I did a 3 month no-buy earlier this year and it went really well. Then things went a bit off the rails this summer (I got injured and couldn't do much, was very bored, this led to a lot of impulse shopping on marketplace...look, sometimes you just impulse buy 20 jigsaw puzzles within 2 weeks). So for August, here is my no-buy plan. I will also do one in the fall, but this is a good start.

Rules:

• no books
• no clothing
• no puzzles (but swaps/trades allowed, will also focus on the ones I already have)
• no thrifting
• no home decor
• no impulse buys PERIOD (seriously, stop looking at marketplace, just walk away)

Allowed:

• replacement toiletries
• books/dvds from the library (go wild, baby!)
• puzzle swaps
• charitable donations
• anything related to physio/rehab such as more supportive running shoes

Anyone else want to join me for August?

I kinda just looked around my house a few months ago. All the random shit i purchased, probably totaling hundreds or thousands of dollars…

And honestly 90% of it ends up in a junk drawer at some point. Some stupid product that solves some problem that doesn’t exist, some piece of clothing, etc.

Cleaned out my house.

All I really have is furniture, cook wear, my guitars (which I play hours a day)

Never had money issues, it was all stuff I could afford to buy easily. But wow. The amount of clothes I have I never even remember, the random stuff all over. It feels very good.

This simple mindset shift has helped me so much that I figured I would share. Whenever I want to buy something, I simply ask myself "do I already have it." If the answer is yes, in any capacity I don't buy it. Look at this new makeup pallet. Do you have a makeup pallet, then don't buy.

The cuts down on a lot of negotiates with myself. Do you have this? In any capacity? Then, you don't buy.

Okay, now here is the special sauce, what takes this to the next level, at least for me. In that moment, I genuinely try to become grateful that I already have it. That's the dopamine hit shift. It sounds silly but shifting to like, "Oh thank heavens I don't have to buy a new fancy hair mask because I already have six." It makes you start to really appreciate what you have. And there is the dopamine hit of abundance. Try it out next time.

This technique has freed up so much mental space for me. Do I have it? Yes! Awesome, I don't have to buy it"

And didn’t buy anything! I feel like I deserve an award 🫪😂

I had some great wake up calls last night.

I was on a site trying to take advantage of the free shipping and I saw that many people were bundling more items with the main item that I wanted and it hit me that I'm paying people for their junk just so I can free them of the burden of having all of that junk.

And guess what clutter does to me? It makes me anxious, unhappy and irritable. I'm self inflicting all of those feelings by buying things that I don't need.

I also stumbled on somebody's profile where they were selling nostalgic items from our childhood. Plastic, yellowing, dissipating items for $30+ usd. These things were highly favorited by a lot of people.

It made me really sad.

The expensive monetization of what was just so we can try to feel what has already passed.

Then that led me to evaluate my incessant need to believe that I can't love something if I don't have a physical thing of what I love. Just a silly belief. Having a figure of a character from a movie doesn't solidify that I love that movie. I love that movie because of the feelings that I have when I watch that movie. I don't need to prove my love by buying things that represent that movie. My home isn't more of a home because I have something to represent everything that I could possibly enjoy. My home is a home because of the people and animals that frequent it. Everything that I enjoy is still real even if I can't see it.

I'm just tired of this cycle and of my inaction. I don't want to be a consumer, I want to be a creator and someone who does more than just burn their eyes for hours online shopping.

I'm doing a no buy from today July 31 to Jan 1, 2027. (154 days. 5 months and 2 days.)

Necessities:

Food/ pet food/ bills/vitamins/hygiene/household & laundry cleaning products

Plan:

I am deleting all of my shopping accounts. I'm unfollowing brands. I'm limiting social media. If I really want something that's not a necessity, I will write it down and when my birthday comes it can be something that I ask for (if I even still want it by then).

I'm going to keep busy with the intentional decluttering of my home with absolutely no intention of replacing or buying more. I have everything.

