I feel like one tip for a successful no buy year (especially if its the first one) is to start a little ahead of time, lets say one or two month before It helps getting you used to resist temptation without feeling like you completly failed if you end up buying something early on since your no buy year hasnt technically started yet Think of it as slowing down your spending in the months ahead instead of going cold turkey If you go from buying whatever you want whenever you want without thinking about it to suddenly stopping it all, it will feel much more difficult to cut it all off and the second the urge gets too strong you might bend and purchase something and then feel like you failed your no buy year and just eventually give up (next time you want something you might think "I already failed when buying that thing, might as well buy this one too") While if you make that mistake while slowing down your spending before the start of your no buy year, it might make you think about it instead of bringing out dissapointment (you might think "what brought me to break the rule and spend?", "was it worth it?", "could I have avoided it?", "what were the signs leading to me breaking the rules?") and help you asking yourself the right questions during your no buy year and know how to avoid getting yourself in those tempting situations during the year At all cost, avoid going on a shopping spree right before your no buy year, I know a lot of people think that if they buy everything they think they might want/need during their no buy year then they wont need anything after but it just puts you in a spiral of thinking about things you want and buying them, it will actually make your no buy year that much harder
this is FANTASTIC advice!!! I've noticed myself kind of "pre-gaming" and trying to do a pseudo no buy year in these last few weeks since the idea popped into my head.
This is kinda what I’ve been doing to prep for being on a tighter budget next year! I have a problem with spending a lot on eating out so in December I’ve just been trying to eat out a little less and being conscious about okay how much food do I have at home, think about how much more money you’ll have if you just eat that instead of ordering DoorDash… but I don’t have a strict limit for anything.
As someone with ADHD, I get such a high kick from buying something new, but it is also hollow and goes away rather quickly... even attempting this would be a great step for me to simplify and declutter my life. I'm so glad I was recommended this video, especially as I'm looking at moving into my first apartment with all the stuff I've accrued over my college years.
I also have ADHD so I'm extremely familiar with the dopamine hit and immediate crash of buying something new!! I'd suggest watching some of my other videos in my minimalist "journey" to maybe help you with some decluttering before your move (if you're interested in that, the videos are in a playlist on my channel) one thing I've found super helpful/useful is having a "wishlist". a note or notion page or one place I put all the things I'm thinking about buying. the thing has to stay "in jail" for at least 24 hours (or more) and if you're still thinking about it, you can consider buying it. if you forget about it (which you very well might bc with ADHD, out of sight is out of mind lol) then you take it off the list!! sometimes it gives me enough of a rush to write it down on the list and when my mind has cleared a little, I realize I didn't need the item, I just needed some dopamine lol
As someone with ASD married to someone with ADHD that also has addiction issues: GET YOURSELF ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDIES. You cannot do it alone and will be extra sad. You can RSD yourself. Definitely have a positive hypeman in your life who can celebrate your efforts
Something that has helped me buy less: If I really need something from Target( like deodorant) I buy online and pick up in store. Not walking the aisles in Target will definitely help an impulse buyer refrain!
This what i do for groceries because i be browsing the delivery fee is like $15 and if i go to the grocery store i spend over $15 on extra ooouuu and ahhhs lol so i order my groceries
A “slow buy” alternative to this that is really helpful for me is to make a budget at the beginning of the month, and allocate exactly what you are willing to spend. So no unplanned purchases essentially. So helpful! For example, if I know I need some new socks, that’s fine, but if it’s not in the budget I have to wait until next month and put it in, and decide what I’m willing to spend ahead of time. It also encourages me to do some research into higher quality or preloved items.
Ive been doing a no buy month for november and honestly I think the satisfaction of having kept the promise to myself feels better and lasts longer than buying something new. Ive been wanting to adopt more minimalism and 2024 might be a perfect time for me to do something like this.
I racked up 13k in credit card debt between 2020 and September 2023! I spent money on food, gas, doctor bills and frivolously on crap I didn’t need! I’ve been on a no buy for almost 2 mths and will continue until I get this debt paid off!
I think making sure your no-buy has some positive motivations, rather than just shame is so, so important! No one is a bad person for having fallen victim to our culture’s emphasis on spending. You’ll be more successful if it’s not all guilt and cruelty toward yourself.
Biggest groceries hack: keep a clear container in your fridge (I use a shoe box from dollar tree). In there go all bits and pieces and left overs-use those first when cooking. Saves major bucks and prevents food waste. Creativity soars too.
Summary of Steps for a No Buy Year : 1. List down everything you own (optional) 2. Green Light List - List of what you're allowed to buy (e.g. groceries , toilet paper etc - Only when you run out / need it / replace if worn out) 3. Simplify your life , unnecessary to do hair and nail appointments 4. Yellow Light List : Non essential items allowed to buy - must declutter before buying a new clothing - to make life easier and improve your quality of life 5. Red Light List - List of No Buys : e.g. clothes 6. Budgeting - Create an In and Out spending spreadsheet - budget given per list, put the rest into savings 7. Avoid using credit card - make a list of what you can or cannot use credit card for 8. Remind yourself why you're doing this No Buy Challenge , track your experience
I did ‘no buy quarters’ for 2023 and it showed me that I shopped/spent to cope with stress. It kind of pissed me off about consumerism in general, and I worked on identifying the root of my stress. Some larger life changes have come out of that, and I’m way happier in general and my spending habits are reflective of that. Good luck girl, I hope you have a reflective year with this!
Cinzia DuBois put out an amazing video about doing a no-buy year back in September, and she made a strong argument for why the fall is actually the perfect time to start (not January 1)! If you start now, you get the immediate benefit of resisting consumerism when it is at its strongest - the holiday season. I've been doing a no-buy year following her guidelines since September and I LOVE it.
Honestly my biggest downfall when it comes to money is food. More specifically anything snack related and takeaway food. I can guarantee majority of my money goes on this and it's such a problem for me.
I think sitting down for 10 minutes every week to meal plan has helped me and also double batch meals so I have a spare meal in the freezer for the night I just want a takeaway and don’t feel like cooking. We do still have one once a month to be honest. I’m not sure about snacks either! Sometimes you just need chocolate!
you could try to start a small recording of when you spend on snacks/takeout? maybe keep a small post it note on you or at home and just write “spent about 3 on vending machine” etc. when i do this, it helps me be very conscious of my spending on a longer timeline, i can be aware of what’s coming out of my monthly budget and where it is, and i can adapt my habits to change it if its so much. sometimes we truly don’t see how much we spend or how often we do it. but knowledge is a great power against mindless/undesirable spending habits. majority because spending is very “emotional” for people, and bringing logic into it takes away the room for it to be solely about how we feel about money or the thing we spend on. best of luck regardless :)
It might also be worth looking at why you're snacking. There's that reward feeling that can come from treating yourself, or it could even be something completely weird. I've been trying to lose weight for some time, and now that it's starting to get cold, I felt the urge all of last week to have a slice of toasted bread during each of my breaks at work. When it was warm I didn't have this urge, maybe I'd want a little sweet or something, but it wasn't anything necessary. When talking with my boyfriend, I came to the realization that it was because my body was craving warmth and to use the toaster oven to heat up the break room because the boss wants to keep it super cold. My partner suggested I switch to a warmly spiced treat, like a spicy tea with cinnamon, ginger, and clove, in order to help me not feel as cold, at least psychologically. Humans do strange things to bring us perceived comfort, so don't feel bad if you find your willpower to appear a bit weak. There might be deeper reasons as to why you're feeling pulled to snack.
A morning coffee had a really high emotional return on investment for me when I was getting up at 5am for work and that's ok. There was literally nothing that I could do with that money that would make me happier. If takeaway doesn't make you happy start making food for your future self on your weekend with a great playlist, family and friends, make it fun!
I've been working on my spending habits and one thing that I have done to help with/curb the impulse is to fill my cart online with items, but not complete the purchase. When I leave and come back I find I don't need to go through with buying the items most of the time, unless they are actually needed.
TH-cam suggested your video to me at the perfect time. I just deleted all my shopping and social media apps because I’m so tired of getting sucked in to the endless advertisements. I am totally going to do this no-buy because I have been spending way too much money on clothes which I absolutely do not need any more of!
I gave up nails and hair appointments when I got pregnant, because I knew I wanted to be a sahm. In 6 months we saved over $2000. In genuinely embarrassed by that number. But my quality of life not worrying about the next fill, or highlight appointment has gone up. Definitely motivated me into going into a low by year!
that's great!!! I had almost decided to just completely give it all up this past year, but ended up getting my hair done once and doing my nails twice. just those 3 little things set me back $550.... definitely puts things into perspective!!!
