We asked, you answered: Here are the best things Boston.com readers bought during the pandemic
"My mental health has substantially improved."
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In the past year of the pandemic, homes became schools, classrooms, workplaces, and DIY hair salons. Fewer trips were taken to stop the spread of coronavirus, and major life adjustments were made to keep families safe. However, there were little things that helped people adapt to their new lifestyles. We asked readers for the best things they bought during the pandemic, and over 200 responded to our survey and on social media to share the items that helped carry them through.
Most of the items submitted revolved around creating comfier spaces at home, whether that meant upgrading a home office setup, splurging on cozy loungewear, securing grocery pick-ups, or creating a home gym with new exercise equipment. Many submitted “Other” items, which were named less than three times. These unique items were things like, an engagement ring, and large bag of marshmallows, and a bidet.
Here are the top 5 things readers bought during the pandemic
Peloton
Ten percent of readers, 26 people total, wrote to say that a Peloton stationary bike enhanced their pandemic living. Peloton bikes can range from $1,895 to $2,945 in price. “I bought a Peloton and it was by far my best decision. My mental health has substantially improved and I don’t plan to pay outrageous prices at fitness studios again,” wrote Allison in Boston.
Without naming specific brands, many others wrote in to praise their new exercise equipment, such as weights, treadmills, and new bicycles. 22.7 percent of readers really stepped up their home gyms this year and took it upon themselves to keep up their workout routines in their own spaces. Mark Vautour, a manager at Landry’s Bicycles, e-mailed Boston.com sharing “As a business we’ve never seen a demand for anything like this.”
Desk or chair
As more people spent a majority of their time working from home, setting up a productive work environment became important. Eight readers finally ditched their old office chairs for better lumbar support, and nine readers opted for new desks. Others went in on upgraded wifi and new monitors. One person wrote in that they got a room divider to better divy up a designated work area. “For me it is the space separator I bought online. It effectively created a semi-private space that allows me to do work and or just to relax, outside of the bedroom and living room. This is something I never thought of getting before the pandemic. Small freedom within a noisy and busy working/schooling/entertainment environment in a household of 3 generations,” they wrote.
Pandemic pets
For many, the purchase that helped them the most while navigating a global pandemic, was not an object purchased online, but rather a new addition to the family. 16 people, six percent, wrote in gushing about pandemic puppies. One cat person wrote in about her two new kittens, saying they “provide hilarious entertainment and cuddles/comfort.” Another mentioned getting a pet rabbit.
Alcohol
Booze was the third most popular type of item on the shopping list. People are drinking more frequently and online sales of alcohol are way up. A reader poll in September found that more than a third of Boston.com readers said they were drinking more during the pandemic.
Coffee Makers and Vaccums
In a tie for the fifth most popular submitted items, each with seven entries, were types of coffee makers and vacuums. Nespresso machines, cold brew makers, coffee subscriptions — all helped to curb cravings that a trip out to a local coffee shop would normally satisfy. One reader who is a fan of bubble tea, suggested, “For a real tea/coffee shop escape and for making fancy bubble tea at home: Tea Zone Lychee Coconut Jelly.”
Vacuums, namely hands-free Roombas, Dysons, and carpet cleaners helped contain messes and keep crumbs and dust at bay from becoming too overwhelming at home. “A robotic vacuum. Spending all our time in our apartment means lots more dirt, crumbs, hair, and dust. It also means that it’s more bothersome when it’s not clean! Having the vacuum to do regular sweep-throughs keeps it more manageable so I’m not doing it myself multiple times a week!” one reader wrote.
Here’s what some readers had to say about their best purchase.
