Covid-19 has shown up and it’s turned many of our routines upside down. However, it’s not all bad. Some of the practices we’ve been forced to adopt, not only help us stay virus free, but benefit our bank accounts! Here are a few newly-formed habits that we should keep.
1. Home Cooked Food
We all know there are benefits to cooking at home. It’s usually healthier and of course, we can save money in comparison to ordering restaurant deliveries. But just how much do we save when we opt to make our meals at home? According to Forbes, on average it’s almost five times more expensive to order delivery from a restaurant than it is to make the exact same meal at home. You’ll save the most on protein-based meals and significantly on carb based meals like pizza or pasta. Remember you’re looking at cost per serving! While your bank account increases, your waistline will do the opposite. According to goodnet.org, “the average restaurant meal has as much as 60% more calories than a homemade meal.”
2. At Home Workouts
Investing in your health is priceless! No question about it. However, that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to do so. The average gym memberships cost $350TTD per month, that’s $4,200 TTD per year! If you added the cost of a monthly personal trainer, it goes up. Working out can make you a better employee as well. According to a study done by marketwatch.com, those who get the recommended 2 ½ hours of exercise each week are more energetic in the office, and take fewer sick days. With so many free resources, i.e. YouTube and fitness apps, for instance, there really isn’t a reason to purchase pricey gym memberships.
3. Home/Virtual Hangouts
Being confined to our home meant we spent less be on traditional forms of entertainment: no movies theaters nights, drinks on the avenue or dine-in dinners. According to smartasset.com, both male and female millennials spend an average of $1700 USD annually on entertainment. That approximately $11,500 TTD! It’s unrealistic to say you’ll never spend on these activities again, but why not cut back? If you habitually go out every weekend, make it every other week. On those weekends in, continue to use the alternate ways of socializing that happen to be cost effective, house limes, Netflix party extension, Zoom hangouts.
4. D.I.Y. Services
Do it yourself has been a prominent theme during this quarantine. From pedicures to haircuts, dye jobs to shaping your eyebrows and all in between. You’ve probably attempted one or all of these services on yourself or someone in your household while observing social distancing. You may have even discovered that you’re pretty good at it too! So why stop now? The average cost of a gel manicure is $250 TTD. That’s $3000 TTD yearly on YOUR NAILS if you keep up monthly, and we haven’t accounted for your pedicures! Fellas, your bi-monthly trips or weekly to the barber? It all adds up! You can cut down on the expense without compromising your appearance. If you’re good at pedicures and your friend is good at hair, barter services! At the same time, some tasks are best left to the professionals like chemical bleaching of hair, but as long as you can do so safely, continue to practice D.I.Y.’s.
5. Washing Of Hands
Last but not least, continue to wash your hands, CORRECTLY! Most people only wash their hands for 6 seconds. By now, we all know that should be 20 seconds. According to facts.net:
- You encounter 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing you to 840,000 germs.
- Around 33% of people don’t use soap when washing their hands.
- Elevator buttons harbor 22% more bacteria than toilet seats.
From respiratory infections to foodborne illnesses, many sicknesses could be avoided if we all practiced proper handwashing techniques. Avoided illnesses equals avoided medical expenses!
