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??

I think our biggest surprise has been how much money we usually fritter way in the month and have nothing to show for it.

I knew we were bad with money but dh seems to finally be on board too.

That combined with saving approx £600 commuting costs has made a difference.

We're only buying food and wine, really but several insurances have been renewed recently and my car had an MOT failing problem. A tiny part but that and two front tyres have just cost the thick end of £400.

Spending less but have taken a nice big pay cut so bank is looking pretty bad

Biggest saving for me was not having to pay the £2k balance on the holiday. Now saving on top too. Last month I spent nothing in tier then at the shop/supermarket.

Other than

I saved over £1k last month but still single handedly financing Jeff Bezos's next private jet with bits and bobs & food bill is astronomical with having to actually feed my own children day after day....
I'm furloughed but with top up to 90% thankfully but if the top up is removed I'd barely have enough for basics so saving as much as possible.

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. And you can get a mortgage deal for under 2% now and he was probably paying 15 or 16% depending on when it was. The truth is you can't prove anything with one example, it was easier for your dad, we really struggled, bought in the boom of 73 with houses doubling in price while we were trying to buy after 3 years of saving every penny for a deposit. Twelve months later we were in negative equity in the price crash of 74. Took a few years to recover from that.

Opposite for me, I WFH anyway, kids grown up, no mortgage. I am spending three times as much on food and alcohol through boredom and buying things online at great expense that I couldn’t get in the shops (i can now) like garden bark at £60.

I’ve saved hundreds each month. I normally spend on clothes, fuel and treats. I used a voucher I got for my birthday as a treat for myself. We go away at school holidays/half term, we’ve saved a fortune not doing that.

@Mummyoflittledragon oh my goodness, sounds like you are singlehandedly going to save the economy. Hope the scan went well.

Not spending a huge amount but my isa and pension have been obliterated and my house is worth a few hundred k less than it was 8 weeks ago so net net I’m not in the money.

Hmmm, we're evening out as DH is losing a portion of wages each month and I'm unable to shop for bargains in charity shops (I buy a lot of books and clothes in these ordinarily). I've three kids eating me out of house and home, one of who would usually be getting free school lunches. We're also up on our electricity and gas use BUT we are saving on fuel, meals out and weekend day trips.

Yes I'm saving hundreds each month. I didn't used to save a penny!

We aren't spending as we've got no money any more to spend.

I’ve just checked our accounts and it’s scary! We are still paying for our children’s activities, so as to keep the gym/swimming etc clubs open, despite them not having lessons. Food bill has doubled and I’ve spent a frickin fortune on amazon. Will try and be better in June....

I think I'm saving - we never could afford to go out for meals anyway, or anything like that, but I'm able to work from home 2 days a week now, so our petrol costs are a bit down, and not having to buy school lunches for children. Plus I'm doing the supermarket shopping alone, whereas I used to bring the kids - now I'm not buying the odd little thing that the kids see and want - some coloured pencils for example, or a facepack - so saving there.

Also think I'm saving on top-up shops - I used to 'pop' into the supermarket between dropping the kids at school and arriving at work - I had about 15 minutes to spare - but now I don't do that because you can't 'pop' to the supermarket anymore, with all the queues.

No I'm not spending AT ALL, but that's because clients aren't paying for childcare at the moment: not even a deposit to hold their place open even though they're on full pay and I've gone above and beyond for their children for years. Fun when it's my only income.

Rumour has it that I'll be 'so desperate for work when I can reopen I'll take the children back in a flash'. I won't, because I'm retraining for a different job.

I'm glad to hear others aren't struggling so much though.

The plus side of all this is that I've had a really good clear out and have had time to sell a load of stuff on eBay. Feel ready for the next chapter.

Saving loads here.
I've hardly ordered anything as I felt guilty about the delivery men bringing me stuff that wasn't essential. I fritter money away when I go into shops - a few ££ her and a few more there.

I'm in work twice a week, so saving on petrol but the biggest saving is takeaways and eating out - turns out they are my vices.

Very jealous of you all. Husband and I both key workers, same bills as usual, no discounts and no 80 % furlough for us!

Who said “Out of chaos- opportunity” I had a large balance on a zero interest rate credit card, with the zero rate ending in June. I was really worried about this. Along comes a mortgage holiday offer, which I jumped on, so I am saving what I would spend on my mortgage & will be able to pay off the card-result! (And I will NEVER get another one)
I spend on average £1500/mo, but in April spent £900, so saving around £600/mo. Spending more on food, up from an average of £325 to £450 in April.
Have bought 1 or sandals for £25, & a linen dress on sale in Tesco for £11. Can’t be bothered to shop for clothes - What’s the point, where would I wear them. Have ordered a root dying kit for hair & planning to skill up in that area & save massively on salon costs.
I reckon if I do a “pretend” lockdown for 3-4 mo per year I could easily fund a holiday ( which I will not have this year, yet another saving!)

@AudTheDeepMinded (I buy a lot of books and clothes in these ordinarily) Oh you should come and live near me, someone down the road set up a table outside their house with a selection of books and a sign saying, "Help yourself to lockdown reading." Other people have taken books and left books. I saw a couple I fancied yesterday when I was going for a walk and thought I'd pick them up on the way back but they'd gone when I got back. I suppose they could be an infection risk but I thought I'd just wipe them down with bleach and leave for a few days and they'd be safe. I will watch for the books coming back.

@Chestnutacorns123 why are you jealous? I'm beyond stressed wfh with DH the same & with a toddler & 5yo. I'm grateful i'm not furloughed though.

@Chestnutacorns123 why would you be jealous of me? I'll swap with you, if you like.

Don’t be jealous Chestnutacorns123, 2 full time jobs working from home while homeschooling a 6 year old and a 4 year old while also looking after a 16 month old who wakes 4 times a night is no walk in the park either. That’s why I’m spending so much money on keeping the kids amused.

@Chestnutacorns123 What I mean by that is that you still have a job. I would kill to be going to work. I have no job, now, and am not furloughed either.