Turns out working costs me a lot...

[Anonymous]

Work- not that much - I was paying $80/mo for parking and $120/mo for gas.

I was paying $600/mo for cleaning (and my lady quit to become a FT nanny before anyone scolds me), $700 for childcare, probably $200 mo in eating out, $360/mo in gym and kid activity fees - so close to 2k/mo in discretionary spending.

Grocery bill has gone WAY up, and I just bought DS a new pedal bike, an Ipad, and some Airpods for myself. DH bought new monitors and desks for our college kids who are now taking classes from home. So we burned through that savings pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Cleaning woman costs saved.

Yes, this is a loss for someone, but the thread is about family savings for the consumer/poster.

[Anonymous]

This is not at all surprising. I knew I would save at least $500 a month not going into the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is this surprising to you?

Not OP but I didn’t expect to avoid as many expenses as I have. I don’t even know what all impulse buys I’ve been skipping but I’m the 5-6 weeks we have been actively avoiding public spaces (I got sick with suspected covid19 in early Feb) we have “accidentally” saved a few thousand.

This is us as well. We typically spent a lot on entertainment, shopping, babysitters, and dinners out. Our credit card bill was typically about $10k/month. For March it was $0 after getting a refund on a vacation rental. In April it will be about $5k.

[Anonymous]

It’s not the working part that costs me (other than clothes) but the throwing money around part. I have time to cook every night and color my hair every month, but choose to get takeout a couple times a week, eat lunch at the work caf, and go to a $$ salon. I’ll definitely reduce my salon visits since I see I can do a not-terrible job at home. And probably cut down on eating lunch at the caf. Will still do takeout for variety.

[Anonymous]

I’m not saving anything as I’ve gone to the grocery store more than usual and I’m sure my utility bills will be higher.

Kids at home don’t have their school stomachs.

[Anonymous]

Similar to many posters, saving on commuting (gas, train tickets) but its not showing up as large savings. We are buying more stuff for the yard/around the house than I think we might have otherwise, but are still paying for daycare, before-after care, cleaning lady, and we donated the fees for sports teams that were cancelled to the orgs.

[Anonymous]

People are going to realize that a lot of their spending was not only "non essential" it was basically total waste they can do without.

If "the economy" cant do without me subsidizing it with waste, then it needs a workout (banker style).

[Anonymous]

Get back about 100 a month in parking. (the spot is normally subsidized but still costs 100 bucks a month).

No salon visits, I used to go about once every 8 weeks for cut and highlights.

No gym/classes.

I used to order sweetgreen about 2 times a week and go out for a sit down lunch about once a week, that's done.

No coffee in the mornings, I used to get it about twice a week on the way in.

Not to mention no impulse buying at the shops at lunchtime.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my expenses have also flatlined.

[Anonymous]

Everyone being home is costing us more money. Kids are home from daycare so utilities are higher although thankfully summer is coming so that will decrease soon. Food bills are higher because they aren't eating lunch + snacks at daycare. Gas and transit savings are nominal, maybe $50 a month. Still paying for daycare...not thrilled about that.

[Anonymous]

Check out the book Your Money or Your Life. It will boggle your mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everything you list, plus I suspended my monthly downtown parking garage fee ($265/month right there).

I’m also not splurging on spring work clothes.

This. Plus no aftercare costs for $600/month.

Although my grocery bill is up.

[Anonymous]

Including aftercare and other expenses mentioned by others, we probably save $800. On the other hand our grocery bill has increased and I’m easily working 30% more while also facing a pay cut. So eventually it will be a wash.

[Anonymous]

I haven't taken the time to look but our credit card bill is usually $3000-$5000 and will be less than $1000 this month. Off the top of my head, the differences are...
- less eating out (work lunches and dinners)
- fewer weekend runs to home depot, target, etc
- a few refunds for things that got cancelled
- seems like a lot of months I am planning some kind of travel and buying a plane ticket. Or planning some outing and buying tickets to wolftrap, kennedy center, etc. None of that is happening now.
- less money on gas

We haven't consciously tried to save money but it's happening and i'll take it. DH isn't able to work (govt contractor - can't go on site and can't telecommute) so we were a little unsure about income but it seems like it'll keep coming thanks to the stimulus bill...