r/nobuy

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.

hi there. is started a no buy roughly end of June. I have done them before but this time I feel like I’m failing. finically we are spending too much for what we make. It’s become stressful. One thing I really struggle with though is as I’ve had a baby I want to buy things for him. We have things but i feel it’s minimal. I want to practice contentment and honestly want to get out of the stress. we do have his birthday coming so I am spending on buying things second hand which is great. But any parents out there that struggle? I’m a SAHM and home often because of the new car. Our city doesn’t offer many free things. I find myself thinking too often of what I’d like for him or the home. i have had some good mind shifts but still find myself stuck at times. Example being it was ok for me to buy some things for party prep but I can’t stop now. I want to please everyone and all the kids to be happy who come celebrate. But I also dont want to be in a financial hole!!

thank you in advance

Today, I had a mental breakdown. The heat, my cluttered apartment, my dissatisfaction with myself caused it. I am starting a no-buy year. Wish me luck.

Hi everyone, just wanted to make a post to commemorate making it through 7 months (started in December '25) of my no buy year! For context, I'm doing a replacements-only no buy. Spending on experiences and dining is allowed within reason, but I don't allow myself to buy new clothes, makeup, skincare, homewares etc. unless its a replacement of something I regularly use.

I previously attempted a no-buy year early last year, but failed and gave up after less than two months. This time around I'm feeling much more committed to making it to a full year and after these 7 months I can say this is one of the best decisions I've made in a long time.

Compared to 2025, I've reduced my spending by $600/month on average from Jan-Jun this year, with most months closer to $700-800 below (last month I spent more due to travel and replacing my phone that broke, bringing up the average). Starting my no-buy has also made it a lot easier to stick to the habit of budgeting and I've grown more serious about my finances. I've even managed to add $5000 to my investment account this year.

The main reason I started my no buy, though, was not financial, but to gain mental clarity--to free my mind from spending so much time thinking about shopping and "stuff." Honestly, this habit has been a lot harder to kick than the habit of actually buying things. I still find myself scrolling online shops when I'm bored/sad/procrastinating a lot more often than I'm happy with. I'm sure there's been some reduction in the time and mental energy I spend on shopping, but I'm hoping I'll see even greater changes by the end of this year. Perhaps I need to do something more proactive on top of my no buy to see these changes.

For those of you who have done long no-buys, or even completed a no-buy year, have you observed your shopping behaviours (e.g., online window shopping) and desire for "stuff" decrease in a meaningful way from when you first started?

Hi, everyone!

My makeup buying journey/addiction began 16 months ago (March '25). It started very small and has now snowballed into something I can't stop. I did not wear makeup when I was younger, didn't express an interest. Several years ago, I started wearing makeup and experimenting with different products/brands. I was having fun!

Recently, I put myself on a 2 week no-buy and that was helpful during that period. I was proud of myself for not buying anything makeup or beauty related. I have also unsubscribed to all makeup and beauty marketing emails.

The reason I am posting this is because I am taking responsibility/accountability for myself and admitting that there's a deep-rooted issue here.

I do plan on returning some products that I have bought this past week and perhaps I'll start another no-buy and see how that will work.

In the meantime, I am going to be kind to myself during this process. I am very grateful for this subreddit and appreciate everyone here because we are not alone in this process.

Also, if y'all have any tips/suggestions/advice about their own experience, I'm open to it!

Thank you!

instead of spending here is what I did

1). Sold 1 items on FB marketplace and earned $10 in the process.

2). Last week I purchased 2 containers of organic strawberries for $7. I froze them for our (DH and I) daily smoothies and used the tops to make strawberry syrup.

3). Cleaned and organized the large freezer and fridge freezer. Found frozen jalapeño peppers from our garden from last year and will be making poppers with them. With the frozen cayenne peppers I plan to dehydrate and make a powder form from them

4). Went for a morning walk on a trail near us. Not a lot of people on the trail. Saw Paw Paw fruits slowly forming and making a note on the calendar to come back in August when they have fully formed.

5. We have a galvanized steel pool from Tractor Supply that was used yesterday. Thought we lost our floats but DH looked and found 2 of them.

6). Broke out the Wii to play golf with DH

7). Participating in our libraries reading challenge. Logged in past days that I have read and can pick up small prize next week. For each day a book is read you earn tickets to put in a drawing for prizes.

