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.

Easy for us to save. No fuel or parking costs, no school meals, weekly shopping, home cooking, no restaurants or pubs (takeaways only on birthdays to give me a break because everybody loves home cooking!). Used last year’s school uniforms, no sports fees and renegotiation of Virgin package. Living in sportswear so no “going out” clothes, no childcare, tax relief for home working, no gym fees (garage now has second hand gym equipment), no holidays, no pets boarding fees, no kids parties.

When this is all over we can afford new flooring and doors throughout the house, new bathroom and redecorating throughout.

We have reprioritised a lot and realised the “little treats” such as takeaways and weekend breaks were just habit. I know we will celebrate “freedom” when it comes but I don’t think any of my family is as interested in the hectic life we had before March 2020. We’re closer and much happier now. My teenagers enjoyed the break.

We are spending more on food and household bills, printer ink and paper.
More clothes to wear at home I’m still going to work as I work in a school but only on a rota so a slight reduction in fuel but it doesn’t offset the increased cost of everything else in our case .

We are a family of 4 and eat out at least twice a week which normally cost £80-£100 a time so that alone is a big saving although our food bills have shot up also saving fuel for car, gym memberships, kids activities no holidays, not much spent on kids clothes etc. Definitely spent more on alcohol though

We aren’t saving much but definitely not spending more!! We save our commuting cost, £200 ish a month. But our energy bills during winter are higher than normal. Our food bill had stayed the same. We spend more on alcohol I think. Other than that we haven’t spent anything we wouldn’t normally. I lost income during first lockdown and after and I’m earning less now than before. But otherwise we are about the same really.

Anything we could have potentially saved goes in my wine glass every night..

Joking aside, no we are balls deep in bills and it’s completely screwed us, I’m a student nurse and he’s a key worker so still earning but a single wage- my side job has had to stop due to no childcare

For people who own their own home things like wear and tear are greater, eg boiler on more etc but those who are council accomodated wont have that extra expense. Some people are having to feed their own children but then others just get the free meals tokens or packs. A lot of difference in circumstances probably,

and of course wages are cut when on furlough, but benefits arent so those peoples incomes are the same as ever

lockeddownandcrazy I can't believe you saw this as an opportunity to have a go!

Those people in council houses on benefits still have to feed their goats you know!!

and of course wages are cut when on furlough, but benefits arent so those peoples incomes are the same as ever

Yes exactly- so the theory that it's only wealthy people being better off I don't agree with. I'm on a low income, single parent. I do work but I get tax credit top ups so pretty much the same as when I was on income support in the long run. Despite being poor I still, in normal times, pay for clubs for my dc, take them out at weekends for activities that cost money and eat out and use a lot more petrol. I get their hair cut and occasionally get mine done and get my eyebrows done. We go away for weekends on a budget and do holidays on the cheap but it's all still money so we are definitely saving

@lockdownalli I didn't see it as having a go, just stating a fact

• saving on petrol as I'm WFH 2/3 days a week and not driving the dcs to rugby matches all round the county at the weekend.
• no drinks and meals out
• no day trips / holidays / swimming / cinema...a walk and a takeaway coffee doesn't cost much.

Our only increase in spending has been the food bill, maybe a bit more on heating, the odd takeaway and Disney+ (although we'd probably have done that anyway as we have a family of Star Wars nuts)

For us savings are on DS hobbies, me not needing meals/coffee at work, no days out, no nights out, meals out, weekends away, new year break cancelled, diesal

However as is our luck
We needed a new roof on extension 1000
Car broke dramatically 850

Was starting to save nicely but looking on the other hand the costs didn't put us into debt. We also paid Christmas well in advance.

Positives. The breaks we cancelled mean we don't have a city break to pay for in December and our New Year break is paid for as well as Panto tickets. This month I have also put some money toward next Christmas savings and a little in savings account....

