while we are still fighting the pandemic and trying to come to terms with the new normal the covid19 outbreak and the resultant lockdown has brought about a lot of changes in our ways of living shopping eating working etc the pandemic in a way has forced us to reflect and reevaluate many habits and perceptions and our spending habits are no exception in fact data suggests that march onwards the spendings have gone down by as much as 40 per cent which means there is a shift in our behaviour as buyers and users we find out how going from hyperconsumerism to consuming mindfully will impact our festive celebrations this yearafter all money cant buy happinesscovid19 taught us to rethink the way we live and not take things for granted rethinking has made people observant of their consumer behaviour more importantly their spending habits also with more time available at hand people are spending more time with themselves and their families and this has made them realise where true happiness comes from now many feel it doesnt come from the things we buy using money also salary cuts job losses and economic instability has set in the realisation even harder thus compelling people to think and use their finances in better sustainable ways says pooja khera coach of happiness and wellbeingthe rise of conscious consumerismit is said that old habits die hard but the lockdown has made us sit up and take stock of our toxic and sometimes mindless consumption habits as international trade took a backseat and the national economy demanded a focus on made in india goods and solutions a new method of conscious consumerism led by the vocal for local businesses gained momentum apart from shopping at local smaller businesses there was a shift in the what how when and where we shopped the quality and the health impact of the products etc became crucial differentiating factors says anamika sengupta cofounder of a sustainable lifestyle brand for example millennials who thought homecooked food was boring and ate out frequently are not only enjoying the humble homemade meals but also learning to cook and posting pictures of their creations on their social media conscious consumption vs splurging this festive seasonwith less disposable income in hand perceived scarcity and uncertainty more and more people are opting for costeffective consumption in my opinion most people will opt for cost conscious consumption rather than splurging this festive season people have started questioning themselves if they really need the latest home theatre versus being able to enjoy their music and movies on phones or laptops in addition people want to spend on experiences that can help them enjoy their time with friends and family bring joy to everyones faces without having to worry about being able to do it in designer clothes expensive jewellery or other lavish mediums says khera sengupta feels that the jarring picture of the underprivileged laborers and daily wage earners who were among the worst affected segment