As a formerly homeless person, I say thank you for helping the homeless in your area. Giving money is so helpful too - people sometimes want to give food, which is great, but sometimes you need tampons or soap or clean undies, and it’s hard to ask for these things.
In my area there’s a non-profit that does exactly this. Called No Woman No Girl. Shirnetta gathers supplies and creates 30-day bags full of essential hygiene items including pads, tampons, soap, cloths, hair care, dental care, and more. If you want to and are able to donate to help women and girls this is a great place. I’ve volunteered here many times and donate!
@@disney.daze.55 what a fantastic initiative! Another thing is to make sure that homeless people are aware of these initiatives. When you become homeless, it’s often sudden and of course very traumatic. You don’t get a list of the help available.
@@JehanineMelmothfor people who do mutual aid food distros etc, do you have any recommendations for how to community build? Thank you for sharing your experience
@ thank you for asking! Leaflets listing all the help available could be useful, food that’s good quality, but mostly treating the person with respect. Asking what’s needed and listening, even if you can’t give the required help. The part of the social narrative I’d love to change most is that homeless people need to go straight back to work. This is very damaging. Imagine sleeping tough for days - you’re filthy and exhausted and your mental and physical health are very bad. The chances are you need rest and medical attention after that - a safe space, showers, regular meals, a way of washing clothes, any medication you need, and rest. So many initiatives want to get the homeless back into work immediately, and when they have a low success rate, the homeless people are blamed. This is neither fair nor realistic. I had no addictions when I was homeless, but people assumed I had. I did meet other homeless people who had addictions, and again, what is needed is help to deal with it, not a job. I’ve heard people say that some don’t want to be helped - well, some aren’t ready to deal with their addictions. Personally I’d still like them to have a safe space to sleep and some food. The thing is, homelessness unravels you quickly. Please don’t hurry to judge. Sorry for this long and emotional answer, but even though my experience was 40 years ago in my teens, I still feel very emotional about it. Thank you for caring. Xxx
My biggest financial goal for this year is stop eating out so much! Although I want to support my fav local cafes, so I plan to visit one of them each week (there are about 4 of them, so technically I can visit all of them once a month). But no eating/drinking in chain restaurants and cafes!
My biggest weakness is eating out whether it’s on the weekend or during lunch. I’m always like, “but it’s happy hour!” Yes but you’re going out how many times a week for happy hour? It adds up. I go to local restaurants so I’m def not buying from chain. But I really need to work on not dining out (also better for my health and waistline)
This is such a good take. I will put this down in my 2025 plan, that it we are not eating at home, we will support local small cafes and family restaurants. If we want gifts, we will buy from small local business.
I’ve been tightening my budget the last couple of years and have been looking to be more aggressive about my savings in 2025 (I want to stop renting!!!). 3 channels I’m subscribed to are also doing a low/no buy year in 2025 and it feels so nice not to be alone. We got this!!!
@@maryl234 better than paying all that plus a profit markup to some management company. I mean rent prices have almost doubled in the last 10-15 years, I’d rather be house poor with a bit of equity, than just poor AND paying someone else’s mortgage and maintenance costs. 🤷♀️
As a former foster kid, I appreciate you giving them gifts to feel like a part of a family and loved. It’s so important to feel like you’re a part of something and not overlooked when you’ve been traumatized or going thru something with your birth family.
This year my no buy will be absolutely no makeup, no bath products, shampoo, conditioner, body scrubs, body wash, lotion etc unless I run out of something. Which I might not since I have SO much.
4:12 I have the same anxiety, but I did a no buy year this year and one of my rules was I had to look at my bank account everyday. It’s great to know where you are at instead of guessing. I’m continuing 2025 with a low buy.
Omg thank you for saying at the end about stocking up on essentials when they are on sale! Literally everyone says not to do it but if I wait until I’m completely out, it is NEVER on sale!!!
I just sat down with my Notes app and did this whole exercise right along with you. This video was super helpful & I hope to see some more content about this throughout your No Buy Year! ✨
I recently inventoried all of my bath products onto a spread sheet- so many hotel /trial size products, and I’m always saving them…. For what? I don’t know. But this year I’m going to use all of them. Declutter, saving money, and supporting a low buy.
I think a good goal is to be more intentional with each purchase. Instead of making a bunch of impulsive purchases and then having to donate/return those items, I want to take my time to decide if that item is something I actually want. 2024 was a real wake up call for a lot of things and one of those things is how many things I will buy just because I liked it in the moment. Also, I want to take sustainability more seriously. I was that person that felt like what’s the point of even trying when we are surrounded by waste. I also hated how elitist the sustainability movement was becoming which also made me stop caring. However, I’m now realizing how ANY small or big action to help the planet is still valid!
I’ve been watching lots of low buy videos but this one was especially thought provoking! It’s so interesting hearing your logic and approach to things and it’s making me reflect further on spending areas specific to my life. And yes to spending more on donations and mutual aid!!
One of the fun things I do while on a No Buy is shopping for personal care items to donate to my local food pantry. I check the coupons for places like CVS and challenge myself to get lots of free/low cost items to donate. I budget $50/month for these donations and donate everything I get. It scratches that shopping itch, and I get to grab some great stuff for my neighbors.
My reason of low buy is mainly political. I'm Indonesian and the current political climate is not good. Per January the value added tax is increased to 12%, even now the price is started to increase. I want to contribute as little as I can to the economy and buy things more mindfully just in case something happen. I also have big trip for the end of the year, so I'll use that as motivation.
