Well, is it true so many of us have saved a little fortune during the pandemic?

If people are saying they didn't save anything but spent less on fuel, clothing, holidays etc then where did the money go?

Spent most of what id saved in foreign holidays on Irish holidays. Irish holidays easily twice as expensive as the foreign ones. And thats including flights.

Money can't buy memories like that.

15.6% growth in GDP expected - twice the earlier estimate. There's money and pent up demand out there.

yup, but only those that can afford to spend, will probably do so, and those that are currently struggling, will more than likely continue to do so, it ll be interesting to see if this will be sufficient to keep the economy going, but i think we re well into the era of discontent, so.....

Costs are rising rapidly to meet it though Jim.

Will money go as far?

It's an interesting one though, more money in savings deposit than ever before.

The biggest surprise for me is the staffing issue businesses are facing.

Centre parcs have huge demand for accommodation, and are extendending the facility in the Midlands here.

But they can only open the current facility at 75% due to staffing issues

So the demand is irrelevant if the staff aren't there to meet it

I was out of work for four months at beginning of this year - which was fortunate as there was no way I could have managed work with children both home. Our savings are maybe a bit more but we spent a lot on our unfinished house and a couple of breaks in ireland. And we bought an ev.

saved a few grand around 9 - 10 grand as of now that’s nicely topped up my savings, I’ll be buying a car maybe around March and hoping to go on holiday in May...I’ll probably be cautious enough as regards any major expenditures but I like the idea of that holiday in ‘22 around May, maybe even a cruise hopefully, I’ll want to get a car too around then so that’s another outgoing.

My wife and I saved a decent bit during the recession. We didn't get to go on our honeymoon, so there was a few grand. We probably saved a few grand from not going skiing and for a summer break too. The there's all the travel and lunches bought out.

To be honest, as regards routine entertainment (meals out, concerts, cinema and the like), I saw when we were applying for our mortgage that we don't do that very often at all. Our entire bank statement was pretty much supermarket expenditure.

But still, between all of the above you'd be looking at €10-15 grand I reckon. We'll spend that on the house though. I remember rattling off the things I'd like to do to the house and €100k or so rolled off the tip of my tongue. That's without any extension or the like.

But generally speaking, the people with good, well paying jobs were able to continue to work during the pandemic, generally without any loss of income, but with a drop in expenditure. Those who had to go on PUP are the ones who suffered and continue to suffer, along with a lot of self employed people and business owners. Taxi drivers, hospitality sector, etc - I don't know how many of them will survive this.

I didn't save anything like enough to clear a mortgage during the restrictions but I certainly saved a few thousand on a severely restricted social life. I don't know anybody who saved that kind if money. I'm not sure where your reply to me fits in though because I didn't claim to have saved that much.