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 @cloudengel

Seems we all have the same feelings! Can we give each other permission to donate the old stuff?

I was thinking, depending on where we donate it - think about the good the money they get for it will do. Even if they sell all of our stuff for £2 - it’s better the charity has it than it rotting away in our drawers and under our beds. 💕

100% this. There's only so much space in my hallway 😅

Locally, we have a mum2mum nearly new sale every couple if months. I can't do this month's one, as we're celebrating Lunar New Year that day and my baby is only 4 months, but I'm planning on doing the one in March. Anything that doesn't sell will go to charity. This way, I at least have a deadline for the things being there, rather than it being on vinted for months

Hi,

Can I join you all? I am trying to declutter and spend less. It feels exhausting at times!

Since the beginning of the year I have gone back to cash as much as possible (live very rurally so sometimes do need to order online), this is making a big difference to me mentally keeping track. My difficult areas are things for the garden/books/children’s clothes…yesterday I was on a gardening website, put lots in my basket but didn’t click, am pleased but also a bit glum!

@Preg1989 have you looked up sunken costs fallacy? It explains why you feel this, though knowing why doesn’t make the feelings magically disappear sadly. Can you try to reframe it maybe as doing your bit to help others? Donations to charity shops are a real blessing for so many, you are making a real difference with these items.

NSD yesterday which I'm pleased about. I need a few things from the supermarket today but will be strict and not get anything which isn't on my list. It should be under £10.

I think you have to prioritise the feeling of freedom over the thing. I’ve had to donate children’s toys six months after Xmas before because although they were bought as gifts they weren’t being played with and just added to the doom like feeling and space issue. Do you let the thing stay just because of money or do you get rid and remember the feeling next time you are given, offered or buy something? It’s a journey I’m on. Plus seeing it as an act of charity can also help. I’m helping someone who really wants this have it. Just an idea x

@Preg1989 I can't be bothered selling anything for less than £10, so when I had my enormous pre-move declutter I took mountains of new, nearly new, excellent condition clothes from all of us to the charity shop.

I grappled with it a bit too but then I thought of three things;

1. The charity shop needs the funds
2. I am time poor
3. Someone's gonna get a bargain and be so happy about it

I was given some good advice about this upthread, if you can find it! I think someone mentioned think about the good karma (if you believe in it), and also think of the time and space you are reclaiming and the benefits of that. It is worth so much more to you than the time you would spend selling online or falling over the bags in your hallway or reorganising.

Over the last month I've gotten rid of so much for free on Olio and am really enjoying the benefits and now getting down to the last few bits that I am actually trying to sell. And it feels SOOOO good! It's a change of mindset really - space and time are so much more valuable than some wasted money. Also watching some videos about the sunk cost fallacy (which someone somewhere recommended) was really good. Just because you invested money in something, doesn't mean it is worth you holding onto!

If you do use Olio or similar you can choose who you give to (I always choose the polite people who also (you can check their profile) donate as much as they take - when possible), or a charity shop will get money from your products so that is doing a good deed!

Just go for it!!

@Poisonwood welcome to the thread, great to have you!!

Had my first spend day of 2025 today 😉 bought some reduced hand cream at the organic grocery.

@Poisonwood Sorry I just saw that you also posted about sunk costs above! I hadn't read your full post when I mentioned it in mine, apologies for the X post.

@Preg1989 I have a minimum limit of five pounds, although I usually put it on for seven or eight pounds, and then will accept a five pound offer. If it doesn’t sell after a few weeks, I’ll take it to the charity shop.

@cloudengel I think our hallways must look similar. Mine is an absolute obstacle course.

Not an NSD yesterday. Bought a chocolate bar at work because I hadn’t quite taken enough lunch, so it was the cheapest fix for that. And then bought a not inexpensive takeaway for DD and me on my very late return home from work. However, I don’t feel bad about it because DD hasn’t been able to face food for a few weeks but managed to eat a good chunk of this, it wasn’t fast food and was an independent place, and most importantly it was one of the few takeaway places I go to where I don’t regret spending the money or wonder why I bothered. Which is something I used to keep forgetting in the before times, but hopefully will remember for future tempted moments. I was actually wanting these specific dishes, not just looking for something easy and fast that everyone likes (ish). All this soul searching for a takeaway!

Otherwise it will be a no spend weekend except for food shopping. Friend coming tonight but I’ve already got wine. Seeing another friend tomorrow but we’ll probably go for a walk.

No spend day 😊. Wandered round the charity shops but didn't buy anything!

No spend day here. At home all day, played games, watched tv and ate Christmas treats. Not great for the waistline but good for the bank balance!

Not so much no spend this month but definitely a minimal spend. For the first time in 3 years, we're not in our ever draft (usually we are this time of the month) and have managed to put money in the savings too.

Very pleased to say the least!

Achieved my first 2025 no spend day today!

Low spend weekend because I didn’t get to do the food shop because of unexpected hospital trip for DC requiring parking and food purchases. Not quite what I’d planned. It never is though. Maybe operating on this basis is the key to success.

Hope your DC is okay ❤️

Had an birthday meal out at the weekend but NSD yesterday. I have no plans to spend on anything other than groceries over the next month.

Spent £150 on skincare in January however it'll last me 6 months so least it out the way, haircut for DS this week.. other than that nothing spent, feels like the money just goes nowhere sometimes 😒

I spent about £40 on shopping at the weekend. I also bought a £55 coat from Next but I had vouchers and credit on my account so it didn’t actually cost me anything.

I hope your DC is okay @Melancholiest 💐

Good morning all, hope you are doing ok! We had to go out for a family meal celebration last night (we do this about twice a year for birthdays) so spent some money in a reasonably priced place, and it was nice. Not going to beat self up!

On a side note I saw this article and was very interested by the comments under:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/10/secondhand-bargains-clothes-shopping-addict-apps-charity-shops

As I am currently going through the process of decluttering and am guilty of "just because" second hand purchases I agree with some of the sentiment in her post although I think the headline is wrong (I don't agree second hand is "just as bad").

I was surprised with the amount of pushback she got in the comments though - although I agree it is much better for the environment and "not as bad" as buying new, I think the less people can consume overall is better - even when it comes to second hand - because it is too easy to seek dopamine through silly purchases - even cheap ones - and clutters up our minds and houses so much, as well as impacting the environment if we buy on vinted (delivery, packaging etc). I personally am putting a stop to charity and second hand unless there is a genuine need or I really really love it!

In the words of the late great Vivienne Westwood: "Buy less, choose well, make it last". I am trying to live by this as my mantra in 2025!

She makes the point that we should not buy for the sake of something being cheap or easy but choose good quality that we will love for a long time vs the awful and wasteful side of consumerism. And I believe it should be applied to second hand shopping as well!

@Melancholiest hope you're ok!

@Beepbeepoutoftheway that is really impressive and must feel great to have achieved it!

I am very guilty of a second hand purchase that I probably don't need! Some of the items were definitely needed and a fantastic bargain but other I have which I haven't even bothered with it was just a great price.

I think the likes of Vinted is good, however i seem to have the money in and then out the next minute on something I probably don't need.
The latest thing is a pair of snow boots for DS but he has so many pairs of wellies and the snow hasn't been particularly bad in North East so now I'm wandering if I've wasted my money 🤷🏽‍♀️