- Non-essential businesses were able to reopen on May 11, after nearly two months of closure linked to confinement.
- 20 Minutes asked its readers to find out what was (or will be) their first post-containment “pleasure” purchase.
- From books to plants, to clothing and cooking, there is something for everyone.
There was the desire to go and see relatives. To take a walk in nature, to play tennis. Or to afford a little something. The exit from confinement of non-food businesses since May 11 has indeed been the opportunity, for many French people, to start shopping again.
If a tendency towards moderation on this side appears among the readers who responded to our call for testimonies, it does not necessarily mean that consumption has stopped. 20 Minutes therefore asked them what was (or will be) their first “pleasure” purchase of deconfinement.
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Reading is resistance
"From the first day of freedom, I ran back to my bookseller," says Louis. In the early days of confinement, reading boards had multiplied in the media and on social networks. And may well have revived the appeal of the book to many people who no longer had the time or interest. Anne-France confides her pleasure in returning to her favorite bookstore in Vannes: “I went to Silence de la Mer to buy a book on self-sufficiency. It remains to potash it and to put some ideas into application. "
Emilie also chose her bookstore as her first outing: “I bought books for my son. He was so happy to have new ones to discover. There were deliveries, but what a pleasure to be able to search, watch and choose! Some readers were more specific in their choices. If Adrien set his sights on Lolita, of Vladimir Nabokov, Anne-Catherine chose Tibet, promise of the invisible and Tibet, mineral animal, of Vincent Munier. Two books on which she was eyeing “for a long time without daring to buy them because of the price”. But the confinement made her understand that life is, according to her, too short to deprive herself of it.
Inward-looking shopping
Confinement was also an opportunity to take care of one's “home”. Undoubtedly to find a little freshness after weeks of confinement, plants and flowers are targeted. If Sandrine fell for a bunch of peonies, and Odette for geraniums, Yasmine saw things big to decorate her terrace: "I bought a small palm tree, a shrub and various small flowers to put them in two large pots . "
Jérémy also thinks of his garden and the arrival of sunny days: “We decided to please the children by buying an inflatable spa. "We don't know if he has made room for a pool area, but Philippe has taken advantage of these two months to start tidying up his garage, and does not intend to stop there:" My first purchase, it will be shelves to organize everything. "In the DIY department, he may find Morgana, who jumped into his car on May 11" to finally order a kitchen, because [she] must move in a month to her new house ". Joseph explains that he has to renew a few household appliances: "My refrigerator dropped me during confinement, really not the right time ..."
"Cooking is my new hobby"
Another “highlight” of confinement for many is cooking. Some have decided to deepen the subject and equip themselves to become real chefs. This is the case of Melissa: “Having assiduously followed Cyril Lignac every night, cooking is my new hobby and while doing my shopping, I came across the robot from Lidl and I fell in love. The first rounds of cookies are already ready. "She will be able to share her recipes with Corinne, who has offered herself" a pastry robot to keep busy and have fun ".
Putting yourself in the stove during a confinement period also meant taking the risk of having a few extra pounds on your scales. What happened to Florence, who wanted to react: “I didn't have any physical activity at all and I don't like running. So I bought myself a stepper for my birthday. It was not the only gift she gave herself. In teleworking since March 13, she fears a reconfinement: “So I bought a new printer in anticipation, it was planned and budgeted, but I moved the purchase date a little bit forward. The same reasons prompted Claudine to go out "to order a computer".
The pleasures of the palate
We come back - again - to the concept of meals. Because if the food shops had been open since mid-March, some did not dare to go to places deemed too far away or non-priority. And have caught up since May 11. “For fear and civility, I did not want to browse several stores. But I'm going to buy lamb chops for marinating and baking, ”announced Cécile late last week. Martin had to follow his example: “I dream of a good rib of beef matured in a real butcher. "And Serge to offer himself" two kebabs to celebrate the deconfinement ".
Restaurants, bars and cafes cannot yet reopen. But that doesn't stop our readers from drooling over the idea of going back. "I'm waiting for my Perrier or my coffee on the terrace," says Quentin *. Luc also waits to be able to sit down to taste "a rare steak and fries". If Hannah does not specify her order, she also stamps: "I can't wait to go to the restaurant, for sharing, meeting my friends, conviviality ..." Likewise, Florence * keeps her first expenses to find the terraces: " I will go to a restaurant and a bar in my neighborhood to help them out. "
"Give me this dress that made my eye"
But no question that this outing to the restaurant (or the return to work) is done without a clothing effort. So Emilie set aside a little of her budget to dress herself: “I went to a thrift store to buy a shirt. "Marine chose a dress:" I preferred to give my money to a small business and above all, she had been eyeing me for two months. "Anaïs, who took advantage of confinement to exercise and eat healthy, wishes to reward herself for her weight loss:" For the first time in my life, I passed below the fateful bar of overweight. So even if we may not be able to go sunbathing on the beaches, I will finally offer myself this swimsuit that has been making me want for years. "
To rediscover the pleasure of preparing to go out, our readers have opted for other ornaments. "I'm going to buy jewelry"; announces Chloé. As for Isabelle, her first pleasure purchase will go to fragrances: “I could have ordered it on the Internet, but I wanted to respect confinement. Now I can buy my perfume, which is part of my identity. "
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