Buy nothing in 2025 challenge (or minimal purchasing!) - anyone want to join in!

[LuminousStar]

Hello! In the vein of the decluttering threads I've been thinking about doing a challenge where I buy as little as possible in 2025.

I realise buying "nothing" is impossible, especially as a parent. But as my life is endlessly complicated by clutter and junk and taking care of objects, as well as money (or a lack of) so I am going to try to buy as little unnecessary stuff as humanly possible in the coming year. Not to mention all the clutter sitting around making me feel guilty because I haven't used it / read it / sorted it! So I wondered if stopping the junk coming in as much as possible might change my mindset!

Instead what I will do is write down anything I am tempted to buy and hold out instead. If something becomes absolutely necessary I will allow it. But there are often other ways around problems that I am often inclined to ignore (mend, home made solutions etc) I will have to rely on more.

Obviously groceries and essentials are allowed, as are non-physical items or treats (holidays, events, e-books, subscriptions within reason). But I figure that even my grocery shopping could do with a bit of pruning! And if I need something that makes life infinitely easier, of course I will buy it.

And at the end of the year I am perhaps planning a little treat if I manage to do a good job - maybe a budget for some new clothes or something.

Would anyone like to join in?

@LuminousStar you are a painting machine!

Good work, all the no spend day people!

Sunday was my food shop, so that was a big one but necessary. No spend today, hopefully not Tuesday either.

I forget who was talking about a cost per wear for a new jumper. I track how many items I wear each item of clothing (yes I am insane) and keep thinking of adding this in - except I'm planning on not buying any new clothes this year.

On budgets, many years ago I used to use (and love) You Need a Budget (YNAB). It used to be a one-time purchase. And then SAAS became a thing, but I could still use the original downloaded software. Finally I had to get a new computer that wouldn't support the software, and it was many times more expensive for a subscription, so I couldn't bring myself to do it. I started using financier.io, which doesn't have all the features of YNAB but has enough for me.

Thankyou @Melancholiest . I love the sound of these budgeting software ideas!

I had a spend free day excepting an NHS prescription (so unavoidable really!) and also returned a purchase bought prior to the new year as unsuitable. So all in all a good day!

For those who can't resist the odd coffee out and about in town a tip for saving is Starbucks filter coffee - it's not usually advertised but is cheaper (I think around £2 or less) than the regular cups - just ask for a filter coffee even if not on the menu - and you can get a free top up once your mug is empty. I always go for the smallest size and get a top up if I have a few hours to kill waiting for my kid in town or something. Ok not exactly no spend but definitely saves a quid or two.

Also am continuing my decluttering like a mad woman!! Managed to get about three bags of stuff out the door today. 👌

@Waggytail I've never quite found the perfect oat milk recipe despite trying many times! I've pretty much given up trying these days and even bought a special emulsifier device that didn't work that well TBH. I just buy the UHT stuff and it sits in the cupboard so I don't run out. Not ideal I know. If you do find a tip for preventing it settling let me know!

Another no spend day for me.

It’s the first day back into normal routine after Christmas so now will be the real test to see if I slip back into my old spending habits. It’s so much easier to end up in a shop or supermarket and spend X here and there when you have other places to be.

Another spendy day but not too bad!! I find it's the little £4-£5 here and there they soon add up and I'm scratching my head thinking what do I have to show for the ££££ pending on my banking app 😭

Not a good day - £333 to the plumber to fix the ch and another £3500 for a new boiler. And after that I bought sushi at £12.65. Not a good day 😂

@TwinkleLights24 yes for me the spends generally come when I am hovering around town or pop into a supermarket or random shop somewhere to use up some time. Today I passed the charity shop (a place my money often gets frivolously spent) and avoided going in! As I don't need anything at the moment it seems like a false economy to pop in on the offchance.

@PrincessofWells ouch!!

I've been spending the past week on the final bits for a collection I do, only £1-5 here and there but I've balanced it out on the profits from my Vinted sale. That money is now gone and I still need 4 stickers to complete my collection so that has motivated me to find something else to sell to cover the cost of them!

On a good note I failed to buy a dkny puffa jacket in the charity shop - saved £19 😀

It’s another no spend day, whoop.

I am tracking everything and am reviewing my ‘potential purchase list’ for the end of the month - why have I never done this before?? It’s working so well for me, very simply listing anything that I think I want/need. I’ve already crossed off two items which I probably would have bought without any thought previously.

