The cost of eating out is a different kettle of fish; Forward points to the social pressure many of us face to go out and spend on meals and drinks. “It can be a tricky situation to navigate but remember that you can always compromise and suggest a more affordable alternative. Swap a brunch for a coffee, a croissant and a walk. Pick a BYOB place instead. Throw a dinner party instead of going to an overpriced restaurant.”

Should we be spending more on our food, or are we actually wasting our hard-earned cash? “I think we need to understand that we are what we eat and a healthy, balanced diet today will help you avoid the cost of living with long-term health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes in the future,” says Swabel. “This current pandemic has been a good example: those with healthier diets and lifestyles were less likely to fall very ill with Covid and therefore suffer the physical and financial impact of the virus.”

Forward also stresses how important our health and wellness are. If we’re looking to curb our spending, it’s worth thinking about slashing any app subscriptions, streaming services, clothes, etc before you try to cut down your food budget. “Money should be about balance; of course, building up your savings is important, but don’t forget to treat yourself.”

That means seeing food and nutrition as a priority; we need to eat well to live well, and once we start to see our meals, snacks and social dinners as necessary parts of our wellbeing, it may elevate those complicated feelings.

Food guilt: 250 women on why they feel guilty about how much they spend on food