Hello everyone! I hope you are having a lovely day!
Today, I want to write about a challenge I have been embarking on since the start of the year. At the end of 2019, I had heard about people doing a no-buy or low-buy challenge. This really piqued my interest.
Over my Christmas holidays, I found myself deep in many, many YouTube videos about other people’s experiences doing a no-buy year. (Particularly those from The Personal Philosophy Project- check her out!) This was when I made my decision.
We all know the feeling: going out shopping and spending a lot of money on things you think you need- clothing, scented candles, books, home décor, makeup. After you bring the item(s) home, you get that inevitable feeling of buyer’s remorse, whether it hits you minutes or months after the initial purchase. It got me thinking: How much money could I have saved if I had never bought those things? What is the environmental impact of buying all this stuff that I didn’t need, and worse yet, probably threw in the trash after a while?
There was no use dwelling on it. I wanted to make a change right then. I was going to challenge myself to a no-buy year.
My 2020 No-Buy Rules
Although the concept sounds simple, there are a lot of different ways you can do a no or low-buy challenge. You can certainly watch videos and read articles to replicate how other people have done it, but I recommend making your own rules. Only you know what is realistic and attainable for you. Here are my no-buy challenge rules for 2020:
1. I think this should go without saying, but just in case: I have no limits on buying “essentials.” These include whole, nutritious foods, hygiene items, supplements, gas for my car, textbooks, and pet supplies. I’m sure there are a lot more things that could be included on this list. You will know when something is “essential.”
2. I can not buy clothes, cosmetics and other “non-essentials” unless I am no longer able to use an item that I currently use often. So, if I run out of my foundation, I can go buy a new one. However, getting a stain on one of my many t-shirts wouldn’t count, unless I feel that the item is a wardrobe staple that I would really miss having. In this case, it is ideal to buy second hand or from a sustainable source.
3. I can go out to eat or for a warm (or alcoholic) drink a few times a month. For me, this is something I enjoy doing with my boyfriend, friends, or family on occasion. However, if I’m just wanting a basic meal and not going out for the social aspect, I will just go to the grocery store and buy ingredients to make my own meal.
4. I allow myself to spend money on entertainment and social outings (within reason.) We have a fantastic mineral pool in my city that I have gone to a couple times this year. My boyfriend and I went to the spa for Valentine’s Day and it definitely wasn’t cheap. I plan to go backpacking later this year, and it’s going to cost money. I’m totally okay with all of these things. How boring would life be without them?
5. I can buy gifts for others. It is important to me that I am gifting things that people will actually use. It is better to buy something new that someone will use and enjoy instead of thrifting or DIY-ing something they will probably just throw in the trash.
So, how is it going?
Before Valentines Day, my boyfriend asked me if I could come shopping with him to help him choose a gift for me, and I said yes, of course. When I actually started browsing in stores I was so… uncomfortable. I didn’t enjoy shopping at all. Although I went to around 10 stores that day, it was hard to find anything I really wanted. Our $50 limit turned to $22 and I ended up with a pair of earrings, a Lush bath bomb, and a second-hand book. In the end, I was happy he didn’t spend very much on me and that I received things I would actually use. I felt that in just 1.5 months, I had built up some kind of immunity for wanting to buy things. I can’t really imagine going shopping for pleasure anymore.
Today is March 23rd and I can proudly say that I have stuck to my no-buy rules. It’s a really good feeling, especially as a student, to see the number in my savings account actually increase instead of decrease. I feel not only confident that I can complete this challenge, but so happy and proud that I started it to begin with. It has completely shifted my mindset towards consumerism.
What have I learned?
Being able to tell yourself “no” when you want to make an unnecessary purchase feels so freeing and empowering. I work hard for my money and I don’t need to buy things to prove that to myself or anyone else. As a marketing professional, I am familiar with the tactics used to entice potential consumers to buy something. There is a constant message of “your life will be better if you buy item X.” It takes some time, but your life will improve once you acknowledge that money can not buy happiness. Now that I’ve stopped shopping for fun, I have the time and money to do things that truly enrich my life. I love to go hiking with my boyfriend and our dog, I’ve been reading (library) books at a speed I never imagined possible, and I’ve taken up an entirely free at-home yoga practice (thank you Yoga with Adriene.)
Best of all, I know I’m not contributing to the fast-fashion or similar industries, which are huge polluters of the environment. I plan to write a blog on my current fashion footprint, so stay tuned for that!
In my no-buy year, I don’t feel like I’m being deprived of anything. I am so happy that I have embarked on this journey, and if you are curious about doing a similar challenge, I highly encourage it. Please feel free to message me with any questions or comments.
-Skylar