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Pandemic purchases - 6th December 2021

10 percent of those interviewed in a survey have expressed their regret over buying items, which range from hot tubs to DIY tools, during the pandemic.

Covid lockdowns led to a surge in sales of products aimed at home enjoyment or personal fitness. Now, buyer's regret has hit many, who admitted spending an average of nearly £1,400 on stuff they now no longer wanted.

These unwanted items include gaming equipment, DIY tools, home gyms, bikes and musical instruments. Garden furniture, pizza ovens and hot tubs also all appeared on the regret list, the insurance company Aviva said.

The survey of 4,000 people found that some had sold or given away the items they regretted buying. Some had used money that would have normally been spent on holidays or social events, while others had intended to use the lockdown to take up new hobbies.

Nicki Charles, a customer and marketing director at Aviva, observed that, "So much has changed since the start of 2020. The way we work, how we interact with others, and ... the contents of our homes too. Faced with weeks or months at home, many of us made purchases to entertain ourselves, often costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds."

In March this year, Aviva announced 2020 had seen a 188 percent surge in accidental damage claims for hot tubs. In August, another insurer, Zurich issued a similar warning. It found that outbuilding fires in sheds and garages rose by 16 percent last year. It mentioned that the popularity of fire pits and pizza ovens, in addition to home conversions to create offices and gyms, all increased the fire risk.