How has your spending changed during COVID-19? What are you saving?

[chocolate choux]

Honestly I thought I was a pretty frugal person but lockdown has taught me I could be much better. I have a low income so I can’t be too extravagant with my spending anyway but I still spend a lot. My pitfalls are coffee shops/fast food 2-3x a week, Dominos every 1-2 weeks, clothes for my daughter (almost always secondhand/discounted but I like to buy ahead and the prices make buying too much feel okay). I mostly buy own brand/cheap stuff in the supermarket but I’m tempted by discounts on stuff I don’t need or little treats. Sometimes random crap like candles. Basically a case of a lot of small things adding up. Also I was bulk buying before it was cool - couldn’t go into a shop for a loaf of bread without stocking up on other stuff even if I already had some at home (yes I have issues)

Since lockdown I’m doing none of those things except buying some treats from the supermarket, but as I’m not going often even that’s improved. My bank balance hasn’t been this high in months. I’m not missing spending money and while I do think I’ll go back to some old behaviours, I’m also going to be more intentional when life does eventually get back to normal(ish)

 

[Jam-sandwich]

Interesting thread! I’ve saved quite a lot of money. I am extremely blessed that covid hasn’t affected my employment (NHS key worker) so I have continued working full time.

My travel to and from work was free up until 2 days ago (thanks TFL for the free buses) - saving me around £80-100 a month.

My work canteen offered staff free meals and drinks for 2 months, as well a free shop where I could collect daily essentials - this meant I saved money on food and groceries.

Pre-Covid, at the weekends my money mostly went on shopping, eating out and theatre trips, none of which I’ve been able to do. My Uber Eats spend has gone up a little though

I’ve donated some of the money I’ve saved to charities close to my heart, but I’ve still been able to save a decent chunk and put some towards credit card debt.

My heart goes out to anyone who has been affected negatively financially

 

[Carriethereallgunnalaugh]

My bank account has never been so much in the black I do miss take aways even though there is the options we have been cooking at home instead. Wonder how many Habbits will change. We were spending with both my self and husband working a hour away. £120 a month on petrol. Mental isn’t it. Although now I only drive to work and food shopping my husband works from home
We probs spend a quarter of that a week. Sad things isn’t it.

 

[EmilyChambers]

Yes I think it will. I read a article on the Daily Mail where it said when shops open changing room will be closed, you cant try on clothes, only a few in at a time, no seating areas and there will be a one way system. So I bet it will be like the supermarkets where you queue outside and a few go in at a time but TBH I wont be bothered queuing just to look around a clothes shop its enough hassle doing the food shop once a week!

I said to my family I might start buying Christmas presents now (not for kids) because there is NOWAY Im going to stand queuing at Christmas the queue will be sooo long!

I do this anyway, I always try to have my Christmas shopping done by October with my child's main present left so that I don't have to worry about money.

It gets easier as he gets older because now he wants games for ps4 or football stuff, he's not changing his mind on a weekly basis!

 

[hnoz]

Does anyone think this money saving will last most of the year? When shops eventually do open I can’t imagine when I will feel comfortable mooching about a busy shopping centre.

Does anyone think this money saving will last most of the year? When shops eventually do open I can’t imagine when I will feel comfortable mooching about a busy shopping centre.

 

[rainbowlemon]

Zero spending on my travel card for school as everything's online.
Zero deliveries for items for myself.
No new clothes or books either but I haven't done that for a while anyway.
I haven't bought any new make up for more than 2 years.
I've put a pause on therapy just this week.

I was spending around £17-20 a month at my local cafe though.

The last time I went food shopping was three weeks ago.

So I'm just paying my rent and for my sister's stuff and the usual monthly charity donation.

I did send my aunt and another girl flowers because her father is ill and for my aunt's birthday and again three weeks later for my aunt on what would have been my grandmother's 80th birthday.

 

[coconochanel]

moved to a separate thread as it could be an interesting subject to discuss!


Wages aside obv how much money are you saving from not buying takeout coffees, sandwiches, takeaways, things from homesense etc?

 

[KateESJ]

I've saved a fair bit due to not having to use childcare and haven't been taking the kids anywhere. Food has gone up a fair bit.

I'm still only just comfortable. I'm usually in the minuses in my bank account right now but I can't say I feel like I'm much richer. I was meant to be paid yesterday but they haven't gotten the furlough money get from gvmnt so we have to wait until mid next week. hopefully it comes in before my bills are due :/

 

[Bobbleowl90]

Saving nothing as we have no income

 

[KateESJ]

Oh dear that's not a good sign that they havent sorted the money out I'm dreading my pay day on Tuesday then

They told us they applied for the money on the 20th(which I think is when it opened) and it should be with them within 6 working days. They reckon they'll be able to pay us by Tuesday at the latest so hopefully you'll be okay by Tuesday x

 

[Jennyie]

We rarely eat out or order takeaway. We love to cook so that’s not changed. Spending more on booze I think, or because we are buying it in bulk each week it seems more. Normally we’d just nip to the shop every other day for a bottle etc.
I’m actually spending a lot more on fuel as I’m visiting my Dad every day in a hospice. I’ve not really done any online shopping, I’m spending less by not nipping here and there.
Food maybe costing more as I’ve stopped going to supermarkets and using local fruit/veg/meat delivery and a couple of click and collects but can’t be faffed with that anymore (I don’t like main stream supermarkets) I prefer to use Lidl and my local Asian green grocer.
There’s nothing to do house wise as we are temporarily in rented after selling. Was due to move this month to new purchase.