I’m really glad I’m seeing this kind of stuff in my feed, my family opted to have a smaller Christmas where gifts were fewer and we focused more on food we enjoy around the season and it’s been amazing for just being able to clean and sort after the fact. Taking time when reasonable to sort through your existing items and deciding what to keep and what to donate has been awesome to getting my head straight when I am out and about tempted by the material world. Another great thing for avoiding buying things and binging internet content is having an activity menu you can refer to for downtime.
I went to the Natural History Museum in London, UK, today. It's incredible how tempting it is to buy a souvenir on a day out. I guess we try and make the positive feeling that comes with it last longer that way. I did check out the shop and was tempted by a couple of items, but proud to say I resisted, and am already over those things just a few hours later. I was really disappointed, actually, that a museum that promotes the natural world has a gift shop that is 50% random stuff that is completely pointless (although there were also some good books and items from recycled material that seemed to fit the theme better). It says a lot about our society.
I got engaged this year (yay) but now need to really knuckle down in 2025 to save for that. I am getting back into crafting but had to have a very honest conversation with myself about my knee jerk reaction to buy more things (even if only to organise) - when instead I need to USE what I already have first, build back my habits BEFORE investing or replacing things. May 2025 be a year of stragetic abundance for all ✨
For delivering food I totally get it, I had to stop that one this year. Now we went back to one partner getting the food and bringing it back like a hero lol
Inspired by your 50+ not buying, i made a 25 to not buy in 2025 list. Keep the inspo coming. The motivation is needed cause yes, the coming political and economic landscape is scary.
I did a no buy last year that ended up being a low buy. I was surprised how easy it was after deleting apps, adds and not visiting any stores besides the grocery store. Its so much easier when you dont see all the ads and cute things.
One of my long term rules has been to never shop ads. If it’s advertised to me I will not click on it or buy it (unless it’s groceries or another type of actual true essential)
Another great help is to categorize your money at the beginning of the month. Pay yourself first (a.k.a. save first), then pay your fixed costs, whatever is left can be for 'others'. If you see room for improvement in your savings, go for it. I've always been stressed about money untill I started 'paying myself first'... My intention for the coming year is to fix and mend my clothes - changing out bad zippers, redying washed-out colors and getting some clothes tailored. Last year I even dyed my leather goods from brown to black and I'm wearing them all the time now!
Love this kind of content! Your comment about everything getting more expensive is spot on. This is the time to stock up on things that you use all the time when they are on sale. Time to protest the large corporations that are going to be getting tax cuts. I am buying only essentials; mandatory bills (even those I will do my all to lower, especially water and energy consumption), food and rest I will use what we already have, trade with friends & fam, buy nothing groups, garage sales and last resort thrift shops. Looking forward to your updates ❤
Switched to gieco too and saved SO much. Also learning knitting so I can make my own clothing. Going to start making my own soap and skincare too partly because I may be laid off from my job and I really want to develop marketable skills and crafts that can be sold. Feels bad man. Not feeling confident for next year but I realized I need to start learning new skills instead of buying everything and making shopping my only hobby
🇨🇦I have already planned on doing a no buy 2025. I have done no buy months in the past. The cost of living in 🇨🇦 is nuts. In 2024, my family was giving experiences rather than gifts and it was amazing! We saw tons of local events, free activities and day trips. I went to a spa for the first time and it is a local small business. Now I want to double down and save money for a car. That will make our lives much better.
Working on the nobuy/ low buy year myself,. Working on making more homemade stuff, including cooking as well. I already am trying to stay away from those big box stores, getting rid if subscriptions ( Amazon Prime), and staying local for shopping
love these goals and they gave me ideas of my own that i would like to accomplish in 2025. best of luck to you and anyone else that wants to do a no buy year, you got this!!
13:32 I think the idea is that if you stock up on stuff and have a lot of it, psychologically, you’ll use them up more quickly. As opposed to stretching something that you don’t have a lot of. Also hunting for deals is considered to feed the shopping behavior.
Personally I've thought thru various things (vacuum bags & trash bags) that I use regularly but that I don't have evidence are produced in the US & I'm buying those items now so that I've got a 6 month amount....
my low buy last year was pretty good, but i am nervous for these next couple years as well so i'm trying to be more harsh, good video to refresh myself
I adore your channel and am so glad I found you this year! Watching your videos has reshaped my view on conscious consumption and community. Thank you for advocating for everything you do and for this great educational video for the new year! ❤
Hearing you in the last video saying you were going on a no buy made me so happy as someone who has been pretty minimal in buying as well (pretty much just car upkeep, school, and hygene products). It makes me feel like I am not so alone in the future of surviving the upcoming administration (with hopefully determination) in keeping afloat as much as possible.
You have definitely convinced me to start focusing on making an actual budget and being strict with it. I think that for me, shopping growing up has been a fallback when I’m feeling down to get that dopamine rush but definitely this year, I’m sticking strictly to my budget and my financial goals.
I've been watching no buy videos. There's about 5 new ones a day. I believe many people are jumping on this challenge because of the economy, myself included.
A "no buy" is usually about one category of things, from my understanding, never about not buying anything ever ? For example, I'm doing a "no buy" specifically for art supplies / stationery and books since 2022. It actually helped me a lot to save money, and to make me use what I already owned ^^ I send you all my support
It's your life and your money, so it's your set of low/no buy rules. I think most people apply it to several areas like food delivery, fashion, make-up, etc. And it depends on your finances, whether you have to save money or you want to be more thoughtful about the things you finally get.
💯 on your reasons. Especially the political ones. While I currently do buy a lot of my things used, I do buy things unnecessarily. I do plan to upgrade my old windows to energy efficient ones. I will continue to invest money in my food forest garden, which provides almost all my produce, which I also share with others. I won’t be buying ‘stuff’ for it though, just plants where needed. As far as ‘stuff’, I am disentangling myself from the capitalist / consumer system as much as possible. No longer supporting capitalist oligarchy.
