Money now nearly a year after COVID hit

[Candystriper29]

Have name changed for this as it’s a bit outing when linked to my other threads.
How has everyone managed financially since March? We are stuffed now. Our Italian restaurant business has folded, we are now on UC. All extras stopped Such a change from this time last year.

We're doing much better although it was touch and go when dp went through redundancies just before Christmas. My online retail business has taken off like I never expected and I've taken on two employees in six months as well as taking on new premises. We're trying to support local restaurants. No good for my waist line but doing what we can to put money back into the local economy.

My freelance job dried up, I got made redundant from my other job. I'm retraining as a teacher, I'm earning minus figures now as my student loan covers nursery fees and I'll have to pay it back. Roll on September when I can get a job!

No change. NHS and LA. Saving a bit more because less commuting costs (he works from home, I am needed on site twice a week) and obviously we expend less eating out.

Financially we're better off as dh is wfh so commuting costs gone down drastically (he's only filled his car up about 3 times!). I'm front line nhs though so although our income is stable we're obvs not worry free.

We have been really lucky. I was made redundant but furloughed May until August and then I got a new job which as it is full time is more money than the last one. My husband has been mainly on furlough since March. He’s in hospitality x

So sorry for anyone struggling. It’s so awful. I was so so lucky to get another job.

We've been doing OK. I'm on furlough (my own limited company) but DH was always the main earner, and he's been wfh with his salary unaffected, luckily his job is secure. Minimal saving on commuting as DH used to walk/sometimes get the bus. Heating/food bills gone up but we can manage that. Childcare costs have increased but that was always planned and not related to covid.

We're not getting many takeaways but we never have really, it's just more convenient to cook at home with a toddler. Saving money on entertainment, days out etc.

In other members of my family, things are mostly OK too - people have had to cut back, or change jobs, but nothing too devastating.

I've been so so lucky to have worked throughout so no changes in income. Biggest saving is that I've only put in £120 of petrol into my car in the last 10 months.

Carys "We’ve saved about 20 grand with not being to holiday or go out"

I must admit, this made me gasp. I can't imagine anyone being in a position to spend that on holidays and going out, in 10 months.

Not a criticism, just eye opening for me.

I really feel for you OP and others. And all so unnecessary.

I work freelance and had just left a more secure role to do it. There is enough work around but I don't know how long for.

A pp mentioned commercial cleaning being advertised - I would do that. I'm wondering why the jobs are hard to fill and would I face inverse snobbery trying to do that?

We are doing much better than last year but only through absolute luck. We have our own business we started 2 years ago. We were set to start payroll in March 2020 (hadn't paid ourselves for a year prior) but COVID hit and all our work got cancelled so we waited. Then were ineligible for any support.

Luckily things really picked up in the summer and we did really well - probably not MN 'well' - but it was well for us compared to the last few years.

We are making a real effort to support local businesses, small business and buy british. This week we had a Chinese on Friday. Today DP inspected the shopping and I was banned from buying grapes as not british! I also purchased a set of lovely handmade silk satin face masks from a new british company (Goldenxhour) by a lady called DIYA which arrived today and are beautiful. Also ordered crepes for delivery from the local pudding shopping for dessert. Its not a lot but we are doing our best to support local business.

Sorry to hear about your business.

We are doing slightly better financially as we didn't have childcare costs for several months so saved the money and have reduced the hours that my son attends. But our stress levels are nuts regardless of money saved as DH is constantly busy with covid response and my job involves EU legislation changes. We were both blocked from taking annual leave for many months and refused furlough for childcare.

Our shopping bill has increased as we have switched to local deliveries where possible and get meals from the local pub to reheat at home. Household bills also up.

So tough but in very different ways.

Our income hasn't changed at all. I find we actually have more money since not having to pay for swimming/dancing/gymnastic lessons.

@AcornAutumn

Inverse snobbery??? God no! We would take on anyone willing to do the job. The demand for cleaners has gone crazy, and like all commercial cleaning companies we are desperate for new employees. The increasing rates reflect that. Anything up to £13 per hour locally.
Sadly no one seems to want the jobs.

We’re ok but month end I’m juggling a lot more.

Both our jobs have been full on. We saved a bit of childcare in first few weeks of lockdown but then had to start sending them again. DHs commuting costs were minimal and he still does most of the journey for school runs.

Food costs and fuel costs have gone up. I’ve had to get a car loan as needed to get to work. Fortunately just had a promotion but most the increase will just reduce the benefits we are entitled to.

We are so much luckier than most but would be seen as struggling by many too.

I wonder if this pandemic will affect how we guide our children when they come to think about future jobs.

I think parents will think twice about this.

