People Are Buying So Much Stupid Shit In Isolation And We’re Here For It
Six pounds of skittles? A Britney Spears prayer candle? Sure, why not.
When writing a budget there are a lot of things to consider. Rent and bills, obviously. But also how much we’re going to spend at the pub on the weekend, and how much to put aside for work lunches when we’re feeling too lazy to cook.
The pandemic has blown all that right out of the water.
$25 at the cinemas? No longer. $10 on a beer? Not unless you’re drinking alone. $30 on an Uber home at 3am? You wish.
While the impacts of the lockdown are affecting everyone’s bank accounts differently, the one thing we have in common is that we’re all spending a lot less on the things that used to make life worth living.
But capitalism is a savvy mistress, and it’s working overtime to convince us that maybe if we fill our online shopping carts it will make our days in isolation more bearable.
Who am I to say that’s wrong? The little spike of dopamine that comes when another parcel arrives is one of the few things bringing joy in these trying times.
Some people are making some truly cooked impulse purchases while in isolation, and it’s hilarious.
Best quarantine impulse purchase ever. pic.twitter.com/Yl9Wv5oVju
— Cheryl Arkison (@Cheryl_Arkison) April 27, 2020
My most exciting quarantine purchase, has arrived. #discoqueen ? ? pic.twitter.com/5tiiZR0yHV
— Farrell Miller, JD (@FeralMiller) May 3, 2020
Quarantine purchase ??♀️ pic.twitter.com/M1qYNoXnjC
— Sam I Am (@super_sammmm) April 30, 2020
quarantine impulse purchase from a month ago arrived today and yes, it did cure my depression. look how cute he is pic.twitter.com/rwN4zvUedD
— map dyke (@PlaneQueer) May 4, 2020
Impulse quarantine purchase….now what to do with 6 lbs of Skittles pic.twitter.com/qzfH6yL7m1
— Thigpen Nancy ?☕? (@ThigpenHedgehog) May 1, 2020
Since the pandemic began, online department store purchases have shot up 473 percent and fashion purchases have risen 203 percent.
The spike in online shopping has seen Australia Post deliver almost two million parcels a day.
I love ordering shit off a impulse purchase and forget about that shit. Then package be at the door like, oh bitch you shouldn’t have…why you so good to me
— The Living (@TheLiving404) May 4, 2020
RIP to my bank account lmfao ?✌️
— alvi, aka ur sugar boo xoxo (@jandyalvdawg) May 4, 2020
Our favourite Frugal Forever podcast hosts Josie Parsons and Katie Cunningham can relate — on this week’s episode they delved into the weird and wacky things they’ve bought since isolation began.
Apart from a few discretionary purchases ($200 on cotton underwear??) they’ve mainly stuck to the isolation essentials — gym equipment, books, tracksuits, vibrators — you get it.
The good news is some shops across Australia are starting to reopen with new new social distancing guidelines in place, so you can go make those purchases in person.
In the meantime, be nice to your postie!
Hear more on the latest episode of Frugal Forever here or join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram.