Small Changes, Big Savings: My Journey to Eating Cleaner (and Spending Less)

It’s February & it feels like we are getting into the new year now, just keeping a check on any ‘new starts’ we said we would do last month.

Speaking personally, in 2025 I found myself watching the news and reading more about ultra-processed food. It made me stop and think about what I was eating, and I decided to go on a journey to see how I could eat more “cleanly”. Unexpectedly, I found I was saving money along the way.

Don’t get me wrong, this hasn’t been a complete overhaul. I still eat processed food and I’m very much finding my feet. Trying to change everything at once can be a fast route to giving up, so I’ve focused on one small change at a time. For me, that started with cooking from scratch a little more often. Planning meals, buying basic ingredients and reducing impulse food shopping meant fewer last-minute takeaways and less food waste — all of which helped my bank balance.

This experience has reminded me that saving money doesn’t always come from strict budgeting or cutting out everything enjoyable. Often, it comes from being more intentional. Cooking one extra meal at home each week, checking what’s already in the fridge before shopping, or swapping a branded product for an own-brand alternative can make a noticeable difference over time.

January is a great month to review habits, but it’s important to be realistic. Small, manageable changes are far more sustainable than drastic ones. Whether it’s tracking spending for a month, cancelling an unused subscription, or setting aside a small weekly amount into savings, progress doesn’t have to be dramatic to be effective.

Throughout this year, I’ll be sharing tips I discover along the way, alongside other practical money-saving advice. None of it will be about perfection — just simple ideas that help stretch our money a little further and make everyday life that bit easier.

My first start: homemade ham. It contains fewer preservatives such as nitrates, less sodium, and you get so much more than a few slices of slimy ham — you can even make an evening meal from it as well.

Buy a fresh pork leg or shoulder. I generally put my ham in a large pot with any vegetables you have to hand, along with salt, pepper and spices such as bay leaves or cinnamon (it’s up to you what spices you’d like to try). Put this on a slow simmer for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Once boiled, drain and remove any excess fat. Make a quick coating using honey and mustard, place the ham in an ovenproof dish and coat it with the mixture. Cook in the oven or air fryer for around 30 minutes, basting halfway through.

Once cooled, thinly slice and store in the fridge in an airtight container. You’ll have made far more than you could buy in the supermarket — and you’ll know exactly what’s in it.