Being a sahm is the best! I love hearing women say that’s what they want to do!! Our youngest just flew the coop last month. If I were to go back in time, I’d stay home all over again. It is hard work (I homeschooled them, too) but also the most rewarding. Two incomes are not necessary. Just be wise with what you have. Stay home and love your husband and those babies well!! It is way better than hair, nails, coffee, and buying things you don’t really need. Your kids will thank you.
I've never done a no-spend or low-spend challenge, but I crochet, and I was always buying yarn. As I came out of college, I knew I needed to do better and use the 4+ storage tubs of yarn I have and stop buying every pretty skein of yarn that came my way. I decided in 2022 to only buy yarn if I had a specific and immediate purpose for it. It really made it a challenge to see what I could make with what I had, and it changed the way I viewed buying yarn. I've definitely let up this year, but I'm much more conscious about what I choose to buy and WHY I'm getting it.
I like the fact that the list is things you CAN buy/replace rather than things we CANT. As humans I think we have a rebellious nature and don’t like being told we can’t do something. I know if the list was what you absolutely cannot buy under any circumstances I would be like “oh yeah watch this” and proceed to buy all the things on that list, even though I made that list 😅😅
15:18 It really helps to have a clear WHY. Since 2018 every year has been a low buy one - my goal was to buy my 1st home and it’s finally happening. 🎉 It’s been a very slow journey getting here and it will all be worth it when I get the keys. 🔑🏠 The house belonged to an elderly couple, so it does need updating and will be a slow renovation project. I was hoping for all the paperwork to be completed before the December holidays so I could begin, but it may just be the New Year. My 2024 why is key pieces of furniture, converting the front garden into off-road parking, building a porch with an updated front door and installing a new fireplace in the living room.
This is great! I'm glad to see more people doing this. Spending is so culturally ingrained and normalized. It's nice to see others getting off the bandwagon! For me, it's all about feeling free to spend freely on the stuff that genuinely makes my life better. Buy the fresh vegetables. Keep my bike repaired. Buy new exercise shoes before the old ones fall apart. Buy the new pillow before the old one is flat as a pancake. There's always money for this. Stop buying alcohol. Stop chugging coffee. Stop buying 300-dollar E-courses that I'm never gonna open. Stop ordering random crap on Amazon. Actually log into my bank account and look at what automatic charges are still happening. A couple years ago I found out that I burnt 500 bucks on a subscription I thought I canceled TWO YEARS PRIOR. Most of my spending woes have been digital instead of physical. Most importantly right now. No Black Friday purchases! Not a single one!
FYI - I would not recommend cancelling too many credit cards, especially your oldest one. A factor in your credit score is how old your oldest line of credit is. Another factor is the number of credit lines/total credit limit, with higher being better when used responsibly.
A mental trick I use is keeping them and using for gas, the subscriptions we do have, and putting on autopay. I check it all daily for accuracies, so I’m not just charging. It keeps the credit score high and I’m also not spending. I pay for the rest of our needs from bank account or cash. It’s just too easy to spend on credit or debit cards. We do have a home, but if we needed to move for some reason, we wouldn’t have enough to buy a different house without a mortgage, so I definitely want to keep it high with how much of a difference it can make in rates.
Highly recommend combining travel with hair appointment! Getting your hair done is often cheaper in other countries AND you will always remember the haircut you got in a specific place. It's often what I do instead of physical souvenirs.
I'm getting a new job with more money and really don't want to throw all the money into capitalism instead of the things I truly want. This was the most inspiring and non-judgemental video on no buy years I've ever seen!! Thank you. Subscribed for the updates as you go through 2024 😁
I like doing mini no-buy challenges. Where I note what specific items I am buying too much of and do a no-buy of those while I use up what I have. Things like candles, yarn, loose leaf tea, journals and pens, etc.
I'm going to do a low spend year. I'm just sick of running out of money at the end of every month and having a week of struggle meals. I really need to balance my spending.
I've been thinking a lot about doing this, too. I've done great in cutting down my clothes buying the last five years BUT this year Vinted has really ruined my progress. Things are so cute and go so fast and it's got me impulse buying like I haven't done since 2019. I think I might need a whole year without buying clothes. Scary!!
it's so possible!!! most people have enough clothes to 1000% last them a whole year with no issues. it's just about getting creative and trying new things! but the first step would definitely be deleting vinted 🙈 best of luck!!
I love the mindset of being more intentional instead of restrictive. Lately, I have focused on buying things that I truly love. Interestingly, this sometimes meant buying more expensive items, but buying less. For example, I used to buy cheap clothes that would fall apart after a couple of washes or not look as good so I would stop wearing them (but keep them for some reason). Now, I spend way more on clothes, but I buy less of them, they hold up well, and I LOVE every single thing that I reach for - nothing goes for months without wear. For me, several low buy periods throughout the year would be great. I'll definitely be working this into my life. Thank you for being so open about different scenarios and not shaming those of us who want to do better, but a strict no buy year may not be exactly what would bring us joy. ❤
this is such a huge compliment 😭💗 literally my only goal is to just be a place of support for people in need of something that might help! in terms of buying less for more, that is been a HUGE game-changer for me as well in the past year or so!! intentionality of purchases is one of the best things we can do as consumers!!
I’m thinking of doing a low buy too! Something I’ve been doing is automating my finances and also keeping a want list! It has been so helpful this year, especially over the last three months in terms of bringing more things into my life. I can’t wait to see your purchases in prep for the year!!
a huge game changer for me this year was a wishlist/want list that I had to leave things on for a week or so and if I forgot about them, then great! but otherwise I could plan/save up to purchase them :)
Had to click when I saw this on my homefeed. I've done no-buy and low-buy years and it changed my life, got me out of debt and into savings. That tip you gave about counting everything is what I did with makeup and what I saw another youtuber with closet organizational channel do. It is so tidious but entirely worth it, especially when it's focused on your 'problem' area. It's like auditing a portion of your life and regaining control!
The things that you *need* like your broken cutting board can be purchased secondhand or you can ask around and see if anyone has an extra they'd like to declutter! You're staying in the spirit of your no spend and helping others be more sustainable/minimal as well.
Yes! Also no buy groups in your area (like on Facebook) can be a great place to search and ask around for something you need or pass on things you want to declutter.
I’m a sucker for getting fast food at work, so I started a no-buy in April and I have stuck to it all year. I want to make it until next April. It’s made such a difference in my cooking habits. Now, I only go out to eat for social events and when traveling. I will join you for your no buy next year, excited to have found your channel! 😊
This is a great reminder as I just got a job a couple months ago and have been spending a lot. Not too much but I had so many “holes” in my life I needed to fix (new phone since mine was an iPhone 6s and some new clothes, stuff my dogs needed, etc) and now after I do Christmas shopping I know I need to start saving. Thanks for the encouragement and tips 🥰
Ok I am committing to this RIGHT NOW!!!! You really helped me realize that I need to stop spending money so i wont constantly be seeking that dopamine hit via frivolous spending. I am so excited to do this!
I am on the same journey. I call it my Road back to 20k, my motivation is reminding myself that overconsumption doesn't make me happy (it rlly doesn't) I tend to feel guilty when I buy new things and I know I have everything I already need so on this with you!
I'm in the maintenance stage of minimalism (going on my 8th year of being a minimalist) and I'm doing a no buy year to eliminate debt and to curb the need to declutter. I have little kids so stuff still comes in and goes out but I'm hoping to cut down on the coming in! 🤞Good luck! Loved this video and I'm looking forward to the check ins!
Came across this video ON BLACK FRIDAY when my urge to buy is randomly (or intentionally) out of control!! This is such a great reminder to my normally extremely frugal self! Just subscribed so I can follow along with this journey, and gonna spend the last few weeks of 2023 coming up with my red, yellow, and green light lists. Thanks for sharing!
I love that you are prioritizing experiences. This is something I have been trying to do. I've found that buying excessive material items causes too much clutter after a few months when I realize I don't need them anymore. No need to justify spending on a vacation or a computer that you need to random strangers on the internet. Good luck with the challenge! I'll be following you through it! 😊 🎉🎉
If you are in a position to save at the beginning of the month, it is a total game-changer! It's like the money never existed. However, if you're a student or literally need every last $ it likely isn't going to work, but if you can put it somewhere easily accessible but out of sight it's worth a try. Love the no-buy year concept and am so happy to see everyone taking stock of the wealth/stuff we already have. All the best in your year! X
Thank god for sending this video my way ! I’m stressed out about how much money I need for a master's degree and I can’t find any way to earn enough money for, this video comes on my home page even though I don’t have any idea about minimize teq .. i have a year and a half to prepare.. thank you for the great idea 😍💗
Your content is the content I have been searching for years and finally here it is in the form of your channel. I absolutely love your warmth and your videos!
