Depending on where you live, stores may be running out of everything from surgical masks and hand sanitizer to toilet paper and food. It’s tempting to get swept up into thinking you need to buy up everything you can before it’s gone. However, this is counterproductive for a few reasons:
Panic purchasing leads to shortages, which on items like surgical masks means that people who actually need them can’t find them (making the spread of the virus worse)
You’re also likely to rack up credit card debt buying a bunch of items that you may or may not even need.
Going back to your inbox, stores are also sending out notifications about their operating hours and what they’re doing to ensure products stay stocked. If your stores plan on staying open, then there’s no need to rush out and start overspending over concerns for closures that may never happen.
If you are shopping, make sure to be practical. Take proper measures to protect yourself while shopping, such as wearing gloves while you shop to avoid touching the cart or using hand sanitizer if it’s provided at the front of the store.