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.

I haven't bought a pair of high heels in a year.... no need for new business clothes or tights, less makeup and beauty products, less fuel, less socialising/cinema tickets/drinks at bars/ no holidays or flights or commuting costs.

I was also rubbish at getting my expenses reimbursed (taxis, hotels) for my work and I don't travel for my work now so no expenses to claim. And I can quite often get fined for parking etc, but without commuting those things have stopped too.

Savings or discounts on cancelled clubs etc.
Kids birthday parties too are now just a zoom link - no party costs for your own child, no presents to buy every weekend for other children etc....

I have ordered a lot more takeaway and a lot more from Amazon, but it's not nearly as much as the savings....

I did well at the start. Not so good now. More online spending on 'stuff'. No debts thankfully but not as good as I was in April/May last year.

No commuting. Almost nothing on petrol as we only go to the supermarket. Less on take out food as we’re all home. Less waste as I’m now planning every meal because everything is cooked at home. We’re still paying for sports clubs, but not going to them so I’m doing extra work hours. No new work clothes/shoes as I don’t need to look smart. No impulse buys at the weekend. No haircuts. Less wine as we’re not meeting friends. No holidays. No need to buy new kit for holidays. No school shoes (we would normally be on the second pair for the year by now). No work on the house or garden as I’m not letting anyone in. No parties.
We are spending a bit more on heating and Disney Plus, but it is far outweighed by our savings.

Commuting costs used to be £600 per month, plus bought lunches most days. No meals out at the moment, which we tended to do at least once a weekend. No flights to see relatives abroad, no holidays. No days out.

We are saving more. Dc activities have been slashed, petrol costs have shot down (although Dh is still commuting, I’m not doing anywhere near the miles I was).

Food shop is up, we are cooking much more varied Meals but no meals out so that’s a massive saving.

No cinema/theatre/nights out either as a family or with friends. That’s probably a £100 a month saving. We’ve gone half’s with my sibling, I pay for Netflix, they pay for Disney plus and we share passwords, no issues yet in 9 months, so will continue to do this.

No holidays, but we are still saving the same amount towards them. No weekends away, so that money is saved.

Op, what toys and games are you buying for your dc each month? Why can’t that be cut back? How much stuff do they actuAlly need? I’ve seen several posters saying they are buying so many toys for their dc. I am bemused by what they are doing with the stuff they aLready have? Surely the majority of games, most families would play over and over again? Or maybe we are odd with this?

Home renovations. That’s what we are saving for. So I don’t think you can call that a lockdown expense. It’s just something that needed doing on the house to keep it presentable so you can enjoy it.

And in England, shops can still sell clothes and they aren’t that expensive in there. Even dd (15) coped with tesco Vest tops last spring as that’s all I could get hold off. It’s not like anyone saw her in them anyway.

I do agree with @Grapesoda7 as soon as we open up again, I’m blowing the savings. I don’t plan to have a weekend doing nothing for a long time!

We usually go on at least 5 holidays a year.

I’ve stopped drinking alcohol; stopped using the car; stopped eating out. I want to be as healthy as possible if I happen to catch it.

The only new clothes I’ve needed have been stuff for walking.

I’m cooking and baking, so saving money on lunches out and snacks.

My income has been cut, but I have more money.

We've saved money. DH and I are both at home now so petrol / commuting costs saved. Petrol i had put into my car just before March lockdown lasted me 6 months instead of two weeks!

Holiday abroad and a couple of weekends away cancelled , we normally eat out at least once a week, I normally have my hair coloured every 4 weeks , have only had it done twice since last March .

I normally buy new clothes, clothing for work, going out and holidays . I've spent the last year in joggers .

We don't have young DC to entertain; considering our own entertainment we already had sky TV. I read a lot but have saved money with kindle unlimited rather than buying a couple of paperbacks and magazines every week.

We are poor (household income in lowest decile, i.e. poorest 10% of the population), and have continued to save £100 per month as we were doing before (via the government's Help to Save scheme).

Our lives haven't changed that much though as my daughter was already home educated.

Commuting is a massive saving for us. Between us we usually spend £4k per year on the train. Then there's the usual lack of spending on theatre, weekends away, day trips, eating out, holidays etc

Extra subscriptions to Prime, Netflix and Disney+ don't touch the sides in comparison.

Plus I'm working extra hours as my workplace is busier so we have more money coming in.

Why does everyone keep listing Netflix as a significant monthly outgoing? We pay 5.99 a month and it’s less than 2 takeaway coffees or around a pint in a pub. Or a piece of meat in a supermarket. A whole month of entertainment vs. a few sips or bites... or do I have an unusual outlook on spending/money?

@Lykke1000

Why does everyone keep listing Netflix as a significant monthly outgoing? We pay 5.99 a month and it’s less than 2 takeaway coffees or around a pint in a pub. Or a piece of meat in a supermarket. A whole month of entertainment vs. a few sips or bites... or do I have an unusual outlook on spending/money?

