Mind the tap: Getting back to normal is fuelling the unhealthy consumerism put on hold by worldwide government closures
We were doing great saving money until the world started opening up
For those of us lucky enough to still have a job or run a business that was resilient to the pandemic, the halt to daily life also meant money saved. After the initial rant about not being able to go about our expensive hobbies (mine includes travel, restaurants and events requiring tickets) and the subsequent re-adaptation phase (or forced acceptance depending on how you look at it) , I think many of us went through a phase of enlightenment. Either our lives were a complete void and our relationships in shambles held only by the strong forces of consumerism (i.e. entertainment and escapism) or in a less dark scenario, that a few of our spending habits were unnecessary.
For me, I saved a lot of money by simply not having to be at the office, either through not going for that extra cappuccino because of an afternoon slump or simply not needing any more corporate wear (also days where i forgot to bring lunch and thought the fancy expensive salad in an eco-friendly takeaway with a big bright smile was worth 26 dollars). I was tapping less. But more so, I became conscious of mindless tapping. One extra coffee, one extra uber, one extra vacation, one extra upgrade.
One could argue that tapping less resulted in clicking more. Your next amazon purchase is one click away. Your next meal delivery is one click away. Did you think the hands of consumerism would leave you alone because you are stuck at home? Call me naïve, I would like to think it is still less than what you would have spent in a normal year (unless you bought luxury furniture and state of the art gadget every month to compensate for lockdown boredom…or maybe an exotic pet imported from Africa). A few of my friends confirmed the thinking; that they also saved a few dimes and now scared to go back into the real world in case they suddenly forget their free personal finance 101 learnt.
Now that businesses have started opening up, the tap is back. In a way, a lot of us tried to compensate to make up for lost time. The restaurants we would have been at, the exhibitions we would have attended, the travels we missed out on. FOMO is back and it is hyperventilating.
For the past two months, I have been tapping away like I was Jay-Z. Humans are coming out of lockdown like prisoners on parole, got to make the most of everything. Spending is back in business, to find a sense of normalcy after a crazy year.
But am telling myself, hold the FOMO. Nothing was lost; only wisdom gained. We did not need that much make up, or that new pair of trousers that we will wear at x company’s event. Our two-year old H&M pj’s have done wonders for more than a year, it can still last for a bit. (Please do not wear this, quoting me if you are back to attending face-to-face meetings!).
After the initial frenzy, am holding back the taps. Spending just a little more to help small businesses that have managed to sustain themselves during the various waves and government closures. But no more mindless tapping. The great awakening is here, at least in my opinion, that was my main lesson during the past year. We do not need to fuel the consumerism to feel alive or make life worth living.