Tonight I am going to review my spending for first 7 days this year verses last year. I am hoping it going to be good news.

I also posted this on the frugaleers thread..

I'm due to renew my car insurance and found confused.com quotes cheaper than other comparison sites and the rewards of a Greggs hot drink each month & options of £20 voucher for a store a great reward. Saves me buying a hot drink each month and pays for a birthday gift if I put the voucher to good use 😁

Just in case it's helpful for insurance renewals, I renew 30 days before it's due to get the best prices and then I'm not stressing waiting on the phone for ages trying to cancel my renewal.. I know others just ask for a better quote by their current insurer.. I just find the good reward incentive a great way of saving a little bit extra towards things I would have had to use £££ for.

@Wond3rment Let us know how it goes! Would love to know the difference.

The writing it down seems to work pretty well, so far the things I have been pondering and not bought are:

Books by a particular author / Houseplant / William Morris tablecloth / Sleep headband headphones / Duolingo subscription / Dr Beckmann stain remover (was unnecessary) / Birthday extra gifts for family member / Clingfilm

I am glad I didn't bother!

I have bought other (I think necessary) stuff like paint, prescriptions and so on, as well as a watch for my kid but otherwise pretty much just groceries. I swear all the above stuff would clutter up my house no end and I am loving it being nice and clear of junk at the moment!! I'm also considering holiday planning purchases for the summer soon - not an extortionate amount but need to get in some travel time with my kid and do some fun stuff. And that is ok in my book!

I had a small 12.99 spend yesterday on a teaching thing that upon reflection I should’ve used the list idea like @Wond3rment because I think actually I didn’t need it. I think I often do that. But things reactively. This challenge has made me reflect on this massively. A no spend day so far today though! Small wins. Gonna start my list tonight in my journal to get a couple of ideas out of my head. I love the idea of reviewing it monthly and crossing off those not wanted or needed anymore!

Hi I’d love to join the thread. I need to be more mindful with my spending. I’ve recently declutterred but there’s still room for improvement. I will start by making a list of essential spends such as bills and then what else I am going to allow. Great thread

I’m on the verge of giving up 😆

I’m trying my absolute best to be mindful of what I buy as there’s some big purchases I would like to make this year. I’ve gone without ordering little bits I’d like for myself and kept out of the shops, I’ve reined in the food shop, I’m having no spend days…
But my teen is driving me crazy asking me for money every single day.

I wasn’t including her in my daily spending but it’s an every day occurrence of requests for money.
Can I have money my friends are going ice skating?
I’m off to the cinema send me money.
I’m going out for food.
Then there is the none stop texts asking for more money while she is out.

I honestly don’t know why I am bothering.

Ps. She knows I’m trying to cut back as she wants a £400 bed + mattress and her bedroom doing as it’s a white new build as I tell her I won’t be doing it untiI she stops the money demands. It goes in one ear and out the other.

Aaaargh teens. Does she have a monthly allowance ?

A monthly allowance for your teen will teach her to budget.

Can't she find a way to earn money?

Or at least give her a weekly limit. £25 a week max; she can earn anything above that.

It's a necessary life skill.

@TwinkleLights24 Stay with us - you are doing so well! For your teen you need to set a weekly or monthly allowance and stick to it. If she can't stick to it then that's her issue! That will force her to spend more wisely and manage money better. Also depending on age could she get a job or do babysitting or something for a bit of extra money? Saturday job or something?

@sheepdreams welcome! Alongside the no-spend I too am decluttering and feel so much lighter already. I'm like a woman possessed at the moment and determined to go next level on the decluttering front. Can't quite believe I had so much junk sitting around! And am determined not to add to it again.

For those on Octopus energy , they offers which include free coffee etc - not sure if it’s for smart meter people or general. I think there’s a limit on how many are available.

Oh no, @PrincessofWells, sounds like my month only different bills. It makes you wonder why you bothered saving 50p when thousands that you don’t even want to spend just fly out the door.

LSD yesterday, just petrol and hospital parking. Instead of buying stuff I’ve been making a list of things I need and want. My birthday is not that far away so I might budget a birthday present to myself and see what is my top priority in a few weeks - will the Metallica hoodie win out over the new sheets I need because my current set keep rolling themselves off the bed because they’ve shrunk over time?

@Melancholiest for a moment I thought you meant you'd taken LSD! Then I realised... low spend day 😂