I relate to this a lot, I struggled to secure a good job for a few years after college, so when I finally got one I spent the first year and a half buying a bunch of stuff I didn't really need, all while I had student loans I could have been putting more towards. I started spreadsheet budgeting and it's put me in a place where I should have all my loans fully paid off next year and then I can start planning for what's next. It's actually amazing to be excited about the future and not be in a constant state of stress and panic over your finances.
I absolutely utilize "shopping therapy" and moving countries really made me realize I need to start saving money and spending less so thank you so much for this video! I had never heard of a no buy year before and plan to give it a try!
New subscriber from NZ 😊 what an awesome idea. I had a realisation that we were spending so much money on unnecessary purchases, when during the pandemic we were on lockdown here in NZ. We ended up saving so much money because so many places were closed, we couldnt really drive anywhere, and businesses were restricted on selling essentials only. That coupled with takeaways and restaurants being closed meant our food spending went way down too. I think we might have to give something like this a go, then we will be able to achieve our goals a lot sooner ❤
i love this so much!! i’ve been doing low buy years for the past couple of years and have definitely felt shifts in my life. sometimes i may slip into old habits but i give myself grace to just start again 💖 will have to check out your templates as im always curious to see what tools can work for me too :)
I had already decided to do a no spend year, so this channel coming up was such a blessing! 😊 I am very encouraged I just needed a soft push my heart and mind were already made up. So looking forward to the journey! Love Ruthie
Thank you for this video! I have been thinking of doing a no-buy year to save money and stop buying crap I don’t need. This will put me in a better mindset about it and I won’t feel like I’m taking something ‘important’ away. Excited to check out more of your videos!
I sometimes tinker with the idea of doing a no buy year, but as it is, I already save 60% of my income. There’s a part of me that thinks I could push it to an 80% savings rate but then I think about quality of life. It would be a fun challenge though.
this is exactly what I was looking for! I just spent soo much money over the past few months burning through most of my savings and was thinking about a no-buy January, but a no-buy year is so much better! thank you for this prep kit, I'll be going through that for the rest of the month :)
okay, I'm definitely in! I do think that making a list of everything you own (especially I guess things that you are more prone to buy impulsively) - it will help you visualise how much stuff you actually have and make you start more actively using it up before buying anything new. Love this idea, thank you for sharing!
This sounds like so much work. I have done a buy only what you need in 2018. I spent $2:50 cents on clothes for the year. I'm going to try it again this year. Good luck. 😊
I'm planning to do a no buy challenge next year! I need to save for an emergency fund and I'll be moving across the country (US) in March so I'll be managing a new COL and lower income after the first quarter of the year. I want to create good spending habits and a solid budget in my new home. ETA: I'm also moving from a condo shared with a partner to one room in my family's house, so I have to learn how to live in a much smaller space. I'm really running the marathon next year.
This is such a helpful video!!! I think in general I have a good grasp on budgeting, but I do slip up sometimes, so this video is really helping me stay on top of things and be better organized ❤
Ok tips I gleaned from Hannah Louise poston- write down everything you would've bought as it comes up and the cost so you can calculate what you saved. Also monthly video idea: what came in and what you emptied or decluttered
I love that in this video you mentioned that you wanted to buy a Mac Studio but didn’t think you’d make enough.. and this video has gotten so much attention so quickly! Hopefully this video has a high rpm on it :)
The hardest for me will be completely stopping the coffees and take outs. I think i might have to allow myself one monthly treat… But damn, coffeeshops and restaurants have gotten so much more expensive. There’s no excuse anymore 🙀
I tag buying coffee to my goal of walking 3 miles a day. in the winter months I have to walk in the morning since it gets dark so early and to motivate myself to get up early and go out in the cold I allow myself one per week. that way at least it's serving as a treat but also as a reinforcement for a habit I want to preserve.
Wow. Hit the nail on the head with buying gifts for friends. Definitely fulfillies my dopamine kick of shopping but doing it for someone else makes me feel better. Def will adjust that!
Hi Grace :) I'm so glad youtube put your channel in my feed! This is such great timing for me as I get ready to set my intentions for 2024. This video was super helpful and great inspiration. I'm not sure I'm ready for a no spend year, but I could definitely do no spend months throughout the year! So I will be following along :)
This video was incredibly inspiring! I’ve wanted to declutter and live a more minimalist life style and invest my money and use it to travel instead of just buying things! Got a kindle for my birthday so no more book buying for me😭❤️
I'm a huge comics/book nerd. I found it helps to just have my wishlist handy so I put all the books and everything I like of it, helps me from actually buying anything. It helps me get perspective on what I'm buying and I don't give in when it's not necessary. Then I have a handy list when my loved ones ask what I'd like as presents. 😊
I want to do a no buy to minimize and change my spending habits, and this video is definitely something I needed! I will absolutely join the challenge!
i like this idea! i’m not usually a really big spender, but i have some weird habits like unnecessary expensive gifts to family and friends, or expensive restaurants/coffee shops! so i wanna try to minimize my spendings the coming year, maybe to have a list that is not as strict as yours , or simply to be mindful of my spendings.. i also thought of doing a monthly rest routine at the end/beginning of every month? where i clean and declutter my space, set appointments and tasks for the month, make sure due dates are clear and work on completing those tasks due during that month.. it’s a great idea to be mindful of your life, and also it helps you achieve your goals! because i believe, every new year we would write a long list of goals we would like to achieve for that year, then we close our journal and forget about them! but chasing yourself with the monthly resets is a good way to go! thank you for the idea, i will definitely start thinking about this
I did a No Buy Year in 2021 it went well and made me use up a lot of stuff and also let me see how little I actually do use things. Moving from working full time to being in 2020 changed a lot too so that helped me see I didn't need so much 'what if' . I'm looking at doing another No Buy in 2024 because I have still a FULL bathroom of stuff that I want to go through!
I found this video at the perfect time! One trick that I use for saving money on the salon is I go to a local cosmetology school. They have to get to a certain point in their training before they are allowed to work on clients, I am not so stressed about my hair being perfect and I know it will grow if something goes wrong, and I would rather save the money. Every Thursday they do $5 haircuts so I make sure to book that day.
i would definitely continue using my credit card during this challenge, since i have lots of cashback opportunities. it also allows me to see a summary of what i purchased at the end of the month, without collecting receipts. just something to consider.
I’m a first time viewer of your videos. Literally an initial thought was how I liked your hair. Just commenting since it cracked me up that you remarked about getting your hair to do its natural thing. You don’t need my validation but your hair is cute. Good luck with your no buy year! You can do it!
Love this! I hate being that person to give unsolicited advice, especially since you've definitely put a lot of thought into this, but may I add: if you begin to feel "deprived" please please instantly tweak your yellow/green light list. Reason is because you don't want to look back in 2025+ and feel that feeling of deprivation and never want to do / be able to structure a "buget" ever again (yes I'm calling this a budget cause it's like a physical budget, right?). Speaking from personal experience; I did a very low buy for about 6 months and it's been about 2ish years since then and I still feel a sort of PTSD from that and I can't do any form of budget (physical or financial) anymore 😢 best of luck, Grace, you're going to do amazing!! ❤
I totally get what you mean! the yellow list is a bit more flexible and can be added to as long as the item fits into the "why" of the whole thing. during this challenge, I'm personally it going to buy myself a pair of jeans "because I'm feeling deprived" because I'm doing this challenge to stop my impulsive/compulsive spending and learn to live with what I have (which is more than enough)! but obviously if there's something I forgot to write on my list and I absolutely need, I can have a good long think about it before I purchase it :)
I am 75, and believe in economising but living a better lifestyle. There’s always so much stored in the kitchen cupboards, pantry, freezer, and fridge that if we use our imagination, we can feed a family for a week, at least. As part of the no-buying process, I would suggest to make a resolution to refrain from doing grocery shopping one week each month, and use up what you have accumulated. Also, when you finish some ingredient, make a note of it on a list - if you don’t have it stashed away somewhere already. By making an effort this way, you will save money for a vacation or a much needed major buy.
