What are you realising you can do without/can't live without?

[SouthWestmom]

In terms of spending when/if things get back to normal?

I'm going through all my samples and left over bottles of hair/skin stuff.

Realised although it's nice, I can do without any sort of face scrub. Don't need my three different hair curl type products but will keep buying bumble and bumble gel oil.

Love the Clarins rose cream but looked it up and it's £75 usually !

Am using up the elasticiser, not sure I really want to invest in it.

Cheap shower and bath oils are fine - have noticed no difference between the posh stuff and the Tesco own.

@AlternativePerspective that must be exceptionally tough

@SimonJT I also have BDD so I sympathise. I’m finding having to eat mainly what is in the house (pasta, pasta, pasta!) is panicking me.

I can live without constantly running to the shops for things I think I need but don’t. A new top, socks, etc.

I can happily live without the hectic pace of normal life.

I cannot live happily without the sea. God I miss it so badly!!

There's not much, I've gone quite primitive, it's extremely freeing. I'm loving it. No pressures, no plastic shite, just nature and fresh air, it's awesome.

Coffee when out. The most difficult is the cleaner - she’s a friend now so we’ll definitely have her back but it’s honestly no hardship,doing it ourselves (retired with very hands on DH- he does all the floors (mostly laminate) and I do the rest. It works well.

Learnt I can live without coffee and boyfriend

Missing cake, love going for a walk and a slice of cake somewhere!

Having not left the house for 4 weeks (and counting!) has made me realise how much I miss:

• Meeting my mum for coffee
• Going to the gym
• Going out for drinks
• Shopping with friends
• Going into work (I'm so bored WFH)
• Driving
• Just popping out - anywhere!

But positives from all this are:

• Better relationship with DH as things (we had been seeing a counsellor)
• Family time - I never thought we'd be playing board games with teenagers on a Saturday night!
• We're saving so much money!

I don't miss going shopping for crap like a pp said; have realised I have lots of clothes I need to actually wear. Ironically they seem pointless and I'm wearing jogging bottoms a lot.

I do miss popping out to get milk or bread when we run out; one son has asd and the need for eggs (his only main food) is stressful as they often aren't in stock.

I miss meeting up with friends for dinner of a walk or whatever.
I miss coffee with my dad on a weekend just having a catch up chat with him.
I miss my old job as I’ve been redeployed and it’s a longer drive and not what I would do this length of time.
I miss swimming.
Having a holiday to plan and look forward to camping or anything really.
I miss peace of mind as my head is full of worry and uncertainty.
Seeing my DD’s happy with friends after a good day out or sleepover.
This has made me realise most of my happiness is quite simply based which is nice to reflect on.
Don’t miss the rush of school life and clubs
Shopping for the sake of it to kill a bit of a Saturday end up spending £50 in Primark on tat with the girls.
Popping for food bits again spending when there is food to make with a bit of effort from freezer and cupboard.

Missing going to the beach.

Missing my dual screens at work. Hate trying to work on a laptop

I miss: my fancy gym: the routine of going, the people, the equipment, the stuff I do there. Push ups are fine but I miss the bench press. Pubs.

I don't miss: wearing a bra and makeup, tourists (I live in central London).

I miss not being able to phone my dentist and be seen. I've always had problematic teeth but an issue/infection I had a month and a half ago which was treated has returned. I'm not sure what to do about it - I've emailed the surgery but they haven't got back to me.

I'm not missing school - HE isn't an option for us long term due to work unfortunately but the change in my children since being out of school is amazing. They are so relaxed and laid back at the moment.

I miss the sea - we are only a 5/10 minute drive from the sea but it is too far to walk and can't wait to go back.

I WFH usually but around twice a week I commute to the office and I am missing that - although I probably don't need to do it so often in the future.

I will remember our local butcher when this is over and shop there instead of the supermarket. They have been amazing.

Fake eyelashes! I was on the treadmill for years getting them done. My natural lashes are I have discovered perfectly acceptable

Also, that we dont need as much food as I use to buy!

I miss going for a coffee. I can make really nice coffee at home, but I miss being able to go somewhere quiet with no kids and just read my book and drink a coffee in peace.

I’ve got a lot of use out of nice loungewear and sportswear, skincare, slippers and books. I’ve basically forgotten what it’s like to wear shoes.

I miss my parents. Missed going for Mothers day and Easter and going to watch football with my dad.
I miss walking in a different place. We have a big local park so can't complain but I miss the beach.

Other than that I'm exceptionally fortunate and have everything I need. I don't miss going to work.

Couch. Will you give them up?

I'm not buying anymore clothes - I don't miss that habit. Or the quest for perfect trainers.

I do miss having a reason to get dressed nicely and put make up and non tracksuit based items on . Turns out that was mainly for being in public.

Swimming! I have a foot injury and arthritis in my knees. I can't run anymore and my daily walks involve a walking stick and pain killers. In a pool I am strong and pain free.

Apart from that I'm missing social contact with my colleagues.

Mostly I'm missing swimming & weed.

Not missing my hairdresser. Braved a diy haircut on my cropped hair and it’s gone very well, so I’ll be saving £300 a year from now on!

NC29
Yay, another knitter. Thought we were an endangered species! Luckily I've got enough yarn to see me out (literally).

Humans

Far more tolerable at arms length

Freedom

No I haven’t read the full thread.

Danadas..you are allowed to drive you know.

I miss mine and DP's little wknd outings; out to lunch or to the cinema or a pint at a pub whilst doing a walk, going to other places outside our city on the bus. Also miss being able to do my exercise class (I'm not v good at self motivation when it comes to exercise). I miss culture, like going to art galleries and gigs, the theatre etc. Have not missed buying random stuff/clothes in town or crowds. Miss being able to make plans and having a holiday to look forward to. Don't miss the office

I’m missing missing my husband and daughter. I love them both dearly but being cooped up on top of each other for the last 5 weeks has been incredibly hard. I used to love coming home from work and seeing them come back from nursery/work and now it’s just the same old stuff all the time.

I’m missing days out and picnics. Normally we’d be out and about most weekends at a National Trust property so that’s tricky.

Not missing seeing my in laws, they’re far easier to deal with via Facebook.

I’m not missing seeing my work colleagues as much as I thought I would be but I do miss my commute and the time I used to have to myself on the bus.

Really struggling with spending this much time with the same people and the constant compromising. I’d quite like to have beans on toast for tea and watch my TV programmes rather than constantly having to make a “proper meal” which I obviously have to plan and cook.