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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much money you have saved since lockdown?

568 replies

Cheapprimarkbra · 03/04/2020 07:43

... 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!

OP posts:
Brainfogmcfogface · 04/04/2020 11:45

None, I spending more. I can’t get to the cheaper supermarkets so having to do all my shopping at a sainsburys local, what would cost me £30-40 is costing at least double as all the cheap options have gone and I’m having to pay for brands I wouldn’t normally for example I usually spend 50p on penne, the only pack in store is £2.50, bread normally 50p, in my sainsburys cheapest loaf was £1.50. I’m a Single mum in receipt of benefits, I’m struggling to afford to eat.
Plus being home all day using electricity and water etc, my bills are going to be higher. This is financially breaking me and I can’t even sell anything to try and get some cash.

escape · 04/04/2020 11:48

Swings & roundabouts like so many.
Living on peanuts allready for a family of 5.
I'm on paid furlough as of this week, for which I'm super grateful. However, husband hasn't earned in months & he used to buy the food.
Saving £40 a week on petrol, £20 on kids bus fares & £25 on school dinners weekly.
Technically will save £300 a month on those.
Food bill through the roof though so no savings at all really.
To be brutally honest, we can't survive on my wage alone anymore anyway. My cloth is cut so tight. After mortgage and bills I was essentially left with £300 which as you see above has to go on the petrol/transport/dinners.
Worrying times, but very grateful to be paid this week and next payday too. Who knows after that - I work in football.

BiddyPop · 04/04/2020 15:30

@1forsorrow when you are retired, you are probably used to eating most meals at home.

But those of us who are still working generally have at least lunch away from home most days, and often breakfast or dinner as well. In our case we have 1 extra breakfast, 3 lunches, and roughly 2 extra dinners to be made per day so that is a lot of extra food to have to buy. Yes some of it is offset against not buying lunches out etc, but DD’s lunches and evening tea in school were already paid for the rest of the year so no saving there. And we now have to buy the food to cook ourselves for her as well. And snacks, which add up a lot!

TeacupDrama · 04/04/2020 15:47

per month

no swimming £17, no netball £15 no school dinners £44, less petrol £60 no cafes/ takeaways lunches £50 total £186 as work from home there will be no real change in bills for utilities

HOWEVER increased food bill ( partly due by no school lunches /cafes ) £25 perhaps £10 -15 on craft activities DVD's for DD
decrease in earnings £400 minimum as both self employed at home likely to be -£800 soon as sales drop off and no way of gaining new stock
overall worse off but we have savings for a rainy day and this is why I am so glad I have savings so we can weather it, I think businesses will start to reopen towards end of May so hopefully will pick up then

Welshmaenad · 04/04/2020 15:53

I'm continuing to pay after school club and extra curriculars because I want them to stay afloat.

I've probably saved a bit on drive through costa, which was my main vice (there's one by the hospital I frequently attend for work but I'm based at home now and they are shut!). But that's balanced with a much bigger food bill with 2 kids home 24/7 and I suspect my gas bill will be huge with me being home all day (I still need the heating on sometimes, it's cold here and I can't regulate my temperature very well).

quarantinevibes · 04/04/2020 16:25

I haven’t spent on petrol and take aways. However, my food shop has increased, so probably haven’t saved much at all.

HopingItsNot · 04/04/2020 16:29

Not saved anything. Having 4 adults at home all day our food bill, and certainly our energy bill, has increased.

IdentifyasTired · 04/04/2020 16:32

Haven't calculated exactly but several hundred pounds.
No swimming lessons, no after school clubs, no school trips, no school dinners, no birthday parties, no car fuel, no trips to the shops, no cafes. It making an enormous difference. All those little bits add up to a lot every month!

Paddingtonthebear · 04/04/2020 16:37

I’ve actually spent more. Food shopping is now more expensive, I’ve had to buy a printer, paper, ink, stuff to entertain DD.

