Quarantine Saving Habits That I Will Continue After

The Coronavirus pandemic has changed every aspect of our life. But this health crisis has also made us more adaptable to the ever-evolving world. For me, being in lockdown has been both emotionally and mentally taxing. However, the quarantine life has taught me various lessons I consider worth preserving. I have developed a few useful habits that I don’t plan on changing even when things go back to normal.

Living in quarantine has offered me an opportunity to reflect on my lifestyle and how I can improve it. One of the major aspects I have been working on during this time is my finances. I have always found saving to be extremely difficult. No matter how hard I try, I have always ended up with practically nothing in my bank account at the end of the month. Life in quarantine has helped me look at money differently. It has taught some of the best money lessons that I would like to share with you.

So without further ado, let’s dive into the details.

Money lessons quarantine life has taught me:

The current health crisis has changed the spending habits of people all across the world. People are only buying what’s important. Spending is down everywhere other than grocery stores. This pandemic has made me realize how we live in a consumption-driven world. To balance my financial life, I need to learn how much is enough? Quarantine life has helped answer this question. Now I know I can live with less.

Following are some of the best lessons the quarantine life has made me learn:

1. Prioritize your future

The last year has taught us that life is indeed uncertain. Saving for the future is more important than spending on non-essentials. According to the latest stats, a rise in American’s savings rate has been observed in quarantine. It has increased up to more than 30 percent in April 2020. America has not experienced this big of a surge in decades.

People are worried about the current financial uncertainty. They are not shopping as much as they used to pre-pandemic. The uncertain atmosphere has forced them to preserve their cash which is one of the best money habits.

Quarantine life has made money-saving an important part of my life. Preserving cash and cutting down unnecessary expenses is a great habit that I am planning to keep even after the current health crisis is over.

Keeping an eye on your spending can improve your financial life when things start to get normal. The money saved can be used to build an emergency fund and to plan for an ideal post-retirement life. You can use the saved money to plan your dream vacation once the pandemic is over.

• Slowing down:

Life in quarantine has made me learn it is okay to slow down for a bit. We work tirelessly all week long and on the weekends we want to join our friends at a bar or shop at a mall. Lockdown has deprived us of this luxury but for the most, it is a blessing in disguise. It has allowed us to slow down and enjoy those things we never had time for.

Quarantine life has made me appreciate little things in life like curling up on the couch, watching a movie, or reading a book. I have learned I don’t need to be hustling or partying at all times. My perspective on what’s important has changed.

 I have learned a lot about myself. I am prioritizing my mental and physical health and exploring what brings me more happiness. I have learned, there are various ways to be happy other than spending money such as:

• Rearranging furniture
• Reading a book
• Making art
• Calling a friend
• Helping out someone in need

I have replaced retail therapy with these habits. I am not spending a lot on drinks or junk food. It has made me feel better physically, emotionally, and financially.

• Learning how much is enough

Quarantine life has made me realize how much is enough and the things I can easily do without. I have realized I have been spending hundreds of dollars on things I don’t even need. For example, I have been paying hundreds of dollars for the gym when I can stay healthy by running outside. I don’t need to buy multiplex tickets every weekend when I can stream movies at home. Cooking is easy and fun. I don’t need to order food or dine at a fancy restaurant every week.

Quarantine life has made me more financially aware. It has given me a more clear view of my finances and where most of my money is going. I have reevaluated my goals and shifted my focus completely towards:

• Putting away extra cash
• Sticking to a budget
• Working on building a financial future

Although there are a lot of factors involved, getting these right is critical for achieving long-term financial success.

• Working from home

The majority of the companies have gone remote during the Coronavirus pandemic. People are working from home. Access to groundbreaking technology has made that possible. I have found out I am more productive while working at home. It is also a financially viable option for me as I don’t have to commute to work every day.

I have more time to have a proper breakfast and work out. Working from home has made me realize I can run a business from home. Now that I have more time, I am working on that. Now I know where to invest money to grow my capital.

• Bulk shopping for grocery

I used to shop for grocery items at least three times a week before the lockdown was imposed. Quarantine life has reduced my grocery store visits. Now I bulk shop for groceries every once in ten days. Reducing the number of grocery store trips has also helped me save money. I am going to keep this money-saving habit post-crisis for sure.

• Using coupons and promo codes

In March 2020, most of the cities in the world experienced a lockdown. The economic recession caused coupons usage to increase significantly. The supermarket industry observed a 56.5% rise in coupon redemption. Moreover, enrollment in digital coupon programs across 30% of local grocery stores increased up to 93% within a year. These statistics reveal how this pandemic has forced people to save more than they spend.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, I didn’t know how much you can save using discount coupons and promo codes. I have only started using discount coupons now and regret why I have never used them before. Today, I look for discount coupons before making even the smallest purchase to ensure that I am getting the best value for money.

Wrapping up!

Coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on most people’s lives. However, it has made us learn some of the best money lessons. The quarantine life has made me more financially aware. There is a lot I have learned that I am not going to give up even when the threat is gone.

Mia Wilson BIO:

Thank you to Mia for this helpful guest post!