What the percentages mean
The balanced default allocates 45% to food, 28% to drinks, 9% to table and serving needs, 8% to extras, and 10% to contingency. Food-first and drinks-first modes move the two largest categories while preserving forgotten essentials and the buffer.
These are planning prompts, not UK spending averages. Your event can move every number. The strongest discipline is keeping the total fixed.
Why there are no live prices
This calculator deliberately does not claim live supermarket prices. Prices change by retailer, location, pack and promotion. Enter a budget you know you can afford and price your exact menu; any future comparison must show a dated capture with standard and loyalty prices recorded separately.
Version and test status
Version 0.1, 19 August 2026. Allocation totals and edge cases are automated. Dated UK price baskets are required before price-comparison content launches.
Questions people ask
How much should I spend per guest?
The site does not prescribe a universal amount. The result divides the total you chose by adjusted guest count, helping you judge whether the current plan fits before committing to a menu.
Sources and assumptions
- MoneyHelper — Budget planner — accurate figures, consistent household scope and budget reconciliation
- Office for National Statistics — consumer price inflation — price-change context; not a live basket