To ask what you will not go back to doing?

[Galwaygirl]

For me, I realise after weeks in lockdown that I spent a fortune on kids clothes that they never wore, way too much and getting on fine with no new purchases!
Also, spent a fortune on make up and skin care that o am still using, makes me think I was living in a world where there was so much excessive expenditure on material thanks I did not need, will be mindful in future!

I probably won’t spend as much on kids clothes either (doubt there will be any parties or activities for the poor souls for the rest of the year anyway) and I have streamlined my own wardrobe as I’ve realised it’s better to have some classic go tos rather than piles of things that I hardly use at the best of times.

That said in general I plan to go back to everything my life was before, I Hope most everybody else does too, and soon...

Not meal planning and doing daily shops. We have a large supermarket 2 mins walk away and I used to nip in, sometimes several times a day, as I was so disorganised or forgot something. Now I don’t as I don’t want to queue so go twice a week in the evening when no queue and have forced myself to be more organised (saved money too even with the price rises as less crap bought and less wasted).

I will not take going to gym for granted or miss a session because I cba!

Haha, yes I’m never bailing on spin class again. I miss it so much right now!

won't be taking my freedom for granted.

Gym membership. I've been doing more exercise at home than I ever did when my membership was active!

Filling our time with activities. I used to feel we had to do lots of different things/see lots of different people when quite often my daughter just wanted to play at home.

I’m not going to waste a second as soon as my industry opens up.
I’m ambitious and I’m going to do brilliantly well.
I’ll leave the doing nothing much to those that like it 😂😂

Wearing proper bras! Hoovering (bought a robo vacuum a couple of weeks into lockdown). Also hoping I don't go back to doing the same couple of daily dog walk routes I did before lockdown. I've discovered lots of new ones.

About the only thing that is different for us is not travelling or commuting. I'd like reduce the commuting, but can't really see us giving up either up entirely.

My gym sessions have continued through zoom but I will be going to the gym when it physically reopens because I like the social aspect of training with other people.

Careful about spending money.

Also we’ve been much better at meal planning and avoiding waste. I think it started when the supermarkets were getting cleared out so we had to make the most of what we could find. It obviously helps being at home all the time as you have a better idea of what you have in your fridge and when it goes off. Before DP and I were out the house 10-11 hours a day and although generally didn’t accumulate much food waste, occasionally would forget we had things in the fridge which would then go off, or one of us would pick something up for dinner forgetting we already had leftovers etc. Now nothing is wasted, everything is accounted for and used for a meal. Definitely want to keep this up post-lockdown.

I'm not going to go back to being that tired, stressed out working mum who hardly knew her son

Another one for too-frequent shopping. I always thought I was careful with money but I've saved loads during lockdown "just" by not visiting the supermarket each day.

Probably not swimming, I did it because I thought it was good for my back, but didn't really enjoy it and found it a chore. My back has been fine for three months, so hoping I can do without the swimming and save money.

Getting buses unless absolutely necessary.

not "not going away"!

Life is too short, weekends and holidays are designed to be enjoyed. I can save on other things, but I never want to be stuck home or locally at weekends or annual leave unless I absolutely have to.

I thought we had relatively busy weekends, but this has been an eye opener, we are at home far too much. (we as in "my family", there's no reason why others can't enjoy pottering around at home).

Not renewing my gym membership! I used it regularly for the classes, but didn't enjoy the whole showering at the gym aspect.
Well, now I do online classes and can shower on the comfort of my own home. Would never have tried that before lockdown.

Will not go back to having to meet up for a coffee in some town hours away to catch up with an acquaintance - never really used videocalling before lockdown and am now a happy convert.

Paying £££ for yoga classes, when I can do them a YouTube class over video call with a friend for free.

Shopbought hummus - have discovered that I like homemade hummus much more.

Buying as many clothes, bags and shoes as I used to. I've been looking at the huge number of heels that haven't been touched over lockdown, all the bags. There really was no need!

going to the pub a couple of times a week to eat out , due to not having shopped / planned weekly meals etc andrun out of easy meals in the fridge
we are now getting a weekly delivery , planning meals etc and obviuosly not going to the pub
saving £100 a week or £5k pa
Not planning to get back in that habit

I used to have pillar box red nails almost all the time. It made me feel like I had my shit together Since early days of hand washing I have stopped because I couldn't see whether there was dirt under the nail. I prefer the natural look now and will save the faff of doing nails once a week.

Bought root touch up and may well box dye my hair too.

I won't be returning to as many of the kids activities. I will really think about what they will do.

We meal planned but not to this extent

I won't be having a cleaner back : it was a lot of money for something I have been doing myself

My husband died 6 months ago and I joined lots of things because I couldn’t bear to have a day with no plans
Lockdown has taught me I should only do things I really want to do.
I have even started reading again
I am not ok but surviving better than I thought I could.

Putting off living! I already worked from home so was pretty solitary with frequent cabin fever. It's been interested listening to the entire world complain about what I kept lazily putting up with year in year out.

At the start of this year had made a big effort to go out and do lots of different things - all of which got cancelled. When we're allowed, I am going back out into the world and staying out there. I want my home to be something I see for a couple of hours every evening not a self-imposed prison 24/7.

@user1486915549 - I'm sorry about your husband. That's an amazing post. I'm glad this time has helped you work out what you want.

Definitely expensive salon to get my hair coloured every 6 weeks. I was always wanted to do it myself after a very bad experience 5 years ago. Had no choice but to try this time and it really looks as nice as the four I get at the salon. I've never cared that much about the cut, which is really a simple style, so I'll just go somewhere cheaper for that. Much money saved!

Making enough pasta for 10 people every time I cook it & not caring because it’s cheap.
Pasta is now precious!

@user1486915549

I've found peace with being ASD and not liking people/socialising. I'll chat away if I bump into anyone I know or strangers but nights out? No way. Meeting for coffee? I'd rather not and will say no thanks now. I feel like I don't want to be bear anyone ever again.

@user1486915549 sorry to read about your husband. You must be incredibly strong

I had this discussion with DH last week. We won’t be rushing to entertain our kids every weekend like we did before spending money on days out and then in cafes and restaurants. They can play in the house and garden quite happily and have a lunch we make them.

Probably won’t be rushing to the likes of Marks for wee things to pick up now I know I can do without them.

It’s been a massive wake up call.