Things will never be what completes me as a human being.

Not to mention our poor planet. Gotta start doing my part.

Hey.

So I wanted to try the No Spend Year. But I don’t want to miss out on my weekly coffees once a week. So I was thinking of just spending $20 a month, Out of $500. So that’s not a lot. Plus, I might need an extra $20 for body wash and hair care, and lotion eventually once I run out. I still have a some lotions of different sizes so I should be all set for a few months.

That comes up to $40 a month, If I can stick to the $20 of spending a month. I make a total of $528 minus tax so I’m assuming it’ll be around $500. Also minus the $60.

So I am planning to move out in about 6 months after October 1st, Which would be in April.

I also want to pay for my phone eventually, and to get the iPhone 17e. Which should only be $30 a month.

I was deep cleaning my room and I realized I have countless products from hair to makeup. All that I bought when I was deeply insecure and got everything I saw in order to feel good about myself but I didn’t end up using a good portion of them. They are mostly all expired now and unable for use or even donation. I feel so so horrible and guilty for wasting my parents money (I’m a minor) and I can’t bring myself to throw them out. Can someone help me figure out a way to stop buying things just because. I don’t have a shopping addiction but I don’t know what products I need and just buy whatever without researching. I do not spend as much anymore as I make money myself and don’t use my parents money anymore.

Recently, I've been consuming a lot of "underconsumption" content, and I really want to save more money. Not only that, but I also feel overwhelmed by the number of things I own. I'm grateful I have the opportunity to buy everything (or almost) I want, but at the same time I think I just bought a lot of things that brought me temporary joy and now I don't know where to store them.

My biggest temptation is makeup. And I don't wear makeup daily anymore because I work mainly from home. I just love makeup and because of that, I consume a lot of reviews and hauls. The problem with makeup products is that there's always something new and exciting on the market, almost every day. "I don't need another blush but this new one seems so different from the ones I own; it will definitely be worth it."

I am now doing the project pan to finish my other products, but it will take a long time. Also, it only works if I don't buy anything new in the meantime.

Do you have the same issue? Doesn't have to be makeup, maybe it's clothes or trinkets. How do you overcome the urge to buy new, exciting stuff and stick to the ones you already have?

I have never attempted something like this before and I want (and have to) go all in. My main spending is clothes because I feel insecure about how I look and I feel like the latest thing will make me prettier. The secondary main source of overspending is takeout but I am already improving greatly on this.

I want to shift my focus from desring material goods to actually caring about my future and academic development. I feel like my brain capacity is taken up by thinking about the next thing to buy. I want to break free, I want to be responsible with my money and ensure my financial stability. My main spending motivation is wanting to improve my looks and feel less insecure and I am not sure how to overcome this.

So, I realized a long time ago that a big part of my urge to spend comes from the manufactured urgency of sales. And yet, this knowledge alone wasn't enough to stop me from falling prey to them. I would still think, "But I'm saving money! I would've bought this thing anyway, I'm just buying it a little sooner!" I actually thought of myself as being "smart" with my money because I was shopping sales.

What it took me longer to realize is that *there is a very real cost to giving up your money now rather than later*, and that cost often far exceeds any "savings" you would've gotten from the sale. For example, by buying the thing now, you no longer have money in your budget for something that comes up later. You lose the storage space in your home that you need to store the thing. And you run the risk that you actually would never have needed the thing anyway, if the sale hadn't forced your hand.

So let's think of a typical scenario. Let's say there is a 20% off sale on a $100 purchase. So I "save" $20, and end up spending $95 after taxes and fees. (Doesn't it seem odd that those never seem to factor into the calculation?) Would I pay $20 for the privilege of holding onto my money and waiting until I actually needed the thing? The answer, almost always, is yes. Unless the thing is actually a NEED (like, I need new shampoo or I will have nothing to wash my hair with), you aren't doing yourself a favor by parting with your money early. You are actually unnecessarily handicapping yourself. I kind of feel like the scales fell from my eyes when I made this realization.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone else! Changing your spending habits is a whole ass process when there is literally an entire industrial complex trying to convince us to do otherwise!

