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?

Couple of memes to keep people's morale up!

I'm having a no spend day so far! I have two items on my want to buy list: brighter lightbulbs and rechargeable batteries. I think they are both allowable and essential but may give it a week or so and try to sell some stuff to get the money.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/money-mantras/

These MSE mantras are good. The idea is you cut out the card and pop it in your purse, as a reminder.

No spend so far too
On my list —

• a snowsuit/puddlesuit for the dog 🙈
• a dining room light fitting
• A book

so far. Resisting!

NSD today, yesterday ended up spending £4.50 total on Vinted onesie for DS.. calculated up since 1st Jan I've got £200 extra to put straight to savings from Vinted, clothing return, top cashback and surveys.. 2025 off to a cracking start!🤩

Hi all! In the end I went to asda and got pulled in by sale stuff and bought some really great teatowels on sale for £1.50 (bought three packs as stocking fillers for family members - early I know but I always shop ahead for Xmas to get a bargain) as well as some reduced clothing bits for year ahead gifts, lightbulbs and so on. Ended up spending £25 - but the majority of it will go on gifts and household stuff so it is kind of killing two birds with one stone in a way. So not really luxury or non-essential but I can see that little spends add up!

I then felt guilty and went on the https://www.reddit.com/r/beermoneyuk/ subreddit and did one of the offers that gives you a £5 amazon voucher for signing up to an app - to offset a bit of the spend.

That subreddit is really good if anyone wants a go to top up and offset some of their spends.

£5 today.
But on food for dinners at aldi so allowed. :)

BUT I did get a refund from a booked hotel back into my account.

And DD2 is elated today because she only has £350 in her premium bonds and she's never won before this month. She's won £1000!

Watching No Buy on Netflix, really enjoying it. I need to rewatch The Minimalists again.

If you want to dip your toe into minimalism/ no spend, becomingminimalist.com is a good read, they send some interesting blog articles via weekly email too.

@LokiCroc I really need to watch this I think. Today's Asda outing was a case in point! Ok I did buy useful stuff, but I still feel like I could have done better. I think I need a completely "dry" no-buy 100% except groceries run now. The dopamine chasing is too much! Even with £1.50 asda teatowels that I am saving for gifts!! I'm going for it!!

I went "minimalist" a few years back when DH lost his job and things were tight, my friends were having expensive holidays and we were struggling. I switched up my mentality from sad that we couldn't afford stuff to happy that we were on a minimalist movement. Helped switched the focus.

£25 quid food shop today.

Tomorrow I'll probably buy a wine seeing as it's Friday but not going for the fish and chips I was planning. Have some salmon in freezer and potatoes to make chips so going to rustle up a homecooked chippie!

Gym classes are tallying up week by week but I wouldn't get exercise otherwise. Hate running and walking doesn't cut it for my massive appetite 😂

Determined for an NSD. Haven't had one yet this year! Not counting DS's lunch and bus.

NSD yesterday — not today (petrol, train) but unavoidable spending.

I’m cross with myself as I’ve just made a completely unnecessary purchase. It was only £3.50 but really isn’t needed. Hopefully I won’t need much when I go food shopping later, the fridge and freezer are still pretty well stocked.

Yesterday I ordered replacement skincare products for ones that have run out/are about to. It came to more than I’d like, but they last for ages and they’ve all been used for years so it’s not frivolous spending. Other than that no new purchases.

A unique and cool watch is down from >£120 is down to £97. Won't get similar anywhere else except for this retailer. I'm holding off...though it's hard. I'm as well waiting until I've really got 'spare' money. Retailer will probably still exist then.

It doesn't help that I am angry and sad today.

no spend day excepting a few limited groceries (easier to grab a few bits while waiting for my kid than do it at the weekend).

@LisaJohnsonsFacebookMole why are you angry and sad? Hope your weekend improves! I had a rough day too - just stood on a bloody drawing pin when I got home after a two hour walk in the cold ouch!!😰(was avoiding getting the bus to save money!) 😂.

Hang in there - do you need a new watch or just lusting after it? If the latter give it a week or two and see if you've changed your mind. It might go down more in the sale or you might not want it any more.

@Iheartmysmart in the scheme of things, £3.50 isn't too bad! don't beat yourself up.

Ouch @LuminousStar standing in a drawing pin sounds extremely painful!

I know, it’s nothing really but I was determined not to spend randomly on spur of the moment purchases. Never mind. It’s the first one of the year and I have about £30 worth of stuff sat in my Amazon basket that has so far been resisted.

thank you - it was pretty awful and I cried (probably mid 40s hormones related 😂 on the crying front!)

@Iheartmysmart the point is not to be perfect but to be mindful and avoid most of the spends. Sounds like you are doing that so well! And the recognition is also helpful - I think you are flexing your no spend muscle by recognising and feeling uncomfortable.💪

How does everyone deal with the “that’s such a waste” part of declutterring?

To be truly aware of what I have (and therefore what I Do Not Need) I’ve been really ruthless in getting rid of clothes that do not fit, do not like etc. So much of it is brand new.

I really cannot be arsed with Vinted - getting haggled over a fiver - dragging my butt to the shop to post etc.

I’m planning to just donate everything to a charity shop but I have this feeling - like I’ve spent a lot of money on this, is there anything else I can do with it? The logical part of my brain is fighting with this part and I’m wondering how everyone else deals with it?

NSD today. I even had to walk through a Costa.
Meal out with DH tomorrow though. Looking forward to it.

I feel like this. I currently have one bag for charity and 4 boxes to sell. My husband keeps telling me not to bother trying to sell anything, unless I can get £10 for it, because my time is alsovaluable, buy I can't help but feel nothing will sell for that much on vinted.