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Original poster

Are you buying less since this all happened?

69 replies

ElonsMusk · 20/04/2020 10:04

I have found in the past few weeks I am buying much less. No more coffees and lunches out are obvious ones, but just less crap I didn’t need in general! I thought this was happening generally, until I spoke to my sister who has been spending quite a bit on diy projects around the house.

Are you buying more or less?

OP posts:
PicsInRed · 20/04/2020 10:08

My service industry spend is through the floor.

I try to spend on my usual things as much as possible e.g. flowers to support that industry and their employees, will support hospitality (socially distanced 😉) again as soon as possible.

If we don't spend on things which being us joy, those things will cease to exist - and those business owners and their employees will suffer terribly.

PicsInRed · 20/04/2020 10:10

Childminders, cleaners and gardeners will be welcomed back with truly heartfelt tears of gratitude as soon as allowed. 😭🤣

NekoShiro · 20/04/2020 10:13

No I'm not spending on much, just a couple things as and when we need them, the only nice thing I've bought is a digital copy of a video game, I know a lot of businesses are going under right now as money is a weird issue right now but other companies will replace them afterwards, I'm hoping a lot more local small companies/independant sellers start to pop up after this is all over and everyone starts rebuilding

meow1989 · 20/04/2020 10:13

We are spending much more on food shopping as we are all home 7 days a week so more meals. I expect more on water and heating.
Less on lunches, coffees, days out with ds, petrol and clothes/make up.

I'm.focusing on overpaying my car loan with the money saved - done an extra month and a half so far Smile

Original poster
ElonsMusk · 20/04/2020 10:13

Very true. I’missing certain things I would buy, but I realise I don’t need to keep buying rubbish on Amazon the way I was Blush.

I wonder if spending habits will change? I would like to support more small businesses from now where I can. Such as get my lunch at the local sandwich shop, rather than Starbucks.

OP posts:
SophieB100 · 20/04/2020 10:14

A local gardener round me is busier than ever! He is doing up gardens and supplying home grown plants. He has no contact with his customers, they leave him his money in an envelope.

Ipadipod · 20/04/2020 10:15

I’m spending much more on food and stuff for my garden.

PicsInRed · 20/04/2020 10:20

I would like to support more small businesses from now where I can.

Just doing the daily walks, I've discovered so many local businesses I hadn't noticed before - some of which I'm definitely going to use. For the ones which survive, this could be a boon.

RedskyAtnight · 20/04/2020 10:25

We are spending much more on food shopping as we are all home 7 days a week so more meals.

.. but unless your meals were free, you'll have a saving elsewhere, so food spending as a whole won't have gone up?

I've always been quite frugal - I'm very much of the "do I want it or need it" mindset, so I'm not seeing too many savings. The main one is no money for the teen DC to go out :)

40somethingJBJ · 20/04/2020 10:30

I’m spending more on food - not because we’re home all day as that’s not really made much difference tbh (ds, 14 is not really an early breakfast person, but I make him have something when he’s at school. Now we’re just having “brunch” instead and then our evening meal), but because I’m having to shop at more expensive shops in order to get deliveries or click and collect orders. I normally shop at Aldi and Lidl, but, due to caring for my vulnerable elderly father and bring asthmatic myself, I’m not wanting to physically go into shops, so I’ve definitely noticed an increase. However, I’m also not tempted by the dreaded middle aisles, so it’s balancing itself out really.

Stellaris22 · 20/04/2020 10:32

Spending more on food but much less on everything else e.g. not buying wine any more and saving money where we can. But we aren't big spenders anyway (rarely buy clothes except when DD grows out of things) so nothings really changed for us.

Always refused to buy anything from Amazon anyway so that hasn't changed.

Somanythingsmakemesad · 20/04/2020 10:34

Childminders, cleaners and gardeners will be welcomed back with truly heartfelt tears of gratitude as soon as allowed.

My gardener is still coming, no reason not too.

viccat · 20/04/2020 10:36

Yes, I'm definitely more mindful of what I'm spending on - I'm self-employed and even though I'm currently busy with work, this was a real wake up call that made me realise I need to save much more and spend less on stuff I don't need (like more clothes etc.)!

Some of the online businesses I usually buy from have also temporarily closed or have stopped releasing new collections so that's helping too. I'm still buying from independent online shops though because I know they need the business more than ever.

Taswama · 20/04/2020 10:38

I'm definitely spending less on impulse buys even at the supermarket. Having queued to get in it doesn't feel right to linger over choosing a nice magazine or pudding. Food spend overall has gone through the roof though.

ifonly4 · 20/04/2020 11:10

I don't put food shopping on our credit card, but this month's payment is 20% of what it is normally, and that's mainly stuff bought before lockdown.

littlemeitslyn · 20/04/2020 11:19

Stealth boast 🙄

HappyDinosaur · 20/04/2020 11:24

I'm spending less on fuel but more on food as we are all at home for all of our meals now.

APurpleSquirrel · 20/04/2020 11:30

Spending more on food (2 DC now home all week) plus snacks. Expect our electricity bill will be bigger as at home using more.
Spending less on going out, petrol/diesel.

TheGreatWave · 20/04/2020 11:30

Lots more Blush

Food amount is much the same but I usually go into different shops to get the best deals but now everything is coming from the supermarket. That spend has gone up, but reduced elsewhere, I guess.

I am however buying lots of random stuff. Ordered a jumper for DD and shoes for me over the weekend, both had discounts so worth it. I have also bought things like DVD's, 3ds games, parasol base, flowers, paint (did woodwork yesterday), hedgehog house, shed. The list goes on.

DressingGownofDoom · 20/04/2020 11:33

Spending much less on takeaways and much more on books, toys and stuff for the garden.

TheGreatWave · 20/04/2020 11:35

I am saving huge amounts on petrol, but really not enough to off set my purchases.

NaughtyLittleElf · 20/04/2020 11:36

My gardener is still coming, thankfully, I'm usually at work and pay him by bank transfer anyway so it's no contact. I've paid for DMs this time as well so hers was zero contract as well.

I've bought a few for the house, organisation stuff mainly while I'm spring cleaning, but generally spending lot less, I'm going to the supermarket rather than having deliveries and not doing my usual top up shops on the way home from work, this I will stick to I was spending too much. I'm wfh so more time to cook from scratch which I find cheaper anyway.

Notcontent · 20/04/2020 11:36

I’ve just had a huge pay cut so definitely need to spend less.

JoeBidensDisintegratingBrain · 20/04/2020 11:39

More food and alcohol. Less everything else.

Collision · 20/04/2020 11:41

Just food here and I shop at Aldi really so pretty cheap.

Only spent £10 on petrol in 4 weeks.

Not buying coffee or clothes at all......and definitely not ordering non essentials.

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