Over the last few years I’ve changed my life in every conceivable way. I moved to the other side of the planet for a start. Then I found myself reading self help books, going vegetarian, shopping less, meditating more and having conversations with my old t-shirts in a Kon Marie declutter of epic proportions. But, for all that, I still feel like I’m trapped in the quicksand of consumerism. I still don’t feel like I’m in control. So my New Year’s Resolution for 2020 is to take on a no buy year.
Perhaps you think I’ve lost my mind and perhaps you’re right, but I swear there’s method to the madness. Let me explain why I’m willingly putting myself through an entire no spend year and then lay out my own personal no buy year rules.
What Is a No Buy Year?
Quite simply, a no buy year is a year of no buying. In its most extreme form, a no buy year has people riding around on broken bicycles with holes in their shoes and cracked lips because they didn’t think to add lip balm to their ‘approved purchases’ list. For some people, a no buy year means no holidays, no eating out and certainly no takeaway coffees.
But there is a sliding scale when it comes to the no buy movement and different people set different limitations based on their lifestyles, needs and what they want to get out of a year of reduced spending. Let me hold up my hands here and vow that I will not be cycling anywhere and I am going to treat myself to the occasional latte from Costa (see more in my list of no buy year rules below).
Why Am I Doing This To Myself?
Like I said, I’ve made a lot of really positive changes in my life recently. Over the past three years I’ve turned my financial situation upside down and finally learned the meaning of the word budget. I’ve decluttered my mountain of junk and forged a new relationship with stuff (spoiler alert – it isn’t half as attractive to me anymore).
So why am I embarking on a year of not buying anything? Most people are drawn to the challenge as a way to get their finances under control or to wrangle their shopping addiction into submission. But I don’t really have either of those problems.
What I do still have, though, is stuff. Stuff that I couldn’t bare to purge in my various decluttering efforts because I wanted to use it. Stuff I genuinely like. But stuff that’s ultimately taking up space and gathering dust. Because, while I shop less now than I ever have in my life, I still have this stockpile looming behind closed cupboard doors and I never get around to using it because I’m so quick to replace things before their even gone.
Taking on a no buy challenge is going to force me to use up what I already have and get this mountain of stuff under control once and for all.
My No Buy Year Rules
In order to keep myself on track throughout the year while ensuring I don’t become a complete hermit, I’ve made a list of things I can and can’t spend money on in 2020.
- Takeaways and meals out will be limited to once a week, except in exceptional circumstances (if I’m travelling, we’re celebrating a special occasion etc)
- Takeaway coffees will be limited to once a month
- Makeup and skincare products can be purchased only to replace used up counterparts
- Gifts for other people are allowed
- Travel souvenirs are allowed
- No new clothes
- No home decor
- No books or magazines
- Alcoholic drinks are limited to one per week
You know what the weird thing is? This mammoth task doesn’t even seem that daunting. It actually feels quite liberating. I keep catching myself looking at my excessive collection of half-used moisturisers and thinking, “This time next year there’ll only be a few of you left standing.” I can’t help fantasising about how much extra drawer space I’ll have at the end of the year. I’m excited to stop living with a Soap & Glory stockpile large enough for a cosmetics-based apocalypse.
I know if won’t be easy and this time next week when I’ve already used up my coffee allowance, I’ll be cursing myself for ever throwing myself into this. But I also know this challenge has the potential for some big and unexpected impacts on my life and that, my friends, is very exciting.
Are you ready to start a no-buy year, but have no idea where to start? Check out my no-buy year ebook that’s designed to guide you through the entire process.