Cam2020 · 04/04/2020 17:28

Not sure yet until I get my utility bills through! I've 'saved' myself around £900 though in nursery fees and train tickets. Bough more food, used more electricity, water etc. got a couple of subscriptions and some extra garden toys and equipment.

choc71 · 04/04/2020 17:30

I've saved
£80 gardener
£80 cleaner
£160 petrol
£60 gym
at least, so what's that ...
£380.
Crazy.
Plus I cancelled my hair appt + my wax so I reckon I've said £520.
There have to be some perks!

StudentMummy20 · 04/04/2020 17:30

None yet, online shopping Grin

choc71 · 04/04/2020 17:31

Just remembered no After School Club either. No music lessons. No swimming lessons. I'm putting everything I've 'saved' into a savings account. Then at least I'll have something to show for it at the bitter end.

NecklessMumster · 04/04/2020 17:33

I was saving on impulse buying bits of crap but have spent lots on food and now tempted into buying stuff online

purplebunny2012 · 04/04/2020 17:34

Not sure how much, but definitely saving money. No fuel, no daily childcare, no hairdresser. And less on Food as we're going through the freezer

purplebunny2012 · 04/04/2020 17:38

And of course swimming, drama, karate, but I won't see those savings just yet

purplebunny2012 · 04/04/2020 17:44

Those #wfh won't be taking any leave until lockdown lifts (unless it's enforced),

We're being "strongly encouraged" to take leave whilst we're WFH to avoid everyone taking it when we're back in the office. But screw that, why should I waste it?

Banj0girl · 04/04/2020 17:53

I have spent more on food as I am only shopping once a week at Sainsbury's, so no discounters. Probably about £30 per week.
More on gas and electricity and probably water bill as well, about £50 a month.
Less on work expenses, no leaving gift collections, although they are not that much as my premises are only 4 miles away. Not using my motor scooter, so saved at least £20 a month.
No drinks down the pub ! Or Morris Dancing ! No holidays, a few hundred depending on how long this lasts.
Less on TV as stopped Sky Sports and BT Sport, saved £15 ?
Not spending anything on charity shops, unknown as it varies so much.

Sarahplane · 04/04/2020 17:53

Not much yet, spending more on heating and electric from all being at home and working from home. Still having to pay for after school club just now but from next month we'll be saving on that. Saving on haircuts and mine and dds bus fares but petrol costs are still the same because dh is still driving to work (key worker).

DearLiza · 04/04/2020 17:54

150 ish a month in diesel
60 in bus fares
100 at least on buying ĺunches near work.
Probably another 100 on clothes and various bits and bobs.

Justincasecakehappens · 04/04/2020 17:55

We're being "strongly encouraged" to take leave whilst we're WFH to avoid everyone taking it when we're back in the office. But screw that, why should I waste it?

absolutely! I have cancelled all my leaves and so has everybody else I know. We will have to be very strict to authorise leaves when people can circulate again, or we might as well close the office for a few months when everybody runs or fly away on holiday Grin

As people will still want to be paid, I am hoping they'll understand well enough why the entire office won't be allowed to be off at the same time.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 04/04/2020 18:03

Only £60 a month on kids club fees.
We live fairly simply! We always take lunch boxes to work and school and hardly ever have a take away or buy coffees etc so not much to cut down on.
Have lost £400 a month income from Monday so we’re looking at a loss overall.

Magicshoppingtrolley · 04/04/2020 18:07

Loads! No diesel for either of us, no daycare for the dog, no breakfast or after school club, no eating out or takeaways, no purchased lunches and cake for the office. I’ve not bought anything really apart from a few crafts.

motortroll · 04/04/2020 18:12

I've saved nothing because we've lost about £4000 of income a month 😭

Bridecilla · 04/04/2020 18:12

Monthly:
Breakfast club: £80
Ds football and swimming: £60
My gym: £20
Petrol: £100
Buying shit: £100 (at least)

Not sure on fuel bills but we've not had the heating on.
I've bought a bike £140

Surprised to see dh and ds' season ticket money has still been taken out - assumed they'd be frozen like gym membership?