I assessed my closet and realized that the reason I keep buying clothes is I don't like the fit. So I've decided to up my sewing skills and alter what I have to fit properly. No more clothing buys in 2025.
First of all you are gorgeous! That hair the colour and style I’m a brunette girt but i haven’t seen such a nice hair colour in so long ! Second I’m in no buy year for me i really need it because enough is enough 😬
I think the not stocking up on certain things is because people often have lots of things that needs to be used up before they buy yet another product.
I tried to do a low buy in 2024. I did pretty well for the first 6 months and then completely fell off. In 2025 I’m taking it month by month and will be documenting it on my TH-cam channel. I’m hoping that setting shorter goals will make it easier to stay in track.
I'm with you on the apprehension of the coming administration. I'm not comfortable with the soon to be reigning oligarchy, so I'm cutting ties with corporations that are just sucking money away from me. I'm going to be growing a large garden this year so I can minimize my purchases. I'm also doing a Lo/No buy because I just have too much stuff and I'm trying to get rid of and/or use what I have already. Thanks for the video!
I am doing less buy on groceries! I love grabbing things just because 😭 It was my biggest spending item in 2024! I am doing a Friday meeting with myself finding recipes and limiting myself to just the things for them!! Then, one snack extra item per trip, because I know I will want those!! haha Also Birthdays and celebrations I will allow more to spend, but still trying to be mindful!
Ordering my groceries for curbside pickup has stopped me from randomly grabbing things I see bc I am only adding items I absolutely need! I’ll still run in for produce but I cut out a lot of the wandering
Being an immigrant to the US, I have noticed that in the US, consumerism is closely tied to patriotism. We feel like it’s our patriotic duty to stimulate the economy. That is a serious problem
I think I’m here because of Financial Audit podcast but I’m glad you’re doing this! Definitely helps me feel more accountable for my spending habits too!
Good luck on all your ideas!! You can totally do it. You already know that doing the reviews/ analysis is the way to illuminate what you want to work on!
Also doing a no buy this year, to save for our wedding. (It’s gonna be small and low key, so anything extra will go to a house deposit). Good luck! It’s honestly so motivating when your fave youtubers are doing the same as you - can’t wait to follow along
I fear I need to participate with makeup on the top of my no buy list, with the exception of mascara ONLY when my current tube runs out. Thanks for the inspo Shelby! It helps to just have a hard and fast rule about what you will/wont buy so I don’t get stuck going back and forth not able to make up my mind whether something is worth it or not.
I plan on giving as little of my money as possible to the next administration’s economy. So much I have started mapping out how I can drive to my errands on the way home from work to use as little fuel as possible 😂 Unfortunately we have zero public transportation in my area 😅
I was planning to make a no buy in 2025 just so that I am still able to save money despite of my income being lower. After writing down ALL of my expenses, I realized that I literally don't have a choice 😅 I am barely gonna be able to afford my necessities with my current income... BUT telling myself it's a 💫no-buy💫 instead of me being broke makes it intentional and gamefies it for me. So I am actually looking forward to the challenge 😁
8:15 Depop/Poshmark/FB marketplace then donate. If you bought something and can't return it then try and resell and get something back. I normally keep things listed for 4 months then donate if I can't sell it. Or do a clothing swap with friends/family
Phew I love this video. Me and my family are doing a low buy year. With a toddler and a baby it will be challenging but I am really excited to see how much money we save. Our big goal is to move out of Texas for…obvious reasons. So that’s an easy thing to hold on to when thinking about doing frivolous shopping.
I shouldn’t have to buy anything for a long, long time. I need to know by here too I’m with you. All the way. And also, I am passionate about helping the homeless. I’ve never been homeless. None of my family been homeless I feel they really need help. ❤❤❤
I'm doing something of a low buy year too! I'm committing to 25 no spend weeks. I need to really hammer out the rules but my logic is: if see something I really want during a no buy week, and can wait until the week is over, at least I avoided the impulse purchase. But I'm also planning/hoping to make a few major life changes that will require some level of purchasing so I don't want to limit myself TOO much
Giving yourself a financial + trash audit is an excellent way to really understand your consumption habits. How often are you buying that type of item and often are you throwing it away (donating, recycling, composting or trash), can you practically find a way to reduce or eliminate that? The 2 audits together give a really good story of your consumption habits and can really help understand how much waste and money you'd save by using reusables
Thanks for reminding people about free community events. Don't forget that you always have access to these, as well as parks and libraries. Our library system (5 locations in a city of 100,000) always has free programs from workshops and movies, to story times, and crafts groups. Likewise, our parks have concerts, local markets, art fairs, Shakespeare performances, and other fun activities. Frankly, I would rather go to a free concert in the park than pay huge amounts of money to Ticketmaster to end up in a crammed stadium with terrible acoustics.
5:50 yes!! We shopped around and we are saving over $100 a month too! And my spouse and i are the same age as you. We are in the cheapest age bracket for car insurance, let's make the most of it!
Do gifts for others count in a no-buy year?? I did one this past year but wasn’t sure if I should count the gifts I bought for others. I only got a few things for various events (weddings, birthdays, etc) and tried to make them as sustainable as possible but don’t know if those should count or not
I would love to see a video about what to do with your old clothes. Growing up i had a terrible shopping addiction (that im still working through) and my closet is full of clothes i dont need or want anymore. i dont want the garments to end up in a landfill but im struggling to find out what to do with them other than donate
Thanks for sharing your personal no buys. For me it’s any home improvement/ decor. Also deleted all social media off my phone to spend more time on valuable content I find here :) a money game changer for me has been learning from Ramit Sethi about the ladder of personal finance. My investments and savings have never looked better 🙏🏻
I buy all of my skincare that i use every single day during black friday because of the sale. like why not if i have been using these products for years and i know i will use it ?
