10 Money Lessons Covid-19 Taught Me

When you’re locked up, locked in and locked down, you make some important discoveries about what you need to change – and why.

- Joanne Miller

Last year, the way we live our lives changed dramatically. No more casual restaurant meals, time spent wandering the malls in search of that perfect dress or meeting friends for after-work drinks… No more anything, pretty much.

Many people lost their job. And many had their income drop – if not immediately, then over the months that followed. The way we spend our money changed too: we started bulk-buying for fear of running out, amped up our online purchasing skills, and cautiously started making ad-hoc trips to the shops as an excuse to get out of the house and actually do something.

Some people used the opportunity to spend less and are now in a better financial position than before. Others overspent – in response to the fear, depression, relationship challenges and general unknown of these unfamiliar times – by stocking up on food, alcohol and general supplies they wouldn’t ordinarily buy. Empty store shelves and retailers’ signs limiting the number of toilet rolls shoppers could buy at a time reflected the mass hysteria and confusion.

However we handled it, our personal financial behaviour has changed inevitably. These are the 10 lessons I learnt about money – and life – last year:

1 Be grateful for what you have

Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on what you do have in your life, both material and personal. The rise in the number of homeless people living on the streets is a constant reminder of how fortunate some of us are to have our basic needs met: a roof over your head, a warm place to sleep, food in your stomach and loved ones close.

2 Save for a rainy day (but keep it accessible)