Sara Mak, 49, an artist from Cheshire, rediscovered her passion for painting in March 2020 after she was furloughed and she began to take commissions from friends and family.
But demand has now dwindled because of the cost-of-living crisis, Ms Mak said, as fewer people had the money for luxury or bespoke items.
She said she had been expecting several commissions for Mothering Sunday that did not come through. “People are struggling, and buying a painting seems like folly when your priorities are feeding your children and heating your home”, she said.
Among those to take on new activities as a result of the pandemic, home improvers have increased their outgoings the most: they spend an average of £178 a month on DIY projects around the house, Tesco Bank said.
Meanwhile, the health conscious have spent an additional £101 a month on average to establish a new at-home gym routine.
Around 8pc of households bought a new pet during the pandemic, spending an extra £100 a month on average, the bank said. The cost of buying an animal soared during the first lockdown as people…