Some responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
“I purchased 2 home air purifiers early on during the pandemic. At that time it was unclear how it was transmitted, so I thought it it cannot hurt. Knock on wood, we have evaded it so far.” — Diane, Natick
“A new bicycle, which I had to travel to New Hampshire in the summer to find. On a quiet Sunday in April 2020, I excitedly biked into a vacant Boston. While I ate lunch on a park bench, my locked bike was stolen in broad daylight, the lock cut. The city had a Wild West feel that day — tumbleweeds rolling down Mass Ave. This ended up [being] a real blessing in disguise as it forced me to upgrade to a beautiful hybrid bike, and I’ve ridden hundreds of miles on it since. The catch was needing to call and email 20 bike shops throughout MA, New England, and New York before I could find the right model in stock or a state I could travel to. Everyone was trying to buy a bike.” — Sean, Medford
“Got one of those starlight projectors with different colored light modes and as silly as it sounds, it really changed the boring living room into a dance club, disco vibe at night.” — Leah, Sudbury
“I bought an engagement ring. Best decision I ever made. We spent the quarantine having simple, close-to-home fun outside. So much fun I bought a ring. I’m grateful we got to spend so much time together.” — Mark, Arlington
“SodaStream. No more throw away bottles.” — Josh, Woburn
“It is actually two things. 1) Our rescue pup Freya. We adopted her in April. She is a Doxie mix and a pure joy! We have gone on a lot of outdoor adventures (when weather permits) with our other rescue and that has been great for everyone. 2) The Peloton Tread+. I broke down in September and have not regretted it once. It has definitely helped with my mental state when the weather has not cooperated and I cannot go outside to run. I need to keep moving and clear my mind!!” — Tracy, Danvers
“A Tempur-Pedic office chair. I bought the chair to replace the wooded kitchen chair I was using at my desk in March 2020, when we first sent home to telework indefinitely. Spending 9+ hours a day working at a makeshift desk it was immediately apparent my back and legs were suffering from the wooded chair, despite stretching and exercising regularly. A year later I am very happy with the chair and glad I did not put off buying a legit chair. At approximately $300 it wasn’t cheap, but amortized of the next 15 years before I retire, it is $20 per year to keep me productive and feeling good.” — Mark, Ipswich
“Golden Tee Arcade Game. A wonderful and fun distraction from missing the kids, grandkids, family and friends. We’ve gotten pretty good at it — can’t wait to go out to an arcade in Hampton and play.” — Mike and Tammy, Seabrook, N.H.
“A gigantic bag of dehydrated marshmallows because WHY NOT THEY MADE ME HAPPY????” — Amy, Newton
“85 lbs. of grass fed beef from a local farm. Our freezer is stocked for months and we’ve helped out a local farmer. Win-win.”– Jen, Lynn
“12 pairs of the same, perfect black leggings. They’ve been the cornerstone of easily 95% of every outfit I’ve worn in the past 11 months, and I always have a pair clean and ready to go.” — Emma, Maynard
“My wife, young daughter, and I took advantage of the steep decline in apartment rents in the city and moved into a two bedroom apartment late last year (with almost double the square footage of our former one bedroom apartment). After several months working from home, it’s been a huge improvement in quality of life since the move.” — Justin, Boston
“Exactly one week before lockdown when the great toilet paper shortage was just starting I bought a Tushy bidet. It cost $79.00 on Amazon and barely use toilet paper at all any longer.” — Mike, Norton
“Our best pandemic purchase was a ball pit from Etsy for our son’s first birthday. We have spent countless hours playing in there in recent months. Not sure who enjoys it more — Mom or toddler!” — Amy, Boston
“1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles. Perfect staying at home activity that is almost like meditation. Helped with the monotony of being stuck inside and took my mind off all the COVID madness” — Robin, Marblehead
“A laptop tray for my bed. On cold winter days, I stayed warm and cozy while I worked. Tbh, on days I didn’t have a Zoom meeting, I sometimes didn’t even change out of my PJs. Best $30 spent recently!” — Alex, Ayer
“More sweatpants! Life should be comfortable.” — @nicola_lb
“A ukulele. Learning something new has been distracting and stress relieving.” — @robthowes
“My dog and a good office chair!!! Both saved my life.” — @emilyschofield7
“An upright freezer that converts to a fridge. Helped us store a supply of healthier food, reduced number of curbside pickups, promoted meal planning skills and to be honest — most of all — it simply helped us feel safe by having one element of survival under control.” — Kathy, Salem
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