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?

My February isn't going quite to plan as have had some boring expenses like the solicitor, boiler service and having my patio repaired. They are all things I needed to get done though.

On the plus side I am sticking to my Amazon and Vinted ban no issues at all.

Did treat myself to a new pair of jeans for a massive £22 so I'm doing so much better for me
Also helping that it's such a short month !

I closed my Vinted account and uninstalled the app today 🙌🏻 I'm still paying off birthday and Christmas spending on my credit card... but at least I will catch up easier without my Vinted frittering.

I have finally started using my Olio account that I opened in November for food collection. The mountain of bread that is left at the end of the day in supermarkets is crazy! I have collected so much for free over the last few days. It's all prepackaged stuff so contradicts my 'using less disposable plastic' goal that is running concurrently with buy less but I don't feel so bad when it means less food being chucked in the bin.

Think I'll manage a no spend day today but have some other groceries to pick up tomorrow.

I'm having a week in the UK soon, I live in Germany where charity shops are non existent and second hand shops are few and far between. I will be looking around the charity shops in London but really can't buy clothes but bric a brac is OK.

How is everyone doing? I've not spent much on stuff but did have to buy some cheap trousers this week as my entire wardrobe collection was virtually falling apart. Primark of all places! But otherwise it's been a cheap couple of weeks excepting a short away break.

Not good today. Went into a pet shop I’ve not been to before, and spent a small fortune in the dog!

Definitely not doing as well this month as last, but trying to be more careful and thinking about a big focus again for March.

Heya I’ve done a little better. Like 200 less spends but I have a feeling that could’ve been better!

I have my car service and MOT in March so I suspect spending will be higher.

Still trying to declutter, managed a room overhaul and got 8 bags of stuff out of the garage and spare room. Closed down my Vinted wardrobe as I would rather have the room than make 2 pounds! 🙈🤣

I am slowly getting to a more balanced pov. Am using BorrowBox as books are my habit for sure! Been reading Dr Julie Smith - Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before and she says “A lot of those things that we end up doing habitually are the things that work instantly, and they’re addictive because they work instantly… but in the long term, they keep us stuck.” I think for me the spending on useless things are definitely sticky. That and sweet treats 🙈 I’m def a work in progress!

I didn’t know about Borrowbx, @rahlikeatiger, good tip, thank you!

I had been doing really well, managed to clear some things out of the back room, but am so slow. Partly it’s things that belonged to my dad and that I don’t want to get rid of but will never use, and partly I’m a bit of a hoarder. Was doing well on the not buying front as am saving for a holiday, and then the fridge freezer broke a few days ago! Has cost a fortune one way and another, and I’m so grateful I had the money mostly saved up so only need to put some of it on the credit card, but damnit I was really looking forward to a holiday and it won’t happen now! Am going to save towards visiting my cousin instead, not the same but at least it’s a goal to aim for.

Have you tried selling things on Vinted, Ebay or FB market place? I've done really well and can nearly get to stuff in my wardrobe 😒

It’s been a spendy month for me but I don’t regret it - I bought an exercise bike after thinking about it for a few weeks and then discovered that my iPad was too old to support the Peloton app. The iPad was incredibly slow and honestly a pain in the arse to use anyway, so I just decided to bite the bullet and get a replacement earlier than I was intending to.

The good news is that I’ve been the most consistent I’ve ever been with any cardio exercise since getting the bike, and I’ll be able to use the iPad for my art hobby too, so it was a worthwhile investment to me.

I’ve used a month free trial on the peloton app and I’m choosing to pay for a year subscription next month because the monthly cost works out cheaper (I’ll be starting a sinking fund for it), so that will be a large spend in March but hopefully that will be the only one.

Had a spendy month so far but considered and required spending. I've booked our holidays, we have 5 trips planned up until June for school holidays and bank holiday weekends.

Camping, so less than £50pn for the 4 of us for each site. We've invested in a new massive tent, this was expensive but something we were always going to do.

I've also booked a massage, I go every 6m or so, she's really well priced at £40 for 1hr30. It's my little treat every now and again.

And I've sold some shoes on Ebay which I'm happy about.

Had a few bad spending days - also eating a lot more snack food and junk than I usually do (the two go hand in hand). Not going into the shops over the next few days. Have to buy a train ticket and book a gym class tonight which is unavoidable, but hoping to make all my food stores last over the weekend. Then I can take stock and only go out to get what I really need.

Got rid of a few things on Vinted and Olio also, so that's good! Only making the tiniest mote of a dent in all my crap, of course.

I felt guilty buying new jeans today. Then I remembered I haven't wasted any money on Vinted since November! Spending £29 on new jeans which will get lots of wear makes much more sense than spending endless £5 on Vinted and it all going to the charity shop because it doesn't fit.

I am watching my funds on Vinted slowly going up. I’m hoping that by the end of the month it will be enough to go out for a nice lunch! That is a bit self indulgent, but the new fridge I had to get to replace the one that died cost all my holiday savings, so I think a lunch out will ease the pain! After that I will start saving for next summer.

I’ve just started! I’m hoping to be able to reach the wardrobe soon - there’s too many clothes piled up in front of it at the moment! It’s so embarrassing, but I keep remembering I was in a really bad place when I got into that state, and am slowly getting better (even as I fall apart physically!)

Just had a Next vip sale invite. Aargh.

Did slip up and buy something on vinted, but used money from items I’d sold, so not spent ‘new’ money.

I think jeans are an essential item so allowed. You’re not buying extra, but replacing existing stick.

Hello all! I've been wondering how everyone has been doing! I've been a bit more lax lately but needed a few bits of clothing, but have stopped short of buying lots of things that I might otherwise have indulged in. And bought a family member some useful clothes in a charity shop sale (£2 bargain rail) so all in all am pretty happy!

I have been spending on weekends away and holiday type things. Not saving but so good for my mental health!

I'm new to your thread but I had this same plan this year and so far it's working well. I've stopped buying random bits and pieces from charity shops, and cheap shops (I'm in Australia) and it's been quite noticeable the effect it's having on the clutter.
We also had a huge clear out within the last month and got rid of so much stuff.
It's like a switch flicked in my head this year after years of being surrounded by clutter. Don't get me wrong, I've still got a very long way to go but the start has been fun.
Thanks for the thread OP.

@JustJoinedRightNow welcome to the thread! Thrilled to have someone from Aus on here 😊