Do you think your 'non essential' shopping habits will change post lockdown?

[ConeHat]

I'm sad to say that I dont think I will go back to my old shopping habits any time soon.

I hate online shopping unless its click and collect or with known products with my usual companies.

But... since the shops opened this week I have gone out, got what I need, feeling ready for another possible lockdown.

I have had covid, I have had the vax. It's not due to any fear of covid, just my mindset has changed to getting what I need for the next 6 months in one hit.

Even if life returns to normal I'm worried my mindset will be stuck in lockdown mode.

I just keep thinking everything could close again at any time and I dont need xyz because where will I wear it?

No, but then I never changed my habits in the first place anyway. I never stockpiled and went shopping as often as I wanted.

I had to go to the nearest city to where I live today and was quite looking forward to some browsing but in the end, didn't bother. One way system in shopping centre and just feeling like I didn't really need anything anyway...

I think mine changed for the better so will pretty much to stick to it now. Have maintained a good stock of things and now just replace as used. I am not confident we won’t have measures back in place on autumn/winter so like the peace of mind.

Mainly shopped online anyway to save the car journey so will just continue with that. Not found much you can’t online and like staying loyal to good service.

I'm really glad shops are properly open now. Have needed a new microwave for about six weeks and had picked out something on-line, but decided to wait to have a look at it "physically". Really didn't like it when I saw it in the shop yesterday and came home with another make altogether.
I've been to supermarket/chemist/bank and any other shops I've needed or been able to visit throughout, though.

I have been shopping after months of prolific online shopping and my spending in shops was the same as prelockdown. I have been buying clothes because fashion has changed and i gained weight and will be forced to socialise and meet up with people again after months of blissful quiet and social distancing so to not feel even worse about my diminishing looks i bought new stuff.

If shops were open but meeting people was not allowed i wouldnt have bothered so its more whether lockdown is lifted and we can go eat out and socialise again rather than just the shops being open again.

Sorry op but how bizarre you went out to shop ready for another lockdown.
What makes you think that would happen?
Everyone is being vaccinated and the fact you were practically first in the queue makes me think your not worried about Covid only that we will lockdown again .
In answer to your question I need to get some things that I couldn’t get in lockdown so no my habits haven’t changed.

Has fashion changed? That must have passed me by! What will people think of me!

I dont think shopping this week means I was first in the queue? I did say exactly that in my OP.i have had covid and have been vaccinated. My fear of catching covid again for myself is close to 0 on my list of fears (That has no bearing on my general attitude to covid). Yes I did also say I'm worried about another lockdown. Its exactly as I said in my OP.

I was looking at a dress and thinking , where would I wear that? I'm sure there will be many times and places again where I might wear a nice new dress but I am just not feeling it. I bought my sons some new jeans as they have grown, I got some leggings and being in the shops wasnt as exciting as I thought it would be.

I'm in the mindset that unless I'm going to need something in the next six months, i got it, but nothing exciting jumped out at me. I saw some lovely things and just thought 'where would I wear that?'.

I'm going to be forever happy in a baggy top and leggings and its depressing.

I went to Oxford st and Soho yesterday...Soho bars etc all very busy...shops very quiet...walked around quickly...no desire to buy anything at all...have plenty of clothes already...i usually bought something even just a t shirt to justify the day out...!

For now, yes. I’ve always preferred online shopping, so I feel less need for a mooch around shops now more than ever.

When the pandemic is controlled enough to be declared over, I’ll probably feel different.

No, I don't like online clothes shopping, although I tried it during lockdown. Prefer seeing clothes for real though. And I find it difficult to buy shoes online

I will be hitting the high Street this weekend

I can't be arsed with queuing and what's the point if you're not allowed to try clothes and shoes on??

Plus we're on a tight budget thanks to covid so have no spare money anyway

Mine haven't really changed all the way through, I buy most things online anyway, most of my clothes from Next Tall (only online), Seasalt (no store near me anyway) and M&S (has been open all along). I am in York on hols so went to shops while here, took something back to Seasalt and bought a sale top while there. I need to go to JL to look at carpets, York one is unfortunately closed so will go to another JL when I get home, nothing different really.

I forget what 'non-essential' is so I can't answer the question. I want to buy a few items from charity shops today. Looking forward to that browsing.

If covid-status-certs are required for certain services, venues, events, then I intend to not go to them. As much as possible, although I'm telling myself not to be ridiculously dogmatic about it. They are my non-essentials. I've never agreed with the price of the control measures.

