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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:
Grobagsforever · 03/04/2020 08:30

Saving approx 150 per week on after school club and holiday clubs. Still paying my very part time nanny/babysitter as that's the right thing to do, also still paying cleaner.

Saving around 100 per week on lunches (school and work).

Around 50 per week on petrol.

Probably 200 a week on pub, days out, meals out etc.

Salary cut by 20 percent (still on 100 percent hours!) and increased household food bills- so probably better off under lock down despite salary cut as I spent a lot on family entertainment/weekly night out.

Letsbegin · 03/04/2020 08:30

We would rather this whole shit show be over but we are saving a huge amount:
£450 nursery fees
£150 breakfast and afterschool clubs
£95 train fare
£50 petrol
£25 swimming club
£200 family day out for both kids birthdays
Just taken the mortgage break for 3 months on advice from our mortgage advisor so will be saving 730 extra for 3 months too.
Husbands job has a ? Over it so we need to build our savings up!

Smarshian · 03/04/2020 08:31

About £1500! Childcare costs of £1000 plus commuting costs around £200, and then various random meals out, weekend entertainment for the kids, swimming etc etc.
Food has cost a bit more but even with that factored in we are saving around £1500.
Normally really tight for money and this month loads better off. Will probably be able to pay off our credit cards too.
2 holidays cancelled and a 3rd trip soon to be cancelled but no money back as we will just move dates for all of them.

IllegalFred · 03/04/2020 08:31

Same for spending more on food. Unless you're eating massively more, then surely you're just spending same, maybe even less cos there's no daily Costa coffee etc.

We're spending more on food as we can't go to a mix of supermarkets, we have to buy branded stuff as that's all that's left, no multi buy offers etc. We don't buy lunches/ coffee out so there's no saving there.

user1495884620 · 03/04/2020 08:32

I wondered why people are spending more on washing as well!

We are saving about £40 a week on petrol plus parking at work. Saving on buying pre-made sandwiches etc for lunch but probably mostly wiped out by increased grocery bill. We are on a tracker mortgage so that has dropped with the interest rate cut. We do a lot of weekends away through the summer, only camping so not huge amounts but they will all add up as long as this goes on for. We have already not booked anything for easter holidays and had a refund for a booking at May half term. We are also saving masses on kids extra-curricular stuff and days out etc but I haven't even tried adding those up.

PurpleBlueAnemone · 03/04/2020 08:33

I think its costing me more for food as I'm using local convenience branch of supermarket because it would be difficult to shop from a cheaper big one.
I must be saving on school food top ups.
But I've ordered games and books for the DC.
Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/04/2020 08:33

Nothing. Dh has been furloughed. His cut in pay has absorbed what we are saving on activities for dd, fuel, twice weekly body work treatment I desperately need, dog grooming etc. However, I’ve just spent £1.5k to a private hospital as I need more surgery and will likely pay for my op as I can’t face waiting for the nhs... even a private op will be months away. Plus I’ve bought a bunch of things: a range of stuff to help me function - I’ve been pretty ill (poss cv), groom the dogs, amuse dd as I’m not well enough to do so. My health needs are very expensive but ignoring them is something I cannot contemplate.

recycledbottle · 03/04/2020 08:35

We havent saved much. Bills are going to be huge also. Have spent an absolute fortune on food.

Millicent10 · 03/04/2020 08:37

I was already on a budget so wasn’t spending on things like holidays and nights out and I walk to work. My spending has definitely gone up with 3 kids at home.

Undecided91 · 03/04/2020 08:37

Good topic. £740 for nursery fees. £200 petrol, £50 car insurance (sold my car 2 days before lockdown lol). Takeaways, weekends out, hair dressers, nail bars.... dont know how much will add up to maybe close to £1300 savings in total so far!

itsgettingweird · 03/04/2020 08:39

£45 a month club fees plus £20 petrol for trips to training.

£20 normal petrol for work as I'm not in everyday.

Food is the same if not a little more because I can't always buy the brands I usually do.

Probably £40 ish on coffees and snacks etc when out and about.

£60 because I gave up smoking a week ago Smile

I'm aiming to get to £300 to buy some furniture I've always wanted from ikea and a coffee machine because I've always wanted one.

I agree it's amazing how much we buy sometimes that isn't necessary.

But having been in poverty before I'm also extremely aware how many people will be struggling to pay bills etc and who have never had this throw away money.

