To ask who else just isn't spending AT ALL!?

[junebug21]

Just that really... is anyone else noticing their bank account numbers rising!!? Due to being home on full pay and not spending on childcare, petrol, kids clubs, coffees etc etc all my pay is stacking up and I'm mind blown by how much I normally would be spending!! We are very lucky to not have many bills (no mortgage) we literally only pay insurances (life, house etc), electricity, Netflix and phones! I feel like I have been wasting A LOT of money beforehand! (I am aware that there are many not in this position etc and we are v lucky) but I also feel like I'm missing something and I owe someone/something a lot of money!!?? Anyone else??

PriivatDoor..I think the problem is that some people on MN do not understand humility....!!

I agree. This forum exists so that people can share their experiances in an anonymous forum. The good and the bad. The content of the thread is clear from the title. You have nothing to apologise for OP

I've been spending on things like books, colouring stuff, toiletries, pjs & leisurewear, as well as a big shop once a fortnight, but I'm still saving £500 a month which is going in the moving house fund, I want to refurnish our new home when we find one. I've also overpaid on utilities & rent as I'm on disability benefits & some time in the future will be moving over to universal credit. Before anyone jumps on the fact I am on benefits, I get a pension from where I used to work, not all of my income is benefits.

Yeah, lucky if you can save up to buy a house, forget about the people who may lose it. Yay!

This.I think the minimum wage crew who are working ...care jobs, TA’s, cleaners, basic retail still gave all the bills plus way higher risk of catching it.
Smug posts about saving to buy a house because you spend less not working whilst fellow your countryfolk are on their knees working twice as hard with all the risk -hugely inappropriate.

I was quite surprised at how much money I've saved. It's given me some food for thought.

@Cantata I’m in a similar position to you. Bf has lost his job. I’m furloughed for now but on 80% of minimum wage and it’s just not enough to live on. I’ve applied for whatever top up UC I can get but it’s going to be weeks before I get anything (if I am even eligible). I started a new job the month before lockdown was announced so I’ve literally had one full month’s pay and been on furlough ever since. I’m so depressed sitting at home bored and broke all day every day, can’t afford to buy anything except absolute essentials and scared for the future. I genuinely wanted to cry when I heard about furlough being reduced to 60% - if it does I won’t be able to afford to eat.

I’m going further and further into my overdraft and credit card with every week that passes which terrifies me because if it gets much worse I won’t even be able to make the minimum payments. I’m just trying not to think about it or it will lead me into a very dark place.

Fairyliz oh do fuck off, the house that used to cost £20 000 now costs £900 000. Try saving 10% of thst whilst paying extortionate rent, bills, transport, ect...see how far you get. Buckling down and not buying a few coffees DOES NOT get you a fucking house. How ignorant you are.

Yes we’re saving loads but also spending more on food. Still better off overall atm.

@rhiannon13 Well you didn't make it clear plus the OP already explained her position on the childminder & clubs.

My Mum was saying that after the war, when rationing was lifted, there was still next to nothing in the shops. She said that although everyone of that generation was great at saving "it's easy to save when there's nothing to buy," and I totally get what she means now.

I really like the charity donations idea for those of you who are making massive savings out of the lockdown. The first thing dh and I had to do when he lost all his income was to stop our 3 monthly charity donations, some of which we have supported for decades. That made me feel utterly depressed I can tell you.

Hospices will be crying out for money now with all the charity shops closed. Maybe some of you fortunate ones could donate the odd £50? And, of course, food banks, local children's charities, animal sanctuaries - the list of possibilities is endless.

"it's easy to save when there's nothing to buy,"

Yes. That's it exactly.

Yes we have thousands in the bank right now.

DH doesn’t get paid until the 19th and we still have £5k left in from last month and the month before that. DH gets paid on the 19th and then I get paid a week later! Never had so much spare money. On the flip side I should have been going to America today 😞 would rather have that than shit loads of money sat there doing nothing.

£80 takeaway?

Send us a tenner Squishy? 😢😢😢

I think we have this month (around 5-600) but don’t think it was much last month. We had to upgrade our broadband router (£200) as both WFH and internet kept cutting out, bills have obv increased (water, electricity) as at home much more and food bill has gone through roof, mainly because we are treating selves to nice things given we can’t go out. DH also going through Nespresso pods like I’ve never seen. I don’t really buy coffee at work as we have a nespresso machine at work so just use pods so not saving there. Guess we are saving on petrol as not having to do the childcare/work drive each day.

I’m currently pregnant and going to be off from mid October but 5.5 months of it will be unpaid so squirrelling away what we do save for that. Thankfully we are having another boy so have all DC1’s equipment, clothes and toys so very little to buy for new baby.

However I am also worried about my job as if they do make cuts I’ll likely be in the firing line. So whilst we might be slightly “up” at the moment, we do have an eye on long term.

Saved money on unnecessary shopping, as now only going to the supermarket once a week but lost a whole load on savings interest and investments.

No. Food is costing much more as we are all home for all meals. Previously my husband had lunch and dinner provided as a work perk.

Yes, I'm saving more. I'd prefer to be out in lovely restaurants though 😞

Me too, I'm spending the same on shopping as I always would and saving a fortune. I'm on maternity pay so money is super tight but I managed to treat myself to some clothes this month which hasn't happened since October last year!!!

I actually think it’s really important that people are sharing different experiences. It emphasises that lock down experience is very different for different households and gets people out of bubbles. It also helps to explain why some people on social media seem to be loving lock-down.

Our experience has been ok financially despite a large pay cut but the risk will increase massively once we have to start paying nursery. The main stress has been working with two small children and we are at breaking point mentally.

I have friends and family with a real range of experiences. In the short-term those on furlough seem quite happy but a proportion of them know that their jobs are at risk the longer it goes on. While furlough is a bit of a jolly for some, it is the path to redundancy for others. I have one set of friends in a very financially precarious position. One of them started her own business but doesn’t qualify for support and the main earner is furloughed but likely to be made redundant in a sector that will struggle for some time.

I'm not working at the moment as I lost my job while doing my 8th round of fertility treatment last March. I reacted pretty badly to the ivf drugs and overstimulated my ovaries making me really poorly. Thankfully I got pregnant. I then couldn't get a new job while pregnant as I had HG and then in and out of hospital with diabetes, bleeds, too much fluid and at the end reduced movements. I had my daughter in December. My husband is self employed so took no paternity leave. He's only been self employed for just under a year and doesn't qualify for the 80% SE benefit payment. We were living on £20 a week child benefit and have no savings as he only earns £1600 per month on average. We get no benefits only child benefit for our daughter. We've been really really struggling. We applied for universal credit and was awarded £629 per month. That only got paid on the 6th of May so we've had to still pay all our utilities etc. And I hope our mortgage break continues as that money will be gone on the mortgage alone. Its been very hard indeed and our relationship has suffered.

@Evasmummy2019 That's sounds really really hard 😞

Since beginning of March I've spent about £400 on the kids for school supplies/stationary for home schooling, crafts, play doh, summer clothes and sandals (3 kids). We have had 3 takeaways about £30 each. My husband bought a BBQ second hand £100. Sports equipment £200. By far the biggest expense is food/booze, easily £220/week :(

But we are saving so much on not commuting, no sports fees, no gym membership, no childcare. The biggest thing is no travel as we had 4 or 5 trips planned for the spring. So we are using that money to pay down debt from our kitchen Reno and also setting money aside for emergencies.