So I have been avoiding stores because I don't want to buy stuff. Now I have been fixing up my backyard and pulling weeds. I got my kids a small pool and we are outside every time I'm off, I cleaned up my patio and now I'm trying to fix my flower bed. Being putting money away weekly and watching videos on how to fix things around the house. Any projects are now being carefully budgeted for, if I meet all of my financial goals I might be able to go part-time at work to spend more time with my kids.

Here we go! I'm determined to not disappoint myself this month by failing (I've been failing for years!!) Who's with me for No Buy July?

sorry if this sounds very privileged and out of touch and not very coherent i’m sort of just word vomiting. so my family is wealthy and i’ve been able to buy basically anything i want growing up. like i’m only 18 and have an egregious amount of designer items most of which i don’t even use or like. with the current state of the world right now i know so many people are struggling to survive and i feel so guilty spending what would be a life changing amount of money for most on a stupid handbag i’ll use once or twice simply because i was feeling a bit down. i also feel super guilty about not working for the money i spend, i have done nothing in my life to deserve it yet some people have to work every waking moment just to get by.

i’ve been really trying to cut back on my spending for the past 2 years but i feel that my upbringing and environment make it exceedingly difficult to stick to no buy longer than a week or two. for example i’m currently in st trop vacationing with friends and all we do every day is lay around tanning, shopping and spending a shit ton of money at the club. i don’t want to be the odd one out. i know this sounds superrrr out of touch and im really sorry but i feel as though i can’t talk to anyone in my circle about this since we’ve all grown up with this being the norm. please help 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I'm a person who is easily influenced and brainwashed, not in the sense of cults, but I have very low self-esteem and if you tell me I look bad in black I won't ever wear anything black. I've tried doing this challenge before, and it has helped me to think more about my purchases, how many hours of my work does X cost, etc.

I have reached a really bad financial situation in my life, which makes me want to look at beautiful things more because that is the way I cope, but I can't afford to buy what I look at. Besides, the clothes I can afford are so ugly, where are people wearing this to?

Regarding makeup, I have some items I don't use and I am missing some things that I would use constantly but since they are less shiny I haven't bought them yet, like a setting spray or a primer, they are less glamorous than 10 different eye shadow palettes.

Skincare is a big weakness of mine. I have good skin but I am in my 30s and I have a lot of people around me looking very rough and I don't want that. However I have spent so much money on things that feel nice that don't do anything, just feels good, that I am promising myself to stick to my basic ass moisturizer, sunscreen and cleanser for the foreseeable future, as well as my cheap retinoid. I am tired of researching.

My low self-esteem is always telling me that I willl be more loved if I look prettier. But the feedback I get is that I will be more loved if I am not financially dependent on others, if I become less lazy, if I'm more proactive, if I got a stronger personality, and even if I worked out. All the things that make me a better and easier person to love are free (self-improvement) not buying clothes, specially because I suck at buying clothes, I never find anything I like or looks good on me.

I have a more thorough list of rules in my computer but basically:

• Sticking to same old boring skincare.
• Project-panning the makeup that I know I won't re-buy, and learning to do better makeup looks with what I have.
• One garment per month. I have a lot of gaps in my wardrobe so I need to fill them, specially professional looking clothes. If there is a month when I don't buy anything that's fine.
• Besides clothes, I have a list of makeup things I need (just like 4, and all drugstore) and I'll buy 1 per month but only when I know I will need them.

I have a question though. How can I keep my own rules? It's sales season in my country and several things I want are on sale but as I said, I can only buy one per month. And how do you keep motivated?

Sincerely, a woman tired of trying to keep up with people with better means.

This is my first time posting on this sub, so let me know if my post doesn't really fit here. I recently bought a new micro cut paper shredder during the Amazon Prime Day sale, and my mom wasn't too happy. What's a bit ironic is that she's a hoarder herself imo (she has collected way too much furniture, kitchenware, and clothes for someone who doesn't go out much). I'm guilty of hoarding too, but I highly suspect it's linked to mental health issues (I have been diagnosed with conditions like inattentive ADHD in the past). The whole reason why I bought this shredder is that lately, I have been helping to clean out an old house with many boxes of old documents, the currently owned micro cut paper shredder is a bit banged up (a nice crack on top and one wheel/caster is broken), and I thought that one family having two shredders wouldn't hurt and is worth the financial cost and space. Anyways, my mom is nagging me to return the newly bought shredder, but I'm unsure if returning it is a good idea since I'm a bit traumatized by excessive hoarding of sensitive paper documents.

