I saved £10k / annum during lockdown. What are your best saving lessons?

MoneySeeker1

..and, presumably, your wife is still earning full NHS salary as per normal...

Has the business made up all their Lockdown losses?

thepurplepixie

I don't have an issue with the OP, he admitted he got some of his sums wrong but that's hardly a hanging offence.  Most people I know say they have saved money, no holidays, less commuting, fewer meals out.  I've saved on shopping but more luck than judgement as I am normally the sort of shopper who pops into the supermarket a few times a week to pick up a loaf or a carton of milk and come out having spent £20.  Now I am planning my shop and doing it on line and rarely going into a shop and indeed didn't at all for at least 8 to 10 weeks so saving on shopping and petrol.  I've also lost the guy who cut my grass, can't get hold of him at all so have been cutting my own grass saving me about £50 a month.  I didn't get my hair done between January and July so that saved money as well.  I haven't added it up but I am lucky as we are pensioners so our income hasn't changed but we have definitely spent less.
I have tried to put money back into the economy where I can, I've done Christmas shopping early, I did my tax return in May instead of waiting till January and paid it straight away and I know my contribution isn't going to rescue the government but every little helps, I've bought lockdown presents to send to GC to help with lockdown boredom and sent some gifts to my adult children e.g. a fruit basket or cream tea.
I live in a seaside town and it is amazing how much I've saved due to having fewer visitors, it's funny how popular you become when you move to a nice coastal area.
This is a moneysaving site so surely talking about moneysaving isn't an issue?

thepurplepixie

Forgot to say I think the eat out deal is madness in areas like mine, no shortage of visitors wanting to eat out in August and the money would have been better spent in September or October when restaurants will be much quieter.  It might make more sense elsewhere but I don't think it was much use here.

bouicca21

In my experience lockdown has either wrecked people’s income or left those still gainfully employed working flat out.  As a pensioner I have been fortunate in that my income has remained stable and my outgoings have reduced.  Those of us who have made savings might think of funnelling some of them to the Trussell Trust, because there are people out there who can’t afford food.

Rosa_Damascena

thepurplepixie said:

I live in a seaside town and it is amazing how much I've saved due to having fewer visitors, it's funny how popular you become when you move to a nice coastal area.

That is very true. Summer weekends are usually fully booked up with guests as I have plenty of space and its a very sociable time. I don't mind the catering costs one jot as everyone goes away having had a lovely time. Personally I much prefer to stay at home and enjoy the British summer. 

This summer is very different - working flat out as @bouicca21 indicated. Its not something I've had to do for over a decade, but the pandemic has changed all that. At least digital tech means its not as physically taxing. No time to eat out to help out, after 12 hour shifts what I really want to do is get out there and do some exercise!

barole

Hmmm, have I saved anything? I am an Infectious Diseases nurse working for a local charity and prior to lockdown,was hoping to cut my hours but i now have added shifts at the Infectious diseases ward at the hospital. I would have thought that this would up my income, but due to cross infection issues, i had to stop working for the charity, so swings and roundabouts. Thinking I would have a bit more time on my hands I adopted a rescue puppy in February, and to cover the very long shifts at the hospital, I have had to pay for doggy day/night care. Luckily there was plenty of space as so many people had cancelled and as I was a key worker they kindly offered me a good rate and have been super flexible to accommodate my random shifts. Parking has been free, but I really don't know if I could continue if I had to pay £18 a day for parking on top of doggy day care.

I suppose I have saved a bit from not going out, gym has been closed etc. Still waiting for refunds on flights to holiday booked in Scotland in May, but as so very many people have and continue to suffer financially, I do think we will all need to take bit of a hit financially. I have spent a bit more on food and as I am lucky enough to have a garden have spent more on that, growing veg etc. (Not as frugal as you would expect!).

So all in all, I don't think so.

Newnoel

Just to update on this, I've come across some additional savings opportunities this month:
1) Remortgaged from existing provider to a 5 year fixed term, with a 0.25% reduction in interest rates. Additional saving is £1.8k per annum on interest
2) Moved energy supplier, saving another approx £100 pcm

So that's approx £3k / yr saving on top of the original conservative estimate of £6k / yr. So this is a total of £9k/yr from my after tax or an annual saving of £15k from my my pre-tax salary. All of which has been pumped into pensions for the missus and me - double bubble on the tax relief there too. Thank you Rishi!!

baggins11

I am a dog walker and although my work went dead during lockdown I am back up to almost normal levels now. Initially some clients who are working from home let me go but soon rebooked me when they realised a quick walk before work doesn't compare to being out for a couple of hours with the pack. When they get home the dogs snooze all afternoon and don't pester their owners!!  Its win, win because they have very happy dogs and support a local business.

Newnoel

Update: given that I think we have viewed pretty much the entire Netflix back catalogue, I've cancelled that subscription too saving another £14 per month. Result!

newroadahead

I have shielded most of lockdown
Normally a commuter to London with a season ticket When it expired and as I was worried about redundancy ( 2 lots since last March in my firm) I decided that the money I was not paying  out for season ticket would go to my mortgage
And it has helped! 
I am another who is hoping that we won't be made to go back to a 5 day commute
We didn't go out a great deal although DH likes his golf (pay and play) but he did the shopping as I couldn't go out and we saved money my only spend was on wool to knit for youngsters having babies at the firm ( kept me amused)
Have finally booked a week away with DGC (have only seen once in lockdown) and agree with earlier poster very expensive in the UK but still looking Forward to it
NRA