One way to stick to a low buy year is to have them freeze your credit cards so that you can pay them off, and not use them for impulse buying; then use your debit cards and cash for buying what you actually need.
One warning I would throw out here is that if you get a card down to zero and keep it there for too long, some banks will close them. I had this happen and my credit took a hit because my “available credit” dropped.
Biggest problem with credit cards is people thinking is not their money, I pay everything I can with my credit card, but no more than I can pay month by month. Its a good tool to build my credit up in case I want something big or an emergency, taking advantage of interest free monthly payment plans and getting cash back.
I don’t really get the difference some people make between debit and credit cards in this regard. If you’re going to spend impulsively on a credit card, what’s stopping you from spending impulsively on a debit card? Is the idea literally to run the account down until the card declines? Maybe I’m the weird one, but standing at a checkout counter with my card declining wouldn’t be the situation where I’d be able to make a good decision about wether this is necessary or not. At that point I’m buying it.
Your video kept on showing up on my TH-cam home screen and I decided to watch it after two weeks haha! I am currently on my way to paying off my student loan debt, and already on a low-buy quarter this last few months of 2023 in which my main goal was to not buy any clothes. So far, so good!! You definitely gave me more motivation to continue this on in 2024 to save more and hopefully buy a house this year, thank you ❤
Another enjoyable and inspiring vlog, Grace. I have been doing a low-buy this year and it is going well. We have changed how we buy our food which means we rarely go near the mall and temptation now. I've never been into online purchasing unless it is something I really need and for other things I put them on a wish list. I unsubscribed from emails with promotions as well. I'd love to do a no-buy year and have goals, but next year we will (hopefully) be selling our home and contents and moving and buying more suitable things for a downsized home so not a good time. I'll be really interested in following you to learn from your experiences. You are already off to such a great start. Best of luck.
I’m in the process of buying my first home, so a no to low buy year is definitely in my plans for next year! These lists are great. Thanks for sharing!
I wish you success for your no-buy year ! Regarding your plans of having a homestead in NZ, I watched 2 videos yesterday that you could be interested in : - one is frome a nice couple (Little Spanish Farmstead) who created a homestead in Spain 2 or 3 years ago "8 Things We Wish We'd Known Before Starting Homesteading Life". Most of what they say is relevant to any urban couple dreaming of having a homestead, wherever the place - one was recommended by the previous one and is from Roots and Refuge Farm. The title is self-explanatory : Homesteading Skills to Learn While You Wait For Your Farm. So in 2024, instead of buying things, you could learn new skills 😀
I love roots & refuge!!! the thing she says about making your waiting room your classroom has undoubtedly changed the quality of my life!! thank you for this 💗
this is such a cool idea! you’ve inspired me! i want to go travelling next year but im behind on my savings for it and this sounds like a great way to rebuild them fast, plus as other people have said i also get such a dopamine hit from buying something new and it would be great to train my brain out of that
This is a great idea . You have motivated me. Not doing a list as such ( too overwhelming), so I'm taking photos & printing them out. Spending is very addictive- I am an addict KMart , books , keeping up with booktubers in general .....
I’m so excited for this!!! I’m just ending my no-buy year and entering a slow buy year. Focusing on slow intentional buying with a majority of the shopping being thrifting. 😍😍
great video!! personally i’ll be trying the low buy year. i’m neurodivergent and really enjoy buying little trinkets for keepsakes and then forget about them months later. hopefully this helps lol. can’t wait to see your progress!!
Preparing an inventory of all the things already owned is a major step towards low buy or no buy year. If you find it an overwhelming task than list 3 categories you spend most on and prepare inventory of items only in those categories. Tryst me it makes such a difference. I made a detailed inventory of makeup and skincare things I own amd it was an eye opener. I decluttered and donated much, found out so many were expired. Analysed what all I have used in last 1-2 years and kept things based on all of it. This has lead me to make decision that I will only buy new things only if I finish the already owned products. Also realised things about my habits: ex I got many coloured eyeshadow palettes but realised I only use peach,pink mauve lilac soft pinky browns etc shades only so no more shadows in coloured range for me at least for 2024. And no new shadows till I finish my old ones.
I love your take on this- the red light, green light, yellow light. I'm super inspired. Our income has increased so much that it started to become too easy to buy what I wanted/needed right on the spot. I want to cultivate that ability to wait!
A neat idea for gifts for the no buy year could also be only doing handmade gifts and cards, especially if you have a hobby or craft that you already have materials to use, the gifts are a lot more personal and thoughtful this way too ❤
I absolutely love you and your channel and you have inspired and helped me so much on my journey to living a more "minimalist" and concious life. I love that you are so relatable and I literally lolled at the moment you started your "red light" list because up to the "tattoos or piercings" we had the exact same order and things on that list and I could not relate more! Thank you for sharing and I'm looking forward to your upcoming videos! xx
I first got interested in a “No Buy Year” last January. I started about the third week of 2023. (Just about the time all those Christmas shopping bills were coming due.) i have done “pretty” good but far from perfect. I did see some radical changes in my shopping habits and also huge changes in my need for more stuff. Just kinda lost interest in shopping in stores. I sew doll clothes and gift to a needy girl at Christmas so I get carried away in fabric and craft stores. I made a rule to not even go into my favorite fabric store this year. I broke my rule this week and went into the fabric store….. but did not buy anything. Nothing peaked my interest. I would never have believed that simply breaking a bad habit of shopping for clothes or fabric would have such a huge impact on my desire for clothes or fabric. Surprised myself. Looking forward to another combo no buy/ low buy year in 2024.
I'm also considering a low buy/no buy. I think mine is going to be low buy, but I want to be very intentional with the things I'm bringing in. And do a set of rules for the things I do deside to purchase. Love the video and the minimalist content 👌🏻
For books, the library has audiobooks, music, and movies as well as ebooks. And there might be Little Free Libraries in your area where you can exchange books and magazines - sometimes there are music CDs and movies.
I feel like one tip for a successful no buy year (especially if its the first one) is to start a little ahead of time, lets say one or two month before
It helps getting you used to resist temptation without feeling like you completly failed if you end up buying something early on since your no buy year hasnt technically started yet
Think of it as slowing down your spending in the months ahead instead of going cold turkey
If you go from buying whatever you want whenever you want without thinking about it to suddenly stopping it all, it will feel much more difficult to cut it all off and the second the urge gets too strong you might bend and purchase something and then feel like you failed your no buy year and just eventually give up (next time you want something you might think "I already failed when buying that thing, might as well buy this one too")
While if you make that mistake while slowing down your spending before the start of your no buy year, it might make you think about it instead of bringing out dissapointment (you might think "what brought me to break the rule and spend?", "was it worth it?", "could I have avoided it?", "what were the signs leading to me breaking the rules?") and help you asking yourself the right questions during your no buy year and know how to avoid getting yourself in those tempting situations during the year
At all cost, avoid going on a shopping spree right before your no buy year, I know a lot of people think that if they buy everything they think they might want/need during their no buy year then they wont need anything after but it just puts you in a spiral of thinking about things you want and buying them, it will actually make your no buy year that much harder
this is FANTASTIC advice!!! I've noticed myself kind of "pre-gaming" and trying to do a pseudo no buy year in these last few weeks since the idea popped into my head.
This is kinda what I’ve been doing to prep for being on a tighter budget next year! I have a problem with spending a lot on eating out so in December I’ve just been trying to eat out a little less and being conscious about okay how much food do I have at home, think about how much more money you’ll have if you just eat that instead of ordering DoorDash… but I don’t have a strict limit for anything.
As someone with ADHD, I get such a high kick from buying something new, but it is also hollow and goes away rather quickly... even attempting this would be a great step for me to simplify and declutter my life. I'm so glad I was recommended this video, especially as I'm looking at moving into my first apartment with all the stuff I've accrued over my college years.
I also have ADHD so I'm extremely familiar with the dopamine hit and immediate crash of buying something new!! I'd suggest watching some of my other videos in my minimalist "journey" to maybe help you with some decluttering before your move (if you're interested in that, the videos are in a playlist on my channel)
one thing I've found super helpful/useful is having a "wishlist". a note or notion page or one place I put all the things I'm thinking about buying. the thing has to stay "in jail" for at least 24 hours (or more) and if you're still thinking about it, you can consider buying it. if you forget about it (which you very well might bc with ADHD, out of sight is out of mind lol) then you take it off the list!! sometimes it gives me enough of a rush to write it down on the list and when my mind has cleared a little, I realize I didn't need the item, I just needed some dopamine lol
@@gracenevitt that's such a great idea! Thank you for the advice, and I'll be sure to take a look at the rest of your videos :)
As someone with ASD married to someone with ADHD that also has addiction issues: GET YOURSELF ACCOUNTABILITY BUDDIES. You cannot do it alone and will be extra sad. You can RSD yourself. Definitely have a positive hypeman in your life who can celebrate your efforts
@lowwastehighmelanin my best friend and I are each other's accountability buddy and it genuinely keeps us both afloat!!! very good advice.
