Hidden Costs of Covid

[Anonymous]

We managed to spend more. We didn't travel or eat out much before and didn't spend much on clothes or hair. A mortgage on a SFH, a couple of teens and a HHI around $100k will do that. Furloughs and therapy for both kids gobbled up any theoretical savings.

On a macroeconomic frame, we are doing our part by quickly spending any unemployment or stimulus money that comes in!

[Anonymous]

I’m buying all new dishes and serving ware. Ours has seen better days, coupled with staring at it for every meal for the past year, I need something fun and new. I could also use some new furniture, the walls need a paint job, some carpet looks pretty gross... my house has overall aged 10 yrs

[Anonymous]

Maybe they can donate all of that extra cash to people who aren't so fortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they can donate all of that extra cash to people who aren't so fortunate.

I was, actually! Still a lot of need out there though, so maybe we need larger, systemic solutions.

[Anonymous]

I so jealous of people saving money. We’ve hemorrhaged nearly 30k this year on losing preschool deposits (we weren’t there long enough when COVID hit and we unenrolled) followed by paying a pod teacher for early elem kids we hadn’t budgeted for.

We make just a little too much to qualify for the stimulus, but not enough that this didn’t significantly hurt our finances. And of course working with kids at home has meant lost promotional opportunity.

I’m trying to look on the bright side about how “fortunate” we are to still be employed. But I’m also just SO mad because it feels like society has deemed me losing nearly half my take home salary because of childcare closures is acceptable while everyone I know without kids just galavants off to bars, and trips, etc. Like this whole thing has been some minor inconvenience in having to occasionally wear a mask with the perk of getting to work from home.

We’ve relied on the unpaid labor of (mostly) moms to make up the gaps in this pandemic and I’m pissed. I don’t want to spend another penny when I really just think schools need to be open.

[Anonymous]

We had 3 funerals in a month, one being for my brother(please no sympathy).

Flights, flowers, food, AirbNB's, etc. it's SO expensive.

[Anonymous]

I was supposed to go back to work in March when Covid hit.

Our hidden cost are probably around 50K(after accounting for before and after care etc). However, I must admit that my children and I have enjoyed each other so much this past year. It's been a pretty relaxed year - our meals/conversations have been much longer. Our games/silliness have been endless. I am not sure what dollar amount to assign to the extra good times with them(long hours in my profession).

If I can find another job when they go back to school in September, then the costs would not be so bad. If I struggle to find a job, then the hidden costs will be astronomical.

[Anonymous]

We are spending over $2k per month for part time child care, so no, we don’t have a lot of extra money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those aren’t the costs of COVID. Those are Costa of life in the pandemic.

I thought OP meant the costs like my friends’ who had to pay for their daughter’s London flat to be sorted through, many items sold or donated, and meaningful items packed up to be shipped back to US. She has had to abandon her life there because she has such limited lung function that she can’t live independently there anymore. They are also stuck in the DMV SFH they planned to downsize from and move to a much lower COLA this year. She needs the dining room as a downstairs bedroom and needs proximity to excellent medical care. She’s 30 and probably will never work again or have kids.

Oh my goodness.....so sorry. The daughter contracted Covid and this is the result?

NP, but I know someone like this too. These are the lives ignored when people when people insist on yammering "but did you DIIIIE?" trying to make death rates the be all and end all to fit their "I'm done with the pandemic. Everything's fiiiiiine" agenda.

[Anonymous]

We saved a lot of money from March - December, spendings been creeping up a bit since then

[Anonymous]

at first we were saving, but then four office spaces for adults and teens working from home, increase Broadband, outdoor space to gather, etc, etc. After 6 months of only cooking, we now do takeout every week, well, it's been creeping up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I so jealous of people saving money. We’ve hemorrhaged nearly 30k this year on losing preschool deposits (we weren’t there long enough when COVID hit and we unenrolled) followed by paying a pod teacher for early elem kids we hadn’t budgeted for.

We make just a little too much to qualify for the stimulus, but not enough that this didn’t significantly hurt our finances. And of course working with kids at home has meant lost promotional opportunity.

I’m trying to look on the bright side about how “fortunate” we are to still be employed. But I’m also just SO mad because it feels like society has deemed me losing nearly half my take home salary because of childcare closures is acceptable while everyone I know without kids just galavants off to bars, and trips, etc. Like this whole thing has been some minor inconvenience in having to occasionally wear a mask with the perk of getting to work from home.

We’ve relied on the unpaid labor of (mostly) moms to make up the gaps in this pandemic and I’m pissed. I don’t want to spend another penny when I really just think schools need to be open.

It's hard to feel sorry for someone who makes "just a little too much" to qualify for the stimulus, PP.

[Anonymous]

We moved to a house nearly twice the size. We’re much much happier but the mortgage is a hit! We would’ve stuck it out longer in our little place if not for COVID, but it was unworkable with everyone working and doing school from hone.