How are you going to spend the money saved during lockdown?

No savings and made redundant so I'm looking after every penny. But as they say a little can go a long way.

What money is that then I haven’t got any !

Exactly - what savings?
I’ve spend more on food for a start and luxury home items.
The money we would have spent on holidays we spent on a “glass room”.
If I have to say at home I want to live as well as I can.

Well, I’m not sure yet! We have saved some money as there are no costs for my husband going into work, no trips out or holidays etc etc. How we will spend it, is the one thing that’s keeping me going ?and spend it we will..probably on breaks, renovations, and generally enjoying ourselves. If nothing else, the pandemic has reminded us that you never know what’s round the corner.

As Caragran says "What savings?" If anything life has been much more expensive

I don't understand the need to spend for spending sake. You probably don't need more clothes or whatever! On this planet these days we need to recycle and not spend for the sake of it surely. Nothing wrong with having a life and a treat occasionally to enjoy your life.

What savings? Will be spent on gas and electricity Bill's

Spend ours on Vet treatment for uninsured Staffy ! we put money away each month, instead of insurance. We''ll have pay out now though ! Oh well, can't ake it with you and the dogs come first anyway !

We're hoping to buy an electric car at some point so some of the savings we've made will go there.
We've had a porch and driveway built at the end of last year, now we're waiting for the Council to make the drop kerb, and next will be the car, when the prices come down, fingers crossed!

I'm certainly better off,no holidays,theatre trips or meals out to pay for.I'll just be pleased to be able to get out more,I managed a few day trips last summer,so I'll be looking into that again.I'll just keep on saving,then spend some when we can,but I should still be better off.But I'd rather be happy than have extra money

I haven’t saved a penny. It’s costing me more in food because my GD’s been living with me through the whole of lockdown

We are very fortunate that I am still working, as are all my adult children. We did spend less this year, mostly savings from no holidays and entertaining/family meals. Money in the bank for a rainy day/retirement. We did build a small wooden deck and gazebo cover for the BBQ, but we usually have one household project per year, so it was already accounted for.

Although we are not ones to go out for meals, we do entertain at home, and it does add up. My grocery bill is much less now.

Not much saved here as I’m furloughed. We have saved the money we would have spent on a holiday last year ,so that’s gone to help both dc one who has just moved house and the other one soon hopefully.
Best wishes to the posters that have lost so much. It’s good to hear both sides of the story. So many people suffering in so many ways.

Its not the money I am saving but the extra I am going to get that I want to spend , my private pension is about to kick in with my 25% lump sum, my state pension happens in March and as I will still be working even with the extra tax I will still get more a month - not furloughed so still getting paid, in the following order a ruby and diamond ring that I have my heart set on, the roof fixed and the garden done oh and maybe a new shower and possibly a new Pug although I will most likely get a rescue one and not an expensive puppy

With my spare funds, I've been buying myself treats, regularly, during this past year. It's totally out of character - but it's just to cheer me up a little in my 'solitary confinement' and harmless, really.

I've spent more on family presents, too, but made it clear that it's just for now, in these difficult times.

Forgot, we are also paying for a weekly maths tutor for our dgc so I think that really takes care of all we saved but at least we feel we have done some useful things with the money. If we hadn't been in lockdown it would have disappeared in holidays, meals out ext.

We bought a new house just before Christmas so quite a bit of our savings is going on new furniture to go in our new house and replace our mostly 40-50 year old furniture.

Should be fun but I think it could be hard work.

We bought 2 new sofas carpet and a new fireplace. These improvements were planned but the lockdown has meant we only dipped into savings for about half of the improvements. We also plan, if possible to take the family on a short break in August. Will need 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and will take 2 dogs. We also want it beachside. I expect that if any such property is available in August it will be quite expensive so that with the home improvements will account for all of the savings we have made.

Oh yes Viv Nicholson!
Who could forget the famous “I’m going to spend, spend, spend” winner.
I was going to say lottery winner but I think she pre-dates the lottery so she would have been a football pools winner. Bless her I think she did spend her fortune remarkably quickly.

We are not talking about those sort of sums though, just accumulations of what we have left after being deprived of our normal credit card hits.

Unfortunately though some poor folk have seen their livelihood disappear and I fear that will continue especially in the hospitality industry.

UrmstongranThanks for your wishes .I really don't begrudge anyone more fortunate financially. It is what it is.We lost our business through no fault of our own in the bad recession of 91 and had to start over again with young children.That was a very stressful time.I'm older,wiser and more philosophical this time round.And count our blessings now in that we've paid off our mortgage and have still have some savings left.And most importantly all our DCs are in employment and hopefully secure in the jobs they have.

My income hasn't changed but my outgoings have. No day trips, no holidays, no theatre, no desire for new clothes and no lunches.

Those mentioned by Urmstongran yes, I have a private pension, my husband is a self employed ceramic tiler, work is erratic for now. We have friends who are in more difficult circumstances, we’re very aware that we’re fortunate.

As I am retired I’ve saved nothing during the past year. With the charity shops shut I’ve had to buy full-priced new clothes and household items. Buying on-line means paying for delivery and several items never arrived or were bad buys.
I don’t have holidays so no savings there.
My family are mostly working from home and spending nothing on children’s activities so they have saved money but at a truly terrible cost in the children’s mental health and lost education.

Washerwoman Blondiescot and paddyanne these are for you.
???

Yes, those of us retired with a guaranteed pension dropping into our banks every 4 weeks must be the fortunate ones in all this stressful pandemic. We are used to being at home too so our utility bills haven’t taken a hike either unlike those finding themselves newly WFH.

I hope we don’t come over as smug.

I do realise of course that it’s very hard for some. My son in law for one. Newly self employed he fell between two stools. Not entitled to a bean. Nada. So yes, I’m very grateful to be retired during this awful time and I’m sorry for those on here who are not so lucky. I hope things improve for you all soon.

humptydumpty

TBH it's a mystery to me how posters have managed to save these kinds of amounts. Obviously if people were commuting to work they've been able to save on travel - but what else?

Lots of things have already been mentioned. No holidays or other trips out, meals out, sports events, new clothes, hairdressing, petrol and other travel costs (we've even been offered a rebate by our insurance company). I can add to that the cost of the dental appointments we haven't had, and the contact lens direct debit I've cancelled, which is usually £30 a month - it's just not worth wearing them every day if I'm not going anywhere.

Like most others, I'm sure, I'd rather be having a normal life and not saving a penny, and I think we all appreciate that if we have a guaranteed income, we're the lucky ones.