Omg same. Buying this brings me joy but then later intense regret becauze ADHD is impulsive like that 😭😭😭💔💔
Something that has helped me buy less: If I really need something from Target( like deodorant) I buy online and pick up in store. Not walking the aisles in Target will definitely help an impulse buyer refrain!
This what i do for groceries because i be browsing the delivery fee is like $15 and if i go to the grocery store i spend over $15 on extra ooouuu and ahhhs lol so i order my groceries
I love the feeling of going to Target and buying only the thing that I need, nothing extra. It feels very empowering.
@@jeanninethompson933I wish I had your will power lol!
Wow. That's interesting. That actually makes sense.
No this is actually so smarttt 😮
A “slow buy” alternative to this that is really helpful for me is to make a budget at the beginning of the month, and allocate exactly what you are willing to spend. So no unplanned purchases essentially. So helpful! For example, if I know I need some new socks, that’s fine, but if it’s not in the budget I have to wait until next month and put it in, and decide what I’m willing to spend ahead of time. It also encourages me to do some research into higher quality or preloved items.
this is a FANTASTIC idea as well!!!
Ohh I love this idea! Been thinking of doing a low buy (bcoz I know I can't commit to a No buy 🤣) but I'll try to do this instead!
I agree with you on the budget. We NEVER start a month without a budget...it really made all the difference in our finances. Good luck to everyone!!!
Ive been doing a no buy month for november and honestly I think the satisfaction of having kept the promise to myself feels better and lasts longer than buying something new. Ive been wanting to adopt more minimalism and 2024 might be a perfect time for me to do something like this.
I feel like that's what's gonna get me through!! every day the streak gets longer and longer and it'll feel worse to break!
I racked up 13k in credit card debt between 2020 and September 2023! I spent money on food, gas, doctor bills and frivolously on crap I didn’t need! I’ve been on a no buy for almost 2 mths and will continue until I get this debt paid off!
I'm using this year to get out of debt too!! we got this!!! 💪🏼💪🏼
goodluck, youve got this!
I'm in your exact same boat! Good luck to us all!
Also in the same boat and will be trying to do this as well
Oh I hear you! I spiralled and went on a big spree...now to reign it in.
I follow kate Karen.. she's good for motivation
I think making sure your no-buy has some positive motivations, rather than just shame is so, so important! No one is a bad person for having fallen victim to our culture’s emphasis on spending. You’ll be more successful if it’s not all guilt and cruelty toward yourself.
exactly !!!!
Biggest groceries hack: keep a clear container in your fridge (I use a shoe box from dollar tree). In there go all bits and pieces and left overs-use those first when cooking. Saves major bucks and prevents food waste. Creativity soars too.
yes!! I do this and it's great
Summary of Steps for a No Buy Year :
1. List down everything you own (optional)
2. Green Light List - List of what you're allowed to buy (e.g. groceries , toilet paper etc - Only when you run out / need it / replace if worn out)
3. Simplify your life , unnecessary to do hair and nail appointments
4. Yellow Light List : Non essential items allowed to buy
- must declutter before buying a new clothing
- to make life easier and improve your quality of life
5. Red Light List - List of No Buys : e.g. clothes
6. Budgeting - Create an In and Out spending spreadsheet - budget given per list, put the rest into savings
7. Avoid using credit card - make a list of what you can or cannot use credit card for
8. Remind yourself why you're doing this No Buy Challenge , track your experience
Mvp
Awesome! Thank you 💜
I did ‘no buy quarters’ for 2023 and it showed me that I shopped/spent to cope with stress. It kind of pissed me off about consumerism in general, and I worked on identifying the root of my stress. Some larger life changes have come out of that, and I’m way happier in general and my spending habits are reflective of that. Good luck girl, I hope you have a reflective year with this!
Cinzia DuBois put out an amazing video about doing a no-buy year back in September, and she made a strong argument for why the fall is actually the perfect time to start (not January 1)! If you start now, you get the immediate benefit of resisting consumerism when it is at its strongest - the holiday season. I've been doing a no-buy year following her guidelines since September and I LOVE it.
that's actually a great point!! I've kind of put myself on a "probation period" right now so I'm not like overly purchasing right now LOL
@@gracenevittaaawwww
Honestly my biggest downfall when it comes to money is food. More specifically anything snack related and takeaway food. I can guarantee majority of my money goes on this and it's such a problem for me.
I think sitting down for 10 minutes every week to meal plan has helped me and also double batch meals so I have a spare meal in the freezer for the night I just want a takeaway and don’t feel like cooking. We do still have one once a month to be honest. I’m not sure about snacks either! Sometimes you just need chocolate!
you could try to start a small recording of when you spend on snacks/takeout? maybe keep a small post it note on you or at home and just write “spent about 3 on vending machine” etc. when i do this, it helps me be very conscious of my spending on a longer timeline, i can be aware of what’s coming out of my monthly budget and where it is, and i can adapt my habits to change it if its so much. sometimes we truly don’t see how much we spend or how often we do it. but knowledge is a great power against mindless/undesirable spending habits. majority because spending is very “emotional” for people, and bringing logic into it takes away the room for it to be solely about how we feel about money or the thing we spend on. best of luck regardless :)
It might also be worth looking at why you're snacking. There's that reward feeling that can come from treating yourself, or it could even be something completely weird. I've been trying to lose weight for some time, and now that it's starting to get cold, I felt the urge all of last week to have a slice of toasted bread during each of my breaks at work. When it was warm I didn't have this urge, maybe I'd want a little sweet or something, but it wasn't anything necessary. When talking with my boyfriend, I came to the realization that it was because my body was craving warmth and to use the toaster oven to heat up the break room because the boss wants to keep it super cold. My partner suggested I switch to a warmly spiced treat, like a spicy tea with cinnamon, ginger, and clove, in order to help me not feel as cold, at least psychologically. Humans do strange things to bring us perceived comfort, so don't feel bad if you find your willpower to appear a bit weak. There might be deeper reasons as to why you're feeling pulled to snack.
I am also this way! Pretty sure I have spent thousands on fast food alone.
A morning coffee had a really high emotional return on investment for me when I was getting up at 5am for work and that's ok. There was literally nothing that I could do with that money that would make me happier. If takeaway doesn't make you happy start making food for your future self on your weekend with a great playlist, family and friends, make it fun!
I've been working on my spending habits and one thing that I have done to help with/curb the impulse is to fill my cart online with items, but not complete the purchase. When I leave and come back I find I don't need to go through with buying the items most of the time, unless they are actually needed.
I do the same thing, it has really. Helped.
TH-cam suggested your video to me at the perfect time. I just deleted all my shopping and social media apps because I’m so tired of getting sucked in to the endless advertisements. I am totally going to do this no-buy because I have been spending way too much money on clothes which I absolutely do not need any more of!
To pair with this it is good to also delete saved credit cards off your phone so they are not as easily accessible.
@someonedifferent22 absolutely! mentioned this in my latest video haha
gonna delete my shopping apps right now from my phone, i didnt even think of doing that
I gave up nails and hair appointments when I got pregnant, because I knew I wanted to be a sahm. In 6 months we saved over $2000. In genuinely embarrassed by that number. But my quality of life not worrying about the next fill, or highlight appointment has gone up. Definitely motivated me into going into a low by year!
that's great!!! I had almost decided to just completely give it all up this past year, but ended up getting my hair done once and doing my nails twice. just those 3 little things set me back $550.... definitely puts things into perspective!!!
Being a sahm is the best! I love hearing women say that’s what they want to do!! Our youngest just flew the coop last month. If I were to go back in time, I’d stay home all over again. It is hard work (I homeschooled them, too) but also the most rewarding. Two incomes are not necessary. Just be wise with what you have. Stay home and love your husband and those babies well!! It is way better than hair, nails, coffee, and buying things you don’t really need. Your kids will thank you.
