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?

NSD so far! 🥳

Resisted the urge to browse the spring fashion bits in Asda this morning, picked up aveeno for DS who's majorly suffering with dry skin but got it with boots points so I'm counting it as a win as I rarely go to boots and have had points on my card for a purchase that's absolutely needed!

It's almost like a challenge going as long as possible with a NSD or LSD

Agreed, @wholenutcadburys. Both the challenge aspect and the recording here really help.

I returned most of what I got in the sales back in Dec. Got a few secondhand books this month so not ideal but I've reduced the basket both times before checkout. Have not even read marketing emails, unsubscribed and deleted as they came through. Have reminded myself I don't need xyz or, more relevant, I don't need xyz now.

I did a small grocery shop for under £30 to include wine (bought a bit cheaper than usual) and cake for family member's birthday. Resisted the urge to buy exercise equipment in middle of Lidl and returned a dressing gown bought before Xmas that was poor quality. So subtracting the refund, overall, a £10 spend day (and only on groceries!). Doing well! And no doubt would have bought (and not used) the exercise equipment should I not have remembered the thread!!

Agree completely! Love the support within this thread and no judgement.. I'm hoping it'll be a challenge I will continue throughout the year.. I fear the Spring/Summer months will be the real test to resist the gorgeous things in store but trying to think of the bigger picture! 🥰

My small win yesterday was going to a Tesco before the theatre (that I paid for last year!) rather than buying a drink at the theatre. But I also did four lots of transfers for leaving gifts which hurt a bit.

Today I have only bought a microwave cat pad (essential!) and a Tesco order.

@Drivingoverlemons I agree that is an essential purchase!! 😻would it be rude to ask for a pic of the cat on the cat pad?! (no worries if you prefer not to share!!).

NSD going really well until DS put his onesie on for swimming and sleeves halfway up his arm 🤣 never stops growing! So scouring Vinted for a cheapy deal

Yes of course! I got this one from Amazon. My cat sleeps in my utility which is cold (won’t sleep inside!) and I occasionally make a hot water bottle in weather like this so this seemed a good time-saver!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SnuggleSafe-Microwave-Wireless-Heatpad-Fleece/dp/B0014LJKUA

Had a few hiccups 🫤. It's my birthday this week so used that excuse to spend on some wants not needs. I've given my head a wobble and need to stop.

@LokiCroc If you can't buy a few treats around your birthday when can you? As long as you're good the rest of the time... :) and happy birthday!

@Drivingoverlemons ooh that does look good! I was actually being cheeky and hoping for a piccy of your cat 😳 but I'll take that instead. It looks like it could make a good gift for a family members cat (or even as a hot water bottle alternative for my bed!?)

Loving reading what everyone is up to, it’s really helping me stay strong! I had a hard day on Sunday (husband ended up in a&e for hours, everything fine though!) and I normally would have said to myself that I deserve a treat and ordered some clothes. Really proud of myself for not doing it. Baby steps over here, but hoping they all add up!

Oh, I read the post wrong in haste @LuminousStar but he will be happy to pose when it arrives 😂

NSD here. Dishwasher repair man didn’t come and I’m not wfh again until Monday, so that delays that expenditure! Unfortunately I’ll have to keep doing the washing up until then (my least favourite domestic task).

@ThisHazelDog that sounds tough! I hope you are ok now. And congrats on staying strong!

I'm hoping this no spend process will build up a no spend "muscle" 💪 - the more we all exercise saying no, the stronger it gets (in theory, anyway!).

Gosh @ThisHazelDog I hope all is okay now 💐

Had a few of spends today. £1.65 on a stamp as I needed to send my old driving licence back, have to admit to being slightly horrified at the cost. £3.60 on a tea in Starbucks where I meet my friends once a week. We all work from home permanently now and so it’s nice to meet in person occasionally. Then a quick £15 top us shop as DS is back from uni for a couple of days and will eat me out of house and home!

I was thinking about all the things I’ve bought so far in 2025, and realised that the majority of them are rectifying purchases made in December - swapping out the wool duvet for one that doesn’t literally smell like shit, swapping out the duvet cover for a colour that actually works in the bedroom, buying postage to return the unwanted items.

I’ve only actually bought wiper blades (boring necessity) and one item for about £15 from the allowed list (renovation project) outside of groceries and bills.

On my “thought about buying” list are: Netflix subscription, attachment for vacuum cleaner, nice laundry basket. I’ve added all the laundry basket tabs to the “want to buy” tab group, and will eventually close them.

So I’m doing pretty well in reality. I think I don’t feel like I’m doing well because I still had a bunch of parcels coming in from before Christmas, and the replacements mentioned above, but I’m gonna acknowledge my progress here.

On top of that, I got £29 from topcashback today and also the offer of a promotion with pay rise!

@Floopdifloo payrise and promotion - what great news!

Big spendy day today - but a needed purchase as DD's mattress is knackered. As previously mentioned, I got the bed from for free, barely used, from a colleague who is moving house, so it has cost half what a bed-and-mattress would have cost.

There always seems to be SOMETHING that's needed that gets in the way of a no-spend day!

Also had a costa trip with dd1, but we're doing that once a week max whereas I was going more often in Dec, and it's being paid for with my gift card I bought in Nov. :)

There's a certain minimum amount of money I like to have left at the end of the month in my account after I've done the 'save first' thing after payday and spent through the month. Recently I've ended up dipping in as I've over saved (well, obv over spent!) and my first aim this month is not to have to dip in and save all the savings I am aiming to save.

Then next month have more left at the end of the month again than I'm used to etc. The extra is going to be syphoned off at payday as extra savings to build them up if it pays off!

I do internet shopping, and trying to calthe quantity I spend. So if I go over, I’ll look down the list to see if there’s something I don’t need etc.

I think you can use Spotify for free, too, you just need to sign up.
On the main page you should be able to see the options available before you even sign in. One of them is Spotify Free. There will be ads in between, but otherwise it's pretty much the same.

My first no spend day of the week yesterday. Hopefully another today. Trying for 3 a week

@Floopdifloo great news , a good way to increase savings is to not allow your lifestyle to increase with payrise as I assume you are managing on current pay you could allocate 100% of the payrise to savings ( or to decide that you will save 80-90% of payrise with a small increase for fun )

Just did a food shop - bloody £137. To be fair that's for two adults, two teenagers, and a baby.

Driving lessons are paid up until my test now on January 20th. Praying I pass first time as that will really help with finances. Last SMP this month and I think it's only about £300 so I'll need every penny I can get.

Not doing too badly here. I have mostly spent money on food and a couple of other things such as stamps to post birthday cards.

My non essential spends have been £2 on a bunch of daffodils, £1.99 on a book from the charity shop when I took them the fruits of my decluttering and a present for a friend who is going through a rough patch. It is something she will love but wouldn't buy for herself. I think that is a few pounds well spent.

I am impressed everyone's NSDs. I am planning to have one tomorrow and perhaps Saturday too as we have plenty of food in.