We’re a family of three – the surprising way we save on the weekly shop

Notably, the average UK household is spending almost £119 per week on food shopping, amounting to more than £6, 000 per year.

Key points

• We budget £120 per week for food for the three of us and £45 of that goes on four Hello Fresh dinners per week.
• Six golden rules for a happy, secure relationship by a psychiatrist of 20 years.
• In a new series, The I Paper asks families how they manage their weekly budget.
• I'm a food editor – the kitchen products I swear by under £25.
• The degrees to choose for a secure, well-paid career, according to experts.

In a new series, The I Paper asks families how they manage their weekly budget. This week, we hear from marketing professional Elen Notley, 34, regarding how she and her husband, a teacher, budget their outgoings for a family of three. Their daughter is almost three.

Two years ago we moved back to Cardiff, my home city, from the countryside to be close to my family, but it means our housing costs have rose. Our mortgage is £1, 700, which is £400 more than it applied to be in the countryside, and for less space. We have Sky, which is a major cost, council tax, car insurance on two cars and utilities.

We have tried to reduce our bills in any way that we can. We lately changed our life insurance as we felt we were paying too much but utilities alone have climbed a lot. Our water bill applied to be £30 per month and it's more than doubled now. We have no savings at the end of the month even with two full-time incomes. Both our incomes just cover our outgoings.

We budget £120 per week for food for the three of us and £45 of that goes on four Hello Fresh dinners per week. We order for two individuals and then split it between the three of us as my daughter won't eat a full-sized portion. We bulk them out a little. For example, if we obtain a chicken pasta recipe we'll add in some supermarket pasta that we have at home.

How to be more grateful for daily life in five straightforward steps.

I test drive electric cars – these are the ones to purchase, and to avoid.

10 foods that leave you hungrier – and what to eat instead. 10 ways to age without pain – according to a physiotherapist.

Meanwhile, the degrees to choose for a secure, well-paid career, according to experts.

Nine tricks chefs employ when cooking for friends – without spending loads.

Taken together, the developments around we're a family of three – the surprising way we save on point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.