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Post by acttwo on Jul 24, 2020 13:02:13 GMT -5
Ok, NOT masks/gloves/toilet paper/Lysol spray stashes. I am thinking of the weird little things that one would never have spent "that much money on" before all this.
For me, Hair Spray was a real eye opener. I NEVER use it except to get ballpoint ink out of clothing. But with this, I need to keep my hair off my face so I will stop touching my face. Suddenly I am going through hair spray like it's water.
Same with Liquid Eyeliner [yeah, still in the office, so still wearing makeup]. I NEVER used that--too harsh, too hard to master the application, etc. But my beloved soft eyeliner pencils smudge and end up under my eyes, so I was constantly touching my eyes, trying to get rid of the raccoon look.
I am sure there are all sorts of this weird little things out there. Guys, are you shaving more b/c of masks? Pet owners are you now invested in low cal treats [because being at home you are spoiling Fido or Fluffy]?
I'm sure there are other things I never bought/used before that are now in high rotation because of this virus. Thought it might be fun to hear what you all are doing.
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Post by jimmyjiggles on Jul 24, 2020 14:30:59 GMT -5
I have actually saved a lot of money during the lockdown. Mainly this has been from not eating out, not getting the $5 coffee everyday, and not driving to work (or anywhere else). Not to mention I am under the stimulus threshold, so hey, free cash.
The only increased expense has come from my kids being home - the Fortnite budget has grown considerably.
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Post by mercury on Jul 24, 2020 14:56:50 GMT -5
This is probably more in the obvious category. I stopped shaving, so I saved money on razor blades. I now clip the sides to prevent from being homeless. Similarly, I also gave myself a haircut and it turned out better than some of the ones I’ve paid for, with the possible exception of the back, but I can’t see that and no one on Skype can either...
Freezer and plants have been the biggest expenses. Need a lot more freezer space with eating at home more and I needed more plants for sanity so I wasn’t staring at concrete all day.
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Post by Crash Landers on Jul 24, 2020 15:44:37 GMT -5
Flip flops.
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Post by acttwo on Jul 24, 2020 15:54:02 GMT -5
A coworker just mentioned "stuff to keep the kids amused" and it sounds like a lot of different things. Legos are probably in there. I would hope books, but that might be too much like school.
I am getting more boxes of Via b/c the Starbucks is closed and the boy loves a Starbucks in the afternoon after doing chores. Thank heavens the library is semi open and I could order DVDs to borrow or I would be buying stuff like that.
The one category I told myself no more was clothing. I am a year or two away from retirement and I certainly am not wearing my cute outfits schleping in on the El, so I may have dresses that will never be wore once I stop working. Thank goodness I get most of my stuff at the resale shop.
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Post by uboat on Jul 24, 2020 16:01:07 GMT -5
Bird/squirrel food. My wife has created a critter friendly ecosystem on our front porch. It is well worth it though. The wildlife it attracts, with their many and widely varied interactions, provide a major source of "live entertainment."
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Post by 71stretch on Jul 24, 2020 16:12:40 GMT -5
Bird/squirrel food. My wife has created a critter friendly ecosystem on our front porch. It is well worth it though. The wildlife it attracts, with their many and widely varied interactions, provide a major source of "live entertainment." "Squirrel TV" is great entertainment.
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Post by Pixie on Jul 24, 2020 17:36:01 GMT -5
Uh oh. Crash Landers is using Grumpy Goat's avatar. But as the Goat hasn't been around for awhile, I guess we won't hear him complain. Pixie
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Post by christina on Jul 24, 2020 18:35:05 GMT -5
i already had a great pair but ive been wearing them a lot more this year. Teva flip flops, they're awesome
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Post by zbornee on Jul 24, 2020 19:50:26 GMT -5
I upgraded from Hulu Live with commercials to Hulu Live NO commercials.
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 24, 2020 19:58:50 GMT -5
Food. Grocery bill has gone way up, particularly early on when we were getting everything delivered.
However, it has been more than offset by other reduced costs.
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 24, 2020 19:59:57 GMT -5
I upgraded from Hulu Live with commercials to Hulu Live NO commercials. I did this while also adding Disney+. I'm not exactly sure, but I think I'm paying close to $300 a month between cable and the streaming services.
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Post by ARobeByAnyOtherName on Jul 25, 2020 7:30:11 GMT -5
Yoga pants with pockets. Not going into the office, so I moved all of my “professional” clothes to the back of the closet.
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Post by jimmy224 on Jul 25, 2020 7:34:51 GMT -5
Home gym equipment. Not planning on going inside a gym with the virus still running around out there. In meantime been building up my home gym, which can get pricey
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Post by hopefalj on Jul 25, 2020 10:31:57 GMT -5
Shampoo/conditioner. No haircuts since January because I kept putting it off. Now the locks are flowing and must be kept up accordingly!
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Post by christina on Jul 25, 2020 11:56:01 GMT -5
on a more serious note, although not totally unexpected, food costs have gone up. We can absorb it but this creates even more hardships to those already facing economic challenges from the pandemic already.
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Post by acttwo on Jul 25, 2020 13:06:00 GMT -5
on a more serious note, although not totally unexpected, food costs have gone up. We can absorb it but this creates even more hardships to those already facing economic challenges from the pandemic already. Spot on, christina! Every time I hit the grocery store, I either put in $$ for the food drive or I buy extras and leave them at a converted "free library" nook. A cynic might say I am giving free food to those too lazy or cheap to shop, but I believe this allows those in need to quietly get some of what they need. It is clear many, many folks who NEVER needed help before are in my relatively well off neighborhood and shame or simply not knowing how to get help are keeping them hungry. I was never really in danger, but came too darn close for extended periods in the past. Being able to give is the best part of my day. Guess I didn't think of that as being an expense. It is a blessing that I can give. Stay safe!Smile!
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Post by icemaster on Jul 26, 2020 5:59:59 GMT -5
Tips.
We have been eating out in terms of take out more and I have been more hyper conscious of the tips. I have been paying more in tips because I'm conscious of the effect of the pandemic on the economy. I'm not sure it helps but I'm trying I'm doing my part
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Post by theadjudicator on Jul 26, 2020 7:44:56 GMT -5
Tips. We have been eating out in terms of take out more and I have been more hyper conscious of the tips. I have been paying more in tips because I'm conscious of the effect of the pandemic on the economy. I'm not sure it helps but I'm trying I'm doing my part I am with you icemaster. We are doing the same w/ respect to take out. In my humble opinion, if you are working in the food industry during this period of time you deserve a large tip, cash only.
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Post by Portulaca on Jul 26, 2020 9:34:25 GMT -5
We're giving much bigger tips for the reasons cited above, and we have also greatly increased our charitable donations, including to the local food bank. We are so grateful to still have our jobs, so that seems like the least we can do when so many are really struggling.
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