Because lots of little spends of "just 6 or 7 quid" can soon add up to a fairly significant amount each month.

I mean, if you pay for NowTV, NowCinema, Netflix and Prime, you're paying over £20 per month - which is £240 each year just on TV subscriptions.

There was a thread recently from someone who couldn't see where all her money was going, but it was full of arguments like "I didn't think about x because it's only £10 a month".

We are older, DCs all adult and independent. I think our generation have had this very easy and am appalled at the insensitivity of some older people who don't seem to appreciate how hard it is for many.

DH is retired, full pension still comes in. I work P/T, my salary still comes in. We cannot go out so have nothing to spend it on.
I am trying to donate more to local charities and food banks because so many younger people, locally, are suffering from reduced wages or lost jobs

We’ve saved about ten grand in lockdown. I’d rather have less savings and have a full life back though.

Commuting is minimal savings for us
Four adults at home, three meals a day an increased expenditure
We have a home in France with some gites attached on which we lost 40% income last summer; anticipate 70% this summer.
DC's hall fees saved 1 x last year, 2 times this year for a term each year
Savings on breaks, theatre, meals out
I had to take a 12.5% pay cut

Overall I'd say we are down but incredibly lucky nevertheless.

Because lots of little spends of "just 6 or 7 quid" can soon add up to a fairly significant amount each month.

''I mean, if you pay for NowTV, NowCinema, Netflix and Prime, you're paying over £20 per month - which is £240 each year just on TV subscriptions.

There was a thread recently from someone who couldn't see where all her money was going, but it was full of arguments like "I didn't think about x because it's only £10 a month".

This is really true. I only buy Aldi wine. We drink a bottle between us daily, so £6 a day. or £36 a week. That's circa £126 a month. Then if we go out (pre lockdown twice a week and buy 2 glasses at 5 pounds each a time that adds another £40 a week. Which adds £160 a week. Pretty soon you you are looking around £300 a month on stuff you just piss down the loo.

It's scary.

We've saved on petrol, eating out, gigs and associated travel, weekends away, holidays, kids activities, after school club, running events, haircuts, beauty treatments. Plus more I expect.

@Nohairofcourseicare totally agree!

Depends what your life was like before and what you're doing now. I spent most of my money on 1) holidays 2) dinners and nights out and 3) nice clothes. I don't spend money on any of these 3 things now. I have had 2 takeaways since March - our cooking is far better than greasy takeaways. No reason to buy clothes. No holidays.

Husband and I have both received our bonus & a pay rise through the year - there’s been zero change in our work - both places we work are just as busy and successful as ever

No commuting,
The cost of Netflix, prime, Disney per month is tiny compared to how much we were spending on commuting

Usually fly back to my family very regularly - haven’t been doing that!

No going out for dinner after work, no after work pints, not going to concerts, theatre

Refunds from holidays

Bills have gone up - but compared again to commuting and all the other places we’ve made savings it’s not bad.

Haven’t bought new clothes, make up or anything like that for ages

Cancelled gym membership

No children & No car

Making lunch at home rather than going out to get something at the office

Not getting work done on the house

Having jobs that let us expense things we needed for working at home (desks, office chair, second screen etc)

We are lucky enough to still have our jobs and have saved loads. We have continued to pay for my daughters clubs as they aren't for profit and are now paying 50% of unused wrap-around care at school. We have also given extra to charity. We think money saved is mainly petrol, holidays, days out at the weekend eating out and clothes. If we need something to work from home we get it from work or claim on expenses. Extra costs have been Disney+, home-school resources, toys, take-away, DIY and gardening. I am pregnant and they money saved will allow me to have an entire year off this time (I could only afford 7 months with my daughter).

I feel like there’s nothing to spend money on apart from the online groceries and a weekly takeaway!
No commute - was £400
No dc school lunches - was £120
We would eat out at least twice a week
I’m not buying any clothes or having my hair/nails/pedi done
No gym membership
No daily coffees or pret lunches

I spent the majority of my disposable income on gigs, restaurants, cocktails and weekends away

God help my bank account when this is over.

* I mean, if you pay for NowTV, NowCinema, Netflix and Prime, you're paying over £20 per month - which is £240 each year just on TV subscriptions.*

Brilliant value for what you get!

I'm saving money on after school clubs for my DC. I'm fortunate that their dad pays for Netflix. I got them some board games, books, crafts, Lego for Christmas knowing they would be at home. I'd already got my DD a few new outfits for Christmas from Primark luckily - but supermarkets are reasonable for kids' clothes.

Gym closed - so not currently paying month so £200ish sinch lockdown 1

First lockdown had a rebate on car insurance & break down cover +£59
Driving less so +£40 a month

Not going out for coffees, meals & drinks with friends + £ more than I care to think
No holidays mini breaks £+300
No shopping sprees £+300

So it's just adding up. Ok I'm buying crap on Amazon but did so anyway. Already had Netflix etc