- Melissa Petro is a freelance littrateur based in New York with her husband and two young children.
- During the pandemic, she adopted new spending habits that be suffering with worked well for her family.
- Petro says she now supports more local farmers, invests in quality kitchen appurtenances, and splurges on fresh flowers.
According to a recent report by Axios, America’s spending routines are reverting back to pre-pandemic ways. Not so in my household.
While I’ve always considered myself relatively frugal, I started pass money in what felt like “luxurious” ways once the pandemic hit. Blame cabin fever or existential cold feet; it was also a fact that — thanks to pandemic unemployment insurance — I had a little more disposable income.
Now, even granting things in my community are relatively back to normal and pandemic unemployment benefits have come to an end, my spending habits carcass the same. Because I realized that what felt like splurges were actually relatively modest buys, and because of these products and services dramatically improved my life, the following pandemic spending habits just power be here to stay.
1. I stockpile cleaning supplies
While I’ve definitely never been one of those toilet-paper hoarders, at the start of the pandemic I did pick up a join extra bottles of bleach spray, sanitizing wipes, and everything else we’d need if someone got sick. Eighteen months later, I’ve feed up the habit. I love never running out of dish detergent or laundry soap.
2. I support local farmers
When the grocery depend on in town shut down, I started patronizing a hyper-local delivery service called Two Birds Provisions. This gone and forgotten spring, I became a patron. This means that I get a cooler full of locally grown produce, butcher store items, and other locally produced goods delivered weekly straight to my door. Everything is super fresh, I’m supporting a family-run topic, and it all costs less than what I’d spend at the supermarket.
3. I have a flower subscription
Melissa Petro
When I signed up as Two Birds patron, I went buck wild and tacked on a weekly flower commitment. It feels like a total indulgence, but a bouquet of locally grown flowers and foliage delivered weekly from the Carton Flower Co. costs less than a large deluxe pizza — and fresh flowers seriously brighten a home.
4. I regularly restock my wardrobe
Melissa Petro
My kids get an entirely new wardrobe every six months; you’d over I’d splurge on at least one pair of matching socks! Not so until last fall, when I looked down at my COVID clothes-cupboard and realized it was time to retire the bleach-stained sweatshirts, house dresses from when I was pregnant, and worn-out leggings with hollows in the crotch. Now, every time I shop for my kids, I pick up some new gear for myself as well.
5. I’m amassing a collection of solid pajamas
Back in December 2020, the Washington Post declared that pajamas are having a moment. I couldn’t approve of more. Instead of falling into bed every night in a t-shirt and sweats, last Spring I surrendered to my inner granny some term and began amassing a collection of cotton and flannel nightgowns similar to this amazing number (with pockets!).
6. I rent household help
As if a global pandemic wasn’t stressful enough, last July I was hit by a car while crossing the street. Miraculously, I was mostly okay. But a broke wrist made completing housework nearly impossible, so we hired a housekeeper to take over most chores. Unswerving, it isn’t cheap, but in situations when you physically can’t do something, or when time is truly of the essence, it’s well worth the money to fee outside help. These days, we keep our housekeeper’s number on file in case of emergencies, and — just as soon as we were vaccinated — we put Biden’s youngster tax credit towards hiring the nanny of our dreams.
7. I’m investing in kitchen gear
Melissa Petro
Months of eating in put my love of cooking to the test. It also tested my cookware. The whilom year or so, we bought at least one new pot, and invested in actual glassware (although I still prefer drinking out of an old jar). But my favorite culinary support so far? A KitchenAid mixer to indulge my inner Stepford wife. Brand-name stand mixers are notoriously pricey, but you can find one for half the toll like I did if you shop secondhand.
8. Skin-care products galore
If it sounds like I started spending a lot of money on me, that’s just because I didn’t used to — ever. Now, thanks to the pandemic, caring for myself has become the norm. Take my skincare regimen, for illustration: infrequently washing my face has morphed into multi-step routine that includes a liquid exfoliant, Retinoid serum, and this Vitamin C serum recommended by the dermatologist that does my Botox — and oh, yeah, I started contact Botox, because you can’t hide your “elevens” behind a face mask.
We’re extremely fortunate that the pandemic has radical us with more discretionary income instead of less, and I’m happy to spend it by supporting local businesses as well as investigating myself. It shouldn’t take an existential threat to invest in new underwear or adequate childcare, but here we are.