I've never done a no-spend or low-spend challenge, but I crochet, and I was always buying yarn. As I came out of college, I knew I needed to do better and use the 4+ storage tubs of yarn I have and stop buying every pretty skein of yarn that came my way. I decided in 2022 to only buy yarn if I had a specific and immediate purpose for it. It really made it a challenge to see what I could make with what I had, and it changed the way I viewed buying yarn. I've definitely let up this year, but I'm much more conscious about what I choose to buy and WHY I'm getting it.
I like the fact that the list is things you CAN buy/replace rather than things we CANT. As humans I think we have a rebellious nature and don’t like being told we can’t do something. I know if the list was what you absolutely cannot buy under any circumstances I would be like “oh yeah watch this” and proceed to buy all the things on that list, even though I made that list 😅😅
Permission to spend/replace!
😂😂😂
15:18 It really helps to have a clear WHY.
Since 2018 every year has been a low buy one - my goal was to buy my 1st home and it’s finally happening. 🎉
It’s been a very slow journey getting here and it will all be worth it when I get the keys. 🔑🏠
The house belonged to an elderly couple, so it does need updating and will be a slow renovation project.
I was hoping for all the paperwork to be completed before the December holidays so I could begin, but it may just be the New Year.
My 2024 why is key pieces of furniture, converting the front garden into off-road parking, building a porch with an updated front door and installing a new fireplace in the living room.
congratulations!!!!
@gracenevitt Thank you! 💖
This is great! I'm glad to see more people doing this. Spending is so culturally ingrained and normalized. It's nice to see others getting off the bandwagon!
For me, it's all about feeling free to spend freely on the stuff that genuinely makes my life better. Buy the fresh vegetables. Keep my bike repaired. Buy new exercise shoes before the old ones fall apart. Buy the new pillow before the old one is flat as a pancake. There's always money for this.
Stop buying alcohol. Stop chugging coffee. Stop buying 300-dollar E-courses that I'm never gonna open. Stop ordering random crap on Amazon.
Actually log into my bank account and look at what automatic charges are still happening. A couple years ago I found out that I burnt 500 bucks on a subscription I thought I canceled TWO YEARS PRIOR. Most of my spending woes have been digital instead of physical.
Most importantly right now. No Black Friday purchases! Not a single one!
I love this!!!!
FYI - I would not recommend cancelling too many credit cards, especially your oldest one. A factor in your credit score is how old your oldest line of credit is. Another factor is the number of credit lines/total credit limit, with higher being better when used responsibly.
this is very true! I just meant stop using them for the year if that was possible for a person in their situation.
careful because available credit is a scoring factor. Agree kill anything with high interest, regardless.
A mental trick I use is keeping them and using for gas, the subscriptions we do have, and putting on autopay. I check it all daily for accuracies, so I’m not just charging. It keeps the credit score high and I’m also not spending. I pay for the rest of our needs from bank account or cash. It’s just too easy to spend on credit or debit cards. We do have a home, but if we needed to move for some reason, we wouldn’t have enough to buy a different house without a mortgage, so I definitely want to keep it high with how much of a difference it can make in rates.
Highly recommend combining travel with hair appointment! Getting your hair done is often cheaper in other countries AND you will always remember the haircut you got in a specific place. It's often what I do instead of physical souvenirs.
that's a cool idea!
I get pedicures and massages 😊
I'm getting a new job with more money and really don't want to throw all the money into capitalism instead of the things I truly want. This was the most inspiring and non-judgemental video on no buy years I've ever seen!! Thank you. Subscribed for the updates as you go through 2024 😁
As someone who loves to thrift, I have a rule: if I buy an item, I must go home and add an item to my donation pile.
I like doing mini no-buy challenges. Where I note what specific items I am buying too much of and do a no-buy of those while I use up what I have. Things like candles, yarn, loose leaf tea, journals and pens, etc.
I'm going to do a low spend year. I'm just sick of running out of money at the end of every month and having a week of struggle meals. I really need to balance my spending.
I've been thinking a lot about doing this, too. I've done great in cutting down my clothes buying the last five years BUT this year Vinted has really ruined my progress. Things are so cute and go so fast and it's got me impulse buying like I haven't done since 2019. I think I might need a whole year without buying clothes. Scary!!
it's so possible!!! most people have enough clothes to 1000% last them a whole year with no issues. it's just about getting creative and trying new things! but the first step would definitely be deleting vinted 🙈 best of luck!!
I love the mindset of being more intentional instead of restrictive. Lately, I have focused on buying things that I truly love. Interestingly, this sometimes meant buying more expensive items, but buying less. For example, I used to buy cheap clothes that would fall apart after a couple of washes or not look as good so I would stop wearing them (but keep them for some reason). Now, I spend way more on clothes, but I buy less of them, they hold up well, and I LOVE every single thing that I reach for - nothing goes for months without wear. For me, several low buy periods throughout the year would be great. I'll definitely be working this into my life. Thank you for being so open about different scenarios and not shaming those of us who want to do better, but a strict no buy year may not be exactly what would bring us joy. ❤
this is such a huge compliment 😭💗 literally my only goal is to just be a place of support for people in need of something that might help!
in terms of buying less for more, that is been a HUGE game-changer for me as well in the past year or so!! intentionality of purchases is one of the best things we can do as consumers!!
I’m thinking of doing a low buy too! Something I’ve been doing is automating my finances and also keeping a want list! It has been so helpful this year, especially over the last three months in terms of bringing more things into my life. I can’t wait to see your purchases in prep for the year!!
a huge game changer for me this year was a wishlist/want list that I had to leave things on for a week or so and if I forgot about them, then great! but otherwise I could plan/save up to purchase them :)
Had to click when I saw this on my homefeed. I've done no-buy and low-buy years and it changed my life, got me out of debt and into savings. That tip you gave about counting everything is what I did with makeup and what I saw another youtuber with closet organizational channel do. It is so tidious but entirely worth it, especially when it's focused on your 'problem' area. It's like auditing a portion of your life and regaining control!
The things that you *need* like your broken cutting board can be purchased secondhand or you can ask around and see if anyone has an extra they'd like to declutter! You're staying in the spirit of your no spend and helping others be more sustainable/minimal as well.
that's also a good point!!!
Yes! Also no buy groups in your area (like on Facebook) can be a great place to search and ask around for something you need or pass on things you want to declutter.
I’m a sucker for getting fast food at work, so I started a no-buy in April and I have stuck to it all year. I want to make it until next April. It’s made such a difference in my cooking habits. Now, I only go out to eat for social events and when traveling.
I will join you for your no buy next year, excited to have found your channel! 😊
This is a great reminder as I just got a job a couple months ago and have been spending a lot. Not too much but I had so many “holes” in my life I needed to fix (new phone since mine was an iPhone 6s and some new clothes, stuff my dogs needed, etc) and now after I do Christmas shopping I know I need to start saving. Thanks for the encouragement and tips 🥰
Ok I am committing to this RIGHT NOW!!!! You really helped me realize that I need to stop spending money so i wont constantly be seeking that dopamine hit via frivolous spending. I am so excited to do this!
I am on the same journey. I call it my Road back to 20k, my motivation is reminding myself that overconsumption doesn't make me happy (it rlly doesn't) I tend to feel guilty when I buy new things and I know I have everything I already need so on this with you!
we got this !!
I love giving it a title like this because ooof I also am on that road after being frivolous for these past few years
I sat up super fast when you said "little piece of farmland in New Zealand"! I love it, I am right there with you!
💗💗💗
I'm in the maintenance stage of minimalism (going on my 8th year of being a minimalist) and I'm doing a no buy year to eliminate debt and to curb the need to declutter. I have little kids so stuff still comes in and goes out but I'm hoping to cut down on the coming in! 🤞Good luck! Loved this video and I'm looking forward to the check ins!
Came across this video ON BLACK FRIDAY when my urge to buy is randomly (or intentionally) out of control!! This is such a great reminder to my normally extremely frugal self! Just subscribed so I can follow along with this journey, and gonna spend the last few weeks of 2023 coming up with my red, yellow, and green light lists. Thanks for sharing!
Good luck, have fun, enjoy and be proud of yourself. Succeeding in this goal should make you feel like you are growing and getting wiser. ❤
I love that you are prioritizing experiences. This is something I have been trying to do. I've found that buying excessive material items causes too much clutter after a few months when I realize I don't need them anymore. No need to justify spending on a vacation or a computer that you need to random strangers on the internet. Good luck with the challenge! I'll be following you through it! 😊 🎉🎉
thank you💗💗💗
As someone who likes saving money I love finding ppl who can as well. Cheers!
