Author Topic: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?  (Read 4122 times)

dodojojo

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #50 on: June 23, 2020, 05:40:20 PM »
Last year at this time, I was getting ready to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  That world seems so alien now.

bogart

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #51 on: June 23, 2020, 09:43:02 PM »
Less.  We are spending less on gas (and it is cheaper).  We are not eating out.  We are ordering groceries delivered and paying for the privilege, but doing way better on planning meals and eating leftovers (see:  not eating out) and reducing waste.  No summer camps for the kid (well, 1).  No organized sports activities, ditto.  This was to have been a low-travel year for us, but we had family coming to visit this summer (usual routine) and that would have involved 2 week-long trips with them, lavish(ish) meals out, renting a mini van (so we could fit more of us in 1 vehicle for the trips), and general extravagances involved in getting together with family you only see once a year.  Now all canceled. 

BlueMR2

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #52 on: June 27, 2020, 10:45:22 AM »
COVID has been a dramatic spend decrease for us.  My wife and I together are on track to spend less this year than I usually do by myself.

I'm even buying extra frivolous items (video games, board games) plus some extra convenience tools for making working on the cars easier.

The save is a combination of greatly reduced automotive expenses, a fair reduction in eating out, plus a few reductions in outdoors events we normally would have attended (events are not a big spend for us overall, but it's noticeable).

Dicey

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #53 on: June 27, 2020, 12:17:46 PM »
I charge everything on two cards. Balances are noticeably lower than usual. I am using this as an excuse to eat down some of our reserves, so grocery spending hasn't increased much. Zero eating out, and no entertainment/travel expenses. Gas consumption is way down. We've given more to charity, but it was in the budget, we just accelerated the payouts. We will most likely add more in the second half. DH still walks to work, and I'm not doing much more than occasional grocery shopping. All my volunteer and social activities are still suspended indefinitely.

We did get a notice that our Homeowner's policy was not going to be renewed. The company is based in the same city we live in. DH argued that we are situated between a large Fire Station and a huge source of water. He also added that we're in an essential service area. When PG&E was scheduling power outages, we were never without power, but the insurance company's office was. They have agreed not to cancel our policy, but have informed us that it's going to cost a lot more to renew. How much more remains to be seen. We won't know until August. Meanwhile, we're shopping for new insurance, but what we had was so low, it's unlikely to be replicated. Since the fires, insurers in CA are either not writing new policies, cancelling policies, jacking up rates, or all three.

PhilB

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #54 on: June 28, 2020, 05:43:27 AM »
Our spending is way down.  We're FIREd and travel was about 20-25% of our budget so that's all gone.  No kids activities or school trips.  Hardly any driving.  Only one takeout since March rather than one a week while the kids did indoor climbing.  On top of all that, our 16 year old, who is on 'study leave' for exams that won't take place, doesn't get up and have breakfast until noon so no lunches for him!

nereo

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #55 on: June 28, 2020, 08:59:52 AM »
Our spending is way down.  We're FIREd and travel was about 20-25% of our budget so that's all gone.  No kids activities or school trips.  Hardly any driving.  Only one takeout since March rather than one a week while the kids did indoor climbing.  On top of all that, our 16 year old, who is on 'study leave' for exams that won't take place, doesn't get up and have breakfast until noon so no lunches for him!
Presumably the kid eats the same amount, but at different times, no? 

PhilB

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #56 on: June 28, 2020, 10:22:38 AM »
Our spending is way down.  We're FIREd and travel was about 20-25% of our budget so that's all gone.  No kids activities or school trips.  Hardly any driving.  Only one takeout since March rather than one a week while the kids did indoor climbing.  On top of all that, our 16 year old, who is on 'study leave' for exams that won't take place, doesn't get up and have breakfast until noon so no lunches for him!
Presumably the kid eats the same amount, but at different times, no?
Strangely, no.  Just boils himself a couple of eggs to have on toast for breakfast, then has his normal dinner.  I think he's basically gone into hibernation mode.

nereo

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #57 on: June 28, 2020, 10:44:17 AM »
Our spending is way down.  We're FIREd and travel was about 20-25% of our budget so that's all gone.  No kids activities or school trips.  Hardly any driving.  Only one takeout since March rather than one a week while the kids did indoor climbing.  On top of all that, our 16 year old, who is on 'study leave' for exams that won't take place, doesn't get up and have breakfast until noon so no lunches for him!
Presumably the kid eats the same amount, but at different times, no?
Strangely, no.  Just boils himself a couple of eggs to have on toast for breakfast, then has his normal dinner.  I think he's basically gone into hibernation mode.
Interesting!
I wonder if that could prove useful later on...

rudged

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #58 on: July 11, 2020, 07:58:46 AM »
Just got an alert that my electric/gas bill has gone up dramatically since last month. It's probably due to greater use of central air, too much screen time and more meals at home (more use of the dishwaaher).

BlueMR2

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #59 on: July 11, 2020, 10:02:33 AM »
Just got an alert that my electric/gas bill has gone up dramatically since last month. It's probably due to greater use of central air, too much screen time and more meals at home (more use of the dishwaaher).

Electric and gas have not changed as much as expected.  What surprised me is water usage...

SquashingDebt

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #60 on: July 11, 2020, 10:58:35 AM »
I just checked and I've spent $4650 less in the first 6 months of this year than the first 6 months of last year.  Just about all of that is explained by not being able to travel.  Otherwise my entertainment expenses are down, but my food expenses are up.

ixtap

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #61 on: July 11, 2020, 11:07:29 AM »
I buy most of our clothes on clearance racks or TJ Maxx type stores. DH needed new shorts for yoga and without that option, these new shorts may be the most expensive items in his wardrobe, at $30/pair.

I hope neither of us need any other clothes any time soon. I hate online clothes shopping even more than in person.

Dicey

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Re: Has your spending actually decreased during the co-vid 19 pandemic?
« Reply #62 on: July 11, 2020, 11:38:52 AM »
My spending has decreased dramatically,  but DH just pointed out that his has spiked. I think that's because any time we need anything, my answer to him is, "Buy it". To be fair, some of the things he's purchased are new tires and brake parts - for my car, lol.

We also just bought a new (to us) RV, plus he's in the process of painting the house. We have the tine and the money, so why not just get things done? Next up, a couple of our windows are blown, and they're going to be expensive to repair. It's always something.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!