how to stay motivated on your no buy // how to stick to your no buy (or low buy!) for a year?! 

I’ve found that my “why” is really wanting to rewrite my brain, I buy for the serotonin boost so now when I’m wanting to buy something I say out loud “I don’t want _____ I just want the perceived happiness that comes from buying it” and then go to my list of happiness inducing activities (fetch with the dog, cleaning out a space, watching a movie, calling a friend, going to the beach, etc) and do one of those instead!

Something has really come to my conscious lately : how strongly the idea of sales and perceived good deals has affected my buying. Over 90% of my make up I bought reduced. And i don't think I had bought most of it without it. I was only interested because of it being a good deal or affordable. The few things I bought without discount are from brands I love and of course items I really really wanted. And they all actually give me joy & I'm glad I do have them... I somehow managed to not even realise this until now 🤨👀

I have basically been on a makeup no buy for the past 2 years. This was initially a huge mindset shift for me, now it is easier plus I stopped endlessly watching beauty RU-vid content. I can now watch some beauty content and not feel the need to buy the stuff they talk about.

I turned my no-buy into a low buy for this reason. I was being WAY too difficult & hard on myself to the point of deprivation. So, I decided to take a step back and be a little bit more realistic. One thing that I did change my habits on though, was *returning* items. I'd leave so many items untouched if I needed them returned & that is also money wasted. I began to look at necessity differently. Refills, backups, pantry items on hand. Delaying the grocery store. Habits are everything.

I always enjoy listening to your words of wisdom! I’m 53, but I still have a lot to learn. Just a side note, but when you were telling the story about the cookie you really wanted, I was scared that you didn’t get it; so glad the story ended happily! 😀

So I know I have commented on several of your videos lately, but here I am again! Hello! I’m not currently on a no-buy or low-buy. I was on one a few years ago out of necessity because I was up to my eyeballs in student loans from the American university system. I learned many things through that experience, but the most important one is that I personally do NOT do well with super restrictive rules. If I take away everything fun I get sad and bored and break my no/low-buy in spectacular fashion. Now that I am debt free, I work on the “pay yourself first” model where I put a set amount toward savings and bills every month and whatever is left over is mine to spend on whatever. I call this spending money my “dumb sh*t fund.” This has to do with another thing I learned about myself from my no/low-buy: when I am trying to optimize every single dollar I spend for maximum effect, I always take the safe, boring option and never try anything new or fun. Now that I am no longer on a no/low-buy I still research and think each purchase through before I make it, but the title of “dumb sh*t fund” reminds me that if anything I buy ends up not working out, I’m not allowed to beat myself up over it. I am allowed to make mistakes and buy “dumb sh*t” as long as it’s within the budget and I put genuine thought into the purchase

Great points made. I agree that no/low buys can be more of a punishment for people than an opportunity to challenge and learn about yourself. I think that viewing it from a “spirit of the no/low buy” instead of to the letter is a fantastic metric to implement. I too have had those moments where I’ve over-analyzed and agonized over a purchasing decision that should have been way less angsty. Thanks for sharing!

You bring up some good points that had me reflecting. Tracking can get overwhelming when trying to juggle a busy family life and career. I like the idea of setting goals and checking in on them frequently through journaling when I have a moment. We quickly forget why we started something when life gets challenging and it’s so easy to overeat, skip a workout or buy something to make yourself feel better. Having a reminder keeps us in line.

ma’am your brows look incredible! 😍

Struggling with my low buy in light of an upcoming warm weather vacation and realizing most of my summer clothes does not fit….Thank you for the tips! I wish minimalism channels would address more of these nuances.

I'm in the process of trying to replace shopping/browsing online with reading. It is going well so far! I have definitely spent less.

"Why?.. Should be the last resort. Beautiful tips my dear friend

I really love you and your videos 🥺💜 your voice is so soothing and I enjoy your content so much.

Thank you so much for this helpful video! You are the first person that I feel has addressed what alot of no buy or low buy channels don't. Pinpointing the positives and developing new good habits instead of beating yourself up for buying anything. I thought there was something wrong with me. I was comparing my low buy and no buy efforts to others. I love the tips you shared and breaking goals up a d starting small and tracking. I get so overwhelmed with decluttering and feeling guilty for all the purchasing I've already done. For me its a change in mindset and starting small and rewarding myself for my efforts for not spending on new makeup and skincare. I'm actually doing better this month. Thanks for such a great helpful video. 👍 Just loved your tips.❤ I've been more busy with work so much so that I don't even have an interest in doing online shopping lately. Reseting at the start of the week and check in with my goals.

