AIBU to not understand how people are saving money during this pandemic?

[squishedblueberry]

I know commuting costs have cut and buying lunch and dinner out etc but we seem to be spending more and more.
I appreciate we are lucky to be able to do this before anyone jumps on me but am baffled as to how people are saying they are so much better off.

Signed up to Disney Plus and Netflix to keep ourselves sane. Spending more on takeaway because eating is one of the few things we can still do that feels like a treat.

I’ve ended up having to buy equipment so I can work from home as has DH. Bought countless entertainment for DS as he’s getting so bored so toys, books, games etc that we can play together, crafts and things. We had to replace the deck as it was unusable and we are spending so much time at home we wanted to make the most of it (didn’t have to I know, but it was dangerous so DS couldn’t go out on it).

We’ve also ended up having to do some jobs to the house because things have finally given up due to us being in it loads.

And that’s before the books and things we’ve ordered for ourselves to try and keep ourselves sane, supplies for hobbies, having to buy more expensive clothes from DS as can’t nip to Primark and pick up vests etc cheaply and he’s growing like a weed.

I know this is all very privileged and we are lucky to be able to afford it but it amazes me when people say they are so much better off. We’ve also lost money on a couple of auks holidays so that adds to it and I’ve lost work so am down on income to what we usually have.

@skinnydecafflatte
You can buy the shoe measuring things (don't know what they're called) on Clark's website, so you can measure the kids' feet at home, then order correct size online

Seen them online the other day, you can also get a cheaper version on Amazon.

Our income hasn't changed and it was good enough to leave a decent disposable income.
Fitness classes/ kids' activities/ days out suspended. We tended to eat out relatively cheaply at places like IKEA cafe. McDonalds continues.
I did splurge on ipgraded winter coats to make life more comfortable outside.

Very different to people on tight budgets/ furlough and loss of working time/ jobs, or facing increased costs from being at home (heating, food). There's certainly been a polarisation of wealth with those who were already secure more likely to benefit than those on a more restricted budget.

Our takeaway budget is just a shift from what we used to spend in restaurants. We now just have those restaurants deliver.

DH no longer had commuting costs

We haven’t been on any holidays

When I shop I get the order delivered or do a click and collect so there are no impulse purchases.

We used to spend an obscene amount of money on lessons, and after school and summer activities for DD. We have done some online alternatives and bought her some supplies for home, but the savings are dramatic.

I must be the only one not saving on buying clothes. I've bought as many, if not more, clothes to suit lockdown. Tracksuit bottoms, warm shoes and socks for walks outside. I wouldn't normally buy new work clothes constantly anyway, just if I change job and there's a different dress code and then replacing things as they become too worn out.

We are spending more too. We never had commuting or lunch costs before (all walked and took sandwiches), so now we have extra things like heating, electricity, things to entertain DD, more tech etc. I seem to be buying more stuff online than I would usually, and since we didn't really socialise much before we're not saving there either! And although she's not going to activities in person we are still paying for their online equivalents. Like OP we've also spent more on the house too. When you're in it 24/7 it's hard not to!

I do totally understand that people are eating at home more, and therefore food costs have gone down, but the food would have been eaten anyway - so surely that money is being recouped somewhere else in the budget? Or am I being dense.

I am saving
But I am really fortunate and I have always been a really low spender on day to day things and tend to spend on holidays - which are obviously not happening!

"Very different to people on tight budgets/ furlough and loss of working time/ jobs, or facing increased costs from being at home (heating, food). There's certainly been a polarisation of wealth with those who were already secure more likely to benefit than those on a more restricted budget."

More nuanced than that though, I think. People go on about the lack of commute making up for paying for heating and electricity all day, but I'm walking distance from work so there's no gain there. I'm on a low income, but still enough to go out socialising so saving in that way. People who never did that anyway wouldn't see much difference.

Of course, you're right about people being furloughed who were already on a low income and didn't spend much and people who've lost their jobs/businesses entirely.

No commuting
Sold my car and bought a cheaper one so less insurance, no finance costs, no tax and cheaper to run
We don't eat out and only order take aways now and then
My dd goes horse riding each week plus gymnastics so no weekly fees for those now
No cinema with the kids or days out
No family holiday this year
I'm not buying clothes for myself or shoes for work Only thing that's gone up is the food bill and heating but thats marginal

The reality is there’s going to be winners and losers. Some will have saved loads, some won’t.

We are spending less on the whole, no fuel, no workwear, no kids activities or days out, but I’ve had virtually no income. We are about as well off as before as a result, but with a huge pile of things that need fixing that we can’t afford to fix.

@Gazelda

*multivac We're spending quite a lot less than we used to.

Because Mr Multivac hasn't been able to earn any money for 12 months.

