We’ve spent less on restaurants, more at the grocery store (not paying as much attention to price as we used to) and the food items we’ve picked up at CVS (it’s across the street). We’ve spent more on cleaning supplies, masks, hand sanitizer.
I don’t usually spend much on clothes or gas, but I’ve spent even less since March. I’m assuming our electric bill will be higher since we’re home so much more.
I’m sad but not surprised that cases in prisons, jails, nursing homes, and food-processing facilities are seen by some people as being less significant. The chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court was speaking what many people think when she said that meat-packing-plant workers who contracted COVID-19 weren’t “the regular folks.”
Our travel has gone to zero (so no spend there), Restaurants to zero, haircuts to zero Food costs have increased (another mouth in the house and I’m just cooking more), beverage costs have increased (wine and liquor).
Regarding spending, we’re spending more or less the same amount. What I don’t spend on X (like gas or travel) I donate to try to keep as many people doing ok through this as we can.
I was just on AirBnB looking to make reservations for a couple of winter months somewhere south hoping travel is ok by then, but saw they were only offering full cancellation for 48 hours. After that the first 30 days would be kept and the rest could be refunded. We’re only spending 30 days in one location, so that essentially means we’d be losing everything. We opted to wait and see what happens rather than risking that much money on “maybe.” I feel for owners. I can understand not wanting to tie up a place only to refund $$, but I imagine it can be difficult to get folks to commit.
“Maybe” H will be getting his sailboat if we can’t find affordable lodging we like or if travel is still risky.
That was a metaphor, replace with „record“ if you like. As in, people felt everything was going so well, there could be more opening up soon, and it seems every time you start thinking maybe there is really more good news than bad now, there will be another setback. It’s just such a marathon, and I am so worried about people getting tired of the effort they need to put in, and everything will go to he11 again.
Glad any run on cream of celery soup has subsided! Never knew until this thread it was so popular!
I’m spending a lot less. Mostly less on gas, travel and discretionary spending such as a coffee or restaurants. But my grocery spending is much higher. Probably because my D is living here part time and I’m going to the high end store close by rather than the large grocery chains
If that is a dig at me, I don’t know where I gave the impression that I consider meat plant employees who are infected to be of lesser significance, or not “regular people.” Of course they are regular people, in the truest sense of the expression “they just worked there”. No one is accusing them of partying, and the one local politician who tried to suggest they’d all “gone home to their own countries for the long weekend and brought the virus back” was shot down quickly, and deservedly so.
This is squarely on the owners, who with being declared “essential businesses” from day one, must have thought they could just keep doing what they’ve always done. The meat industry where I live has form in hiding unsanitary practices, and in cultivating ties with local politics to keep doing so. This is over, and a good thing, too.
There is a huge distinction between people who are exposed to a virus due to unsafe work conditions being imposed on them, and people who decide to have religious celebrations without taking precautions against further spread, as if precautions were only something for the unbelievers.
Edited to add that I believe being callous about spread in nursing homes and prisons is pure eugenics, and appalling. People in prisons may deserve being locked up, but they deserve to be protected as much as possible from getting sick and dying, being helpless against exposure as they are.
I’m sorry that I misinterpreted your comment, Tigerle. I apologize.
I spoke to a long-time friend who lives in Myrtle Beach, SC. He said two weeks ago he did not know anyone with Covid, now he knows probably 100. It is quite bad there and he says he has heard the hospitals are filling up. He said from everyone he knows that has it now, only one person has been to the hospital twice with difficulties breathing; otherwise, some have no symptoms others range from mild to feeling like they have the flu.
We are spending way less even though I’m spending more on groceries - which is less than we spend going out to a few nice dinners in normal times. I’ve done no clothes shopping, gift buying, day out of town to visit kid, etc. I also spent way less on flowers, etc., for outside. Not going out to lunch/coffee with girlfriends either. Nothing for gas since beginning of March in either car.,
The one other thing I’ve spent more on has been books, since library was closed until just last week.
I was told I could stop my weekly contribution for lunches to 10 hospital workers a week in NYC, because they (all hospitals using the program) were getting inundated with box meals. So now I’m giving to an organization my kid volunteers for - which delivers meals cooked from scratch to chronically ill people according to their doctors dietary recommendations.
Can’t even believe it’s possible how little we’ve spent the last month, even though we are eating and drinking extremely well and donating.
In fact, it was so startling I went back to this time last year to see spending differences. Really interesting and enlightening exercise.
Not a good look…campaign rally with people packed in like sardines around the stage, no social distancing at all and no masks worn. I hope the campaign staffers and attendees know what they are doing?
@rosered55, I understand what you were saying and it’s not directed @Tigerle either.
We have been spending less also. A couple of things. My husband is working out of the house. They say when you retire, there are expenses that will go away. I didn’t really understand that but it’s true. He was on the road a lot and would pick up a fast food breakfast and lunch. His cheapskate boss disallowed expensing those meals but my husband still had to eat. Unfortunately he hasn’t lost weight from cutting out fast food, since he will seemingly snack on anything here lol!
I don’t feel that we are depriving ourselves as far as eating out. Not in restaurants but we do carry out and leave nice tips. But no drinks and that expense is less.
We dropped out of our golf leagues and that is saving us a ton. It’s our big form of socializing so I didn’t mind but I figured out that it’s a big expense.
I’m sure our gasoline bill is down but again I’ve been driving to trails to exercise.
Not shopping as much and am cutting out that mindless spending. Like dropping into TJ Max or Target and spending money on nothing it seems.
Of course spending more on groceries but since I’ve cut out that stupid spending, it is less.
My area is running out of caffeine free Diet Coke. We drink way too much and since husband is home, the consumption has been a lot. I had to pay retail for it today and really had to look for the caffeine free. My usual haunts to buy were empty. Lol
We too are spending less overall, though I’m not a big spender to start with. My grocery bill is up slightly because ds18 is home from university, but my discretionary spending is down such as it is. I don’t drive a lot in general but now I’m driving even less and I’ve hardly needed to fill the gas tank. When our SAH orders came into effect dh started driving to work instead of taking the train and since he drives an EV and his employer is covering his parking costs that’s actually been a costs saving. We did have to pay for an emergency repair of the pool heater though and we bought a bike rack for our car. Still overall our spending is down.
Just watched the Belmont Stakes. Lots of the people shown watching in smallish (5-50) groups were not wearing masks. I think these were the families of the owners and trainers mostly. Hugs, high fives, shouting.
Already reported that six staffers tested positive today.
Zero spent on travel since February. Zero on entertainment (other than a few movies on Prime). Zero on haircuts for me. Mr. got one last week and is still not experiencing any CLI, so far so good. We upped our restaurant spending by buying a lot of takeout, and I keep supporting our local big businesses, too, by buying stuff online (Amazon, Nordstrom, and Costco). Our wine bill went up (gotta keep our favorite wineries afloat), but the wine cellar has been filling up, because we are entertaining far less. We spent ungodly amount at the nurseries this spring, and I blew a bunch of money on patio containers. The salad box already paid for itself!
@Midwest67 regarding the Latino population and COVID, this article appeared in my local paper last week.
Since my county started tracking cases, my zip code has had the highest number of positive cases in my county. I couldn’t figure out why initially. Since the beginning, people were taking the “shelter in place” seriously, nearly 100% compliance with mask wearing and social distancing, we didn’t have any big nursing home outbreaks, etc. Then I saw the article last week and realized, sadly, it was the Latino population who are really suffering in my community. We are now donating to one of the charities mentioned in the article.