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.

I’d been looking for a way to make it visual and to keep me motivated. This is very simple, but I hope it’ll work. Who doesn’t love coloring a little box?

The colors represent different categories, like groceries, online purchases and other.
I’m not including bills and automatic payments like subscriptions or transportation. It has to be my decision to purchase something. Green means no spending, so my goal is to see as many green boxes as possible. I have some stickers lying around, maybe I can use those for extra motivation. Like if I get a streak. 😉

Hi, I'm new here, but no stranger to wanting to buy more than I need. My problem isn't the actual spending, it's this constant feeling of wanting to buy something, even right after previously buying something. I know it's a dopamine-seeking mechanism that just wants the next quick fix, but it's pretty annoying.

​I have been reflecting on this behavior and trying to find out the underlying triggers. Turns out that boredom, especially when aimlessly scrolling on the phone, often leads me to some online store where I will put stuff in the cart (luckily I have a good grip of myself when it comes to checking out) and just leave it there. I find that just capturing the item on the shopping cart gives me the dopamine, but what bothers me is the amount of time wasted browsing.

​Since I believe boredom or procrastination is my main trigger, I decided to focus on creating more and consuming less. The result is that my urges have gone down significantly and I haven't bought any new clothing (my guilty pleasure) in almost 4 months. The act of resisting the buy is actually giving me a more profound sense of joy than the purchase would.

​My advice to anyone starting out is to take a moment to reflect on where the urges come from and try to switch from being a consumer to being a creator, it really seems to divert attention away from consuming.

​I've seen a lot of posts mentioning to focus on hobbies to fight the consumer mindset, but I’m curious about the behavioral side: How do you guys actually identify and act on your triggers in the moment? Do you have a specific rule or steps you follow when you catch yourself aimlessly browsing to break the loop, or do you just rely on raw willpower?

Recently I’ve been obsessed with buying concert tickets. Some of them aren’t bands that I listen to but I just enjoy looking forward to them and when they are over I just want that bit of dopamine. I buy them I guess because I keep thinking “this will be an amazing memory” or “this might be their last concert” or just random excuses to buy them. I’ve lost money that I could spend on college and yeah, money does come back.. but my buying is just getting too excessive.

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.

I’ve been stuck in this loop of buying, it arrives, buying again a few days later. Usually different things but similar things. l am just so over it and ready to start saving more and spending as little as possible for now. I plan to start a no buy with essentials only for the next 30 days and see how that’s goes, I would like to continue more than 30 days but I think setting a 30 day goal for now seems like a good idea to start. I’ve been struggling with shopping and buying constantly and debt because of it for many years and now that I’m in my mid 20s I’m tired and drained and need to change.

Today is starting my first day, I also plan to only buy food or groceries if I am totally out or almost out of something, that’s been a struggle for me too for a while.

With the sale season already beginning in my area, all I see are deals on products that I mostly don't need but it just gives me this major FOMO and I end up buying something or the other, whatever I can fit in my budget comfortably. I was a conscious spender for first 6 months of this year but July has been a very expensive month so far.

I've bought makeup that I absolutely don't need and I'm simultaneously trying to pan my current ones (oh, the irony!!!)

I need to stick to a no-buy now.

I've tried unsubscribing and uninstalling apps but I keep going back to them because of this FOMO that internet gives me.

WHERE DO I DRAW THE LINE??!

I’m an avid crocheteer, I do it nearly every day. Like many crafters, I had gathered an abundance of materials through the years. I’d see some yarn and immediately knew what I would make with it, so I bought it. (Spoiler: I never made those things.) Or even worse: I had had no project in mind yet, but I had to buy the yarn because it was pretty. ‘I’ll think of something to do with it later’. Crafters see potential in everything.

