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.

We are definitely not saving, in fact we are spending more. We both work on depots in the middle of nowhere so have always made lunches. We are saving on travel and work wear but spending so much more on bills and food definatey costs more these days.

Three kids all had clubs finished. The kids arent able to get out much at all even to holiday clubs so only need a handful of clothes that I'm either not replacing if they are a bit short or tight or I'm replacing say four tops with two as cheaply as I can get ( because who sees them anyway?). Less petrol, no date nights, no holidays that go ahead, no parties or gifts.

Mind you, like you i divert most to the house but now I'm.trying to save it.

No after school clubs and childcare
No diesel
No haircuts, nails, waxes, beauty
No commuting
No holidays
No entertaining, eating out or cinemas, kids parties
No school uniform and sports kits to replace

Have spent more on
Lunch (kids are gannets)
More takeaways but not out of boredom, maybe one a week
Gas and leccy is up
Slightly more generous bday/Xmas presents

All in all - saving joy spending more

Well, we're al different. I

haven't bought much extra to entertain myself - more books perhaps, but no movies or theatres. No trains, buses or tubes. Probably a few more takeaways, but no eating out. Have bought some new underwear but no outer clothes.

I had netflix and amazon prime video. I've used them a lot more than before. I cook more, but I already had a kitchen.

I did buy a laptop, and had some work done on the flat. Also only a short weekend away last summer, so saved a lot on holidays.

My work & salary remains unaffected (I work from home...even before Covid).
Husband on Furlough.
No petrol required.
No eating out.
We’ve only had a takeaway once or twice as we’re home all day and cooking fills the time.
No pub.
No coffee shops.
No meals out.
No haircuts.
No nails done.
No clothes shopping.
No home maintenance (only minimal).
No cinema/bowling/shows/events.

Time is being spent walking dog, getting fresh air, tidying house, clearing out cupboards, reading books, jigsaws, watching TV, FaceTiming friends/family....all free.

We’re saving each month and it’s fab!

DH isn't commuting 20 miles each way a day so probably saving £50 s week on petrol and more on parking. Less impromptu snacks and meals like sandwiches from cafes, coffees, little treaty bits from Boots or M&S while at work. We are buying more food but more cheaply. Have barely bought any clothing,probably spending more on Amazon but saving on petrol not driving to shops etc. No day trips at weekends, no mooching round garden centres and buying crap we don't need. No holidays, no girls weekends away (mine got cancelled!),no kids school lunches which with 3 secondary age kids is about £9 a day. Just saving on the stuff which we really didn't need to spend on anyway.

We are spending a fortune on a private psychologist as the 14 year olds mental health has plummeted in the pandemic due to repeated lockdowns (suicide attempt every lockdown) so we are spending more. Before you ask yes he is with camhs but they are shit and unable to provide anything meaningful due to the tsunami of kids suffering in exactly the same way 😢

Hard to tell, really. DH is working virtually completely from home (he goes into his university department once, maybe twice a week) but also using more electricity at home. We're all at home all the time, so more heating and leccy generally. DS1 isn't having to buy rather exorbitant school meals from the canteen so no money into ParentPay at the moment (that was working out at about £20 a week!). DH doesn't buy rubbish sandwiches at work or from a petrol station, but I'm definitely buying more lunch foods (bread, or making it, lots of things like cold meats, hummus, salads, cheese etc). I've had to axe my coffee habit (well, I might get a takeaway once a week to walk with) and also my deceptively costly charity shop habit. We're both spending far less on petrol (though actually, since DS2 started back at his SS, I'm taking him in so that's two round trips a day for the days he's in). We got Disney + last year as a treat. I wouldn't say I've spent lots extra on treats or toys or craft stuff to keep the DC happy but we had a lot of craft things in anyway, and are still very much into Christmas toys. I've noticed food bills are starting to increase (Brexit effect?) and have probably been spending a bit more, though going in once a week rather than 'popping in' a few times a week is probably a saving.

On the other hand, DH and I both treat ourselves to things to cheer us up (not anything vastly extravagant, second hand clothing on ebay or similar) and are supporting local indie shops by buying things like books on click and collect, rather than Amazon, which really adds up. And we're not an eating out or takeaway family really, but since last march have been getting quite a few takeaways, again to 'support local', ahem.

And while petrol usage might be down, my ancient car isn't enjoying not being taken out daily, and the battery had to be changed last year because it kept on flattening, and keeps on going flat this year, so I think a new one is in the offing.

