What will you no longer spend money on post-lockdown?

[EinsteinaGogo]

I've had a bit of a wake up call, as i am lucky that my bank account is a lot healthier right now.

I normally work in London and fritter tonnes away on coffee, Pret lunches and random odd things from TK Maxx each week.

I'm shocked at what I've wasted.

Whenever / if ever we can go back, I'm definitely not buying lunch or coffee every day again.

Anyone else the same?,

Less new stuff, more second hand on ebay. I've bought some great things recently. Furniture in particular.

Fringe cuts. I do a better job than my hairdresser who never actually listens to me about what length I want it!

Probably less in Boots. I used to pop in a lot and impulse buy a few bits which definitely adds up. I haven't bought anything toiletry wise during lockdown apart from nail polish remover - and I haven't run out of anything!

I will go back to coffee shops as I enjoy going with a friend or on my own and don't see it as a waste of money. Probably £5-10 for a couple of coffees and a cake over a couple of hours. Far cheaper than a night out.

Oh and I’d like to spend my money in small shops/cafes rather than big businesses. I think that’s going to be vital to support local business.

Holidays abroad. My family were already reticent and this has swung it :-(

More on meat from our lcoal butcher. I have been in the habit of buying Aldi meat (which is fine) but now I am spending more money on less meat that is better quality and I k now where it has come from.

I am also squirelling money away into a savings account for when we can go on a holiday again. I have already saved over £500 just from not spending money on alcohol, takeaways and bought sandwiches.

Next year I want to take us all away (with DParents and DSIS and her family) to somewhere lovely- my cousin has 2 weeks a year at an Italian villa that looks really amazing - that is currently my savings goal.

@limesoda I think people will go back to having coffees, I'm sure after a few months when people are properly back at work they will need the quick pick me up that a caffeine shot provides.

I'm going to spend more post lockdown when our income hopefully goes up again. Cannot wait!

Clothes. I've bought so many discounted clothes on line this last month that my wardrobe is not going to need any additions for at least a year! Shoes - had a clear out and found lovely shoes I'd forgotten I even had. No more shoe buying.

Coffee
Holidays
Clothes that's dont fit
Crap ready made crafts for DD. We can use junk at home
Gym membership (that I've never used)
Easily accessible snacks from supermarkets- I can just make stuff at home

I feel a bit sorry for hairdressers. I’ll be there as soon as mine opens her doors!

I can't think of anything. I never bought coffee out and I made my own lunch. I can't wait to get back to the gym because I hate running and working out at home. I also can't wait to have my hair coloured, my brows waxed and my eyelashes lifted! I haven't really saved much more money, except for not needing petrol and not having to attend a hen weekend. I've been spending the money I've saved on extra gymnastics equipment for my DD as her club is obviously closed. Also buying more DIY and decor stuff for around the house. It's taught me that I can always find something to spend my money on 😂

DDs piano lessons @ £15 a week. She's hasn't been on the piano once since mid March so clearly isn't that bothered.

Dog sitter. DD, DMum and I have worked out a new rota to walk DDog. Crazy spending £1500 a year.

Just random shopping trips, we would quite happily go to our local, small edge of town and spend £100 on tat in TKMax, Poundland, M&S food. Ridiculous.

Stagecoach for my girls the fees are just 😲 but swimming lessons will stay because they looo forward to them every week.
Beauty products. I'm slowly making my way through what I have after that's gone will only buy what works for me. No more experimenting.
Takeaways! We used to get them for convenience but we have lost weight since lockdown due to the healthier meals so hoping to adopt this lifestyle rather than just fostering.
Another one for ready made craft kits. My girls have been really creative by their own merit during lockdown. LOL dolls, I've realised they haven't been touched during lockdown. They were a massive drain on the finances. Showers gels...I've rediscovered my love of bar soap, currently using a molten brown and its lovely.

Fine dining and sitting in beautiful champagne bars are my main pleasures in life. I have missed them so badly and the saved money is no compensation. If I thought I would NEVER have those things back, I'd just give up now.

I've spent £300 on Amazon this month and still have more money left than I usually do. I blame it on shopping 3/4 times a week buying fresh stuff all the time and not checking the freezer first.

@justkeeprunning5 why are you having boring sandwiches in lockdown? If you're at home surely you could vary your lunches much more? Not only more interesting sandwiches but "on toast" lunches, soup, omelettes, smaller portions of main meals/leftovers?