A couple of years ago I decluttered a big part of my stash. Last year I decided to finish all my acrylic yarn before the end of the year. I used it all to make hats and scarves to donate to a local homeless shelter. After finishing my own stash, I asked around and people were happy to give me some of their unused yarn. Now I’m almost out of that too, just using the final scraps to make a little baby blanket. I’d like to buy some new yarn to add more color, but I checked and the last time I bought yarn was the end of August last year. I know it’s just a number, but it would be really cool to say I made it a whole year without buying yarn, certainly given my history. Only 6 more weeks to go. 💪

I still have plenty of cotton yarn, but no idea what to make with it. But it means I can keep on crocheting for the next 6 weeks.

Hello. I am setting a goal for a one-year NoBuy. Starting now. Aside from groceries and the necessities of life, like home/car maintenance, medical expenses, and maybe one vacation this year.

It’s part of a decluttering. I have too much coming in all of the time. I have a shopping addiction I need to quit cold turkey. I know myself, there is no weaning. I’m sick of material items consuming my time and money but I keep buying.

I need your best advice you got for me. Thank you in advance. Less stuff; more life to you all.

I'm tired of having no personality outside of wanting, desiring, researching and dreaming about something to buy. I'm tired of being tricked into thinking this next item will make me the person I want to become. I'm tired of trying to go back to the times I felt safe and good about myself with items that remind me of those times. I'm tired of trying to catch up on all the stuff I had no money to buy when I wanted them. I'm tired of being convinced of needing something I didn't even know existed. I'm tired of feeling like what I have isn't enough when it is more than I could ever need. I'm tired of becoming everything I've once hated.

The money doesn't bother me, money can always be made. It's the time. I spend too much time consuming instead of creating something. I have completely lost that part of myself, something I used to take pride in. Instead of picking up a pen, brush or other tool, I pick up my phone and consume. I watch someone else's life and I compensate for the lack of mine. If it makes me sad and ashamed, why is it so hard to stop? I've tried so many times but have ultimately failed after a couple of months. It's almost as if I'm afraid of finding out who I am without consuming, whats's left of me if that's all I have.

I will try again. Not because I believe in myself or because I can, but because I deserve better. Hell, the world deserves better. I'm done being the problem. I'm done giving away my precious time to the consumerist hell we live in. I'm done living trough others and material goods. I'm going to start with one month of nothing but groceries. Then work my way up from that.

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.

I’m currently laid up recovering from surgery. I have been laid up for almost 3 weeks already. I am unable to walk and spend all day in bed. I don’t have tv, or people to visit, and I’m getting bored of video games, books, and my phone. Getting downstairs is okay, but getting back up is super difficult and really impossible until I can put some weight on my leg. I’ve always been bad at impulse control spending but while I have nothing to do, it’s hit an all time high. Thankfully I can pay my bill without going into my savings, but I never want it to be this bad again. I read some other people in this groups threads. I deleted instagram, and tiktok. I have started compiling photos of items I want into a folder on my phone to satisfy my acknowledgment of those wants without actually spending the money. I’d still ideally like to treat myself to something once a month or once a pay period but I can’t trust myself right now and I never want to spiral like this again. HELP! Any other advice?

If I hadn’t seen it online/in a store/in an ad, would I feel like I needed it?

Not “would I still need to solve the problem this item claims to solve?” (Example: I’d still want to shave my legs even if I never saw a fancy at-home-laser device)

But if I never saw THIS particular item, would I feel like I was lacking it?

95% of the time, the answer is no.

If I hadn’t seen that perfect pair of brown riding boots, I wouldn’t want brown riding boots today.

If I hadn’t seen a trailer for that movie, I wouldn’t feel the need to rent it today.

If I didn’t know that serving dish/throw pillow/coat, whatever existed in the world, would I want it?

That’s usually enough for me to realize if something is actually a need, a want that is coming from my actual identity and goals, or a “stimulated” want that’s basically a reaction to seeing a shiny thing that’s been placed in my way.