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??

We are very lucky to not have many bills (no mortgage) we literally only pay insurances (life, house etc), electricity, Netflix and phones!

So do you not buy food or toothpaste?

My life has remained pretty much the same in terms of still going to work and spending. The big thing I had noticed is that a full tank is lasting me nearly a month instead of having to fill every 2 weeks.
I do not go shopping as a pastime, take my own lunch and do not buy coffees. For some strange reason I have started internet window shopping.

I'm finding this pandemic to be expensive and I'm definitely spending a lot more.
I'm not a spender, don't go out, don't drink much like clothes shopping, never buy coffee or anything I don't need really. I am a total scrooge.
It's just usually me at home all day and most of the evening and I don't make myself big meals.

Now, I have a house full and the fridge is being constantly raided and my food shop is through the roof.
Where normally I'd be happy with beans on toast, I'm having to make proper meals

Oh, and we’ve also had several big refunds come in for things we had booked - trips, theatre, RHS Chelsea and summer camps for kids - total in refunds I think is around £2K

@Cantata I'm so sorry things are so tough for you. Did your employers go bust? Couldn't you be furloughed? It must be really hard for you to read about others doing well out of this when you've lost all income.

Owing to the fact that I've been spending much less than usual I decided to redress the balance and spent £300 on some rather nice garden planters...

Hmm For everyone that is doing well and saving a fortune there will be someone else who has lost their income and is struggling to keep afloat.
I am referring a lot of people to the food bank at work and sadly I think that is only going to get worse.

We're saving a lot and I have no idea how as didn't spend a lot on petrol, coffee, eating out anyway and we're spending more on groceries.

@Fairyliz

Dare I say it, this is how us baby boomers saved up for a house, no holidays, no eating out , no beauty treatments no buying endless useless crap.

(Dons tin hat and runs for the hills)

Tin hat not needed. That is exactly how we did it.

My DD's lifestyle has massively changed since lockdown and she is stunned at how little money she actually needs.

My situation hasn’t changed. I’ve not stopped working, no childcare needed because dc are teens.

I have however been able to save over half of my earnings which I struggled with before covid-19. I’ve realised that we spent a lot on top up shops.

‘ she is stunned at how little money she actually needs.’

@notangelinajolie that’s me! Who knew that I could live on so little!

Yes, more money but bigger food bills and things like Disney + , Audible and Readly added to monthly outgoings. I will stop all those when things get back to normal but all nice to have at the moment.

Spending from joint account on supermarket. Other than that nearly nothing, like one item in the statement per month. I’m really saving. Shame I’m furloughed I’m furloughed in 80%.

That is so lovely of you, I hope they appreciate such kind landlords.

It's not lovely it's pragmatic tbh. We don't need the money at the moment, they are good tenants who look after the place, and there are some maintenance jobs we have not been able to get done during lockdown.

I think there needs to be an element of pulling together by people who can afford it (i am our main earner, my job is safe for now and if it disappears I'll get a hefty redundancy payout).

As this thread shows, the worst effects of this crisis will largely fall upon people in less secure, lower paid work, who are usually in rented accommodation.

Fairyliz Oh come on!
I'm a baby boomer too but we had it easy! we bought our 4 bed detached for £40k back in the day. Saving on a few weekend trips to Ibiza is hardly going to buy todays young professionals a house.

I’m not exactly profligate in normal times, but since March I have completely stopped spending money on anything except household bills & food shopping. Two planned holidays won’t be happening. Money is accumulating in my account very nicely .

I think many, many people who complain about being skint yet spend £20 a day on cups of coffee, sandwiches, snacks, prepared fruit etc etc are going to realise where their money goes...

Dare I say it, this is how us baby boomers saved up for a house, no holidays, no eating out , no beauty treatments no buying endless useless crap.

True but if you look at house prices it was still MUCH easier. My parents' first house was the equivalent of three years of my dad's basic wage. In the same area now, you would be looking at at least ten years.

We are spending pretty much the same as usual but on different things. There’s no piano lessons, no fuel and no school lunches/snacks but our food bill has more than doubled with everyone being home all the time.

Not here. Had a huge common charges bill from the factor and forgot my car tax was due. Would be fine apart from that, so just going to get through the month and should be fine thereafter.

Many young people don’t eat out, go on holidays or spend unwisely.
And they still can’t afford a house.

Guess they’re not a savvy boomers, eh?

/s

@Aridane yes sorry I meant fixed bills/expenditures. We obviously have to spend on food and household stuff but they are variable expenses.

@Cantata I'm sorry that you have been left in that situation. Could you not have been furloughed?? Can you not get benefits of any kind?!

@HollowTalk That is so very kind of you. I really appreciate every bit of kindness at the moment.

I am (was) in a sector which was wiped out overnight by the lockdown. Can't claim UC for various reasons which I can't go into here. I have applied for a grant to cover SE earnings; it wouldn't be for long and wouldn't cover my outgoings, but it would at least pay the utility bills.

I may be re-employed at some point, but it evidently won't be for months, if at all.

It's so very horrible.

Yup, same here. Only spending on food and wine. Bit of petrol but it's cheap atm

I'm saving a fair bit, really only spending money on food and the odd thing on Amazon.

I've been surprised at how much I must normally fritter away especially as I consider myself fairly frugal at the best of times!!

God I wish I was in your shoes, we’re spending more then ever before. My husband works for the nhs and has had to move out as I’m vulnerable he’s staying with his brother and contributing towards rent and bills and food. He’s spending more on petrol and parking as he would normally car share with a colleague/neighbour. My cousins daughter moved in as she was due to go traveling just before this all started and had already given notice at her flat. Her job furloughed her at 80% and we are paying the extra 20% plus all her food and bills in exchange for childcare but still paying nursery fees.
I’m working from home so the electric bill will be astronomical when it comes through. I’ve had to upgrade the broadband again an extra cost. The food bill has easily doubled, especially now supermarkets aren’t doing special offers.
Not to mention spending money online for stuff to keep the kids entertained like arts and crafts, toys for the garden. Doesn’t help dd2 has had a massive growth spurt and needs new clothes and shoes.