We are far better off! Pre pandemic I would go shopping at least twice a week spending money on clothes etc. Lunches/coffee/dinner out at least once a week. We had 2 foreign holidays cancelled last year so saved money on those plus the spending money we would have spent.

Currently not paying for DD extra curricular activities, days out during weekends & school holidays, shopping trip treats etc.

Also saving money on fuel as literally can’t go anywhere!

Yes, our heating & electricity bills have increased and we are buying the odd takeaway but this pales in comparison to what we are saving.

Oh and none of us needed new clothes as we can't go anywhere...
I have a full new wardrobe of jumpers, jeans, boots, jackets for next autumn as I tend to wear same few at moment

[quote midnightstar66]@lockdownalli I didn't see it as having a go, just stating a fact [/quote]
Exactly - just a fact, those usually in work have often had incomes cut by job loss, less hours, furlough so are living on less than they would normally.

Those who dont normally go to work and get benefits wont have seen any change in those so will be living on the same. Just fact

Money saved: commuting £500+ a month
Got rid of second car
Hardly using any petrol
Nursery closure for three months £3000
Lunches /coffee out £50- £100 a month
Hair appointments = 300-400 in total?
Holiday abroad last year £2500
Meals out & pub = hundreds/ thousands
Make up and clothes = hundreds
Shopping bill + £50/£60 p/w

Our outgoings are a lot less but I lost my pt job due to covid. Over all, we are about the same.

Monthly savings:
400 as no commute to London
250 on Eating put
150 on kids activities, swimming lessons etc
90 gym
500 holidays/ weekends away/big days out
Some saved on clothes/make up for us as no need to look nice
Some savings on petrol as use car much less
Some savings on impulse/nagging buys for the kids
Some savings on no kids parties, nights out, cinema, travelling to weddings etc

Increased monthly costs:
400 nursery as no longer use family childcare
10ish More on weekly food shop as eating out less.
More on bills as home more (not checked meters recently so no idea)

I buy the kids clothes a year in advance so I can take advantage of sales etc so no emergency purchases. We did pay £150 more for a birthday present than we wanted to as the cheaper things were all out of stock. Already had Netflix and Disney plus and get passed lots of books and magazines. Partner plays online games and I do crafts at night but they are quite cheap anyway. Joined a couple of free clubs for some evening entertainment.

You didn’t need half of what you bought tho. It’s needs v wants could have easily spent less.

We're saving 12k per year on commuting and haven't had any holidays so we'd need to buy alot of toys to burn through that!

I read somewhere that middle-class families have saved as would usually have holidays, commute by car/train, eat out and go shopping etc. Less well-off people would be less likely to do a lot of that or have the ‘disposable income’ to do so.
I suppose it depends as we didn’t go on holiday in the summer (had a weekend away on the coast), aren’t eating out or getting many takeaways, not using car much, clothes shopping, buying theatre/show tickets etc. The main spend is on food which has def increased but still cheaper than eating out. We already had Netflix and teens had devices etc.
Again, I am aware we are lucky and we have given to food banks etc.

Something small, but if you like to save money on kids clothes, try Matalan, you can still order on line from them, their sale is on upto 50% off kids clothes on their website. www.matalan.co.uk

Unfortunately my DH business has been closed throughout the lockdowns so he has had no income but I am still working FT and am doing the odd overtime shift, despite our income reducing we have managed to save a little, food shopping has increased as have the utilities but on balance we are not paying school lunches, wrap around care, youth club and the odd couple of quid here and there for the teens, I have continue to maintain their go Henry accounts as I like them to budget! We are very sociable so our reduction in income isn't affecting us that much as we are not socialising! We did lots of home improvements last April and used the refund from our holiday to buy a new car. We haven't increased any subscriptions, although we are no where near well off we can keep a roof over our heads and I feel incredibly lucky. I go to work every day now thankful I have a job

@LadyLolaRuben
That's exactly the case for us.