Cracklefraggle · 03/04/2020 08:39

Genuinely don't wish to be today, and fully appreciate that many are already doing this, but if you are in the position of being able to save money right now could you look at donating some to local initiatives supporting people who are struggling please? We are in a similar position as I am still on full wage. We're making sure friends who have lost their incomes are ok too. Thanks and stay safe everyone Flowers

VegetableMunge · 03/04/2020 08:39

We're spending more on food as we can't go to a mix of supermarkets, we have to buy branded stuff as that's all that's left, no multi buy offers etc.

Same. So there are a lot of people who wouldn't normally bother with eg branded beans, quilted bog roll or whatever, but if that's what's available that's what you get. It adds up. And plenty of people never did the daily Costa thing.

Cracklefraggle · 03/04/2020 08:40

Today was meant to be goady ffs Blush

BarbaraofSeville · 03/04/2020 08:40

A fortunate knock on effect of me being the type of person who always keeps the cupboards and freezers full is that we've been able to buy hardly anything from the supermarkets and use up what we already have in, rather than being forced to pay higher prices due to lack of multibuy offers or from convenience stores because if you operate on a 'just in time' shopping method, that falls apart when your supplier who also operates on 'just in time' or anyone further up the food chain has problems or faces higher than expected demand.

We've even not needed to buy any toilet roll yet this year, as we're near the end of a big Costco pack that was bought sometime late last year. We need a few things from Costco so will hopefully be able to get some more in the next week or two, otherwise we'll be forced to get some from a supermarket, which will cost more and be poorer quality as Costco own brand is excellent and cheaper than all but the cheapest brands.

cricketmum84 · 03/04/2020 08:40

Well we are saving a fortune on petrol, only shopping once a fortnight although I do have a weekly fruit and veg delivery. We are using up lots of stuff from the freezer too.

No petrol being used which is saving £40ish a week. Also work parking is £9 a day so saving there too!

Not buying lunches on the run or posh iced coffee mid morning.

Might even be able to put some money in savings this month!

dottiedodah · 03/04/2020 08:42

Well I have saved a bomb in fuel costs! Put some in yesterday and it has really gone down £1 12 per litre from £1.29 not long ago!Also not "popping out" for anything either .

Original poster
Cheapprimarkbra · 03/04/2020 08:42

I teach from home quite a lot of the week in usual circumstances, so I'm used to the heating/electricity being on the high side, but I appreciate that it will probably increase next month. I just can't believe how much bloody money I was spending on random food purchases. Every day it was "So, what shall we have for dinner tonight?" and then one of us would pop to M&S/Sainsburys and buy what we fancied. Now we are forced to do a weekly shop! We would probably have a takeaway once every 2 weeks and eat out once ever 1/2 weeks as well. I'm very fortunate that I can still teach all my peripatetic lessons online, but it's still a bit of a volatile job and depends entirely on the students' circumstances, so I'm not taking it for granted!

OP posts:
sobeyondthehills · 03/04/2020 08:42

Nothing, DP is no longer bringing money in, we were already doing everything we could to save money, so biking or walking into work, no car to run, cheap shopping. No before or after school clubs (to pay for)

We can probably run on what we have for 2 maybe at a push 3 weeks before we start cutting out meals for us if DP can't get some temp job

Geraniumblue · 03/04/2020 08:43

None- I have saved in some areas- petrol and clothes going out etc, and then I spent it on a bike for my daughter. It’s been worth it to encourage her out of the house. My food bills have also shot up as I try to only go to one big supermarket.

Potterspotter · 03/04/2020 08:43

Food is costing us a bit more, we’ve saved on holidays though.

feelingdizzy · 03/04/2020 08:43

I will save £200 a month on diesel, not driving. About £100 a month on lunch money for my teens. About 200 a month at least not getting takeaway or picking up stuff from local shop because I cant be bothered to cook. So at least 500 quid! Will try to pay off credit card and some overdraft.

popcorndiva · 03/04/2020 08:43

Saved 400 on nursery fees. But energy bill is more and have had to get some books and garden toys to amuse toddler.
DH can't get fast food so has finally learned how to cook rice.

DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 03/04/2020 08:43

Things have probably stayed the same for us if not increased as the beginning. I bought some more leggings and baggy T-shirt’s for sitting around in the house with. Food bills have gone up as we’re having to shop around more in shops like Tesco, although I’m hoping that will settle as shops increase their stock levels and we can go back to Aldi.

Also subscribed Disney+ (which I say is for the kids but really it’s for me)

cricketmum84 · 03/04/2020 08:43

Well done on quitting smoking @itsgettingweird!! Possibly the best possible thing you could do for your health :) 5.5 years since I did it and it does get easier I promise.