5 Things COVID Made Me Realize I Can Live Without

By: Kendra Wolfman

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed me to reflect on my life and the decisions I’ve made. My priorities became clear early on, and I realized that spending time with my family and our health was really important to me. Other things, I could live without. Here is a list of five things that COVID made me realize I could live without.

Buying coffee

I will admit that before COVID hit, I was constantly buying coffee. A small coffee at Starbucks is about $5, and when you purchase multiple coffees a week, it starts to add up. When Toronto closed everything back in March, I came up with a great coffee recipe that was also simple to make. I purchased cold brew from the grocery store and added ingredients to make my coffee extra yummy. Here’s my recipe:

• Fill glass 3/4 of the way with cold brew from Starbucks (or any other cold brew you have)
• Fill the last 1/4 of the glass with milk (or a milk alternative)
• Add a splash of creamer (I used a vanilla creamer and it was delicious)

I was honestly impressed with how my coffees turned out. They tasted very similar to the vanilla sweet cream cold brew at Starbucks, minus the cold foam. When I was craving hot coffee in the winter, I purchased a Nespresso. I love how many different coffee flavors Nespresso offers and the fact that my Nespresso came with a frother. The froth on top of my coffee makes me feel like I got it made at a coffee shop and tastes just as good! Pro tip: add cinnamon to the milk while you’re frothing it, it is absolutely delicious.

Ordering take-out

I used to constantly treat myself towards the end of the week by going out for dinner with friends or buying takeout. With extra time during quarantine, I challenged myself to start cooking. Quarantine made me realize that I actually LIKE cooking and that I’m pretty good at it too! My favorite recipe to make right now is chicken fajitas. I’ll add the recipe below in case you’re interested and want to try cooking it as well!

Chicken Fajitas:

• Cut 2 peppers (red, yellow, or orange) into thin strips
• Cut 1 medium yellow onion into thin strips as well
• Place both the peppers and onions into a bowl and add olive oil and steak spice until all of the vegetables are completely coated
• Cut two chicken breasts into bite-sized square pieces
• Coat chicken with olive oil and steak spice
• Add vegetables to a pan, cooking on medium heat until they are soft
• Add chicken to another pan and cook until golden brown
• Combine vegetables and chicken into one pan and cook for about 7 minutes, or until you are finished heating the tortillas
• Heat tortillas either in a pan on the stove, or in the microwave if you’re in a rush
• Add chicken and vegetables into the tortilla and enjoy!

If you want to add some extras to your tortillas add toppings like guacamole, salsa, or cheese.

Buying new clothes

I’ve been spending most of my time at home these past few months, which has made me realize how much money I can save by not buying new clothes. However, if you’re looking to add something new to your wardrobe, I recommend investing in a good sweatsuit or lounge clothes because if you’re at home, why not wear something comfortable? Another tip for buying new clothes is to look at websites like Depop and Poshmark where you can find pre-owned (or sometimes brand new) clothes for really reasonable prices! This way you’re saving money and shopping sustainably!

International travel

I love traveling and am always adding new places to my bucket list. Since traveling out of the country is not an option right now, my family and I have made some little trips to different places in Ontario. We’ve been to London, Ontario to go thrift shopping, and Oakville, Ontario to try a new and delicious restaurant. I’ve enjoyed going to different places in my province I haven’t explored before, and I think that even when we’re allowed to travel out of the country I will continue making day trips to places around me. Exploring different countries and continents can be fun, but so can exploring places in your own backyard!

Living on social media

I used to live on social media, sharing pictures of what I was doing all the time, and looking at other people’s posts and stories. During quarantine, I realized that I spent too much time relying on social media to entertain me throughout the day and wanted to find alternative and productive ways to spend my time. Recently, I’ve gotten really into reading and shared a blog post of five great thrillers I’ve read. I’ve also started listening to podcasts in my spare time, while I’m driving or working out. My favorite podcasts are Crime Junkie, Pretty Basic, and Gals on the Go.

Quarantine has truly allowed me to reflect on my life, my choices, and what is truly important to me in life. I think that through this reflection, I’ve not only been able to save money, but also have new experiences that I wouldn’t have had before COVID.