To ask how much money you have saved since lockdown?

[Cheapprimarkbra]

... Compared to same 12 days of the previous month (23rd - 3rd)? Not including the usual bills, subscriptions/direct debits and mortgage/rent, have you noticed a massive change your outgoings?

I am a self employed freelancer (as is DP) and we both rent, so definitely not an enviable position.
Between 22nd Feb and 3rd March, I just worked out that I alone spent roughly £384 on train tickets, clothes, coffees, online orders, meals out and takeaways. This same 12 days I have spent £78 (just food, essential office supplies and a cheeky lottery ticket), so that means my savings total up to about £306 in TWELVE days! I feel almost ashamed at how easily I would throw money away, and will definitely reflect on this whenever I go to buy something that I don't necessarily need in future.

It will be interesting to hear other peoples' savings stories!

Oh £200 hair and beauty but as soon as they reopen I'll be spending that so it's more of a postponement than a saving

No going out, no car parking fees for work, no petrol being used, no daily work lunches being brought in greggs/subway etc, x2 expensive hair appts cancelled, not using ££ hair products/make up etc so they are all lasting and I'm not having to purchase any ££ beauty stuff, we're making food last and no impulsive buying £ ingredients to make fancy meals. I'm lucky me and OH are still working at home and both on full pay.

I've saved about £80 a month on commuting costs but spent more than that on having to shop in local convenience stores because I can't get food delivery from supermarkets.

I think this thread is in really bad taste. Every penny you save is money not going into the economy and somebody's job lost. At a time like this I don't think it's something to celebrate.

@BarbaraofSeville DS took in the shopping - the driver was already back in his vehicle and heading off by the time I went out to help. But there was no paper receipt or list of substitutions and cost either, so it wasn't until we unpacked and I later discovered tht the receipt had been emailed to me that I clocked what they'd done. Some shops do only charge the same even if they substitute for something more expensive. Asda certainly has that policy. Sainsbury's defintely doesn't. Not sure about Morrisons but it looks as if they don't either...

I’m essential worker, LO 9 months in private nursery extra 2 days a week as grandparents cannot look after.. I’m probably neutral.

We would have saved a couple of thousand, however ds had a burst main pipe in his bedroom... therefore we needed to decorate top to botton, inc new furniture, so now minus XXX.

Not sure about Morrisons but it looks as if they don't either.

I thought that but there was a double star on the receipt where they adjusted mine- that was an item originally on offer though ..

Saving fuel but food bill shot up massively as having to buy branded rather than own brand goods. Also heat/ electricity costs gone up at home.

At a time like this I don't think it's something to celebrate I don’t think this is a gloaty thread at all. I think I and everyone on here who has managed to save knows they are lucky. And because I was able to save I took out a subscription with the big issue and made a donation to a children’s hospital that has personal significance.

Well we normally eat out 2/3 a week,buy our lunches,go to cinema etc,have hair done every 4 weeks/facial /nails once a week and coffee 2 /3 times a week And have bought no clothes make up etc.
So probably saving about £500 a month
But earnings (self employed )are well down so on balance am worse off
And if solvent once this is over will be going staght to the hairdresser /beautician followed by trip to town to spend BIG

I don't think I've saved anything! Had to spend more on food to ensure delivery (local butchers/greengrocers) and top up from the expensive corner shop instead of getting a Tesco delivery. Then spent £££ on equipment so I can WFH full time comfortably.

Much less. We were careful anyway I thought but this has really made me look at our spending.
Both working more hours so more pay and less time at home. Dh had to change jobs for now which is less money but less travel.
I’m putting everything straight into our emergency fun which wasn’t looking very good.

I’ve saved over £3000 but that’s because payday was bonus payday

My plan was to spend that immediately on new couches and carpet for the living room, I am WELL annoyed I can’t do that now!

Wish I was making savings, but I dont have large commuting costs or spend a lot on going out . online shopping has meant spending is still possible! What small savings i would have made have been more than taken up by increased grocery costs of having 4 teenage DC plus eldests BF at home all day eating me out of house and home

I'm up about £1,500 but it's never going to compensate for the loss of pension pot value or the impact on GDP and future depression/austerity, however it pans out for the economy No winners in this situation I'm afraid.

Sorry £500/week

No extracurricular activities which is approx £200 per month. DD was due to do an exam which has been cancelled so saved that £60. She was also booked in & paid for (£50) for lessons in the Easter holidays but they've kept that money & will rebook in the future.

Petrol for running around to these clubs approx £10 per week.

Food has stayed the same as DC took packed lunches anyway. Maybe slightly more as cooking better meals & baking more although only shopping once a week.

Doing less laundry as no swim/football kits etc to wash. Electric maybe a bit more but who knows!

DC have a tablet each & we have a laptop & a printer so have managed pretty well for school work. Had to buy more printer ink for £15.

Waiting for a refund for a school trip £600.

Hadn't booked the holiday we were planning £3k

Income has stayed pretty much the same but DH not doing overtime. He's still working full time though (essential services).

I feel awful for anyone who is struggling

I thought from the shortened version of the thread title "How much have you saved" that this was going to be a thread asking people how much they had saved before Corona, which would now be helping tide them over the next few months.

Amazing that people are discussing how much money they are saving now. Surely anything you save is going to be eaten up by the financial losses we make as the next great depression hits us or we lose work? Without wanting to be too negative, really? Are there really going to be people saving money? That's an honest question.

Cookie is right re washing. Towels etc doesn't really matter as they are used by a clean washed body.

Shoes can be left outside. Coats can be out inside a plastic dress bag and in a closet.

But if you are working in an area or communising on public transport where there's lot of people you are meant to strip at door and shower and out clothes straight into washing machine without shaking.

Can't remember where I heard or read it but it's definitely advice.

I work special education so my clothes go straight in wash anyway. But I'm certainly taking extra care about it.

Dh is shocked that the bank account hasn't really moved since we were paid. So far we've saved about £350 a week
School dinners £15 a week

Dh isn't computing. £70 a week

I'm not driving to work £15 a week

No breakfast club £38 a week

No bus pass for dss £20 a week

No canteen money for dss £20 a week

No clubs £ 40 a week

No takeaways eating out spending etc £120 a week usually

Gym membership £10 a week

I've also not bought any clothes not had my hair done.

We have though spent more on food and printer paper/ink. I've also been furloughed so £500 a month down.

I think this is useful in that it may help people see how much going to work is actually costing them, and so can make decisions how to reduce costs in the future.

DP has just pointed out that we're not really saving money on petrol, because most of our mileage is work travel for me and I get 45p a mile, so it will be offset by loss in mileage payments!

I think there will be lots of positives that come out of this awful situation: people will live more pared-back lifestyles; broader appreciation of the things that really matter in life (rather than possessions); better consideration of their environmental impact on a day-to-day basis; that working from home will become much the norm for many than was previously accepted.

Cancelled Easter Holiday and insurance refund - £7k
No restaurant meals for family or myself - £700 per month
Cancelled May Holiday to Isle of Wight and insurance refund (TBC) - £750
Other reductions - travel, petrol, kids outings, shopping - £1k

minus increased family food expenditure -£500 per month