Great video! I’ve done a low spend year this year and did okay on some stuff but need to do better in 2025. You mention Austin has lots of free community events. How do you find out about local free events?
Do you have a video about your front yard? I am quite interested in that. I live rurally on a bit over 2 acres. We have never sprayed the lawn, actually it isn’t even really planted grass, and about 10 years ago let an acre of it go back to being natural. It is now populated with some ash, which are dying from emerald ash borer, and a LOT of black walnuts and some pine. I am not against rewilding a section on the side of the house but in a more intentional way.
ah I love that. I also love how long I have seen your account commenting here ❤ I do not have a dedicated video for it but I did a series about the process on my tiktok & there is a playlist there. I wanted to wait until the 3rd growing season to make the TH-cam video. But good news! That is this spring. So that video is coming soon-ish.
Good luck! I’m doing a low buy year because I have 2 kids and it’s impossible for me to do a no buy with them (and their schools that always want stuff!!!).
@Shelbi - so much appreciated, that you mentioned money anxiety & very helpful ways you are actively planning to address & evolve from that. Very helpful, as I have the same.. & must begin to authentically do the same. I deserve to maintain the money I’ve so hard earned! I have as unhoused (and it’s a child), & you don’t know how my heart responded, just to hearing someone in your position, speak so ‘matter of fact, & unapologetically- about planning to have a bit of money on your person, for when true need calls. There is so much selfish hate out there towards this position; which in turn, speaks more towards the people judging. I too carry gift items in a regular basis, & just ask- when encountering someone(s) whom I believe will benefit. Even when traveling *because the is an issue about everywhere in the U.S. The resulting impact/ connection; purely priceless. My gratitude again.
I am doing a no/low buy for fancy coffee and treats. Last year I found myself buying a coffee or a treat whenever I went out for a walk, when I wanted a break at work, or when I didn’t bring enough food to work. This year my goal is to bake my own treats, pack proper lunches and bring my own coffee for a walk (if I want one).
I would really recommend an old book called "the Richest Man in Babylon", because one of the first rules we learn there is to examine our expenses constantly... and to make and keep budgets because "like a light in a darkened room, your budget will help you find the leaks where your gold slips away". As you said, in this world we cannot do "no buy"... but we can and honestly should make sure the things we buy meet our standards and goals for our lives. Be it companies which intentionally harm small businesses, their own workers, or the planet as a whole, we should stand up to them when possible.
@@AlisonDurazoI am sorry to hear! It’s so hard to understand why people just can not accept the situation as you are explaining it to them. Have a happy 2025! B
I'm definitely still spending money on races next year. I am most myself when I am riding my bicycle. Buuuuut if you have tips for doing bike and running races more eco-friendly I'd love to hear it. ❤
Hello Hope all is well with you and all out there . No or low buy. 🤔... I prefer to go on no buy weeks... and what/wheb buying having rules and plan.... 2025 will be a year with some big expence and 3 travels... so no buy weeks are better as it makes me add more often to funds... and this is not as scary as a full month...ou half a year.... Keep safe Happy new year 2025 From Portugal 🇵🇹 ❤
I love how community minded you are. I think it'd be really cool if you ever got into Zero COVID work. We could really use thoughtful voices like yours.
As a formerly homeless person, I say thank you for helping the homeless in your area. Giving money is so helpful too - people sometimes want to give food, which is great, but sometimes you need tampons or soap or clean undies, and it’s hard to ask for these things.
In my area there’s a non-profit that does exactly this. Called No Woman No Girl. Shirnetta gathers supplies and creates 30-day bags full of essential hygiene items including pads, tampons, soap, cloths, hair care, dental care, and more. If you want to and are able to donate to help women and girls this is a great place. I’ve volunteered here many times and donate!
@@disney.daze.55 what a fantastic initiative! Another thing is to make sure that homeless people are aware of these initiatives. When you become homeless, it’s often sudden and of course very traumatic. You don’t get a list of the help available.
@@JehanineMelmothfor people who do mutual aid food distros etc, do you have any recommendations for how to community build? Thank you for sharing your experience
@ thank you for asking! Leaflets listing all the help available could be useful, food that’s good quality, but mostly treating the person with respect. Asking what’s needed and listening, even if you can’t give the required help.
The part of the social narrative I’d love to change most is that homeless people need to go straight back to work. This is very damaging. Imagine sleeping tough for days - you’re filthy and exhausted and your mental and physical health are very bad.
The chances are you need rest and medical attention after that - a safe space, showers, regular meals, a way of washing clothes, any medication you need, and rest.
So many initiatives want to get the homeless back into work immediately, and when they have a low success rate, the homeless people are blamed. This is neither fair nor realistic.
I had no addictions when I was homeless, but people assumed I had. I did meet other homeless people who had addictions, and again, what is needed is help to deal with it, not a job. I’ve heard people say that some don’t want to be helped - well, some aren’t ready to deal with their addictions. Personally I’d still like them to have a safe space to sleep and some food.
The thing is, homelessness unravels you quickly. Please don’t hurry to judge.
Sorry for this long and emotional answer, but even though my experience was 40 years ago in my teens, I still feel very emotional about it.
Thank you for caring. Xxx
@@JehanineMelmoththank you for sharing this information
You should make a whole series about fixing and making stuff for any reason.
yessssss
im here for it!!!
