First thing I'd do is stock up more than you normally would on strings, picks, tubes, maintenance items, etc. I'd rather play strings that have been on the shelf for a long time rather than having none. Guitars are just wall art and amps are just furniture if you run out of those items. Then I'd decide on other uses for that money after you're stocked up. Some string companies use sealed packaging or treated paper envelopes. I know a thing or ten about strings, and yes, those types of packaging
do extend string life. As long as your strings don't corrode in the packaging, you're good to go. Trust the old boomer on this. I have some Everly strings than I got over 20 years ago, and for shits a giggles I put a set of those on one of my guitars recently and they sound and play great.
I have no idea whether prices on these things will go through the roof, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. And if pricing on that stuff doesn't go crazy high, you're still stocked up.
Note to the wiseasses, I didn't say he should spend all of his money on those items. LOL
And yeah, get yourself a guitar that you really bond with. There are a lot of great deals to be found. It's a buyers market for a lot of gear right now. I bought a player grade '87 Kramer with an OG Floyd for $350 and it slays There are a lot of great deals to be found. It's a buyers market for a lot of gear right now.
Yamahas and USA Peaveys are killer guitars and a lot of those fly under the radar. I snagged this Yamaha for $549 shipped to my door and it's a Ferrari.