*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Yes, it's polarising opinions definitely.  I might be less blase if any of my immediate family were high risk.  Plus I'm probably biased because I'm out at work and apart from homeschooling, life hasn't changed much for me.  Apart from saving loads of money, which is the only nice side effect.
I feel very sorry for people who can't work from home, furloughing and the other schemes aren't covering everyone.  Lots of worried self employed people etc.
Going by today's briefing, end of May/start of June looking more likely.  Everyone's immune system will be screwed by then, being cooped up for 8 weeks!  Reminds me of that film 'Demolition Man' when everyone was so afraid of viruses, no human contact allowed.  I'm probably showing my age remembering that one

savingholmes

I loved Demolition man. 

DancingInTheRain

I'd agree with late May/early June and the immune system issue, was just saying the same thing earlier. Well done on the money saving, we're in the same fortunate position, makes you count your blessings. Stay safe x

Isitdoable

I have a business that is very unlikely to reopen anytime soon, we have furloughed all of our staff but plenty of them are struggling on the wage cut.   We will probably get a small amount in the self employed help in June, but its Universal Credit until then which won't even pay our bills.   
I think there is a balance to be struck between keeping us all safe and not totally wrecking the economy for years and years (which will cost many more lives than the virus ever will).
I really hope we can get back to a different normal very soon - it will be different, and I don't expect to be working any time soon, but at least if we have a plan, we can make our own plans, including what work to actually do, as I think we will have to find an alternative income.
Glad the homeschooling is going well for you - its also fine for us, I just feel my son it missing out on so much more than education.  Its the way of life and socialisation for them that they are really missing

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Hi SH, DITR and IID, glad you're all doing ok.
Sorry to hear about your business IID, I really feel for small business owners.  80% of any wage is a tight squeeze, but I know from when I had my own little business, 80% of a self employed wage is not the same as 80% of a PAYE one!
I worked in my supermarket job yesterday, in the main people are polite and respectful, but many are a bit random with the whole social distancing thing.  There was one guy who had a mask on, but kept leaning over the staff.  Another lady was scurrying around like a nervous mouse, frowning and tutting at anyone who came into her zone, but then when some bargains got put out, she was elbowing others out the way to grab as much as she could  
I find it very hard at a 2 metre distance to hear what people are saying with a face mask on though!
Loads of staff have chosen to take 3 months off without being in that category, management have let them, but it's unpaid.  The teenagers are lapping up all the overtime, there'll be some very rich teens by the end of all this

mark55man

everyone is finding there own way through it 
DD1 last pay packet was huge! but on balance I think we all want to goback to normal or the new normal I'm sure it will be mainly the same 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Bit of a gap between updates, mainly because there's not much to say... still homeschooling kids and working.  Am sending them to school from next week, they've had 8 weeks at home and they need the routine back.  I'm not at all concerned about doing so, they have no underlying health conditions and I think it'll do them the world of good to get some normality back.
Luckily, they've all got friends who are also key worker kids, so they're excited about it.  2 of them are in the school years that are due back on the 1st anyway.
Some of my teacher and TA friends are saying the unions are trying to block schools returning, which seems irresponsible to me.  You didn't see the healthcare unions doing that, that would have been awful.  My friends are all ignoring the unions and returning when asked to, but looks like there'll be trouble ahead for some schools

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Financially, all good here.  We've been keeping well within our means and saving too.  We've got nearly £4K saved now, I was tempted to pay back my FIL the last bit of his loan (that's due to be paid next March), but OH wants to hold onto it a while longer 'just in case'.  I think we'll aim to save a few more thousand over the coming months and then pay him back October time.
Our next house project is our bathroom, it's the last room in the house to be done.  It got knocked around a bit during the extension, window moved etc and is looking very ramshackle.  We want to completely change the layout and make it a 4 piece rather than having a shower over the bath as it is currently.  It's a big room, plenty of space. We've had quotes and are budgeting £8k, but we're going to save £10k before we start so there aren't any nasty surprises.  I'm going to aim to save £1k a month which is steep, but doable, so we could be getting it done this time next year (after paying FIL back)

DancingInTheRain

Good to hear such a positive update, bathroom plans sound fab too 🙂

savingholmes

Glad things are going well. Bathroom plans sound lovely. Great that you are planning to pay off FIL ahead of schedule