Literally stuff is no longer fixable by design
Yes please!
yessss
My biggest financial goal for this year is stop eating out so much! Although I want to support my fav local cafes, so I plan to visit one of them each week (there are about 4 of them, so technically I can visit all of them once a month). But no eating/drinking in chain restaurants and cafes!
Love this and would also like to do the same and only support local.
My biggest weakness is eating out whether it’s on the weekend or during lunch. I’m always like, “but it’s happy hour!” Yes but you’re going out how many times a week for happy hour? It adds up. I go to local restaurants so I’m def not buying from chain. But I really need to work on not dining out (also better for my health and waistline)
This is such a good take. I will put this down in my 2025 plan, that it we are not eating at home, we will support local small cafes and family restaurants. If we want gifts, we will buy from small local business.
I’ve been tightening my budget the last couple of years and have been looking to be more aggressive about my savings in 2025 (I want to stop renting!!!). 3 channels I’m subscribed to are also doing a low/no buy year in 2025 and it feels so nice not to be alone. We got this!!!
Then you you pay homeowner's insurance, property taxes, landscaping, home maintenance/repairs, and replace large appliances. Good luck with that.
@@maryl234 better than paying all that plus a profit markup to some management company. I mean rent prices have almost doubled in the last 10-15 years, I’d rather be house poor with a bit of equity, than just poor AND paying someone else’s mortgage and maintenance costs. 🤷♀️
With so many of us planning for a no buy year, I would love to watch you do a repair/repurpose series along the way!
As a former foster kid, I appreciate you giving them gifts to feel like a part of a family and loved. It’s so important to feel like you’re a part of something and not overlooked when you’ve been traumatized or going thru something with your birth family.
This year my no buy will be absolutely no makeup, no bath products, shampoo, conditioner, body scrubs, body wash, lotion etc unless I run out of something. Which I might not since I have SO much.
Same here!!! Plus hair products for me
4:12 I have the same anxiety, but I did a no buy year this year and one of my rules was I had to look at my bank account everyday. It’s great to know where you are at instead of guessing.
I’m continuing 2025 with a low buy.
Omg thank you for saying at the end about stocking up on essentials when they are on sale! Literally everyone says not to do it but if I wait until I’m completely out, it is NEVER on sale!!!
im currently doing the "no, we have x at home" method 😅
But, mom! X at home if full of neo nazis!
Food at home is my fave mindset! 🙌
I’ve been doing that a lot this last month!
the thing is i have “supplies for food at home” but i still have to make it 😩😩
I just sat down with my Notes app and did this whole exercise right along with you. This video was super helpful & I hope to see some more content about this throughout your No Buy Year! ✨
I recently inventoried all of my bath products onto a spread sheet- so many hotel /trial size products, and I’m always saving them…. For what? I don’t know. But this year I’m going to use all of them. Declutter, saving money, and supporting a low buy.
I think a good goal is to be more intentional with each purchase. Instead of making a bunch of impulsive purchases and then having to donate/return those items, I want to take my time to decide if that item is something I actually want. 2024 was a real wake up call for a lot of things and one of those things is how many things I will buy just because I liked it in the moment. Also, I want to take sustainability more seriously. I was that person that felt like what’s the point of even trying when we are surrounded by waste. I also hated how elitist the sustainability movement was becoming which also made me stop caring. However, I’m now realizing how ANY small or big action to help the planet is still valid!
Happy no buy year 2025 ✨️
OMG thank you so so much!! 🫶
I’ve been watching lots of low buy videos but this one was especially thought provoking! It’s so interesting hearing your logic and approach to things and it’s making me reflect further on spending areas specific to my life. And yes to spending more on donations and mutual aid!!
One of the fun things I do while on a No Buy is shopping for personal care items to donate to my local food pantry. I check the coupons for places like CVS and challenge myself to get lots of free/low cost items to donate. I budget $50/month for these donations and donate everything I get. It scratches that shopping itch, and I get to grab some great stuff for my neighbors.
My reason of low buy is mainly political. I'm Indonesian and the current political climate is not good. Per January the value added tax is increased to 12%, even now the price is started to increase. I want to contribute as little as I can to the economy and buy things more mindfully just in case something happen. I also have big trip for the end of the year, so I'll use that as motivation.
I’m really glad I’m seeing this kind of stuff in my feed, my family opted to have a smaller Christmas where gifts were fewer and we focused more on food we enjoy around the season and it’s been amazing for just being able to clean and sort after the fact. Taking time when reasonable to sort through your existing items and deciding what to keep and what to donate has been awesome to getting my head straight when I am out and about tempted by the material world. Another great thing for avoiding buying things and binging internet content is having an activity menu you can refer to for downtime.
Yes! My family and I have done a no gift Christmas for the last three years and we love it, so much less stress and spending at the end of the year.
I went to the Natural History Museum in London, UK, today. It's incredible how tempting it is to buy a souvenir on a day out. I guess we try and make the positive feeling that comes with it last longer that way. I did check out the shop and was tempted by a couple of items, but proud to say I resisted, and am already over those things just a few hours later. I was really disappointed, actually, that a museum that promotes the natural world has a gift shop that is 50% random stuff that is completely pointless (although there were also some good books and items from recycled material that seemed to fit the theme better). It says a lot about our society.
I got engaged this year (yay) but now need to really knuckle down in 2025 to save for that.
I am getting back into crafting but had to have a very honest conversation with myself about my knee jerk reaction to buy more things (even if only to organise) - when instead I need to USE what I already have first, build back my habits BEFORE investing or replacing things.
