Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 18, No. 11, 2021 ‒ 49 ‒ What has Become Important during the Pandemic? ‒ Reassessing Preferences and Purchasing Habits as an Aftermath of the Coronavirus Epidemic through the Eyes of Different Generations Ágnes Csiszárik-Kocsir*, Mónika Garai-Fodor and János Varga Óbuda University, Bécsi út 96/b, H-1034 Budapest, Hungary kocsir.agnes@kgk.uni-obuda.hu*; fodor.monika@kgk.uni-obuda.hu; varga.janos@kgk.uni-obuda.hu Abstract: The pandemic, consumer preferences and the composition of the consumer basket changed. Each generation sees differently the impact of the virus on different areas of our lives, which is largely related to the general set of values that characterizes each generation. The focus of our research is the relationship between the generation-specific value system and the changes in consumer behaviour caused by the virus. In the primary data analysis, we focused on the examination of the consumer habits that were modified by the pandemic, the composition of the consumer basket, the customer habits, which differ for each generation and are related to the individual value system. In the light of the results, we were able to determine how the composition of the consumer basket changed, analysing, generation- specifically, which product and service purchase came to the forefront as a result of the crisis. Keywords: financial awareness; consumer behavior; pandemic; crisis 1 Introduction The 2008 crisis has taught all economic actors many lessons. We have had a much better sense of the true meaning of change, as this adverse process has had an impact on almost everyone in some form. We have learned lessons on how to manage and prevent these impacts and have experienced the changes in our daily lives as a consequence of the crisis. This was reflected, among other things, in labour markets, income trends and, not least, in our consumption habits. Following the 2008 crisis, we perhaps had no idea of the major challenges that lie ahead. After extraordinary efforts to recover around the world, markets seemed to calm down and indeed growth seemed to be sustained and expectations positive. This momentum was