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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Lock down has made me realise I've been wasting money for years. Anyone else?

224 replies

sunshineanddaffodils · 12/04/2020 13:55

As supermarkets have been short of my usual premium versions of food I've bought the cheaper alternative and found they are just as nice/better.
Also recently dyed my own hair and actually prefer the outcome! This obviously saves me loads.
DH and I usually go out to eat one evening every couple of weeks. Instead we're having a nice meal and wine at home so not really missing that at all.
Anyone else?

OP posts:
Audidriver · 12/04/2020 14:00

Same here but with takeaways and meal deals from the shop. I always use to pick up a meal deal on the way to work or a cheeky cheeseburger on the way home Blush. The amount of money I must have spent over the years is mind boggling, it all adds up! I don't miss it either, have always preferred home cooked meals it was just convenient for me more than anything!

InTheShadowOfTheMushroomCloud · 12/04/2020 14:03

Me too. I am self employed so we are living on DHs low paid keyworker wage (I was the main bread winner) and we always thought we couldn't cope just on his....we can. And we can very comfortably. I am more careful with food and I have started to plan meals. Any leftovers are either frozen or heated up at the next meal time.

pussycatinboots · 12/04/2020 14:04

If you cant get them, supermarket own brand baked beans are just as nice, if not nicer than the traditional Heinz option Grin
Ketchup less so Sad

WorraLiberty · 12/04/2020 14:06

Me too. I keep checking my online bank and panicking some bills haven't been paid. I don't really know where I'm making the savings though, probably takeaways, eating at work and ordering things online.

MayFayner · 12/04/2020 14:07

I’m the opposite, I’m generally quite frugal but I plan to live a little once this is over 🤞

Muddlingalongalone · 12/04/2020 14:08

Yes - costa coffee & breakfast & lunch at work, takeaways. Mind you I am also time richer due to furlough & Easter hols. Might be different when the children & I go back.

safariboot · 12/04/2020 14:11

As supermarkets have been short of my usual premium versions of food I've bought the cheaper alternative and found they are just as nice/better.

The opposite for me. Supermarkets have been short of my usual value versions of food (or it's affected by item limits) so I've bought the more expensive alternative and found they make the total shop eyewateringly expensive.

I had already done loads to cut my expenses. Now with a 20% drop in income and the increased costs I'll be spending more than I earn.

Bagadverts · 12/04/2020 14:13

A few things yes, cook more from scratch saving money, but then have time for it. Don’t need as many clothes as I buy - I need more people in my life after lockdown.

It has also made me realise that some of the frivolous things I do are valuable. I usually live alone and often go to a coffee shop with a magazine/paper/online. When I was full isolation it’s something I really missed, interaction with the staff and watching the world.

sonjadog · 12/04/2020 14:14

Yup. I always knew I was wasting some money going food shopping every other day and not really planning, but I had no idea how much until I started doing a weekly shop.

Ariela · 12/04/2020 14:16

Not here. Literally nothing much has changed. We're the antisocial type, never go to the pub , rarely eat out, never have friends round etc, we still have to work.
Never saw the point of Starbucks, Costa etc. Don't buy lunch out.
I did cut DH's hair, but he only got it cut every other month or so (I cut & colour my own)
I am using a bit less fuel but largely because my car is the one blocked in at the moment.
Food is a bit more expensive because nothing is on offer (I stock up on 3 for 2 of anything I buy regularly), but I did counter that on my supermarket visit as bought a few things to put in the freezer at 90% off.
I have actually spent more on thinking about others whose income will have dried up. I have ordered some craft made items for Christmas presents. I've commissioned a picture from one artist, and ordered some prints and notelets from another. I've bought some vouchers from some other self employed people for various things, we've had a takeaway from a local restaurant, and am about to order some beer for DH from a local brewery, he doesn't usually drink much beer but it'll help the brewery.

hippoherostandinghere · 12/04/2020 14:19

Yes, definitely. I live pay day to pay day and never have any money left over. I keep checking my bank and yes, it's all still there! I haven't put diesel in for a month and I'm still half full. I might be able to have some savings after this. I needed this.

katienana · 12/04/2020 14:22

No we've spent a fortune we bought a patio set, new bed for ds, printer, craft stuff. I guess we have saved money on swimming lessons and probably wont get a holiday this year

MontysOarlock · 12/04/2020 14:24

I said to Dh this is like that Eat Well for Less program where they swap stuff out, branded for non-branded. We have been forced to try other things. The main one being toilet roll, from the cheapest to the quilted stuff (no other options).