If you are in a position to save at the beginning of the month, it is a total game-changer! It's like the money never existed. However, if you're a student or literally need every last $ it likely isn't going to work, but if you can put it somewhere easily accessible but out of sight it's worth a try. Love the no-buy year concept and am so happy to see everyone taking stock of the wealth/stuff we already have. All the best in your year! X
This reached me at the right time! Spent all of my savings this year and starting over at zero now. I spent so much money on books I'll never read...
try to sell them!!! I've made a few dollars selling on the app pango books
Thank god for sending this video my way !
I’m stressed out about how much money I need for a master's degree and I can’t find any way to earn enough money for, this video comes on my home page even though I don’t have any idea about minimize teq ..
i have a year and a half to prepare.. thank you for the great idea 😍💗
Your content is the content I have been searching for years and finally here it is in the form of your channel. I absolutely love your warmth and your videos!
couldn't imagine a better compliment!!! 😭💗 I'm so glad you like the videos!!
Exactly my thoughts! Subscibred! 💖
y'all are too sweet😭 thanks for sticking around!! so happy you enjoy the videos💗
I relate to this a lot, I struggled to secure a good job for a few years after college, so when I finally got one I spent the first year and a half buying a bunch of stuff I didn't really need, all while I had student loans I could have been putting more towards. I started spreadsheet budgeting and it's put me in a place where I should have all my loans fully paid off next year and then I can start planning for what's next. It's actually amazing to be excited about the future and not be in a constant state of stress and panic over your finances.
I absolutely utilize "shopping therapy" and moving countries really made me realize I need to start saving money and spending less so thank you so much for this video! I had never heard of a no buy year before and plan to give it a try!
New subscriber from NZ 😊 what an awesome idea. I had a realisation that we were spending so much money on unnecessary purchases, when during the pandemic we were on lockdown here in NZ.
We ended up saving so much money because so many places were closed, we couldnt really drive anywhere, and businesses were restricted on selling essentials only. That coupled with takeaways and restaurants being closed meant our food spending went way down too.
I think we might have to give something like this a go, then we will be able to achieve our goals a lot sooner ❤
aw hi!! love it when kiwis subscribe!! 💗 and yess!! give it a try and see how it goes!
So glad I found your channel! I'm doing a low buy year but specifically NO NEW CLOTHES, but I'm allowing myself to thrift or buy second hand.
I was watching this and realized I do a low buy every single year 😂
cheers to 2024 and a no buy year! I will be following along and joing in on this journey (with my own little twists) :)
i love this so much!! i’ve been doing low buy years for the past couple of years and have definitely felt shifts in my life. sometimes i may slip into old habits but i give myself grace to just start again 💖 will have to check out your templates as im always curious to see what tools can work for me too :)
I had already decided to do a no spend year, so this channel coming up was such a blessing! 😊 I am very encouraged I just needed a soft push my heart and mind were already made up. So looking forward to the journey! Love Ruthie
Thank you for this video! I have been thinking of doing a no-buy year to save money and stop buying crap I don’t need. This will put me in a better mindset about it and I won’t feel like I’m taking something ‘important’ away. Excited to check out more of your videos!
I sometimes tinker with the idea of doing a no buy year, but as it is, I already save 60% of my income. There’s a part of me that thinks I could push it to an 80% savings rate but then I think about quality of life. It would be a fun challenge though.
I was also planning to do a no-buy challenge and I will now follow yours as well for inspiration! Let's do this!
this is exactly what I was looking for! I just spent soo much money over the past few months burning through most of my savings and was thinking about a no-buy January, but a no-buy year is so much better! thank you for this prep kit, I'll be going through that for the rest of the month :)
I'm actually doing a No Spend November right now so this is perfect! And I'm honestly loving it, might extend into the new year
I tried a no buy month - failed and went crazy afterwards! Good luck!
okay, I'm definitely in! I do think that making a list of everything you own (especially I guess things that you are more prone to buy impulsively) - it will help you visualise how much stuff you actually have and make you start more actively using it up before buying anything new. Love this idea, thank you for sharing!
This sounds like so much work. I have done a buy only what you need in 2018. I spent $2:50 cents on clothes for the year. I'm going to try it again this year. Good luck. 😊
I'm planning to do a no buy challenge next year! I need to save for an emergency fund and I'll be moving across the country (US) in March so I'll be managing a new COL and lower income after the first quarter of the year. I want to create good spending habits and a solid budget in my new home. ETA: I'm also moving from a condo shared with a partner to one room in my family's house, so I have to learn how to live in a much smaller space. I'm really running the marathon next year.
you got this !!!! best of luck to you! hope everything goes smoothly 💗
5 minutes in and it’s already sounding more and more like how I started living in ‘23 ✨🙌🏽
This was helpful and thought provoking as I consider doing monthly no/low buy months in the coming year ❤
This is such a helpful video!!! I think in general I have a good grasp on budgeting, but I do slip up sometimes, so this video is really helping me stay on top of things and be better organized ❤
Ok tips I gleaned from Hannah Louise poston- write down everything you would've bought as it comes up and the cost so you can calculate what you saved. Also monthly video idea: what came in and what you emptied or decluttered
great tips thank you!!!!
I love that in this video you mentioned that you wanted to buy a Mac Studio but didn’t think you’d make enough.. and this video has gotten so much attention so quickly! Hopefully this video has a high rpm on it :)
it's been a roller coaster for real😭
The hardest for me will be completely stopping the coffees and take outs. I think i might have to allow myself one monthly treat… But damn, coffeeshops and restaurants have gotten so much more expensive. There’s no excuse anymore 🙀
I tag buying coffee to my goal of walking 3 miles a day. in the winter months I have to walk in the morning since it gets dark so early and to motivate myself to get up early and go out in the cold I allow myself one per week. that way at least it's serving as a treat but also as a reinforcement for a habit I want to preserve.
Wow. Hit the nail on the head with buying gifts for friends. Definitely fulfillies my dopamine kick of shopping but doing it for someone else makes me feel better. Def will adjust that!
Another member of the sock problem community🎉 Admitting it is the first step☺️
😂💗
Hi Grace :) I'm so glad youtube put your channel in my feed! This is such great timing for me as I get ready to set my intentions for 2024. This video was super helpful and great inspiration. I'm not sure I'm ready for a no spend year, but I could definitely do no spend months throughout the year! So I will be following along :)
This video was incredibly inspiring! I’ve wanted to declutter and live a more minimalist life style and invest my money and use it to travel instead of just buying things! Got a kindle for my birthday so no more book buying for me😭❤️
I'm a huge comics/book nerd. I found it helps to just have my wishlist handy so I put all the books and everything I like of it, helps me from actually buying anything. It helps me get perspective on what I'm buying and I don't give in when it's not necessary. Then I have a handy list when my loved ones ask what I'd like as presents. 😊
I want to do a no buy to minimize and change my spending habits, and this video is definitely something I needed! I will absolutely join the challenge!
i like this idea! i’m not usually a really big spender, but i have some weird habits like unnecessary expensive gifts to family and friends, or expensive restaurants/coffee shops! so i wanna try to minimize my spendings the coming year, maybe to have a list that is not as strict as yours , or simply to be mindful of my spendings.. i also thought of doing a monthly rest routine at the end/beginning of every month? where i clean and declutter my space, set appointments and tasks for the month, make sure due dates are clear and work on completing those tasks due during that month.. it’s a great idea to be mindful of your life, and also it helps you achieve your goals! because i believe, every new year we would write a long list of goals we would like to achieve for that year, then we close our journal and forget about them! but chasing yourself with the monthly resets is a good way to go!
thank you for the idea, i will definitely start thinking about this
I did a No Buy Year in 2021 it went well and made me use up a lot of stuff and also let me see how little I actually do use things. Moving from working full time to being in 2020 changed a lot too so that helped me see I didn't need so much 'what if' . I'm looking at doing another No Buy in 2024 because I have still a FULL bathroom of stuff that I want to go through!
I found this video at the perfect time! One trick that I use for saving money on the salon is I go to a local cosmetology school. They have to get to a certain point in their training before they are allowed to work on clients, I am not so stressed about my hair being perfect and I know it will grow if something goes wrong, and I would rather save the money. Every Thursday they do $5 haircuts so I make sure to book that day.
i would definitely continue using my credit card during this challenge, since i have lots of cashback opportunities. it also allows me to see a summary of what i purchased at the end of the month, without collecting receipts. just something to consider.
