The domestic ways we’re adapting and acting out during the coronavirus pandemic are endlessly fascinating to me. I’ve been carefully freezing packets of homemade ramen sauce, but also bought a nugget ice maker that sent my entire annual budget into chaos. (I have no regrets!) People are stocking up on scented candles and handguns but also breaking online shopping addictions. Our pandemic lives contain multitudes; explore them with us below!

Janie

Take Back Your Life

For generations, it wasn’t uncommon for homeowners to hang on to their properties for 20 years or longer. A family would scrimp and save, eventually putting 20% down on their dream home, then work off the mortgage so they could live their golden years debt-free. But median home prices have risen at four times the rate of household incomes since 1960, and it often no longer makes sense to wait until you can buy a perfect home you plan to live in forever. Here’s what you need to know:

Why the concept of a “forever home” needs to die

Here's The Deal

This pandemic has changed our spending dramatically. Electricity and grocery bills have skyrocketed. And with nonessential businesses forced to shutter, many of us have invested in products from hair clippers to fitness equipment in order to maintain a sense of routine. But not all of the trends have been so obvious. Thanks to a combination of boredom and fear, we’ve been buying up some surprising items:

7 odd things Americans are buying during the pandemic

Pro Tip:

Clicking “buy” too often right now? You’re not alone. We spoke with a teenager and a lifestyle influencer who managed to overcome digital shopping addictions, with helpful methods from outsmarting algorithms to calculating the true cost of clothes.

Want More Practical Magic?

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