Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Items They Bought During The Pandemic That Are Now Collecting Dust

People Explain Which Items They Bought During The Pandemic That Are Now Collecting Dust

black digital camera capturing yellow flower

Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a lot of fear and uncertainty.

Our loved ones got sick, and some even passed, yet there was no end in sight. Everyone was forced to social distance, leading to a huge loss in human contact. Small businesses closed down, people lost their jobs, and children were forced into virtual school.

However, there were some bright spots as well.

Many people began to work from home, and having no place to go after work left most of us with more free time than we originally had. People took advantage of this time by trying to learn a new skill (I used YouTube videos to learn guitar), committing to something beneficial (I went back to school to finally get a degree), or focusing on mental and physical health.

Sometimes, the use of this free time also led to some purchases. After all, how can you learn guitar without first buying a guitar?

These purchases sometimes went to waste, however. While I did end up getting my degree, it didn't take me long to stop playing the guitar. Now it sits under my bed, dusty and out of tune.

Curious about what other pandemic-related purchases went to waste, Redditor Crazed_waffle_party asked:

"What did you buy during the pandemic that is now collecting dust?"



The Perfect Picture

"A DSLR. Always been intrigued and interested in photography, but never took the plunge to explore and begin learning. Bought this camera early pandemic and after the first couple of months, have barely used it. I just keep thinking… well, I’ll get to learning eventually since I already have it"

– fallway

Working On Working Out

"Exercise equipment, specifically a neat little stationary bike unit that's designed to fit under a desk. Used it for 3 months then just never went back."

– vitaminglitch

"Two and a half months longer than most people."

– iaalaughlin

"I used to do package delivery and many people were ordering weight sets at the start of the pandemic. Most of these people were what seemed to be 50+ with no evidence of ever working out. I guarantee most of those are sitting in a pile in the garage untouched."

– jonsalas

Can't Compete On Your Own

"a chess set. i forgot for a moment i dont have any friends and dont like to play myself"

– Deleted User

Pasta Night

"My pasta maker/roller. Used it once, made a mess and now it sits proudly in the back of my pantry"

– ChefSandman

With Love In Every Stitch

"I bought yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks with the intention to make a blanket. I started and thought that was too hard so I decided to make a scarf instead. I crocheted about a 12in rectangle and never picked it up again."

– 227743

New Uses For An Old Favorite

"A treadmill. I was motivated. Was."

– StraY_WolF

"At least they double as a place to hang clothing."

– feralturtles

"Mine collects dust but I use it almost everyday. When I want to watch Naruto, I just do it while walking."

– Slim01111

The Loneliness Accentuated

"trading cards and video games no one to play with"

"Oh and my exes engagement ring my biggest L here"

– stupidanswerquestion

What's That For?

"Stripper pole"

– Dangerous_Effort3355

"For self defense,right?"

– xXMeOwOXx

Some Assembly Required

"My friend bought bagpipes, couldn't even put it together and put it back in the box. That was 2020."

– Sco_Queen

Home, Sweet (and Dusty) Home

"My apartment. I still live there, but it's exceptionally efficient at collecting dust."

– Zoefschildpad

The Downsides Of Work From Home

"A webcam."

– Ghostdr1

"I wish mine was collecting dust. Most people in my office are still working remotely, so I have to keep doing a bunch of zoom meetings. There are few things I hate more than being on camera."

– mynameisbritton

Collecting Dust In A Good Way

"I got a Roomba. Just collects dust all day. Quite pleased with it actually."

– dino0509

An Inventive Solution

"I was cleaning out my bathroom and realized I somehow acquired 3 bottles of rubbing alcohol. I asked my husband why and how we ended up with these. He reminded me during the early days of the pandemic there was no hand sanitizer because people were hoarding it so he made a batch of diy rubbing alcohol sanitizer to get us through."

– Canonconstructor

That last one is a skill I'd like to learn! It certainly would have been more useful than picking up, then quitting, the guitar.

Things are looking up. Adults are headed back to their offices, kids are going back to school, and restaurants and stores are opening up again. Social distancing is no longer required, and we're settling into a new normal.

However, that doesn't mean there's no time to learn something new! If you bought something during the pandemic that's now gathering dust, consider picking it back up again. You never know!

Today, I'm a quitter. Tomorrow, I could be playing Aerosmith!


Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Donald Trump holding photos of White House ballroom
Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images

CNN Just Used A Hilarious Poll To Show Just How Unpopular Trump's Ballroom Is—And We're Cackling

After President Donald Trump claimed that his new White House ballroom is "very popular" with the American public, CNN shared a hilariously shady poll that gets to the truth of the matter.

Last year, Trump ordered the demolition of the entire East Wing to make way for a 90,000 square-foot ballroom that will dwarf the size of the White House itself, sparking alarm from historical preservationists and the public alike.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @devynnehaddoxx's TikTok video
@devynnehaddoxx/TikTok

Woman In Labor Times How Long Her Husband Takes To Poop To See If She Can Push Their Baby Out Faster In Hilarious Viral Video

It's well-known across the internet that it takes forever for men to use the restroom. For dads especially, in the time it takes them to poop, when they return to the house, their kids will have aged seven years, and their baby will have learned to walk.

These are jokes, of course, but it's an internet consensus that men spend a really long time on the porcelain throne.

Keep ReadingShow less
David Letterman (left) has continued defending Stephen Colbert (right) as CBS faces backlash over canceling The Late Show.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

David Letterman Rips 'Lying Weasels' At CBS For Claiming Colbert Was Canceled For Financial Reasons In Epic Takedown

David Letterman isn’t staying quiet about CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. As Colbert’s run comes to an end later this month, the former late-night host is publicly challenging the network’s claim that the decision was purely financial.

Letterman, who hosted The Late Show from 1993 until stepping down in 2015, addressed the controversy during a new interview with New York Times journalist Jason Zinoman.

Keep ReadingShow less
Antonia Eastwood; Gemma Monk
Antonia Eastwood/MSN; Cover Images

Woman Speaks Out After Prison Sentence To Reveal What Led Her To Hurl Black Paint At Sister-In-Law On Her Wedding Day

In early 2024, 49-year-old Antonia Eastwood married Ashley Monk after about five months of dating. During the ceremony, Antonia tripped while walking down the aisle.

Antonia and Ashley were both suspicious that she did not trip accidentally and that Ashley's sister, Gemma, actually tripped her. Gemma and Antonia were not close, and the couple also believed that Gemma might be jealous that they were marrying after five months, though she'd been with her childhood sweetheart for 20 years without tying the knot.

Keep ReadingShow less
Billie Eilish on 'Good Hang'
Good Hang with Amy Poehler/YouTube

Billie Eilish's Refreshingly Blunt Take On Aging And 'Botched' Plastic Surgery Has Fans Nodding Hard

You know what they say: the grass is greener on the other side. Most people want something that they don't have.

While many people right now are fixated on appearing younger than their age, Billie Eilish—who already looks younger than her age—is looking forward to what comes next.

Keep ReadingShow less