I’m a first time viewer of your videos. Literally an initial thought was how I liked your hair. Just commenting since it cracked me up that you remarked about getting your hair to do its natural thing. You don’t need my validation but your hair is cute. Good luck with your no buy year! You can do it!
thank you😭💗
Love this! I hate being that person to give unsolicited advice, especially since you've definitely put a lot of thought into this, but may I add: if you begin to feel "deprived" please please instantly tweak your yellow/green light list. Reason is because you don't want to look back in 2025+ and feel that feeling of deprivation and never want to do / be able to structure a "buget" ever again (yes I'm calling this a budget cause it's like a physical budget, right?). Speaking from personal experience; I did a very low buy for about 6 months and it's been about 2ish years since then and I still feel a sort of PTSD from that and I can't do any form of budget (physical or financial) anymore 😢 best of luck, Grace, you're going to do amazing!! ❤
I totally get what you mean! the yellow list is a bit more flexible and can be added to as long as the item fits into the "why" of the whole thing. during this challenge, I'm personally it going to buy myself a pair of jeans "because I'm feeling deprived" because I'm doing this challenge to stop my impulsive/compulsive spending and learn to live with what I have (which is more than enough)! but obviously if there's something I forgot to write on my list and I absolutely need, I can have a good long think about it before I purchase it :)
I am 75, and believe in economising but living a better lifestyle.
There’s always so much stored in the kitchen cupboards, pantry, freezer, and fridge that if we use our imagination, we can feed a family for a week, at least.
As part of the no-buying process, I would suggest to make a resolution to refrain from doing grocery shopping one week each month, and use up what you have accumulated.
Also, when you finish some ingredient, make a note of it on a list - if you don’t have it stashed away somewhere already. By making an effort this way, you will save money for a vacation or a much needed major buy.
very true!!! I have a decent little bit of random back-stock in my kitchen that I'd love to use up this year!
One way to stick to a low buy year is to have them freeze your credit cards so that you can pay them off, and not use them for impulse buying; then use your debit cards and cash for buying what you actually need.
Dang now this is a pro tip 💗
One warning I would throw out here is that if you get a card down to zero and keep it there for too long, some banks will close them. I had this happen and my credit took a hit because my “available credit” dropped.
@@unobscuredtruth I got rid of my credit cards in 2017... less stress in my life now.
Biggest problem with credit cards is people thinking is not their money, I pay everything I can with my credit card, but no more than I can pay month by month. Its a good tool to build my credit up in case I want something big or an emergency, taking advantage of interest free monthly payment plans and getting cash back.
I don’t really get the difference some people make between debit and credit cards in this regard. If you’re going to spend impulsively on a credit card, what’s stopping you from spending impulsively on a debit card? Is the idea literally to run the account down until the card declines?
Maybe I’m the weird one, but standing at a checkout counter with my card declining wouldn’t be the situation where I’d be able to make a good decision about wether this is necessary or not. At that point I’m buying it.
Your video kept on showing up on my TH-cam home screen and I decided to watch it after two weeks haha! I am currently on my way to paying off my student loan debt, and already on a low-buy quarter this last few months of 2023 in which my main goal was to not buy any clothes. So far, so good!! You definitely gave me more motivation to continue this on in 2024 to save more and hopefully buy a house this year, thank you ❤
you got this !!!!
Another enjoyable and inspiring vlog, Grace. I have been doing a low-buy this year and it is going well. We have changed how we buy our food which means we rarely go near the mall and temptation now. I've never been into online purchasing unless it is something I really need and for other things I put them on a wish list. I unsubscribed from emails with promotions as well. I'd love to do a no-buy year and have goals, but next year we will (hopefully) be selling our home and contents and moving and buying more suitable things for a downsized home so not a good time. I'll be really interested in following you to learn from your experiences. You are already off to such a great start. Best of luck.
thanks so much!! best of luck to you as well with your move!
I love this. The green yellow and red list are super helpful. You don't suck at budgeting! Give yourself more credit!
I’m in the process of buying my first home, so a no to low buy year is definitely in my plans for next year! These lists are great. Thanks for sharing!
glad the video could help!!
This is so amazing and exactly what I needed to hear! I’m definitely trying a low/no buy challenge next year and am excited to plan for it!
I wish you success for your no-buy year !
Regarding your plans of having a homestead in NZ, I watched 2 videos yesterday that you could be interested in :
- one is frome a nice couple (Little Spanish Farmstead) who created a homestead in Spain 2 or 3 years ago "8 Things We Wish We'd Known Before Starting Homesteading Life". Most of what they say is relevant to any urban couple dreaming of having a homestead, wherever the place
- one was recommended by the previous one and is from Roots and Refuge Farm. The title is self-explanatory : Homesteading Skills to Learn While You Wait For Your Farm.
So in 2024, instead of buying things, you could learn new skills 😀
I love roots & refuge!!! the thing she says about making your waiting room your classroom has undoubtedly changed the quality of my life!!
thank you for this 💗
this is such a cool idea! you’ve inspired me! i want to go travelling next year but im behind on my savings for it and this sounds like a great way to rebuild them fast, plus as other people have said i also get such a dopamine hit from buying something new and it would be great to train my brain out of that
also i live in New Zealand!! i hope you can make it here soon!
should be in the next five years!!! 🤞🏼
This is a great idea . You have motivated me. Not doing a list as such ( too overwhelming), so I'm taking photos & printing them out. Spending is very addictive- I am an addict KMart , books , keeping up with booktubers in general .....
whatever works best for you is the best way to set yourself up for success!! print out your pictures and stick to it! you got this!
I’m so excited for this!!! I’m just ending my no-buy year and entering a slow buy year. Focusing on slow intentional buying with a majority of the shopping being thrifting. 😍😍
great video!! personally i’ll be trying the low buy year. i’m neurodivergent and really enjoy buying little trinkets for keepsakes and then forget about them months later. hopefully this helps lol. can’t wait to see your progress!!
Preparing an inventory of all the things already owned is a major step towards low buy or no buy year.
If you find it an overwhelming task than list 3 categories you spend most on and prepare inventory of items only in those categories.
Tryst me it makes such a difference. I made a detailed inventory of makeup and skincare things I own amd it was an eye opener.
I decluttered and donated much, found out so many were expired. Analysed what all I have used in last 1-2 years and kept things based on all of it.
This has lead me to make decision that I will only buy new things only if I finish the already owned products.
Also realised things about my habits: ex I got many coloured eyeshadow palettes but realised I only use peach,pink mauve lilac soft pinky browns etc shades only so no more shadows in coloured range for me at least for 2024. And no new shadows till I finish my old ones.
this is amazing!!!
I tried a no buy challenge for the last two months of this and I’ve failed! I’m going to get back on that no buy horse.
I love your take on this- the red light, green light, yellow light. I'm super inspired. Our income has increased so much that it started to become too easy to buy what I wanted/needed right on the spot. I want to cultivate that ability to wait!
Use the library for books. They also have e-books. so awesome.
A neat idea for gifts for the no buy year could also be only doing handmade gifts and cards, especially if you have a hobby or craft that you already have materials to use, the gifts are a lot more personal and thoughtful this way too ❤
I absolutely love you and your channel and you have inspired and helped me so much on my journey to living a more "minimalist" and concious life. I love that you are so relatable and I literally lolled at the moment you started your "red light" list because up to the "tattoos or piercings" we had the exact same order and things on that list and I could not relate more! Thank you for sharing and I'm looking forward to your upcoming videos! xx
this is so sweet!!! I'm glad you can relate 😂💗 and I'm so happy you enjoy the videos!!
I first got interested in a “No Buy Year” last January. I started about the third week of 2023. (Just about the time all those Christmas shopping bills were coming due.) i have done “pretty” good but far from perfect. I did see some radical changes in my shopping habits and also huge changes in my need for more stuff. Just kinda lost interest in shopping in stores. I sew doll clothes and gift to a needy girl at Christmas so I get carried away in fabric and craft stores. I made a rule to not even go into my favorite fabric store this year. I broke my rule this week and went into the fabric store….. but did not buy anything. Nothing peaked my interest. I would never have believed that simply breaking a bad habit of shopping for clothes or fabric would have such a huge impact on my desire for clothes or fabric. Surprised myself. Looking forward to another combo no buy/ low buy year in 2024.
I'm also considering a low buy/no buy. I think mine is going to be low buy, but I want to be very intentional with the things I'm bringing in. And do a set of rules for the things I do deside to purchase. Love the video and the minimalist content 👌🏻
as long as you have a solid list and a goal in mind, you're golden!!
For books, the library has audiobooks, music, and movies as well as ebooks. And there might be Little Free Libraries in your area where you can exchange books and magazines - sometimes there are music CDs and movies.