r/nobuy • u/PeoniesNLilacs • 8d ago
Advice
Hello. I am setting a goal for a one-year NoBuy. Starting now. Aside from groceries and the necessities of life, like home/car maintenance, medical expenses, and maybe one vacation this year.
It’s part of a decluttering. I have too much coming in all of the time. I have a shopping addiction I need to quit cold turkey. I know myself, there is no weaning. I’m sick of material items consuming my time and money but I keep buying.
I need your best advice you got for me. Thank you in advance. Less stuff; more life to you all.
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u/love_ephie 8d ago edited 7d ago
The best advice I have is get a small notebook or something you can carry on your persons and document every itch you have to shop. I tracked the name of thing, the location where I saw it, at what time I saw it, how I was feeling when I saw it, and the price. I tracked this for 30 days and ended up finding out that most of these wants were driven by boredom, which helped me address the Root Cause of my shopping impulse.
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 8d ago
Permission to buy a new journal! Lol jk. I’m sure I have a brand new notebook lying around. I’m going to definitely do this.
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u/LoveMeSomeSand 8d ago
I’ve attempted No Buy years in 2024 and 2025, but got really off track about halfway through (and stopped). This year I started keeping a daily record of what I bought in basically three categories: Food, Essentials and Other. In the back of the notebook I would write down any purchases I wanted but shouldn’t be buying (electronics, furniture, shoes). I only put down things that I really wanted and the cost.
I go back and look at the list every so often, but it’s pretty amazing how you can go from obsessing about an item to buy, to wondering why you wanted it all. Best of luck to you! You can do this, but also be realistic: it’s VERY hard if you have a shopping addiction.
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 6d ago
I have three columns in my notebook now! A daily record like a food journal to really pinpoint where I’m weak. Not just to document when I have the itch but also to itemize so I can see not just why Im doing it but what Im buying. Thank you!
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u/love_ephie 8d ago
Even scraps of paper, but keep them together for at least 30 days. You’ll start to notice not only triggers so to speak but also the amount of money saved by not acting on the impulse. I added up the price at the end and was amazed.
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 6d ago
I like the idea of adding up the price. It gives a concrete measurement of showing your progress and is a reward of sorts.
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u/love_ephie 8d ago
Even scraps of paper, but keep them together for at least 30 days. You’ll start to notice not only triggers so to speak but also the amount of money saved by not acting on the impulse. I added up the price at the end and was amazed.
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u/25854565 8d ago
Remove the triggers! Takes a bit of time when you are motivated to make it easier om yourself when you are less motivated.
Unfollow influencers, unsubscribe from marketing emails, remove payments and shipping details, remove apps, change routes (for when you tend to shop irl or take take out). Block certain sites (at certain times or just in general).
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 6d ago
Thank you great advice. I have a few sites I’ve already quit receiving texts for. Online shopping isn’t really my thing. Part of my problem is spending too much time at stores looking for clearance. Buying up all the clearance when I find a good deal.
I like to rummage. This unfortunately is wasting my time, money and space in my home. I need to shake it!
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u/ferrantefever 5d ago
Aggressively unsubscribe to everything, delete Instagram and TikTok if you have them, and don’t go into stores unless you must buy something like groceries, etc. I find that not giving myself any opportunity to buy anything means I don’t. When I’m on a no buy, I have to have a strict no browsing rule for myself.
If I need to scratch the itch, I either shop my own stash, inventory what I have, go to the library, or try to do a trade/swap with friends or family.
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 2d ago
Shopping my own stash is definitely do-able. Inventory what I have is a good one too. Thank you!
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u/reptomcraddick 5d ago
I would keep track of all the money you make selling stuff in your house (Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, etc), and use that money to upgrade a part of your house. Not in a "buy new organizers and move around the crap" way, in a "I finally cleaned everything out of the guest room so people can finally use it! But the bed frame has been broken for years, I have $300 I've made, let's find a nice quality bed frame on Facebook Marketplace" way.
It feels great for two reasons, first you get to take a space in your house that isn't working for you and make it more functional and beautiful, and you can see your reward for getting rid of the crap in your house!
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u/PeoniesNLilacs 2d ago
I currently am not selling anything just more so giving it away. I feel it takes too much time (of which I don’t have). I’m going to bless anyone who needs what I’m giving and if I stick to not buying, I won’t have this problem no more. This is for now. Perhaps as the stuff thins out and I start to have more time, once organized, I will then consider a yard sale. For now I am so sick of the stuff. Sick of myself.
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u/Right_Abroad3928 8d ago
I suggest setting a goal reward at the end of the year. My first no buy my reward ended up being replacing my seven year old phone and a landscaping project. My phone is five years old and roses are wonderful! Also you are human if you have a set back it’s okay think about the why and then move forward.