Are you up or down?

[Kendhni]

Got my credit card statement this morning and was surprised to find out that we had actually spent more than normal this month. I thought with the lack of going to the bar, lack of going to the cinema, lack of going to restaurants, lack of getting carry outs, lack of filling tank with petrol I might actually have been a few quid up.

There is something seriously wrong with my budgeting

[barney]

Down
Mrs B is about ten or eleven thousand down since lockdown.
Paid a Marble invoice this morning for nearly three thousand for stock she can’t sell.
She got the 10k grant so at the moment it’s manageable

[Mervyn and Trish]

Down
Mrs B is about ten or eleven thousand down since lockdown.
Paid a Marble invoice this morning for nearly three thousand for stock she can’t sell.
She got the 10k grant so at the moment it’s manageable

I really feel for people in your position. We are relatively lucky being retired. The pluses financially are cancelled holidays, not going out socially and car fuel. The downs are we're spending more on food and energy because we're in all the time. But overall we're ahead at the moment .

[Onelife]

Well I’ve still got the £850 pounds I’ve won on the gee gee’s but as far as overall spend I would guess that we have probably spent more as we have spent a lot more over the internet. Our shopping bills will be more as we have used our local Farm Shop which is quite expensive….e.g 6 rashers of thin cured bacon £4.60… no it gets worse, my wife bought three packs.

[Manoverboard]

Our shopping bills will be more as we have used our local Farm Shop which is quite expensive….e.g 6 rashers of thin cured bacon £4.60… no it gets worse, my wife bought three packs.

Your wife needs a jolly good slapping, she should have bought thick cut cos it tastes much nicer

[Onelife]

Our shopping bills will be more as we have used our local Farm Shop which is quite expensive….e.g 6 rashers of thin cured bacon £4.60… no it gets worse, my wife bought three packs.

Your wife needs a jolly good slapping, she should have bought thick cut cos it tastes much nicer

Brave words Mob...I've just mentioned what you've said to my wife and she said the next time she meets you you'll end up as bacon '

[Stephen]

Normal. .

[Happydays]

Normal. .

What's that ha ha

[GillD46]

We are spending far, far less than normal, though we are spending more on food - mainly because we are using our fantastic village shop a lot more. The shop is closed and only delivers, but prices are high, this way it keeps us and them safe.

Overall, so far we have saved over £1000, not to mention the cancellation of two holidays - with probably another two to cancel too. But I’d rather have spent all that, and more, to be able to see our family.

[david63]

We feel that we are spending more at the supermarket mainly due to having to buy alternatives.

Where Mrs63 is spending more is with having to buy Kindle books as the library is closed.

[Manoverboard]

Brave words Mob...I've just mentioned what you've said to my wife and she said the next time she meets you you'll end up as bacon '

Gosh that's a tad rasher

ps ....barring food we are not spending very much at all so we must be ' up '

[Gill W]

We’re spending more on food.

This month our buying pattern was completely different to normal. We were buying more at the local Co-op, and, as the shelves were still quite bare at the beginning of our accounting period, we were getting whatever was available, in smaller, more expensive packs. As the month went on, and the situation improved with stock, we bought whatever we fancied, as we decided it’s the only way we can treat ourselves.

Apart from that, we spent less, and when we (eventually) get all our refunds back, we will have spent much less than normal for the year.

[towny44]

Overall we are spending less, but our three Sainsbury's deliveries have all been much higher than we normally spend at Tesco, but we are only buying every 9 days, so that accounts for some of it.

[Ray B]

Spending well down, maybe due to stocking up before we went to the Caribbean. Not been to a big supermarket since end of February. Top up at local express, our green grocery store and Butchers.
Like David, the spend on Kindle up and. games at Google play.

[CaroleF]

Not sure yet. John's just got his credit card bill so am waiting to hear what crime I've committed! I do have my own credit card which has been up a bit on pre-lockdown months but not too bad - just essential things you understand - makeup, Kindle books oh and I bought John several jigsaws as they are keeping him occupied while he's not able to do very much at all. He'll be very pleased when the sun returns as he enjoys spending time reading in the garden.

[allatc]

Spending up.
Lost deposit on July Canada/USA cruise as we decided to cancel when the balance became due early March.
Decided I needed a new computer to replace my ancient Windows XP one which still works but is mega slow.
Credit card bill includes caravan service which I managed to get done just before lockdown but expensive new part required.
Hopefully next month will be less expensive.

