How Our Family Made Budgeting Work During the Cost of Living Crisis

Like so many families right now, I’m very aware of the cost of living crisis. Everything feels more expensive; the food shop, petrol, bills, even eating out. I’m lucky that we have two incomes in our home, but when I was planning for the arrival of our third child, reality hit hard.

On maternity leave, my income was going to drop to just £187.18 a week for 20 weeks. Add a new baby into the mix, a teenager with growing needs, cars to run, and all the usual bills of family life  and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Honestly? I felt stressed and worried. But instead of letting the fear take over, I decided to take control of our family budget.

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Facing the Numbers

One evening, we sat down at the kitchen table, spread out the bills, and looked at everything: what was coming in, what was going out, and where our money was quietly disappearing.

It wasn’t comfortable, but it was eye-opening. We saw the small habits that added up to our family overspending!  Once we spotted the areas of concern, we could make changes. To make it easier to keep track, we started using a simple planner at home, the kind you can stick on the fridge and update weekly [https://amzn.to/41PTcuK]. Having it in plain sight really helped us stay accountable.

Small Changes That Made a Big Difference

We didn’t overhaul our lives overnight. Instead, we focused on making small but realistic changes. Meal planning was the first big step. Writing everything down for the week not only stopped the endless “what’s for dinner?” conversations but also reduced our food waste. A weekly meal planner board [https://amzn.to/4npiqs8] became one of our best buys.

Cooking together also became something we looked forward to. I leaned heavily on my slow cooker [https://amzn.to/4gjeQgU] because it let me make bigger batches of food that stretched across several meals. Not only was this cheaper, but it also saved me time, which with a large family is a god send.

When it came to family time, we swapped expensive outings for low-cost days out. Walks, parks, and picnics became our go-to. Even investing in a decent picnic set [https://amzn.to/47VzSQH] made these simple days feel like an occasion. At home, we played games instead of going out, and something as small as adding a new board game like Dobble [https://amzn.to/4gsUf9V] kept everyone entertained without spending a fortune.

The Hard Parts

There were definitely challenges. Birthdays and holidays tested our budget more than anything else. The difference this time was that we planned for them. I bought presents gradually and stashed them away so I wasn’t panicking at the last minute. Amazon’s Subscribe & Save [https://amzn.to/4mXuocH] also helped cut costs on the things we buy regularly, like nappies and wipes. Those small savings added up over time.

Takeaways were another sticking point. Instead of cutting them completely, we created “fakeaways” at home. Sometimes that meant a homemade curry, other times it was a simple pizza night. It wasn’t about never treating ourselves, but about making those treats cheaper and more intentional.

And one thing we refused to cut was our family holidays. Getting away together is something we truly value. Rather than feeling guilty, we budgeted for it ahead of time. That mindset shift — that budgeting doesn’t mean giving up everything you love — made it sustainable for us.

Celebrating Wins Along the Way

The first big win I noticed was how quickly the savings grew each week. Our food shop dropped from £130 a week to around £85, simply by planning meals and being smarter with storage. Having proper airtight containers [https://amzn.to/4geY7Ls] meant leftovers actually got eaten instead of ending up in the bin.

I also managed to plan and pay for birthdays in advance, which felt like such a relief. No more last-minute panic buying. And the best moment was enjoying a holiday we’d already paid for. It felt so much better knowing we could relax without money worries hanging over us.

What I’ve Learned

Before all this, I was far more wasteful than I realised. Budgeting forced me to take a closer look at my habits, and that shift has stayed with me even after maternity leave. We actually have more disposable income now, not because we earn more, but because we’re not throwing money away.

That doesn’t mean I get it right all the time. There are still weeks when I overspend. The difference is, I don’t beat myself up anymore. I know our budget balances out and, as long as I’m making informed choices, I feel in control.

And if we can do it, anyone can.

Final Thoughts

Budgeting with a family isn’t about living with restrictions. It’s about freedom, control, and choosing what really matters. The cost of living crisis is tough, but even small, consistent changes can make a huge difference.

That’s why I created a free Family Budget Planner — it’s the exact method I used to cut our weekly shop, pay for holidays, and stress less about money. You can grab it here [https://www.everyday3dit.co.uk/2025/08/subscribe-now.html?m=1] and start your own journey toward financial freedom today.

And if you’re looking for practical tools to make the process easier, a weekly meal planner board, a slow cooker, and simple food storage containers were some of the best investments we made along the way.