May 2025 be a year of stragetic abundance for all ✨
Off topic but you have incredibly beautiful hair. I'm always impressed with by the sheen. :)
OMG I've literally been looking for more videos on this topic and I was just thinking that I wished that you had a video about it
happy to give it to you ❤
For delivering food I totally get it, I had to stop that one this year. Now we went back to one partner getting the food and bringing it back like a hero lol
Hunters and gatherers, like nature has formed us over thousands of years 😂
Inspired by your 50+ not buying, i made a 25 to not buy in 2025 list. Keep the inspo coming. The motivation is needed cause yes, the coming political and economic landscape is scary.
I did a no buy last year that ended up being a low buy. I was surprised how easy it was after deleting apps, adds and not visiting any stores besides the grocery store. Its so much easier when you dont see all the ads and cute things.
One of my long term rules has been to never shop ads. If it’s advertised to me I will not click on it or buy it (unless it’s groceries or another type of actual true essential)
Another great help is to categorize your money at the beginning of the month. Pay yourself first (a.k.a. save first), then pay your fixed costs, whatever is left can be for 'others'. If you see room for improvement in your savings, go for it. I've always been stressed about money untill I started 'paying myself first'... My intention for the coming year is to fix and mend my clothes - changing out bad zippers, redying washed-out colors and getting some clothes tailored. Last year I even dyed my leather goods from brown to black and I'm wearing them all the time now!
Love this kind of content! Your comment about everything getting more expensive is spot on. This is the time to stock up on things that you use all the time when they are on sale. Time to protest the large corporations that are going to be getting tax cuts. I am buying only essentials; mandatory bills (even those I will do my all to lower, especially water and energy consumption), food and rest I will use what we already have, trade with friends & fam, buy nothing groups, garage sales and last resort thrift shops. Looking forward to your updates ❤
Switched to gieco too and saved SO much. Also learning knitting so I can make my own clothing. Going to start making my own soap and skincare too partly because I may be laid off from my job and I really want to develop marketable skills and crafts that can be sold. Feels bad man. Not feeling confident for next year but I realized I need to start learning new skills instead of buying everything and making shopping my only hobby
Best of luck!! I am also trying to reign in my shopping hobby especially as the daughter of a Kohl's mom😅
🇨🇦I have already planned on doing a no buy 2025. I have done no buy months in the past. The cost of living in 🇨🇦 is nuts. In 2024, my family was giving experiences rather than gifts and it was amazing! We saw tons of local events, free activities and day trips. I went to a spa for the first time and it is a local small business. Now I want to double down and save money for a car. That will make our lives much better.
🇨🇦 too and the no buy low buy will undoubtedly help with our weak dollar and possible tarif that will raise price of everything.
Working on the nobuy/ low buy year myself,. Working on making more homemade stuff, including cooking as well. I already am trying to stay away from those big box stores, getting rid if subscriptions ( Amazon Prime), and staying local for shopping
Woohoo! Cancel prime to stand with the strikers!
love these goals and they gave me ideas of my own that i would like to accomplish in 2025. best of luck to you and anyone else that wants to do a no buy year, you got this!!
13:32 I think the idea is that if you stock up on stuff and have a lot of it, psychologically, you’ll use them up more quickly. As opposed to stretching something that you don’t have a lot of. Also hunting for deals is considered to feed the shopping behavior.
Personally I've thought thru various things (vacuum bags & trash bags) that I use regularly but that I don't have evidence are produced in the US & I'm buying those items now so that I've got a 6 month amount....
my low buy last year was pretty good, but i am nervous for these next couple years as well so i'm trying to be more harsh, good video to refresh myself
I adore your channel and am so glad I found you this year! Watching your videos has reshaped my view on conscious consumption and community. Thank you for advocating for everything you do and for this great educational video for the new year! ❤
You got this!! I’m so excited to do a low buy year as well!!
Hearing you in the last video saying you were going on a no buy made me so happy as someone who has been pretty minimal in buying as well (pretty much just car upkeep, school, and hygene products).
It makes me feel like I am not so alone in the future of surviving the upcoming administration (with hopefully determination) in keeping afloat as much as possible.
Hi Shelbi, just ordered 'Who Gives A Crap'. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm with you in a low buy 2025.
You have definitely convinced me to start focusing on making an actual budget and being strict with it. I think that for me, shopping growing up has been a fallback when I’m feeling down to get that dopamine rush but definitely this year, I’m sticking strictly to my budget and my financial goals.
I've been watching no buy videos. There's about 5 new ones a day. I believe many people are jumping on this challenge because of the economy, myself included.
100% agree
I find that buy nothing groups and libraries (particularly their free events) really help with this!
A "no buy" is usually about one category of things, from my understanding, never about not buying anything ever ? For example, I'm doing a "no buy" specifically for art supplies / stationery and books since 2022. It actually helped me a lot to save money, and to make me use what I already owned ^^
I send you all my support
Totally! That makes sense. Thank you.
It's your life and your money, so it's your set of low/no buy rules. I think most people apply it to several areas like food delivery, fashion, make-up, etc. And it depends on your finances, whether you have to save money or you want to be more thoughtful about the things you finally get.
💯 on your reasons. Especially the political ones. While I currently do buy a lot of my things used, I do buy things unnecessarily.
I do plan to upgrade my old windows to energy efficient ones. I will continue to invest money in my food forest garden, which provides almost all my produce, which I also share with others. I won’t be buying ‘stuff’ for it though, just plants where needed.
As far as ‘stuff’, I am disentangling myself from the capitalist / consumer system as much as possible. No longer supporting capitalist oligarchy.
good luck shelbi!!! I'm thinking me and my partner might try this this year as well.