[Frank Manning]

Overall we are spending less, but our three Sainsbury's deliveries have all been much higher than we normally spend at Tesco, but we are only buying every 9 days, so that accounts for some of it.

We are similar. Sainsburys deliveries three times a month are up about 20% but then we haven't been to M&S or any other shops. So I am expecting to be up a bit. However losses on our investments amount to almost £20K. At our age I doubt if we will recover it. But we can't complain we made enough in the early days to pay for our Australia holiday and cruise home on Arcadia. I am rapidly thinking S.K.I.,ing isn't as daft as it sounds.

[Stephen]

Normal. .

What's that ha ha

Normally high

[cruisin_duo]

David63 Is you’re wife not able to download ebooks from the library. Had read somewhere that it has become very popular. Just a thought.

[david63]

David63 Is you’re wife not able to download ebooks from the library. Had read somewhere that it has become very popular. Just a thought.

Last time I looked our library did not have a very good selection and if I remember correctly you cannot (or at least could not) download them to a Kindle

[Jan Rosser]

I'm definitely up I will have a small credit card bill to pay next month - house and contents insurance just been paid and I have bought a few tops and a jacket in the Joules sale online. Can't remember the last time I put petrol in the car - only place I drive is to my mother's - a mile away - or to go food shopping. My Mini thinks I've quarrelled with it - it's in the garage day after day - I miss driving around. Shopping is mainly from M&S which is more expensive for some things but safer. I am awaiting a refund from P&O but probably won't see that for a few months

[Mervyn and Trish]

Reading the comments here there is something I'd not thought of. We, like some others, are doing more shopping from local suppliers, notably eggs, yoghurts and a weekly veg box from our milkman. It is slightly more expensive than the supermarkets but it is excellent quality, mostly locally sourced, and we are loving what we are getting. So we will continue with much of it into the future, which will cost us a little more in the longer term too.

[towny44]

Overall we are spending less, but our three Sainsbury's deliveries have all been much higher than we normally spend at Tesco, but we are only buying every 9 days, so that accounts for some of it.

We are similar. Sainsburys deliveries three times a month are up about 20% but then we haven't been to M&S or any other shops. So I am expecting to be up a bit. However losses on our investments amount to almost £20K. At our age I doubt if we will recover it. But we can't complain we made enough in the early days to pay for our Australia holiday and cruise home on Arcadia. I am rapidly thinking S.K.I.,ing isn't as daft as it sounds.

Frank, dont tell anyone but our investments are not doing too badly, but that's mainly due to my old companies shares, AstraZeneca are actually up by about 18% this year. Everybody says that you should not have too many eggs in one basket, but AZ shares have certainly proved the exception to that rule.

[Jan Rosser]

Reading the comments here there is something I'd not thought of. We, like some others, are doing more shopping from local suppliers, notably eggs, yoghurts and a weekly veg box from our milkman. It is slightly more expensive than the supermarkets but it is excellent quality, mostly locally sourced, and we are loving what we are getting. So we will continue with much of it into the future, which will cost us a little more in the longer term too.

I have always had milk delivered but my supplier only has extras like eggs/OJ/potatoes and the problem I find with veg and meat boxes is the sheer amount - too much for me. My son "oop north" has been having veg/fruit/meat boxes delivered throughout the lockdown and they have found them very useful. They are both teachers so working from home online and not going out unless absolutely necessary so shopping in the village and getting home deliveries. Not sure they are saving though as they seem to be getting lots of items delivered from "t'internet"

[Mervyn and Trish]

I have always had milk delivered but my supplier only has extras like eggs/OJ/potatoes and the problem I find with veg and meat boxes is the sheer amount - too much for me. My son "oop north" has been having veg/fruit/meat boxes delivered throughout the lockdown and they have found them very useful. They are both teachers so working from home online and not going out unless absolutely necessary so shopping in the village and getting home deliveries. Not sure they are saving though as they seem to be getting lots of items delivered from "t'internet"

I know what you mean about quantities, even for two of us.

Our milkman has previously only done limited extras like eggs, yoghurts, and bags of potatoes.

But he and his family run a farm and they've just introduced the veg boxes and they are very flexible. You can choose what you want The only thing in fixed quantities are potatoes (1kg) and carrots and mushrooms (1/2 kg). Everything else is by number. So you can buy 1 leek, or 1 pepper, 1 onion or 1 tomato, for example.