Family Matters

Real advice for real households — money, food, fun and freebies, written for families in and around Lincoln. Pick a section below to see the latest articles.

Family Finances

Straightforward help with household budgets, bills, benefits and the quiet wins that keep a family's money on track.

Getting on top of the household budget

A plain-English starting point for families who want to feel more in control of the monthly money, without the jargon.

24 Apr 2026

Family Food

Real recipes, shopping logic and meal planning written for busy families — not food-blog theatre.

Cream of the crop — why M&S just quietly won the soup aisle

After the baked beans verdict, I expected the same story with cream of chicken soup. What I actually found is more useful for shoppers: own-brand isn't a level playing field, and at 60p a tin, M&S has just quietly outclassed everyone.

25 Apr 2026
The 42p tin of beans — why Heinz's price tag just doesn't stack up

Three tins, three very different price tags, one nutrition panel that flips the brand-loyalty assumption on its head. What Asda, Branston and Heinz baked beans actually tell you when you read the small print.

24 Apr 2026
Shopping smarter without eating worse

Real recipes and shopping logic for busy households — no food-blog theatre, no 30-ingredient reductions.

24 Apr 2026

Family Fun

Activities, days out and rainy-afternoon ideas that keep everyone entertained without a second mortgage.

Rainy afternoons, sorted

Local and at-home ideas for keeping everyone entertained when the weather won't play ball.

24 Apr 2026

Family Freebies

Genuine local freebies — council offers, freecycle finds, free days out and the occasional too-good-to-miss deal.

Where to find real local freebies

The genuine free stuff — council offers, Freecycle, free days out — curated so you don't have to wade.

24 Apr 2026

Want to write for Family Matters?

We're building a local editorial team. If you've got something useful to share — a recipe, a budgeting tip, a free day out that worked for your family — get in touch at editorial@lincoln.life.