Are you doing all you can...

Ah but how large are the pieces?
Do they vary or is there a standard size?!

Tablet is one of the best things about Scotland! I shudder to think of how much badness is hidden within its deliciousness but the saving grace is that it’s so rich that most (not all!) people can only eat one or two pieces.

Speaking of food and cooking I am certainly getting an education on these threads.

Who on earth knew there was a food called tablet?

We have all heard of Egyptian tablets, tablets/pills and iPads/tablets but now I learn there is a very sweet, highly calorific Scottish delicacy called tablet!

It does sound marginally less calorific than fried Mars Bars though which I have heard of ?!!

We are actually better off with extra income and bonuses that DH and DS are earning as key workers and refunds from cancelled events.

I’ve mostly sworn off baking since my Dh retired and there are only two of us to eat it, Gagajo. It’s just for when family are visiting now.

My friend is on her own and she’s been baking, then dividing cakes into portions and freezing them so she can’t gobble it all at once.

No, it's swings and roundabouts, what we save on going out we may spend more on something else.
We may have to help out one DC, hoping the others are fine.

I'm spending about the same as usual but anything else is currently topping up my sons income while he is off sick.

Just switched electricity provider saving a good amount each month but had my council tax bill which has seen off any benefit from the switch

I am cooking a lot more, which is saving money.

I WISH I were eating more healthily SueDonim. Unfortunately, now I've got time on my hands, I'm baking up a storm.

Yes, I'm lucky too chicken. I'm still getting paid, although not sure how long that will last.

My shopping bill is much higher now that I can't go to a supermarket, and home delivery is a joke....I've been trying to book a slot for weeks but T***o have none available here at all. Luckily a local farm shop will deliver the basics but their prices are way higher...but, honestly who cares when it's a choice between money and starving.

I’m lucky enough not to have a mortgage . Utilities are about the same and food mostly although I would have had a main meal in school the two days I previously worked, now doing my face to face work over the phone at home.

No hairdressing bills, no driving so no Petrol. No impulse spending when out and don’t intend to buy any new summer clothes.

I have ordered birthday cards and presents on line for grandchildren and SIL whose birthdays are early May. Sent cheque in card for god daughters birthday in April.

Nothing is going out of the bank account at the moment except usual DD’s . I am still receiving pensions and small salary at the moment as still technically working so again realise I am luckier than some.

Oh I see, Gagajo. People are consuming meals at home which they’d normally buy when they’re out and about. That figures.

I think we’re eating more healthily. We’re not going out for coffee and cakes and I’m paying more attention to using what we have in the house and to meal planning.

As we are not feeding and buying treats for the GC there will be a small saving there, as well as no hairdresser bills. Heating and lighting will be about the same as we are both at home retired. Holidays and day trips all cancelled so no costs there. No impulse buys from the shops and not buying from online as no where to wear it and difficult to return if unsuitable.
It's the younger generation with mortgages and young children who are going to feel the most effects.

I don't think food consumption is going up SD. But families that were all out of the house for much of the day before are in.

No school lunches for children. No take aways (well, some must still be getting them, but I wouldn't risk it). No meals out.

So while overall spending probably isn't more for most people, it's all going on a grocery bill, rather than out in dribs and drabs.

At my overseas job, all meals were included. So I had no food bill before. Whereas now, obviously, I'm buying groceries.

I’m assuming what’s being paid out now will continue, Oopsminty but going forward, I can imagine it’s going to be very difficult.

This enforced imprisonment is an ideal opportunity to make sure we are all on the best tariffs for the utilities, insurance, mobile phone contracts etc.

Remember what Martin Lewis always stresses. - if you are on a gas or electric standard variable tariff, you will be paying too much.

Sometimes it’s as simple as a phone call to save quite a considerable amount.

One example. We are with a plumbing home emergency company and when the reminder letter arrived the rate had leapt up.

My husband got on the phone to them threatening to cancel and lo and behold they quoted last year’s figure again !

Honestly an hour or two online can literally save hundreds a year.

We’re very fortunate in that we live on pensions so won’t lose those

We have no idea how the pensions will survive this though!

We’re very fortunate in that we live on pensions so won’t lose those. I do have a stakeholder pension that was due to pay up this year but I don’t think it’ll be worth much now. ?

I’ve bought some groceries for my mum but our own food bill hasn’t risen I’m not sure why food consumption would increase, if anything, I’m eating less right now.

I’m shopping for our son who can’t leave his sick wife and children. I don’t expect or want to be repaid. I just want to know I’ve done all we can to help.
It’s not so bad for us. There’s no mortgage, my husband is still working. I suppose we might have to tighten our belts a little if either myself or my husband gets ill.
I am glad you’ve raised the subject though GabrielaG54 because I hadn’t given it a second thought and I think perhaps I should. Just in case things beyond our financial control take a serious down turn.

Tens of thousands of people through no fault of their own have absolutely nothing, nothing.

Saving anything in this pickle we are all in. I have spent double the amount on food as I have had to buy in all sorts of different shops just trying to get food into the house as normal places to shop were shelf bare. I had to help eldest daughter with some money (even though she is a full time worker) she had the same problem with the food availability. I am using more water as cleaning, washing floors, bathrooms every morning and one thing I have been doing is phoning family a lot but am now going back to the old art of writing letters, it's cheaper.

We're spending a LOT more on groceries than we normally would. Usually I'm not here in daytime even when I am living in the UK. Grandson and daughter aren't out at all now either so are also eating 3 meals a day here. Isolation has massively put the food bill up.

Other than that, no other real spending. GS has a birthday coming up but he hasn't got the usual extravagance of gifts. Mainly 'doing' things to help him stay busy while he can't go out.

Sorry . Just ignore me I’m a miserable cow .

I’m going to try and buy some shopping on the “Card” before it gets stopped when the DD doesn’t come out . The only way is up ....right?

I am not earning as my business is all centred around product testing.
We do thankfully have some wool on our backs, a pension and a house we let.
Our expenses have gone right down, no gym membership, wine club, entertaining ,eating out, petrol, hairdressing not to mention all the little extras when I’m out shopping! Turns out we can live without Puglian bread and Nduja paste?.
I do no put any heating on until 5pm all our meals are planned and wine consumption is for the weekend only.
I have resisted the temptation to do any online shopping and our April holiday is in the process of being refunded.
I’m hoping when we return to normal we will continue some of our frugality.

My AC, from 32 to 52 should be able to look after themselves (andtheir DC and and GC) so I was thinking of people who are unavoidably at home and not doing voluntary work or outdoor hobbies, retirees or self employed in the main, who might not have savings.