I've been in a "self imposed" lockdown for 2.5 years nearly (agoraphobia) so my spending was already fairly limited.

However I've still saved as a result of lockdown as I'm back to cooking proper meals (before I was eating ready to eat stuff which became hard to get and at least one takeaway a week which has been affected not had a takeaway since before it all kicked off) and while I'm eating more volume wise I've actually lost weight too.

I've been cutting my own hair for years too as I don't like strangers touching me. It's long but not straight as it has a natural curl/wave. I used to have a lovely cheap hairdresser but I hear she's retired. I've never paid more than £20 to a hairdresser and that's included colours

I've not seen how dd looks during lockdown, could be interesting as her hair is VERY curly and hard to cut!

I had coincidentally just bought a load of new clothes from next just before the lockdown having not bought any for almost 2 years at that point. I will definitely be shopping with them again once they're back to normal deliveries (I can't cope with doorstep deliveries)

@Graphista I am making other things for myself including jacket potatoes, soup, salads when time allows (back to back meetings most days)... I think it’s the constant tidying up after myself that is the worst bit and having to have a few days of the same kind of thing to use things up

crossfit membership - 3 classes a week at 140 euro a month.
I've really enjoyed working out at home and walking/jogging. I've loved listening to podcasts on my morning walks.
Have got back into exercising after eating a tonne of crap during lockdown.

Will be cutting down on bought lunches at work. I'm expecting to be working 50% WFH permanently after this, so will have more time to prep lunches for the times I'm in.

Otherwise, no real changes. I've never bought coffee out, spent lots of money on clothes, gym memberships etc.

Starbucks. Why on earth was I paying £2.50 for a drink? I now pay for the same for a whole jar of
Beanies flavoured coffee instead.

Gosh, where do I start ?. First of all I went through everything we didn't actually need and cancelled everything on that list : clubs , societies gym , Nat Trust , magazine subscriptions, Sky Sports and NowTV - some of these I didn't even realise we were still paying until I downgraded my bank account and got a new debit card. I then took a comparison site to all our insurance and utilities and saved a small fortune there. I then looked at food shopping, got out my grannies cookbook with all her notes and I've cut our bills by 70% ( but then there's only the two of us now - kids have flown , unfortunately ) . Deleted links to Amazon but kept eBay. I was looking at a new car but that is going to wait , maybe two years. Looking forward : - may renew my gym membership but the rest will go permanently. Food, I will definitely stay where I am on that and pass the continental cheeses, deli counter, posh Marks and Spencer ready meals, sweets and chocolate hobnobs. I even pass on the Prosecco. Husband refuses to sell is Austin Allegro or cancel his Railway magazine but he binned the rest. bless him. He also found a prehistoric Mayfair mag at the back of his garage/man cave and I seem to be wearing stockings and suspenders more than I was - not that I'm complaining and unlikely to get pregnant at 46 , surely ?. Garden is looking really good too. Some advantages to Mr Man being Furloughed. Seeds being sown all around then

Yea I get why that's a drag @justkeeprunning5 I was going off what you first posted though

I won't be getting my nails done again. My gels have grown out and they are slowly getting back to the pre acrylic state from about 5 years ago. That'll save at least £300 a year.

Won't be buying a daily coffee on my way into work and buying lunch at the same time. I've a nespresso machine at home, and was spending at least £40 a week - I was just lazy and its costing me £1900 a year!

I am also shopping more conciously and efficiently and have noticed far less food waste, so I'm probably saving £30 a month.

Its eye opening and shocking that I was happy to waste at least £2500 a year.

Take out coffees
Diesel - cheaper but also working from home 2 days a week until retirement.
Opportune M and S Food hall bits -as huge one near my workplace.
Buying all beauty products online from same supplier - need to be more organised but worth the savings.
Hair Colour - did my own and think it looks ok -will still go to salon but not so often I think.
Clothes for work enough to see me to retiral now
Foreign holidays- to be honest won't miss airport hassle.
Tutor for DS - exams not happening here and hopefully his predicted grades will be what he needs.
Gym membership - keeping fit without the hype
Will spend more on
New bathroom - been planning since lockdown was initially going to be modest but plans have went a bit crazy since we have had time to think.
Bigger telly used to think they were a bit naff but lets face it there is going to be a lot of telly watching this winter
Bigger fridge
Candles and fresh flowers - have missed both immensely so when I can shop freely will buy better and more often.