As a mum of two, managing a household budget has always been a top priority. Like many families, our food bill was one of the biggest expenses each month. Between snacks, last-minute convenience foods, and meal requests from my kids, it felt like money was disappearing faster than I could keep track of it. That’s when I decided to take control, and the solution turned out to be a simple but effective strategy I now call the ‘restaurant rule.’
The idea behind the restaurant rule is straightforward: treat meals at home like dining out at a restaurant. At first, it sounded odd, but the concept transformed how we approached food shopping, meal planning, and even eating together as a family. The results? We slashed £200 off our monthly food bill without feeling deprived, and mealtime became more enjoyable and less stressful.
Here’s how it works.
1. Limited Options, Like a Menu
In a restaurant, diners have a menu to choose from, but the options are limited. I applied this principle at home. Instead of asking my kids what they wanted to eat every day—a process that often led to long debates and wasteful food choices—I created a weekly “menu.”
Each week, I planned out 5-7 meal options and let my kids choose from those. This gave them some sense of control while keeping me in charge of what we were buying. It also meant I could stock up on ingredients I knew we’d actually use, cutting down on impulse purchases and last-minute takeout orders.
2. Stick to Portion Sizes
Restaurants portion meals carefully to minimize waste, so I started doing the same. I paid attention to how much food we were actually eating and adjusted my cooking accordingly. For example, instead of cooking an entire bag of pasta, I’d measure out just enough for the four of us.
This simple change not only reduced leftovers (which often went uneaten) but also meant I wasn’t buying more food than we needed. Over time, I realized just how much money I’d been wasting by overestimating how much we could eat in one sitting.
3. Special Occasions Stay Special
In a restaurant, desserts or treats are something you look forward to—they’re not an everyday occurrence. I applied this mindset at home, too. Instead of buying endless snack foods or sugary treats during weekly grocery trips, we made them an occasional treat.
This not only saved money but also made treats feel more special. The kids now get excited about baking cookies together on the weekend instead of expecting them to appear in the cupboard every day.
4. The Importance of Planning
The restaurant rule works best with a bit of organization. Meal planning became a family activity, with my kids helping to choose meals from our “menu” for the week. It gave them a sense of involvement and reduced complaints at dinnertime because they’d already had their say.
5. Unexpected Benefits
Beyond the financial savings, the restaurant rule brought unexpected benefits. Mealtime became less chaotic, and my kids learned about the value of food and money. We’ve even started enjoying more meals together as a family, with less stress about what’s for dinner.
By treating our kitchen like a restaurant, I not only slashed our food bill by £200 a month but also brought more order and joy into our home. It’s proof that small changes can make a big difference—and anyone can do it!