[quote Bargebill19]@AcornAutumn

Inverse snobbery??? God no! We would take on anyone willing to do the job. The demand for cleaners has gone crazy, and like all commercial cleaning companies we are desperate for new employees. The increasing rates reflect that. Anything up to £13 per hour locally.
Sadly no one seems to want the jobs.[/quote]
Thanks

i thought you would be inundated, given how many people are out of work. There's a supermarket delivery driver in my block of flats who said people are turning up at the warehouses looking for any work.

Bubbled with kids dad. Saved on his commute to work. Plus half of school runs as kids went to his house and he brought them home. ( Smaller cheaper car)
Saved on groceries as doing joint shopping to protect DD. He buys less crap and expensive stuff as it is got in one shop.

Saved on kids swimming and the stuff we buy afterwards or cafes and haircuts. ( Ds gets done with sil's dog clippers)

Upgraded a phone for DD. Upgrading two computers. One for schoolwork, one as the lap top is ten years old and we need to tempt Ds to go to his dad's as well as here.

Spending more on after-school snacks and dinner money as bribery to go to s hook and on breakfasts for Ds.

No change for me as my job continues and I was always WFH.

However, I have never been so bloody grateful for my job and my ongoing ability to keep a roof over my family's head. I am the main homeowner, mortgage payer, bill payer etc. I realise how bloody lucky I am and worry a lot about those not in the same position - which includes friends ands family.

[quote Bargebill19]@AcornAutumn

Inverse snobbery??? God no! We would take on anyone willing to do the job. The demand for cleaners has gone crazy, and like all commercial cleaning companies we are desperate for new employees. The increasing rates reflect that. Anything up to £13 per hour locally.
Sadly no one seems to want the jobs.[/quote]
Try local Facebook group advertising if you haven't already.

Not cleaning but a lot of farms around us were struggling to get people in the summer as most workers used to be from Europe (fruit farm picking). They found that using the local groups for job adverts they got far more responses then the usual ways they advertised. I suppose as people are on social media more maybe?!

Really sorry to hear of people struggling
To be honest we are better off. DH is getting on call due to Brexit (PS IT) and he’s wfh so paying out nothing for commuting and lunches etc. We used to go out for meals a lot and on holidays so we have saved a lot there
My patchy freelance work dried up which pushed me to apply for (and get) a really good job so that’s extra money. Plus I also got a new PS freelance role that was only created due to Covid, it’s suppose to be ad hoc but i have had 3 days work a month every month since June and it’s a very good rate. Fortunately both that and my proper job are flexible so I can do both.
As I said I am really sorry people are struggling, our favourite restaurant we have been going to pre dc so over 16 years has closed permanently.
We are better off to the tune of about £2k per month compared to this time last year but I would swap that for none of this to have happened.

@Scottishskifun
We try everything. As do other countrywide cleaning firms - we are all having the same problem. No one wants to do a fast paced, physically demanding job. Meanwhile those that are employed are often doing back to back 70 hour weeks. It’s as if cleaning for a decent wage is just not good enough.

We are better off financially due to having had no holidays last year so the planned c15k spend didn't happen.

We are both wfh so no commuting/lunch costs. No eating out which we did at least twice a week and no days out either. We appreciate how lucky that makes us.

We have also gone on a health kick from January so lower food costs/no takeaway costs and no alcohol is helping the budget too.

Fortunately, none of our adult children has been affected either as they are all either key workers or wfh.

I am spending online though and actively choosing small family-run businesses to support. I have just ordered silk masks via the company mentioned above. Thank you for the details @LemonSwan.

I feel really sorry for those whose small businesses have been so badly affected. All of us who have been less impacted need to try to do our bit and buy local and/or small.

As a couple, DP and I are pretty much the same. He's a keyworker with as much overtime as he wants (pressured heavily into taking it) and my business has completely gone to shit. I don't like the way things are, as I don't like relying on him for money. But for the moment, it has to be this way. I need to start thinking realistically about whether my business can survive or whether it's time to give up.

to those who are struggling.

We’ve been really fortunate to not experience any change. We’re making a bigger effort to spend more at places we would usually go too; for example, ordering take outs from our local cafe, or donating to the local wildlife centre we would usefully visit. We’re making a bigger effort to source our food from small local suppliers. We’re also very aware that our work areas are likely to be subjected to cuts and restructures, so the money we are saving on travel etc is being saved.

Linda what is your business? Always trying to figure out who needs support - I only recently realised I should be signing up for yoga classes online with local teachers rather than just going onto youtube for free, for example.

Also don't worry about you relying on your DH for money for a bit, as long as you're trying hard to contribute. There will be times in the future, or perhaps there has been in the past, where it was the other way around. If you're a team, then you pull each other through the low points

@Candystriper29

I feel sorry for you and businesses in similar positions. I hope you can rebuild after all this