Hidden Costs of Covid

[Anonymous]

I read about some couples noticing they have an extra $10,000 or more laying around because they couldn't do things they normally do.

As we are navigating the fact our kids are sort of grounded (no school sports, no band, no clubs) I find that when things pop up like an online class they are into or an outdoor skills clinic, I really want to say yes, because at least it is something.

Just did some math, and it is creeping up there. I also bought swag & gear for things that can't happen which may or may not work for next year.

Anyone else experiencing this?

[Anonymous]

Yes- we weirdly squirreled away an extra $15k without really trying. I think a lot of that is lack of travel, camps, sports and eating in restaurants. But I was still shocked. I feel like I am online shopping all the time!

My husband points out that our kids truly need less- fewer clothes, no specific shoes for a specific event, no impulse purchase. The occasional toy or art supplies every couple weeks doesn’t come anywhere near that random things that would pop up. Heck, even not having birthday parties really saved us about $20-$40/week!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes- we weirdly squirreled away an extra $15k without really trying. I think a lot of that is lack of travel, camps, sports and eating in restaurants. But I was still shocked. I feel like I am online shopping all the time!

My husband points out that our kids truly need less- fewer clothes, no specific shoes for a specific event, no impulse purchase. The occasional toy or art supplies every couple weeks doesn’t come anywhere near that random things that would pop up. Heck, even not having birthday parties really saved us about $20-$40/week!

Either you or I misread OP’s question, which I thought was about hidden costs, not so much the obvious savings of being home more.

[Anonymous]

We've saved on social stuff but continued things like music lessons online and added things like online summer classes so I think its a wash.

[Anonymous]

I spent less in the beginning, but I started spending my normal amount on the kids around November. I signed them up for new, different activities. All the money I saved on bday parties and friend gifts and new sneakers, I spent on craft supplies, room decor and bigger grocery bills.

[Anonymous]

We hired a tutor and then sprang for private school. So bleeding money over here since September. From March 2020-Sept 2020, we saved a ton of money though. No work lunches, travel, gas, activities, camps (was about to sign up when the world ended), etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused about what OP is asking - are you asking if we're spending MORE or LESS?

We're spending a lot less and have saved thousands of dollars, so I haven't minded at all paying for a tutor for my older child, tennis classes, the occasional Outschool class, etc...

[Anonymous]

I think we're coming out slightly ahead, which is great since we're about to splurge on an expensive test prep tutor for our oldest. We've always been frugal, and what we saved in extra-curriculars and going out, we spent in setting up workspaces at home - although in terms of car commute costs, we've definitely saved a bit.

[Anonymous]

We’ve lost money. No school means I can’t work much. Zoom school was a disaster so we’re homeschooling 3 kids. Spending a lot more on enrichment and supplies than usual. I’ve also enrolled them all in summer camps which I don’t normally do bc I need a break. I’m exhausted.

[Anonymous]

I thought this was about the hidden costs of having COVID-19 as an illness!

My friend has been suffering from long term COVID symptoms for over 9 months and has had to quit her job so that was a cost.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hired a tutor and then sprang for private school. So bleeding money over here since September. From March 2020-Sept 2020, we saved a ton of money though. No work lunches, travel, gas, activities, camps (was about to sign up when the world ended), etc.

+1 bleeding money here too.

[Anonymous]

My online shopping is becoming a real problem.

[Anonymous]

Definitely banking significantly more money despite having hired a tutor and paying for tennis. Savings: adults have needed almost no new clothes, no work lunches, happy hours, no before or after care, no camp last summer (although we will do some outdoor camp this summer, no travel, no movie theatre, manis and pedis, etc.

[Anonymous]

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?