I am not convinced that "opening up carefully" will prevent future lockdowns. If the Lockdown comes, it will come anyway, just might be delayed by slow re-opening, not prevented by slow re-opening. Lockdown has always been a policy decision based on how people feel about what's happening, not a scientifically balanced decision.

I definitely feel I'm going to spend less on clothes and hairdos etc as I feel it all matters less now.

Lockdown has made a big difference. I’ve saved a small fortune by focusing on buying only what I actually need. Same goes for restaurants and pubs. I won’t be beating a path to their door any time soon.

I changed from a monthly food shop with top ups, to a meal plan & weekly food shop due to the limits on how many items you could buy during lockdown 1.0.

This is a change I'll keep but other than that I was a big internet shopper anyway so that hasnt changed.

Until queuing and masks go, I'll not be going shopping except for food. I hate it.

@ConeHat

I dont think shopping this week means I was first in the queue? I did say exactly that in my OP.i have had covid and have been vaccinated. My fear of catching covid again for myself is close to 0 on my list of fears (That has no bearing on my general attitude to covid). Yes I did also say I'm worried about another lockdown. Its exactly as I said in my OP.

I was looking at a dress and thinking , where would I wear that? I'm sure there will be many times and places again where I might wear a nice new dress but I am just not feeling it. I bought my sons some new jeans as they have grown, I got some leggings and being in the shops wasnt as exciting as I thought it would be.

I'm in the mindset that unless I'm going to need something in the next six months, i got it, but nothing exciting jumped out at me. I saw some lovely things and just thought 'where would I wear that?'.

I'm going to be forever happy in a baggy top and leggings and its depressing.

I'm the opposite. I've just cleared out my wardrobe and spent hundreds of £s on new clothes . All of it online though as I've always done a lot of clothes shopping online I just wanted to have new stuff.

It is possibly a waste of money though as I am not going back to my office for at least 5 months and I can't think where to go in them yet but I am not planning for another lockdown at all

Off for a non-essential trip next week, we shall see I guess.

Not at all. We haven't managed to get many delivery slots with the supermarket for over a year now (used to always order groceries online pre-Covid), so throughout the pandemic I've had to go to the store to buy food. Have bought clothes online in the last year, but so often they don't fit / look anything like the photo in real life, so I then have the faff of returning them. I normally buy a lot of my clothes in charity shops (often get complimented on them) and I have missed them dearly. Some have not reopened since March last year because they are mostly staffed by older people, who are vulnerable.

My shopping habits for both essentials and non-essentials have changed, I plan ahead more, e.g. weeks for food and meals, and longer for everything else to allow for delivery and re-ordering if first delivery attempt doesn't arrive.

I prefer buying birthday / Christmas / other occassion cards, wrapping etc in physical shops, e.g Card Factory because wider and less expensive range. If I saw two cards that were suitable for an Aunt etc, I'd often buy both so had a "spare" for following year just in case. That habit came in very useful as I didn't have to buy many cards online during the last year.

Now I will try to minimise number of trips, e.g. I need some family birthday cards for summer so will get those and other stock cards like birth/sympathy/good luck and then don't want make another trip until autmun for Christmas. Hopefully will be able to do Valentines and Mothers day in one hit early Jan! Probably halving my trips to card shops.

I can't see myself wandering around non-essential shops for gift inspiration esp at Christmas or after a hair dresser appointment on a Saturday afternoon either anymore. Not because I'm worried about Covid especially just rather be organised rather than rely on ad-hoc/just in time trips to shops.

Preferred buying clothes online anyway, they have a better choice and can filter to see your size(s), so that won't change. Electricals, furniture and soft furnishings probably will buy exclusively online now too (previously was a mix of off and online), but managed to buy oven, furniture, curtains and rugs without seeing in person!

I've never been an online shopper other than for certain things not available in my local shops and won't be starting now

I've shopped as normal all the way through for food, DIY, garden centre, any shops that's been open and have been to town twice this week and planning to visit a large shopping centre this weekend

We're all different though and I'm sure there'll be plenty of people who stay in hermit mode which makes everywhere less busy for those who want to go out.

I'll revert back to normal when all the restrictions have gone. There's no point in browsing for pleasure at present.

I do not buy clothing online unless it's at least 80% lycra. I'm not playing around at returning the majority of stuff that doesn't fit/ sit right. I've picked up a couple of basics in the supermarket, but have had little need to buy any clothes in the past year and no reasons on the horizon.

I have taken the DCs to a sports shop this week as they needed a big restock. It's just easier doing it in person where you can hold clothes up for size and get the sensory child to feel it.

The things I buy online tend to be more niche things that are awkward to buy on the High Street.