It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Suffolk_lass

I detect a lot of anger among people posting here and on FB about people who are out and doing their jobs because they have to. It is not only Doctors and Nurses who run hospitals, care homes, shops, provide or sell vital supplies etc. And many are self employed thanks to the way work has been shed - cleaning contracts use zero-hours sub-contractors for example.

Many of the construction workers who have continued to travel in to work on building sites are self-employed construction workers. Very few companies are all employee-based. With no safety net in place they certainly had no option but to travel in while the sites remain open. With a delay until June before the self-employed measures such as grants kick in I do not see how many can afford to just stop without losing the goodwill and future contracts they rely upon to make their living. Check out the Construction Industry Scheme if you want to understand someone else's pressures, and consider being less judgemental when you do not know their circumstances.

quirkydeptless

Anonymous101 said:

"Monk Mode" as the Escape Artist put it in a recent article!

I'm spending a lot more time in my dressing gown, so I'm close to dressing the part

MallyGirl

Our household spends have had ups and downs as a result of the virus:
- no fuel for OH to commute to work or DD to get to her many activities as they are all off
- no sneaky 'forgetting his lunch' and going to the coffee shop or buying posh coffees on his visits to HQ
- no going out or eating out
- almost all future gigs cancelled/postponed and cancelled ones refunded
+ a bit more to heat the house
+ supporting local shops which are a bit more expensive
+ signed up to Netflix for bored teen
School have discounted our final term's fees (they still have to employ the teachers but operating costs will be somewhat lower) and will refund the exam fees. I expect that the concert band tour to Malta in July will be cancelled and refunded. Her sax lessons have moved online but there is no way that the ensembles can do this so music fees will be much lower next term.
We have just had a reminder that the (significant) balance of our safari in July/Aug is due soon. I still hope this might go ahead but it will be a bit galling to pay out whilst there is uncertainty. We can't cancel though as opting to not go would not be covered by insurance.

crv1963

DairyQueen said:

Observations on the differences in the Covid-19 parallel universe:

- energy company kindly advised today that they want to increase my monthly DD buy 40%!

- cancellation of supermarket multi-buys and stock shortages have increased grocery bill by at least 25%.

Anyone else notice an immediate increase in personal inflation? 

Some changes to our spending here too-

Energy costs have dropped as builders have left (After making the roof water tight with tarpaulins) so not using their electric tools/ drinking tea and coffee. Warmer weather has meant less heating in the greenhouse (set for frost free only).

Supermarket- I noticed price increases/ less offers but as we generally buy only what we need anyway we've not had a huge increase in costs. Being confined to only one carton of soya milk (one of our staples) but it is a lot lighter carrying it home- I have for the last 3 years generally walked to and from the local Supermarkets for fitness.

Fuel- in my case Diesel has dropped in cost but I expect to use much more as I have a 170 mile round trip to work and am back to work tonight, my landlady is in 12 week "lockdown" so option of staying near my workplace for my run of shifts has ended.

As we haven't been out shopping/ trips out so no cups of tea or meals out I actually have not used any of this months fuel budget so a healthy bank balance as we head towards payday next week- I'll probably put half into Mrs CRV SIPP and the rest into my cash savings account.

Thrugelmir

Suffolk_lass said:

I detect a lot of anger among people posting here and on FB about people who are out and doing their jobs because they have to. 

No anger here. I'd prefer people to stay alive. My partner and friends who work in the NHS everday in particular. They are exposing themselves. More so due to peoples inability to comprehend the words NON ESSENTIAL. After all that's the bottom line. There'll be ways of getting by for a few weeks. Which in the greater scheme of things is that all that matters. Stay off social media for your mental wellbeing. Not representative of the wider country. Last night I went out for my daily walk at 8.45pm. In 50 minutes I saw just one other person walking. People are taking this very seriously. 

cloud_dog

MallyGirl said:

We have just had a reminder that the (significant) balance of our safari in July/Aug is due soon. I still hope this might go ahead but it will be a bit galling to pay out whilst there is uncertainty. We can't cancel though as opting to not go would not be covered by insurance.

Similar boat, not a safari though.  We have one schedule for early July    and I've paid it on a 0% credit card (for 27 months).  That way I've not used up all the cash and it will give organisations etc time to pay out if necessary without adversely affecting me (lots of wood touching going on).

Thrugelmir

cloud_dog said:

MallyGirl said:

We have just had a reminder that the (significant) balance of our safari in July/Aug is due soon. I still hope this might go ahead but it will be a bit galling to pay out whilst there is uncertainty. We can't cancel though as opting to not go would not be covered by insurance.

Similar boat, not a safari though.  We have one schedule for early July    and I've paid it on a 0% credit card (for 27 months).  That way I've not used up all the cash and it will give organisations etc time to pay out if necessary without adversely affecting me (lots of wood touching going on).

There's virtually no country currently untouched by the virus. Lock down may well have further meanings in the weeks to come. 

cloud_dog

Yes, it is a bit of a rock and a hard place.  I am expecting it not to happen but until it is officially cancelled we need to progress as though it will be fulfilled.

crv1963

cloud_dog said:

MallyGirl said:

We have just had a reminder that the (significant) balance of our safari in July/Aug is due soon. I still hope this might go ahead but it will be a bit galling to pay out whilst there is uncertainty. We can't cancel though as opting to not go would not be covered by insurance.

Similar boat, not a safari though.  We have one schedule for early July    and I've paid it on a 0% credit card (for 27 months).  That way I've not used up all the cash and it will give organisations etc time to pay out if necessary without adversely affecting me (lots of wood touching going on).

Snap! Got a holiday booked for the end of May to Croatia, paid as for cloud_dog with a 0% cc. Just awaiting the formal notice it is cancelled, on the other hand I've been offered free accommodation in the city I commute to (85 miles each way) at a motel that is staying open for key workers.  At no cost to me or the NHS.

MallyGirl

That is a good result crv.
I think I might get OH to apply for a 0% cc to pay the holiday balance. I am a stoozer so have no capacity to fit it on mine.