Finance Experts Warn ‘Treat Creep’ Is Costing Brits Hundreds Of Pounds A Year

Experts are warning Brits about a new trend dubbed the ‘treat creep’ – the quiet rise in prices on everyday little pick-me-ups that’s now draining hundreds more a year from people’s pockets without them realising.  

The now-viral £2 McDonald’s hash brown becomes the latest warning sign, with finance experts at Unbiased saying it’s only the start. Takeaway coffees, meal deals and everyday snacks are shooting up in price, quietly piling pressure on household budgets. 

ONS data shows food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose 4.5% year-on-year. Greggs, for example, a classic sausage roll now sets hungry Brits back £1.35, while a latte is 10p more expensive, showing that familiar purchases are steadily creeping higher.  

6 popular items that have shot up in price in the past year 

Recent examples show how sharply some familiar favourites have moved: 

·       McDonald’s hash brown: £1.50 to £1.99 = 33% increase 

·       Greggs’ sausage roll: £1.30 to £1.35 = 4% increase 

·       Iced latte from a high street café: £3.9^iv to £4.20 = 7% increase 

·       Tesco meal deal: £4 to £4.25 ^v= 6.25% increase 

·       Pret butter croissant: £2.70 to £3.10 = 14.8% increase 

·       Freddo: £0.30 to £0.35 = 16.7% increase 

What’s likely to rise next? 

Based on recent price patterns and supplier costs, here are more 5 expected jumps in 2026:  

1.       Fast-food sides like McDonalds small fries or chicken nuggets: £2.00 to £2.20-£2.40 

2.       Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (95g): £1.59 to £1.85 

3.       Morrisons’ Minced beef and onion pie: £1.25 to £1.50 

4.       Cinema tickets: £8^vi to £9-£9.50 before snacks and drinks 

5.       500ml Bottle of Diet Coke: £1.95 to £2.10 

“These are everyday purchases, not luxuries,” explains Karen Barrett, Founder and CEO of financial advice platform, Unbiased. “It’s a few pence here and there but it adds up fast. These small jumps can quietly cost households hundreds of pounds extra a year, which is money that could be going into savings, investments or essential bills instead.” 

5 steps to stay ahead of price rises 

Instead of old-school ‘cut back on everything’ advice, Unbiased suggests a more practical, strategic way to stay in control.  

1.       Check your micro‑spending patterns regularly, it helps you spot hidden price jumps without cutting treats completely. 

2.       Factor rising prices into your budget so you’re not caught off guard.  

3.       Protect your long-term money first keeping pensions, ISAs and repayments consistent.  

4.       Rebalance every few months to keep up with fast changing treat prices.  

5.       Keep a buffer in your disposable income for these unpredictable jumps. 

“The real danger isn’t one £2 hash brown,” Barrett adds. “It’s the lack of a financial plan, which is when treat creep quietly snowballs into a much bigger hit on your budget.” For personalised guidance on budgeting and savings visit https://www.unbiased.co.uk