My top tip is to cut down your direct debits. Go through your banking app and cut down unnecessary direct debits that you may have. For example you may have Spotify but do you really use it?
Secondly takeouts. Allow yourself £50 for example for takeouts every week which includes Starbucks, KFC, Chinese, breakfast everything!
Before you go food shopping, have a look in your kitchen cupboards, fridge and freezer and see what you already have. Then make a list of food you may want to eat next week which includes breakfast, lunches and dinners including snacks. If you like cereal for breakfast then write cereal and milk on your list etc and if you want fajitas for dinner one evening, then make a list what you already have at home and what you may need to buy from shops. Then make a list of any toiletries, household items that you may need for the week. Weekly shopping list like this helps save! Also when you go to the supermarket, go through each aisle whilst checking your list and pick items up. I think if I go food shopping without a list and start middle of Aldi or Tesco then I add random junk in my trolley that I don't even need and it adds up to £100s...
Think about any treats that you may wish to buy yourself each week. Maybe a nice jacket or new foundation or a new top for work? Only then allow yourself few treats a week. If you have bought nice stuff for yourself for this week then wait for next week to treat yourself. Remember a treat is a treat which means a nice surprise or luxury not necessity. I know friends who treat themselves multiple times a day which loses the essence of a treat.
Anyway always pay your bills on payday for the month. Then set yourself a shopping/food budget for each week for example £50-£200 depending on the size of your family.
Set yourself a budget each week for treats.
It's really that simple sometimes when you think about it. You can make your finances as complicated as you want or simple as you need. Obviously different things work for different people and this is what works for me
Always bills and direct debit on payday, then weekly shop then treats or takeout. Some weeks you don't need a treat
and obviously give yourself some spending money each month for socialising, birthdays, clubbing or whatever you enjoy.
I always put some money in my savings each month on payday and stick to my weekly spending budget. Take each week as it comes and before you know it, it's the next payday.