Things to learn from this terrible situation.

enthusiasticsaver

What have I learnt over the last three months. 
That a DB pension is a valuable asset and is unchanged by global events. 

That investments can go up and down in a very short space of time.  At the beginning of lockdown our portfolio was down 20% and is now up by 6%.  

That we need very little in the way of consumer goods to survive.  Food is literally the only thing we have bought and we have saved loads of money. 

How much we value seeing people in RL.  Zoom and facetime just doesn't cut it after the third or fourth time but better than nothing. 

How many lovely footpaths we have near where we live which were only discovered after lockdown on daily exercise. 

I would not want to be without a garden especially on very hot days. 

Linton

It would seem the country can manage pretty well with far fewer people in full time work.  Is a significant amount of employment the equivalent of being paid to dig holes and fill them up again?  Wouldn't it be better for the national quality of life not to do it?
I cant help feeling that describes the long term effect of much of what I did when working.
Also I am very surprised how quickly small companies have leapt into the gaps with home deliveries of vegetables and other foodstuffs.  All our shopping is delivered or click&collected - we have had no need or wish to wander around the supermarkets and hopefully wont have to when the lock-down ends. Our daily walks have been very enjoyable as has the lack of traffic noise.  In some ways it's a pity it has to end.

quirkydeptless

DigForVictory said:

That the ability to cut hair is wildly under-rated.

I have learnt how to cut my own hair ... bzzzzzz ...

LHW99

When Zoom is in widespread use - the family members we would only see a couple of times a year due to distance are happy to keep in touch weekly - hope it lasts.

RetSol

veryintrigued said:

So what lessons have you learnt or have had reinforced?

I'll start:
Try and build up a savings buffer of a few months.

Ask me again when it's over. 

Thrugelmir

Linton said:

It would seem the country can manage pretty well with far fewer people in full time work.  Is a significant amount of employment the equivalent of being paid to dig holes and fill them up again?  Wouldn't it be better for the national quality of life not to do it?

Perhaps explains the productivity puzzle over the past few years. 

stephenadarglas

veryintrigued said:

So what lessons have you learnt or have had reinforced?

I'll start:
Try and build up a savings buffer of a few months.

Always expect the unexpected

Splatfoot

That people are still idiots. Who would queue for 2 hours to get into a Nike shop?!!

Sorcerer2018

Splatfoot said:

That people are still idiots. Who would queue for 2 hours to get into a Nike shop?!!

In some ways if people are willing to do that, then a large part of the population will probably come back to the high street. I have decided until their are no more cases in this country for a couple of months. I will get what i can online and only go to the shops when i really need to.

Living_proof

If everyone learned to want a little less and be happy when their needs were all provided, we could all work a lot less and enjoy life a little more.