Love your wallpaper! It looks like Suminagashi, and is a perfect backdrop for your videos.
I assessed my closet and realized that the reason I keep buying clothes is I don't like the fit. So I've decided to up my sewing skills and alter what I have to fit properly. No more clothing buys in 2025.
First of all you are gorgeous! That hair the colour and style I’m a brunette girt but i haven’t seen such a nice hair colour in so long ! Second I’m in no buy year for me i really need it because enough is enough 😬
2:22 YESSS ME TOO and doing it out of pure spite is my double motivater
So proud of you for doing this Shelb!! 🎉
This was really helpful for inspo in ways I can improve my spending as well. Needed this!
Love this. Excellent motivation.
Also, your hair is stunning!! I also stopped using conditioner a few years ago and have no regrets ✨️
I think the not stocking up on certain things is because people often have lots of things that needs to be used up before they buy yet another product.
I tried to do a low buy in 2024. I did pretty well for the first 6 months and then completely fell off. In 2025 I’m taking it month by month and will be documenting it on my TH-cam channel. I’m hoping that setting shorter goals will make it easier to stay in track.
gorl, you got this! you’re so strong and smart! we believe in you! ☺️
Thank you for this video!!! I’ve been gearing up to do a no buy next year and it was helpful to hear your take on it!
I'm with you on the apprehension of the coming administration. I'm not comfortable with the soon to be reigning oligarchy, so I'm cutting ties with corporations that are just sucking money away from me. I'm going to be growing a large garden this year so I can minimize my purchases. I'm also doing a Lo/No buy because I just have too much stuff and I'm trying to get rid of and/or use what I have already. Thanks for the video!
Exactly. Well said! Me too.
I am doing less buy on groceries! I love grabbing things just because 😭 It was my biggest spending item in 2024! I am doing a Friday meeting with myself finding recipes and limiting myself to just the things for them!! Then, one snack extra item per trip, because I know I will want those!! haha Also Birthdays and celebrations I will allow more to spend, but still trying to be mindful!
Ordering my groceries for curbside pickup has stopped me from randomly grabbing things I see bc I am only adding items I absolutely need! I’ll still run in for produce but I cut out a lot of the wandering
@ oooh thats a good idea!! I have been contemplating doing that online first to see the total and then go in with that list only!
Love seeing so many influencers committing a no buy year! I hope it sticks
Being an immigrant to the US, I have noticed that in the US, consumerism is closely tied to patriotism. We feel like it’s our patriotic duty to stimulate the economy. That is a serious problem
I think I’m here because of Financial Audit podcast but I’m glad you’re doing this! Definitely helps me feel more accountable for my spending habits too!
Good luck on all your ideas!! You can totally do it. You already know that doing the reviews/ analysis is the way to illuminate what you want to work on!
This was really inspiring and helpful Shelbi! Good luck to you (and to me, I'm going to do a low buy year too)
Also doing a no buy this year, to save for our wedding. (It’s gonna be small and low key, so anything extra will go to a house deposit). Good luck! It’s honestly so motivating when your fave youtubers are doing the same as you - can’t wait to follow along
I fear I need to participate with makeup on the top of my no buy list, with the exception of mascara ONLY when my current tube runs out. Thanks for the inspo Shelby! It helps to just have a hard and fast rule about what you will/wont buy so I don’t get stuck going back and forth not able to make up my mind whether something is worth it or not.
I plan on giving as little of my money as possible to the next administration’s economy. So much I have started mapping out how I can drive to my errands on the way home from work to use as little fuel as possible 😂
Unfortunately we have zero public transportation in my area 😅
Yes! 💪💪💪
I was planning to make a no buy in 2025 just so that I am still able to save money despite of my income being lower. After writing down ALL of my expenses, I realized that I literally don't have a choice 😅 I am barely gonna be able to afford my necessities with my current income... BUT telling myself it's a 💫no-buy💫 instead of me being broke makes it intentional and gamefies it for me. So I am actually looking forward to the challenge 😁
Love that you mentioned you’ll still buy presents for your sister’s foster kids, I’d make the same exception if I were in your shoes ❤
Planning on doing this anyway I'm so glad to follow along with you!!
8:15 Depop/Poshmark/FB marketplace then donate. If you bought something and can't return it then try and resell and get something back. I normally keep things listed for 4 months then donate if I can't sell it. Or do a clothing swap with friends/family
13:50 I like costco/Sam's club for this exact reason. Buying in bulk and saving money. Or Buying during sales.
Phew I love this video. Me and my family are doing a low buy year. With a toddler and a baby it will be challenging but I am really excited to see how much money we save.
Our big goal is to move out of Texas for…obvious reasons. So that’s an easy thing to hold on to when thinking about doing frivolous shopping.
I shouldn’t have to buy anything for a long, long time. I need to know by here too I’m with you. All the way. And also, I am passionate about helping the homeless. I’ve never been homeless. None of my family been homeless I feel they really need help. ❤❤❤
I'm doing something of a low buy year too! I'm committing to 25 no spend weeks. I need to really hammer out the rules but my logic is: if see something I really want during a no buy week, and can wait until the week is over, at least I avoided the impulse purchase. But I'm also planning/hoping to make a few major life changes that will require some level of purchasing so I don't want to limit myself TOO much
Giving yourself a financial + trash audit is an excellent way to really understand your consumption habits. How often are you buying that type of item and often are you throwing it away (donating, recycling, composting or trash), can you practically find a way to reduce or eliminate that?