Funny what you can do when you have no fucking choice, eh?
Is there any need for that tone? What is wrong with people on here lately?*

I don't see anything wrong with this poster's tone. She's simply telling OP her reality.

On any other day on MN, posters would be piling on to the OP to tell her how tone deaf she is to post about the luxuries she's buying through lockdown. She'd have been berated for not being sensitive to those who are unable to save or splurge due to the impact covid has had on their families economic health.

What is wrong with people on here lately indeed.

Thank you

Not going out

Hardly using car

I didn't have to buy office stuff, I already had a desk and chair

Not having hair done

During lockdown 1, my boyfriend was furloughed and stayed with us - he insisted on paying for all food shopping, which saved me quite a bit of money

And I have two kids who needed lots of new clothes, but they always do, nothing different there. I buy bundles on eBay

Although it was annoying to buy absolutely loads of school clothes in September, then dd had another growth spurt so I got her a few more bits... none of it is being used! Will sell it all on eBay I guess.

I don't have children at home anymore. Have saved a lot as no spend on work clothes, work lunches (cost more than own cooking) and had not booked any holidays/travel that cost anything to cancel (luckily had not bought the flight to visit my sister abroad). No theatre trips, very few cinema visits (between August and December).

I don't have any kids, and I no longer spend £70 a week on travel. Already had Netflix and Disney+ so that hasn't changed. Utilities are slightly higher but not drastically as there is only two of us. I've saved quite a bit. It's just personal circumstances.

We've been saving on travel costs, and day to day expenses as well as cancelled holidays, but the money's largely been redeployed for work on the house and garden.

My nursery fees having reduced since sept so maybe mines abit of saving that way. However, savings
Fuel
Meals out a good few a month
Nights out
I have been clothes shopping twice since last march normally go every month
The biggest saving is not nipping to b&m or home bargains for nothing but coming home with everything each week. I really hope ive kicked this habit for life

I used to spend a fortune on kids clothes. This year my daughter had genuinely rotated 3 outfits and her pyjamas and it’s been absolutely fine.
Washing so much easier to !

I wish that was the case for us! We're all getting covered in mud from our walks on a daily basis
Both my younger DC decided to lie in the river yesterday!

My commuting costs are £5.5k in normal times so I’d have to be doing some serious shopping to not be saving anything from that!
No DC so no associated costs there.
Not going anywhere so no need for more clothes or shoes, but I don’t shop regularly anyway and tend to get stuff from eBay.
Instead of a 2 week holiday abroad we went camping in the UK for a weekend.
Don’t get regular takeaways (but didn’t eat out much anyway). Our grocery budget has gone up a bit but has always been frugal.
Work provided me with extra equipment.
No gym cost.
I limit use of the heating (for environmental rather than cost reasons) so utilities haven’t gone up by more than normal winter increase.
We already had Netflix (no tv licence) and are mostly reading books we already had, click and collecting them from the library or buying used books and jigsaw puzzles from eBay.
The best thing I have ever done to stop spending money was to close my Amazon account! I have still been able to get everything I need but one click shopping and next day delivery encourages you to buy tons of stuff you don’t need without really thinking about it.

Weirdly I am considering giving up Netflix because I’m actually watching it less than before the pandemic. I used to download episodes to my phone to watch during my commute but we’ve never been in the habit of watching stuff in the evenings at home. We sometimes watch a film at the weekend but pretty much never watch series at home so I’m not really getting my money’s worth any more 🤔

I have done basic calculations and would estimate over a 12 month period I have saved just shy of 10k on what can only be described as 'bits'- a lot of that has been spent on household improvements. I can honestly say, that calculation was shocking! it's all the little bits the lunches at work the commute coffee etc the weekend driving round for the sake of going to places honestly once this is all over I am going to be making a conscious effort not to spend as much, I will be spending on things I am enjoying at the moment the cake from the local cake maker etc etc still and hopefully supporting local businesses to get back on their feet but no more 'bits' my house doesn't need anymore 'stuff'.

The things I spend spare money on are eating out, holidays and classes for a hobby that can’t be done online. These account for the extra cash I have - when things eased up in summer and early autumn my card statements went up considerably. I don’t find takeaways a good substitute for eating out so haven’t eaten more of them than usual.

I don’t enjoy shopping online so have spent little on that. Only bought clothes when the shops were open again and haven’t had my hair cut.

Transport too, but that’s low compared to the above. Not just commuting, but also going into town on public transport.

WFH highlighted how expensive commuting is, that was my biggest saving.

All our spare money goes on holidays, weekends away, day trips, eating out, sports events and cinema/theatre so pretty easy here.

I see someone mentioned hair, that was a big saving, also eating out, but for fun and the lunch when at work.

Hugely decreased petrol costs due to working from home for 7 months plus no socialising (no eating out/visits to pubs with friends, no theatre, no cinema, no concerts) adds up pretty quickly.