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

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)

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.

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.

We are saving so much! Both still working but realising how our spontaneity really cost us. We also had pockets of money put aside for various events this year which have now been cancelled so that’s gone into savings. I’m also working so much over time so quite a bit more left over after bills. Our food shopping has doubled though!

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.

Im not in the UK, I’m in the Middle East. I used to spend a lot as I travelled a lot - now with the closed borders im sat at home wondering when I’ll go to work again, as my salary has effectively halved. Aside from food and toiletries (I live alone) and the odd drawing pad and paints I’ve not really bought anything. This month I’ve put away £2500. It’s made me realise I could live way more frugally and put that towards something much more important.

Im not getting paid at all as first year self employed so even though Ive applied for UC, it'll only just about cover my car payment and immediate bills. Thankfully I do have a lot in savings and live with my parents!!

I am 'saving' on diesel and having a takeaway every lunch time during the work-week (probably a tenner a day) - However I'm the designated shopper in my family so although I get given everyones monetary share of the weekly shop, I always end up spending more than that due to how much we are all eating and cooking! Also bought Sims 4 through some childhood nostalgia only to play it once and never reach for it again But I think thats been my only purchase of a silly thing. Im sure i'll go back to it if i'm out of a job until September!! (work in a school)

We are spending loads more - food shop more than double as I’m buying Tesco online/ veg box delivery rather than £100 a week in Aldi. Our bills all remain the same, car insurance, council tax, all still needs to be paid.

I don’t really buy anything before anyway We rarely go out as we have kids & no babysitters. We take them to Pizza Express etc but with Tesco freebie vouchers.

coconochanel said:

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!

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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!

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

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