But it has also confirmed that yes, we do like particular brands of stuff.

We are not a brand led family but some stuff we just prefer.

Sewrainbow · 12/04/2020 14:25

I've ended up buying more expensive versions of food, either through them being the only items available or through going to more expensive shops like the local coop or I did M&S one day on the way home from work because the queue at aldi was massive!

Have saved in other ways though. Less eating out and no garden centre or clothes/gift shopping.

lovelyupnorth · 12/04/2020 14:26

It’s amazing how much money you can waste when we had DD1 we had to budget hard going from one large and one small salary to just one small one we worked out we could eat and pay the mortgage. But in the process we where spending less on food per week than we used to spend buying lunches out. 19 years later we are much the same but earn a lot more and have decent holidays instead of other waste.

lovelyupnorth · 12/04/2020 14:28

Though during this we have gone away from using supermarkets at all. We use local butcher, we get more from the milkman (have always had a milkman but now getting potatoes, fruit juice, eggs & yoghurts as well). Green grocer and baker. They are all doing online or phone ordering so it’s a very quick shop once out.

MogeatDog · 12/04/2020 14:28

Not really, still missing eating out in restaurants - we eat well at home but eating out is something we really enjoy. And it tends to be the more expensive brands that are left. No offers. Maybe we are saving money but we will not be continuing with this voluntarily when it's all over!

isseywith4vampirecats · 12/04/2020 14:28

yes some saving three days bus fares each week as im furloughed, and getting a sandwich and cake for my lunch each day im working so about £20 a week and have realised just how much food I buy that I don't really need I buy to keep the freezer and cupboards topped up I usually go once every 3-4 weeks but haven't since middle of last month and have been making meals out of whats already in the freezer so probably £100 on what I would have spent on nice ready meals and goodies but sitting at home I have spent some money (my lunch moneys) donating to two charities overseas who feed street dogs that are normally fed by residents and hotels but due to lockdown they are the only ones allowed out to feed them

quirrels · 12/04/2020 14:30

I have always bought own brands with a few exceptions and always shopped online. I have found that I've had to buy branded and my grocery bill is higher.
I never buy food and drink while out so no change there.
I do buy a lot of other stuff I don't need though. This could be the year I buy no new clothes.
Also petrol. My car hasn't been off the drive in four weeks, normally out every day as we live in a rural area.

TheSquitz · 12/04/2020 14:31

I have always done a weekly shop (obviously) but would usually do a top up every couple of days and end up buying stuff we didn't really need. I have been doing my weekly shop at the local Co op instead of Tesco/Sainsburys/ M&S because the queues are small. I'm spending less because there is far less choice.

Jammydodger1981 · 12/04/2020 14:32

I have never really had a ‘budget’ as such but had to do one due to being paid 80% on furlough. I totted up what comes in and what goes out bill wise and added a bit in for food shopping and there should still be so much money left over. I have no idea what I do with it all every month so I’m determined to not spend an necessary penny next month and see how I do.

I’ve also unsubscribed from loads of marketing emails to help me!

YeahWhatevver · 12/04/2020 14:33

In hindsight we spent a lot on eating out which were not missing much

We'll definitely go back to eating out but much less often

Rebelwithallthecause · 12/04/2020 14:37

I also did the unsubscribe of marketing emails (except for mulberry Blush)

We must have spent so much just on picking up things as and when our and about
The coffees and cakes when out
The extra take aways and meals out
The unnecessary clothes purchases. Yes I could do with something a bit summer to wear right now but otherwise I’m managing with everything else I’ve had in my wardrobe

Christmastreedown · 12/04/2020 14:38

Opposite for me, I now have to shop locally at coop and sainsburys buying the most expensive eggs on the shelves too!

blue25 · 12/04/2020 14:38

I plan to live more and probably spend more when this is over. Life’s too short to be worrying about what tin of beans to buy. If I want a nice coffee/meal out etc. I’ll have one!

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