🎉 Thank you so much I have seen a lot of videos so far about this project but what you are speaking of is going far beyond and has a deepness and an analytical approach that I like really really a lot, congratulations, by the way you should have hundred times more followers Your input deserves this

Really needed this video. I’ve always been frugal but this low buy year has felt like a punishment, I’m constantly feeling guilty. I have two young children and so I rarely get time to myself. The idea of rewarding myself with self care is something I’ve never thought of. Great advice 🙂

I have never seen any of your content before. I am really very pleasantly surprised that you go into the in-depth understanding and mindset behind why we might want to buy something. High quality content and much more than the usual "10 things to not buy this year" sort of videos often seen in this space. Well done

Honey you have no idea how much I need this video right now

I should have watched this when it came out but this video is just brilliant. Thank you for talking about hard changes for our desire-filled brains and hearts

I started my low buy in the middle of November. I have certain categories that are just no for me because I have excess and want to learn to use what I have (craft supplies, makeup, clothes, household decor, tarot cards, crystals). At first I struggled a little but I don’t really think of buying those things now. I do think I’ve shifted my spending and am now overspending in other areas where I didn’t before so I’ve added in budgets for things I’m allowed to keep myself in check for example food, replacements, entertainment, gifts. I think and hope that will strike a balance for me to capture the true spirit of my low buy that you are talking about. I don’t want or need to be overly rigid but I do want to focus on contentment instead of yearning and wasting. I have financial goals for this year too.

My no buy year started, officially, this month and already it feels like an impossible task! All the new spring pieces are so tempting! Also, yesterday I got a Valentines day gift and felt like I was breaking my rules some how (I'm not against gift receiving but wish to desencourage it). Hoping I make it through!

This has come at the perfect time for me thank 🙏 you. The first month was so easy but yesterday I had £600 worth of clothing in my shopping cart 😅 I didn't buy anything but was sooo tempted! Today I bought a pin to keep my coat closed, which is within my rules but still felt naughty. It was £5 so I think that's ok too. I am guilty of black and white thinking and being a bit hard on myself. I don't have a budget for dates with my partner because I just need to forget about it once a week.

I'm struggling so fucking much right now :( It's like a crazy itch that NEEDS to be scratched. I'm trying a no buy only in February and it feels fucking impossible. I feel like I can't decide what I should buy or not. I can always find so many reasons to buy things. How do I decide? It doesn't work telling myself I don't "need" it because I will find a reason. That thing you said with getting OBSESSED with an item is exactly how I get. With so many clothes! It's so hard :(

Your eyes are so freakin pretty! 😍 I cant stop staring at them, lol 😊🤗 but these are such great tips, thank you ❤️

I don‘t have a suuuper strong why, my why is basically i just have too much stuff. And I don‘t have another why 😅

I have also been thinking about my no buy... My reason for no buy is having far too much make up due to over buying. buying things due to hype, being on sale, wanting to test different brands. If I had stuck to buying things I really love I would have so much less. This is very upsetting & frustrating. Especially as I actually know quite well which items i really like.... I have tons of eye shadow palettes in all possible colours... What I really want and haven't focused on at all is to collect yellow& orange shimmer eye shadows, my favourite colours. I'm closely checking before I buy them to avoid duplicates 🤨 but I have dozens of eye shadow palettes I don't need 😶😑 so in a way the no buy feels like punishment cause I'm stuck with things I don't need but can't buy things that actually make me excited😭 I feel this can become a problem

I also have my bday in July and i am on a no buy so that my stuff gets used and not end up at the back of the closet. I have realised i buy stuff on deals and discounts and in the fear of missing out on the deals.

Hi there! I’m new. I was wondering where you got your glasses. They’re pretty.

A week ago I broke my wrist so I can't fucking do my favorite things like cooking and baking which is what's the best way to distract myself. I can read ( it's a bit hard with the arm but it works) but it's like not enough as another habit.

You mentioned a couple apps, but I was wondering was app/program you use for your spreadsheet/tracking (like outfit usage)?

I have been trying low buy years these last few years. My problem is I tend to have no control over clothing spending. I have hundreds of clothing items I really love but somehow I cannot stop. I think I am getting better st it though... For example in 2020 I bought 54 new items, 38 last year even if I continued doing a low buy year. This year I am trying again but still I bought 5 items in January. Fortunately I still havent bought any more piece of clothing in February. Please wish me luck...

I think I should stop buying from my favorite website which is a second hand website that's also a charity. I'm obsessed with checking for new clothes and get so scared that the clothes I want is going to be bought before I have the chance. That's why it's so hard to "wait" several weeks. It's like made for my obsessive brain. It's just that, that's where I've been able to actually find second hand jeans that fit me, and a lot of other clothes and some home stuff that I absolutely love. But I don't think it's good for me anymore. But I neeed to order a few things once my no buy is over. Which is a few jeans and then a bunch of tops and a pair of leggings that I probably shouldn't but I can't resist.