In his latest column, Miles Picknell, manager of the Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre in Upminster, on what we can take away from the last year of lockdowns.

As the world has battled on through the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve all faced our own challenges.

However, there are positives to be found in every situation, and with lockdown restrictions easing, it’s time to start thinking about what we’ve learned and how we can use this in the future.

The importance of savings

You may have found that building up savings has been easier during the pandemic, with working from home and travelling less having cut costs.

Perhaps you’ve been fortunate enough to be able to pay down debts with the cash you’ve saved.

The pandemic has shown us all the importance of having a buffer to fall back on and we can take this lesson with us into the future.

Thinking ahead to when life returns to "normal", where could you realistically cut costs to allow you to build up or increase your savings pot?

Celebrating small wins

With retailers like B&Q having reported "exceptional demand" during the pandemic, it’s clear that many of us have caught the DIY bug while spending more time at home.

You may have noticed that rearranging a room, painting, or even putting up a shelf can help to boost self-confidence and mental wellbeing.

That’s because even small achievements are worth celebrating. This is definitely a lesson we can take from lockdown – and maybe some new DIY skills too.

Being thankful

Until the pandemic hit, many of us didn’t realise how much we’d been taking for granted, like seeing family, spending time with friends, and being free to go out, among other things.

The restrictions in our daily lives have taught us to cherish what we have, slow down and appreciate the simple things. What did you miss most, and how might you continue to cherish these things in the future?

Asking for help

We’ve also learned that we don’t need to struggle alone. When a crisis hits, sometimes the help we need can be right on our doorsteps.

During the pandemic, we’ve seen incredible displays of community spirit as friends and neighbours have helped each other with picking up shopping and delivering medicine.

Similarly, help is available if you’re facing money worries.

Despite the pandemic, thousands of people became debt-free through debt help charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) over the last 18 months.

And it started with them asking for help. There are many organisations including CAP, StepChange, Citizens Advice and The Money Advice Service where you can get free advice and support right now.