The 2 audits together give a really good story of your consumption habits and can really help understand how much waste and money you'd save by using reusables
Thanks for reminding people about free community events. Don't forget that you always have access to these, as well as parks and libraries. Our library system (5 locations in a city of 100,000) always has free programs from workshops and movies, to story times, and crafts groups. Likewise, our parks have concerts, local markets, art fairs, Shakespeare performances, and other fun activities. Frankly, I would rather go to a free concert in the park than pay huge amounts of money to Ticketmaster to end up in a crammed stadium with terrible acoustics.
I need to do the no craft supplies for the first 3 months
I'm sure you have a local buy, nothing group. If you need pots, people are always giving them away in my town. In southern california
I'm a top contributor in my buy nothing group for sure haha. I will be practicing even less instant gratification as a result this year haha
5:50 yes!! We shopped around and we are saving over $100 a month too! And my spouse and i are the same age as you. We are in the cheapest age bracket for car insurance, let's make the most of it!
Love this! Money anxiety is so relatable.
Do gifts for others count in a no-buy year?? I did one this past year but wasn’t sure if I should count the gifts I bought for others. I only got a few things for various events (weddings, birthdays, etc) and tried to make them as sustainable as possible but don’t know if those should count or not
Ur hair is amazing!
I would love to see a video about what to do with your old clothes. Growing up i had a terrible shopping addiction (that im still working through) and my closet is full of clothes i dont need or want anymore. i dont want the garments to end up in a landfill but im struggling to find out what to do with them other than donate
Could you recommend any sustainable credit cards?
Thanks for sharing your personal no buys. For me it’s any home improvement/ decor. Also deleted all social media off my phone to spend more time on valuable content I find here :) a money game changer for me has been learning from Ramit Sethi about the ladder of personal finance. My investments and savings have never looked better 🙏🏻
I buy all of my skincare that i use every single day during black friday because of the sale. like why not if i have been using these products for years and i know i will use it ?
I do the same. A few years back, I kept track of how much product I use per month and since then I buy accordingly during sales to stock up.
Great video! I’ve done a low spend year this year and did okay on some stuff but need to do better in 2025. You mention Austin has lots of free community events. How do you find out about local free events?
Do you have a video about your front yard? I am quite interested in that. I live rurally on a bit over 2 acres. We have never sprayed the lawn, actually it isn’t even really planted grass, and about 10 years ago let an acre of it go back to being natural. It is now populated with some ash, which are dying from emerald ash borer, and a LOT of black walnuts and some pine. I am not against rewilding a section on the side of the house but in a more intentional way.
ah I love that. I also love how long I have seen your account commenting here ❤ I do not have a dedicated video for it but I did a series about the process on my tiktok & there is a playlist there. I wanted to wait until the 3rd growing season to make the TH-cam video. But good news! That is this spring. So that video is coming soon-ish.
Good luck! I’m doing a low buy year because I have 2 kids and it’s impossible for me to do a no buy with them (and their schools that always want stuff!!!).
@Shelbi - so much appreciated, that you mentioned money anxiety & very helpful ways you are actively planning to address & evolve from that.
Very helpful, as I have the same.. & must begin to authentically do the same. I deserve to maintain the money I’ve so hard earned!
I have as unhoused (and it’s a child), & you don’t know how my heart responded, just to hearing someone in your position, speak so ‘matter of fact, & unapologetically- about planning to have a bit of money on your person, for when true need calls.
There is so much selfish hate out there towards this position; which in turn, speaks more towards the people judging. I too carry gift items in a regular basis, & just ask- when encountering someone(s) whom I believe will benefit. Even when traveling *because the is an issue about everywhere in the U.S.
The resulting impact/ connection; purely priceless.
My gratitude again.
I am doing a no/low buy for fancy coffee and treats. Last year I found myself buying a coffee or a treat whenever I went out for a walk, when I wanted a break at work, or when I didn’t bring enough food to work. This year my goal is to bake my own treats, pack proper lunches and bring my own coffee for a walk (if I want one).
I would really recommend an old book called "the Richest Man in Babylon", because one of the first rules we learn there is to examine our expenses constantly... and to make and keep budgets because "like a light in a darkened room, your budget will help you find the leaks where your gold slips away".
As you said, in this world we cannot do "no buy"... but we can and honestly should make sure the things we buy meet our standards and goals for our lives. Be it companies which intentionally harm small businesses, their own workers, or the planet as a whole, we should stand up to them when possible.
How did you convinced people about not buying gifts!? I can not.
it took years honestly. and they had to think it was their own idea... that's what finally did it LOL
I also can’t people are rude to me now 😅 I didn’t buy them gifts they don’t believe me when I say I don’t have money that I’m in debt
@@AlisonDurazoI am sorry to hear! It’s so hard to understand why people just can not accept the situation as you are explaining it to them.
Have a happy 2025! B
I need this motivation!!!
Im definitely doing a low buy 2025
I'm definitely still spending money on races next year. I am most myself when I am riding my bicycle. Buuuuut if you have tips for doing bike and running races more eco-friendly I'd love to hear it. ❤
I take advantage of Black Friday sales to restock my skincare/essentials for the following year
I know this isn't the point of this video at all, but your hair is looking SO healthy!! Gonna start growing mine out soon.
yay! I am planning to do this as well
Hello Hope all is well with you and all out there .
No or low buy. 🤔... I prefer to go on no buy weeks... and what/wheb buying having rules and plan....
2025 will be a year with some big expence and 3 travels... so no buy weeks are better as it makes me add more often to funds... and this is not as scary as a full month...ou half a year....
Keep safe
Happy new year 2025
From Portugal 🇵🇹 ❤
I love how community minded you are. I think it'd be really cool if you ever got into Zero COVID work. We could really use thoughtful voices like yours.