947.58
👉 Weekly Average (Food Shop Only): £150.66
Now, full transparency—yes, there were takeaways and cheeky treats. Our “Guilty Foods” spend came to an extra £363.87 over the four weeks. That works out to around £75 per week in extras.
Could we have cut that down? Sure. But honestly, given the amazing places we went and the memories we made, I’m more than okay with it.
How Do We Compare?
The average UK family spends around £42 per person per week just on groceries. For a family of five, that’s £210 per week—or £840 over four weeks.
With our total March spend at £947.58, including treats and takeaways, we only went over by about £107—and we lived a little! If we skipped the treats altogether, our saving would’ve been close to £300 for the month. Over a year, that’s nearly £4,000 saved just by being smart and planning ahead.
Kicking Off April – Week 14 Snapshot
- Food Shop: £153.31
- Guilty Foods (Takeaways & Treats): £32.08
- Daily Food Cost per Person: £3.79
A great start to the new month!
What We Ate This Week
This week was super chilled. Work was busy, so we leaned into easy meals and family favourites:
- Monday: Leftover Chinese Fried Rice
- Tuesday: Chicken, Potatoes & Veg
- Wednesday: Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese
- Thursday: Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
- Friday: Freezer Friday
- Saturday: Chilli Cheese Hot Dogs
- Sunday: Quesadillas
I wasn’t too active on social media or the blog last week because, let’s face it, sometimes you just need to unplug and enjoy the moment.
March Memories – Priceless
If I had to choose a standout memory from the month… well, I couldn’t. They all meant something special. Watching Barnsley win with my son, his first gig seeing The Wombats in Leeds, and that dreamy weekend away in the Lakes—it was the kind of month that made every penny of the budget worth it.
What’s Coming in April
Here’s what I’m excited to share in April:
- 🐣 Easter Hot Cross Buns
- 🧀 Cheese Toasties for National Grilled Cheese Day
- 🌱 Asparagus Season Recipes
- 🧺 Picnic Ideas for Spring Days Out
What are you most looking forward to? Got a recipe you want me to try? Drop it 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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