Fraida that sounds terrible, I'm so sorry.

@HasaDigaEebowai

No commuting costs, school fee reduction, no school bus costs, no school meal costs, no eating out costs, no activity costs, no holiday costs.

Spending it on other things such as home improvement but that's a choice - your situation seems to be the same. Children don't need extra toys etc

This first part has been our situation too. It really puts into perspective how much we were spending before. As for the toy situation, outside of Christmas and my children had Oct & Dec bdays, we haven’t bought any more. I’ve actually tossed & given away a lot of stuff they’ve outgrown or no longer want and they have played with some of their toys and games they haven’t played with in a long time.

We are definitely not saving any money. I walk into work normally, my oh works a 15 minute drive away so not much saved there either. We never did the annual holiday anyway and lunches were always prepared from home.
With everyone working from home we've bought a desk and office chair for oh, a chair for eldest two teens and built a small work station for youngest teen in his room. We get through lots more food and snacks with everyone home as well.
No savings here at all

We have saved loads. No holidays or nights out, don’t need new clothes or make up as where would you wear them? No petrol, cutting own hair. A new bike is about it. Oh, and a mixer. I know people who’ve wasted loads on stuff they aren’t using like rowing machines and outdoor heaters, hot tub, musical instruments they’ve never played.

My personal savings are no childcare costs, no parking costs, cheaper lunch (work lunch was exorbitant but I still bought it for ease), much less fuel, less hairdresser visits (currently zero), no holidays (I usually take my son away in the UK during one or 2 of the school holidays, then my DH does the main summer one, so that was the only one last year). I've worked from home throughout so no loss of income but no extra time to need subscriptions to additional streaming services over Netflix. So yes, quite big savings, but I've had to buy a lot of warm clothes as my office is warmer with all the staff in

I think some of those not saving money during lockdown are those who were managing their budgets very carefully before lockdown, such as not buying lunch out every day for work and not grabbing coffees etc

It depends what you spend your money on.

No coffee shop visits
No swimming lessons etc
No school trips
No school dinners
No midweek top up shops
No days out
No bus or train fares

@LadyLolaRuben yep thats definately right in our case.

Savings : not going out for meals, work clothes
But cancelled out by more heating costs (shame it's a colder winter this year🙄), having to buy a new chair for home office and cat treats (don't ask🤔 )

Although all that said, I don't have children and I can see that many of your extra costs relate to your children being stuck at home.

We’re saving nothing. I’ve worked throughout so still have car & fuel costs. Had to buy tech and ink for homeschooling. My DH who was looking to go back to work after being a SAHD can’t, because any available child care in our area is full. And yes, extra subscriptions for streaming for extra entertainment.

And of course, extra food because school is closed.

We're not saving much:

I always WFM full time anyway
Electric car with free charging
Gym payed for by our companies
DC clubs are all on zoom - sports, music and tutor
My hobbies are also all online
Cleaner and ironing company still coming

Our food bill has gone up
I'm spending more on face products
Brought summer clothes in the sale as I've lost weight during lockdown
Brought all new school uniform in September as DD changed school
Needed to buy new kids clothes as kids keep growing
Booked holiday for end of year

So not much saved. But hey ho, we're very lucky.

@LadyLolaRuben

I think some of those not saving money during lockdown are those who were managing their budgets very carefully before lockdown, such as not buying lunch out every day for work and not grabbing coffees etc

Agreed - I nearly always take a pack up to work. I never have takeaway coffees as I can't justify the cost. I'd rather spend money on something to show for it, but each to their own.

No commuting, no school breakfast club or after school club, no kids sports/activity clubs, no restaurants, no pubs.
But spending more in utilities, books, films, toys, groceries at corner shops (as supermarkets are far away).

No commuting, no eating out, no take aways, no theatre visits/ concerts, clothes and books as usual second hand from ebay (for kids and adults), no holidays, much reduced kids' clubs. Even though we had to buy two computers, we are still saving.

People have more time to scrutinise everything that they spend money on.

For me I'm saving the cost of a season ticket (zone 4-zone 1) no lunches out, no drinks after work, no breakfast club or after school club) no new work clothes/make up / haircuts. All holidays cancelled except a few days camping last August. Food bill and energy bills are up massively though and I'm buying stuff I don't need on Amazon. wFH kit I had already and a few extras my company paid for.