I'm sorry if this post doesn't fit here. If anyone has experienced something similar to my situation, I would appreciate it if you shared what you did in such a situation. Thanks and take care.

Hi

New to site. I've been trying and retrying to get organized, on a schedule, minimalize and STOP spending. I have closets and had to rent 2 storage units for my stuff. I have been slowly going through everything and dividing by 1. Love, so keep; 2 Just like - send to Real Real or Thredup for sale; 3. donate or 4. throw away. Getting rid of clutter and minimize my belongs. My place is around 980 sq ft and it feels like I'm living in a box. Too much stuff. I have been selling items in home on Marketplace.

It gets frustrating when I'm selling a $3,000 desk for $75 for quick sale and offers coming in for $25 when desk is in excellent condition. I'd rather donate it. I've set a time limit that if the stuff doesn't sell within 1 month, then I'm donating it.

It seems because I've gained about 25 lbs over the past few years, I find I'm buying to make myself feel good. Even though the clothing is beautiful and I'm not feeling beautiful from being out of shape. I start the gym, swimming, cycling and some other hobbies, but I let work interfere with my time and getting to the store or on line shopping feels like I'm doing something for me. I get caught up on ordering on line and if it doesn't' fit, delaying returning or just keeping the item figuring I'll fit into it some time in the future.

I'm at the point that I've had it with myself and this self-sabotage.

So this is what I'm doing:

1. looking at decorations, furniture and selling or donating - 1 item at a time so i don't get overwhelmed then do nothing and it's just taking up space. These are items I can see by just walking around.

2. Clothing - doing 1 closet, 1 bureau and going through the list above 1. love; 2. like - sell; 3. donate; 4 throw away. Working slowly through the house, then moving onto the storage units. Goal is to have no storage units and clothing I can actually find. Too much clothing and I still end up rarely wearing the new clothing or they get lost in storage.

3. Health - sticking to gym 2 to 3 times week; reduce sugar intake; cook vs. DoorDash.

4. Hobbies - either they were lost in time or never picked up again. I'm finding new hobbies that I would like to do that I've had long interest. Like learning to swim better, bike riding, and archery.

5. Financial - stop wasting money - start keeping a list of all spending and reduce the waste.

6. Social - I work from home and my job is not a 9 to 5. There are times I'm working 7 days a week 12 to 14 hours a day. Restructuring work day to ensure I check out at a max amount of hours and still have time for me. Keeping at least 1 day of week without any work. Join social organizations; travel groups, etc. Create Me Time.

7. Health - I have some health issues. I move to a new PCP who worked with me on an action plan to target and resolve health issues and work with specialists. There is at least 3 surgeries in my future.

There is always tomorrow - doesn't work and hasn't worked - only today counts and one small step moving forward; hopefully, will turn into discipline and a better, calm, more structured life.

I would SO appreciate any comments on how to best move forward or corrections to my action plan.

Hi everyone,

I’ve basically been doing a low-buy year without really planning it, and I’ve become extremely aware of every purchase I make. I don’t really buy cosmetics anymore unless necessary , and overall I’m very intentional with spending, but I still constantly overthink everything.

For context, here’s what I’ve bought this year (so far):
Aviator uniform top
Leather jacket
vest
2 belts
Cow-print sneakers
White tank top
Tote bag

That’s basically it for clothing/accessories.

On top of that, I also have a habit of selling things I don’t use anymore, so I’m constantly rotating my wardrobe instead of just accumulating things.

The issue is not really how much I’m buying (because it’s honestly not a lot), but how much mental space it takes. Even when I buy something I like and actually wear, I still feel guilt afterwards and start questioning if it was necessary.

At the same time, I don’t feel very attached to material things. I don’t enjoy owning “stuff” just for the sake of it, and I often feel like I want a very minimal lifestyle where I only keep what I actually use.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of mindset? How do you stop turning normal purchases into such a big mental thing?

