Our best and worst pandemic purchases
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Monica's trusty adjustable work table that she totes around the house. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios
Like many Chicagoans, we went a little shopping crazy during the pandemic, buying stuff we thought we'd need for our new reality.
- Some of it turned out to be great but other purchases are gathering dust or headed to the Salvation Army.
What's happening: We're sharing some of our best and worst pandemic purchases.
Monica: My best was this foldable and adjustable desk table that lets me work on the floor, couch, and tub. Plus, I can use it as a standing desk on the dining room table.
- Worst: The $200-plus Yogibo bean bag that I thought would be a great work chair/surface, but it mushes down to the floor too quickly and my family still makes fun of me for buying it.
Justin: My biggest investment was buying a ring light for my desk. It was flimsy and broke about a year later, but it lit me up nicely when streaming live from home!
Carrie: My best purchase was the online fitness program Obé that has both live and recorded classes, giving me a sense of sanity during the gym closures.
Reader and social media responses:
"Horseshoes I bought and played outside. Worst: A hula hoop that's been gathering dust." — Kaarin T.
"My Ninja air fryer! The best." — Beth G.
"An adjustable computer table that I could raise so my full face was in the Zoom picture was the best, but also the worst because I no longer use it after realizing a stack of books is just as good." — Regan B.
"Castille soap that keeps hands smooth with frequent washing. The worst was a loveseat that looks good but isn't very comfortable." — Deborah D.
"A carpet cleaner was the worst. I got obsessed with cleaning and only have carpet in my bedroom. Used it once since buying." — Lisa S.
"Two different size Lodge Cast Iron enameled Dutch ovens, and a Le Creuset enameled stainless steel stock pot. My pandemic cooking game was next level." — Tati A.
"Matching jammies for me and the dog was the best. Worst: Enough boxed wine to build an igloo." — Grace D.