By removing the cost of commuting, eating out and leisure from normal spending UK households are saving £162 a week on average during lockdown.
Those aged over 75 were likely to save the least, as their expenditure was already low. Under-30s were the second lowest savers, still having to pay hefty fixed costs such as rent, but still managing to put away more than £130 more than normal each week. The number of people making pension contributions fell in March and April this year compared with 2019, according to pension provider PensionBee, but those who could saved more. The average amount squirrelled away increased from £1,225 to £1,752. Gemma Birbeck, 32, from West Yorkshire and her partner have already saved up around £2,000 since the lockdown began, despite her partner being furloughed.