I hear you Lumpy1106! Your monthly savings are considerably higher than mine, but I can sure relate. For me it's about $1070 a month that we are saving right now. (I think after this is all over that I'll retain about $490 of that savings and I will probably put that extra into a Roth IRA fund for DS, to help him fund those annually. The other expenses are enhancements for things I miss and will be continuing to spend money on when things reopen if the budget continues to allow that.)Saving LOTS of money on things we used to think were pretty important. Examples;
Summing up just those things (probably more), $1417/month
- Eating out - was probably 4 days a week at >$50 each time. Now down to one and we look forward to it as a treat for the week (saving $150/week)
- Gym membership - I had a really good deal on one and needed it for physical therapy from a back surgery. That was a year ago though - $25/month
- Gas for 3 cars, 2 are plug-in-electrics we used daily, the third is a Subaru we used maybe 2 days of the week, savings $80/week
- Chargepoint charges on one of the plug-in cars, $3/day
- Snacks when we are out-and-about. Can only guess on what we were spending, say $10/day
Here's my current monthly savings breakdown:
-- Gym Savings $290 a month
I was paying $290 a month for gym membership and personal training (pretty darn expensive) for DS (have been doing that since he had a knee injury after physical therapy was over. Sixth year of doing this.) We just got notification that the gym is closing, and DS feels like he gets enough other exercise and doesn't need to start this back up at another gym. This will be helpful to my budget.
-- Tennis savings $90 a month
I will go back to my indoor tennis Labor Day thru Memorial Day that is good for me and something that I love when the club reopens, but with the tennis club closed, I am saving $90 a month there. Now all I am doing for exercise really is dog walking, but I am quite diligent with that (nice weather and no commute (WFH) means I do that immediately after work each day and sometimes at lunch (means I haven't missed any days, which wasn't the case prior to all this at all getting seven days a week in, instead of four).
-- Gas savings $160 a month
I am saving about $160 a month on gas too. Was paying about $44 a week in gas (19 mile commute each way to work and other things). Just put some gas in after six weeks now ($24) and am averaging about $4 a week now. Now that I work from home, sometimes I'll go out for a drive just for fun. I am in IT, working from home is going well, and I may continue this.
-- Eating out (unlike so many who have had savings here for me this is about the same). DH and I used to go out for dinner every Saturday night. Now we do take out or order in every Saturday night (same cost). I am still spending the same for lunch too. I eat more lunches at home (some savings), but when DS's work schedule (young 20 something living at home to save money) is such that he is home when I am home I have been treating him to lunch (drive thru or take out) which zeros out eat at home savings. Enjoying lunch with him even more than lunch with work friends. DH pays for at least half of Saturday eating out too.
-- Molly Maid home cleaning service $120 a month (DH pays for this.)
DH and I really like not having to do this ourselves and will go back to this once this is over.
-- Hair $110 a month savings (after all this maybe $40 a month)
Every five week haircut, coloring, and highlighting costs me about $140. I will go back to this too, but maybe just every seven/eight weeks or so, due to discovery of great grey root cover up product. I bought this product called Wow for $30 that is amazing (just brush it on and it covers up grey roots, blends right in. Stays on, looks really good, and no mess or rub off, but need to reapply after taking a shower. Very quick and easy to reapply too. Would have never even looked into this if it weren't for the closure of hair places.)
-- Entertainment savings $300 a month (DH pays for at least half of this - We do yours, mine, and ours money)
We will go back to this too (occasional movie or show -- DH and I love live theatre - a favorite splurge). Have spent more on a few movie rentals on Apple TV, but no theatre movies or plays or musicals with social distancing. Renewed season tickets to the rep theatre and membership to zoo to show support for those organizations even though I'm not sure when things will start back up.
(Really with this WFH thing DH and I could get by with one car, but I don't think I'll go there unless I really feel like I should cut back as I certainly like having a car available to me at any time. That could save me about $100 a month in insurance. Maybe though I'll keep my cars longer. In the past I've usually bought a car for cash (put monies aside each month for next ones) every 10 year or every 200,000 miles whichever comes first. With this change 10 years will come first instead of the 200,000. And maybe with less wear and tear, I'll keep the car for longer than 10 years??
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My prayers and thoughts are with so many others who are hurting (loss of loved ones, medical issues, economical issues, etc.). I've sent money to a relative who due to job cutbacks has been hurting economically too. It almost feels petty and insensitive to look at my personal budget savings, but it was a fun escape exercise (my bean counter personality), and Lumpy, your post got me fired up to crunch the monthly numbers.
