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.

People are saving money by not wasting it on all those things you do.

Do you tilt your head and open your eyes wide when you “don’t understand!!!”?

I have had one holiday abroad since March 2020, three visits to family in the UK, and one trip to Devon. I have not had to buy lunch out but cooked my own (lovely to do and the best thing about the restrictions). I wfh and am paid the same.

Compare that with the normal 8 to 10 family visits, and the holidays I would have had, and that's why I have saved a lot of money.

Honestly? £30,000-£40,000 since March 2020. I earn around £80k a year and pre pandemic almost all of my money, outside moderate mortgage and bills, went on holidays, eating out and drinks at nice bars. When lockdown hit my outgoings were next to nothing, especially as I wasn’t commuting or having lunches out.

A surprise pregnancy (first and only child) means I’m very grateful for the extra cash and I know I won’t be able to go back to my old lifestyle.

We’ve been overpaying our mortgage by £1500 a month due to the savings made so I guess it depends on personal circumstances 🤷‍♀️

No activities for kids - HUGE savings. No wating out - takeaways were actually cheaper

I'm a single parent and saved a good £3000 during pandemic I'm in such a better place financially. Was living month to month before. Still been going to work everyday throughout but not been cinema, meals out, theatre, theme parks, weekend trips etc.

No commuting every day, no wasting money on coffees every day, making our own lunches no expensive lunches at work… no doing a lot of the things that we usually do when we couldn’t and it was all locked down (shopping, cinema, theatre, gigs…) I’ve saved over £10,000 since this whole thing began. We have no children though so maybe that’s why?

I am on UC, so got the £20 a week covid uplift thing. So am saving that.

I forgot to say our WFH equipment (desks, chairs, monitors) were paid for by work do no costs there either. I can imagine that would cost a lot to buy it yourself.

Not saved really, but not lost either as carried on working throughout. Probably did save a little on going out and petrol costs and random shop purchases - still saving on those as rarely go to shops now we need masks.