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.

today i woke up, filled a cart w gym clothes, looked at white dresses for my upcoming graduation, looked up and filled a cart w makeup products, and scrolled through instagram looking at swimsuits. all before getting out of bed, brushing my teeth or even opening my curtains. i just sat in the dark, at 10am, like a maniac filling carts for over an hour. i can’t live like this anymore, all i do is want things, my closet is bursting at the seams, i have multiple makeup bags to hold all of my products. i’ve alr gone shopping over 6 times this month alone. i feel like im trapped in this endless cycle of craving new things and satisfying that itch that i cannot escape.

I finally sat down and did the math for last month's finances and I managed to actually earn more than I spent! I was $27 in the positive! Which doesn't look great on paper, but it's pretty good for me. I put my credit card debt into a debt management plan, so I'm hoping to see that number rise as I adjust to my new financial plan.

It was good to see a win cause my debit card was compromised and our grocery store doesn't take any mobile pay, so I've had to DoorDash the past week way more than I'd like to. On the upside, I'm so sick of fast food I won't be tempted for a while, lol!

I know the most frugal thing to do on Prime Day is to not buy anything at all. I get it, and most of the time I agree. but my partner and I do use it to buy stuff we've already been planning to get anyway.

Over the years though, I've ended up with so much 'consumer slop' from sales like this. drawers full of random gadgets I used maybe twice. So I made a set of lists to filter my cart this year. basically a 'never again' list vs a 'boring but actually useful' list.

The 'Never Again' List (aka Future Clutter):

1. Another cheap charging brick or cable.
I already have a dozen. the 30% discount isn't worth it if it’s just going to sit in my cable-spaghetti drawer.

2. Hyper-specific kitchen tools.
The avocado slicer, the special pan for one type of egg... a decent knife does 99% of these jobs anyway. Just more stuff to wash and store.

3. Impulse tech under $30.
This is my absolute biggest weakness. tiny USB desk fans, LED light strips, random white noise machines. They seem cool for a day and then you realize they are just cheap plastic.

4. Cute organizers.
I've learned that buying more boxes to hold my junk doesn't actually solve the problem of having too much junk.

The 'Boring But Useful' List (Things I'll actually consider):

1. Good quality socks.
Not exciting, but I wear them literally every single day. The cost-per-wear on good wool socks is tiny, and its a massive daily comfort upgrade.

2. A BIFL travel adapter.
My last cheap one literally sparked in a hotel in Germany. Done with that. ready to spend a bit more on something that will actually last.

3. Stuff that reduces physical wear and tear.
This is a huge deal for me now. I used to just 'tough it out' when my neck or back got stiff from sitting at a desk all day. But doing the math on that made me realize that not spending a little on prevention now just means paying a lot more for physical therapy later. For me this is a good seat cushion, proper lumbar support, or a small comfort gadget. i've been eyeing one of those foldable neck massagers (I think the brand was SKG?), mostly because I travel a lot and it packs completely flat.

My main rule now is just calculating 'cost per use'. That $25 gadget I use twice costs $12.50 per use. But a $150 comfort item I use 4 times a week for two years ends up costing basically pennies per use.

Anyway, trying to stay strong and not buy any stupid shiz this week . Hopefully the clutter drawer stays closed

I lovvvvve eating out. I live somewhere (VHCOL) with excellent restaurants and I like going out to eat to celebrate life. I like to celebrate a good day or a hard week just sitting on the patio somewhere with my dog ( he gets food off the pup menu too).

Because of this joy, I have budgeted $500/month to eating out. This typically includes one or two $100 high end meals.

However now I have a few things I want to save up for to buy, and a few (allowed) high dollar purchases that just dinged my savings, and I want to replenish that money and save up new funds more quickly.

Eating out is by far the biggest discretionary spending envelope I have. Even one month of no eating out would make a big dent in my savings goals.

I have been working on cutting back already. Last month I kept it under $400. This month I am on track to keep it at $300.

So I am thinking of trying no dining out next month. The two exceptions would be if I get invited by friends or coworkers to a special occasion meal out. That typically happens 1-2x/month. And the other would be getting coffee out maybe 1x/week.

I want to set a reasonable goal. Is it reasonable to go from $300-$500 to near zero?

Do you have any advice for replacement activities or rituals for "celebrating life"?

So far I am thinking of stocking lots of cheat/easy/freezer meals that are similar to takeout like Kung Pao chicken and pot stickers, and also allowing myself to buy food at the grocery store hot bar maybe 1x/week.

What you think? Can I do this?!