I don’t know about you but every time I visit the supermarket or need to buy some essentials for one of the kids, I am shocked at the prices. Everything is going up, except my wages!!
Does this sound familiar?
Becoming a parent can be incredible, filled with boundless love, endless laundry, and often, unexpected expenses, especially trying to feed them all, and ensure you are all eating healthy and having the nutrition you need.
I am going to share with you some money saving tips you may find useful to help you stretch every penny without compromising on quality, family time. or essential needs. Let’s dive in and discover how small changes can lead to big savings!
Food can be one of the biggest weekly costs when you are raising a family, but small switches can save you money. Preparation and planning can be the key to saving money, especially if like me you are an impulse buyer. Going to the shops with no plan when you are hungry will guarantee you buy expensive items you don’t need and some of which you might end up throwing away.
The shops are very good at marketing and know how to place items to entice you into believing you need it. Preparation and planning are key.
Plan your family meals for the week and write yourself a shopping list and stick to it! It can be fun to include the kids; you might want to let them choose their favourite meal and cook that one night of the week.
Always check the cupboards, fridge, and freezer before you shop, you may have items you forgot about that are on your shopping list
Consider supermarket own brands, they are often made by the same company selling the more expensive version. Items such as pasta and rice can be so much cheaper, and the family won’t notice the difference.
Seek out the genuine offers and always check out the reduced section in the supermarket, I have found some amazing deals. The time you shop can determine how lucky you are as most reduced food is sold towards the end of the day, not at peak times. If you are able click and collect this can ensure you only order what you need, however, somebody else is picking your items and you may want to do this yourself.
Never forget to embrace your freezer if you have one. Cooking in batches is a lifesaver. If making spaghetti Bolognese or a mild veggie curry, double the recipe and freeze half. Not only does this save on energy as you are using the oven/hob once instead of twice, but it also prevents that expensive “we’re too tired to cook” takeout order on a Friday night.
Vegetables – we all want our family to eat vegetables as they are packed full of goodness and can bulk out a meal and fill tummies. How many times have you gone to your veg box and found carrots that have turned to mush because you forgot to cook them, I know I have. Consider frozen vegetables and fruit without feeling guilty. Vegetables and fruit are often frozen at the peak of freshness and contain just as many vitamins as fresh produce, and most importantly they don’t go slimy in the bottom of the fridge if you don’t use them in two days.
Meat free meals can cost less and if done right can be just as tasty and nutritious. Meat is often the most expensive part of a meal and having one or two meat free meals per week can reduce the cost of your weekly shop significantly. Consider meals such as lentil bolognese, vegetable curry, bean chilli, egg-fried rice or my favourite jacket potatoes with beans or cheese.
Social media: there are some great tips and advice available on Tik Tok and other platforms. I watched a video the other day of a woman who bought a large chicken and used it for different meals over two nights for her family and had enough left over to make sandwiches for lunches
Leftovers can be turned into lunches and snacks for another day. If you have lots of vegetables left, consider making soup. If you have potatoes leftover, make potato cakes for lunch the next day.
Some weeks will cost more and that’s okay.
Illness, busy schedules and a growth spurt all effect food budgets. Consistency over time matters more than perfection.
Food budgeting isn’t about restriction it’s about being in control of where your money goes. Just like shopping preloved, it’s a practical way to support your family without adding pressure.
For some families, especially during school holidays when free school meals stop and food costs increase, budgeting can feel overwhelming no matter how carefully you plan.
If things feel tight, please know this: you are not alone, and you are not failing.
Many families need extra support at different times, and using local food banks, community fridges or family charities is simply a way of getting through a difficult period. These services exist because people care and want to help, not because anyone has done something wrong.
Asking for help can be one of the strongest and most responsible things you do for your family.
Every family deserves to eat well and feel supported. Needing help at any point, whether temporarily or longer term, says nothing about your worth, your parenting, or the effort you’re making.
If you’re unsure where to start, your local council website, schools, health visitors or community centres can usually point you towards nearby food banks or charities.
From One Community to Another
At Tiny Treasures Market, we believe in community, and families supporting families. Just as buying and selling preloved helps make things a little easier, so does accepting help when you need it.
If this message reaches even one family who feels less alone, then it’s an important one to share.
