I’m obsessed with food.

As a true Taurean, moving to France was dangerously good for me—temptation is everywhere! 🇫🇷✨

Luckily, French delicacies live up to their name: small, refined, and utterly divine. They remind me to slow down, savour every bite, and taste the magic rather than devour it.

And don’t even get me started on the supermarchés and markets! Imagine walking into what feels like a blend of Fortnum’s and Selfridges but for everyday shopping. My local Leclerc? Think towering displays of vibrant produce, fresh seafood, and artisanal treats, glistening under a cool, refreshing mist.  It’s food heaven—every single day. 🍷🧀

So, it’s challenging to be sensible! But as a list-loving girl I always take mine or else I’m lost for hours. 

Meal planning for me is a Saturday morning, James Martin on the tv, cookbooks and coffee whilst I decide what scrumptiousness I can rustle up for the week. 

This is my top tip to avoid food overwhelm and fatigue on the daily – if I don’t fancy something after I’ve planned for it, there’s always a variety of options I can exchange for. Minimising waste is important so I’m glad we got a separate (small) freezer.

What goes on my plate is usually a bit too much so I’m working on that.

Doing much the same with your income, making a plan and not going overboard will be a great system if getting in a tizzy is a regular occurrence for you.

Budgeting IS portion control. 

It doesn’t mean you’re restricted it simply means you have a plan – plans can change but without a plan anything can happen. And it usually does. 

So, if budgeting were a plate of food, I’d divide it into 3 portions for optimum balance:

1. Things I need – all the can’t live without payments such as rent, mortgage, council tax, debt repayments, utilities, food & transport

2. Things I want – I can live without these but it’s what life is all about! Lunches out, new clothes, new pots for my garden, theatre tickets, gifts…

3. Savings for my future – near and far. – Emergency “just in cases” as well as home renovations and pensions.

How it gets divided up is up to you in your current season of life. 

The traditional method of 50%, 30% 20% respectively is a good guide but it is probably going to be different for you.

Take the young couple living with one of their parents, and saving for their first home. Their needs are 25% of their joint income which is rent contribution, mobiles, commuting and food for example.

They decide to allocate 25% to the things they want so that they don’t get disheartened with their savings goal and still get to enjoy going out with friends regularly. 

This means that HALF of their joint income gets saved. This may vary, perhaps they have a wedding to go to and need to buy a gift as well as new clothes. Maybe that month they save less vs other months. The beauty of forward planning! 

It always starts with what is most meaningful to you, right now and in the next year or two. Don’t forget to do this essential groundwork of discovering what you really want  or you’ll be driving in the wrong direction and getting totally lost.

Right, time for tea & cake.

Was this helpful? Do tell me in the comments.

Love from

Lucy x