 

[Instagram1]

We seem to having some savings in the bank which I will use to pay off a credit card (I’m waiting for this months pay to pay off a much bigger chunk- more satisfying!). We both work for the NHS so fortunately are still working. Our weekly food bill has increased drastically but we previously used to eat out/ takeaways 2-3 times a week and currently are only have one a week (sticking to the same restaurant). So much money spent on food and drink (whilst socialising with others) previously. We may have to cull our real life social network in the future

 

[thetemptationisreal]

I think I'm spending more on crap... The amount of food I've bought taken to colouring in my spare timr and shops don't have much selection for adult colouring books

 

[Definitelyme]

I forgot to mention previously our family holiday to New Zealand was cancelled so we got all our money back from that (minus visas and a few odds and ends) and didn’t spend any of our holiday money. So a few thousand up on where we expected to be.

 

[Interestingbitsnbats]

They told us they applied for the money on the 20th(which I think is when it opened) and it should be with them within 6 working days. They reckon they'll be able to pay us by Tuesday at the latest so hopefully you'll be okay by Tuesday x

Fingers crossed for you xx

 

[Hobbitsies]

I have saved a LOT on food. I still live at home and so the food I eat there I contribute to under my "rent" and so most of the other stuff was rubbish or lunch for work. So working from home has helped and not having to go the shop has much as saved my food bill from going up. It has also meant I feel healthier as it was usually crap I bought. Really going to try and keep this up.

My other thing I have saved mostly on was getting to work. It usually costs me about £300 a month? and that has gone straight into savings.

While I have spent money on things I maybe wouldn't have bought this month otherwise I have still definitely saved more! How long it lasts after lockdown is difficult though as some of it is obviously needed like lunches and getting to work and I already try and save as much as possible.

It is very interesting reading what everyone is saving on!

 

[working9-5]

I’m not in the U.K. and lockdown is strict here and we don’t have many shops on island and online shopping (coming from the states) is expensive. I saved $400 more last month and only spending money on groceries after bills are covered. Groceries are expensive here. Travel is my big passion but given the airport is closed for months, I don’t think I’ll be doing that for a while.

 

[Interestingbitsnbats]

Does anyone think this money saving will last most of the year? When shops eventually do open I can’t imagine when I will feel comfortable mooching about a busy shopping centre.

Does anyone think this money saving will last most of the year? When shops eventually do open I can’t imagine when I will feel comfortable mooching about a busy shopping centre.

Dont fancy queuing to go it wont be same again I feel. Nothing will unless we get lucky

 

[tagliatelle]

We’re definitely saving overall:
- neither of us are commuting, and we’re not visiting our families at the other end of the country (not seen my mum for almost three months!), so can’t remember the last time I filled up;
- we’re only paying 30% nursery fees;
- no lunchtime trips to Tesco for me, and my husband isn’t buying his office’s entire stock of snacks every day;
- no meals out;
- no clothes for the baby;
- I’m not wearing make up (so is lasting longer)

On the other hand, our food spend has probably tripled as we’re only going to one shop (Tesco), very few special offers, we’re bulk buying more and stocking the freezer, and we’re buying more treats.

 

[Definitelyme]

If you are under 40 and don't need access to the money you have saved, it might be worth opening a LISA. I think they still do them?

I opened one as I don't have a very good private pension.

You can pay in £4,000 each tax year and the Gov put in 25% for what you put in, so if you put in the full £4,000, they put in £1,000.

You can't touch the money without penalty until you are 60. You can pay in till you are 50 then it earns interest only between 50 and 6p and then you can either take it as a lump sum or withdraw as and when while it gains interest or you can continue to pay into it.

Thank you for this. I haven’t heard of this before (which is weird as my dad is an account and is usually all over this stuff for us!) and I feel it could be really beneficial for us as my husband is self employed.

Spending wise, as with others our shopping bill is way up. But other than a few bits for the kids (more card, some stickers) I haven’t bought anything except food. Haven’t filled my car up in over a month because we obviously don’t go anywhere except my weekly to the supermarket.

My husband usually buys his lunch out, and is now eating at home or taking it with him, so I think we’ve saved money on that (although I suppose balances out in the food shop).

We don’t pay any childcare or anything, and my daughter is still doing piano lessons via FaceTime so nothing saved/lost with the kids really. We are pretty dull