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?

I'd like to join in, I've just had a shopping spree for new clothes and intend a no clothes purchases for 2025 because I have no space. I have a few things to go on Vinted when I get around to it, but some things are ancient, as in 10 years old and need culling. I've also started cycling, a lot, and only wore a dress once last year, so am determined to 'shop my wardrobe'.

We've got far too much stuff and also some credit card debt that's manageable if we knuckle down. So this year we'll be buying as little as possible, decluttering, selling on Vinted and trying to get anything we do need second hand.

Joining.

A PP has mentioned books. I had forgotten books. Even though I go to the library every two weeks, I buy books all the time. I get many secondhand from the charity shop but I also buy a lot of new books I want to read because it takes months for them to arrive if I order them from the library. My local library is also very small with a very limited selection.

I don't feel too guilty about my book consumption because I do read them. I live on my own and read at least a book a week. I don't have Netflix or other TV subscriptions apart from Amazon Prime. So I will try to cut down how many new books I buy, and try to give more to the charity shop, but I am not going to be able to go cold turkey in this area.

I cancelled by Kindke Unlimited subscription as I realise I wasn’t getting full use of it. Then got a three month offer, so plan to read Kindle unlimited books until it runs out , plus books for Bookclub plus books already purchased. Should keep me going for a while.

@TipsyAndObscure that sounds great - will have to keep an eye out for it (once I have borrowed a netflix password as very recently purged it ha ha!).

welcome to all newbies, @Zamazenta @StarDolphins @Wond3rment @CandyCane5 @Crispynoodle @FourChimneys @alladvicegratefullyappreciated @WhatDaHell @Snowmanscarf @Drivingoverlemons @AutoP1lot @PrincessofWells

And humble apologies if I missed anyone. Losing track a bit here.😅

Today is the first day of the big no-spend. Feeling cautiously excited and also wondering how we will all fare! I'm going to kick off by not going grocery shopping for as long as possible and attempting to use up all the older stuff from the cupboards to free up a bit of space.

@Wond3rment I am totally with you on wasted Xmas gifts! I think I always find Xmas stressful because I hate buying stuff that I am never entirely sure if people will want, and also I struggle with receiving things that I am less keen on.

I am wondering how this year will affect gift buying and receiving. I realise that we can't cut out all gift giving and nor do I want to, but perhaps scaling right back might make it all a bit more meaningful again somehow, both giving and receiving! It has always been a bugbear of mine.

Well day 1 and my dog’s lead broke! Trying not to be too annoyed, because it’s just one of those things and it’s not expensive to replace. But I suppose it’s a good lesson in the fact that a no buy month or year will never be perfect. Going to try and wait til the shops open tomorrow rather than go on Amazon and then potentially end up with lots of things in the basket.

I'm sorry to say I have just made my first "luxury" purchase of 2025 - a diary from Amazon. I have kept a diary for many years and usually get given a new one for Christmas, but not this year. I looked around the house to see if there is anything else I could use but eventually gave up and ordered one. As a major concession I have ordered a cheap one for £9.99 instead of the nice leather bound books I normally use, but I still feel like a failure.

I hope you are all managing better!

For starters, I won’t be buying any more clothes - winter or summer - I have plenty. (Except perhaps for some new knickers….)

I rarely frequent coffee shops anyway and we hardly ever have a takeaway, plus we waste very little food, so the only thing I can really cut down on is the frequent orders to Wool Warehouse - for both yarn and stuffing - I’ve permanently got something on the go for a particular charity. But I have a 3 drawer chest of drawers stuffed with yarn, so for the foreseeable, if I can’t knit it out of my stash, I’ll have to make something else.

Dh’s indulgence, OTOH, is books - he has a massive to-be-read pile and still keeps ordering more, but he’s a very slow reader, so I swear that even if he lives to 105, he’ll never get through them. His other indulgence is frequent hopping on planes for e.g. a concert in Berlin, or to spend a few days with an old friend in Portugal.
But since he never begrudges what I spend, I can’t very well begrudge him those, either.

Thanks for the shout and and welcome, @LuminousStar .
if you do manage to blag a Netters access also watching Minimalists. Same topic.

Not guilting you, but just a thought, could you ask on Freecycle or the Buy Nothing local group? Maybe someone has an extra they are decluttering...

@ThisHazelDog needs must and in this case a totally necessary purchase!

@Godesstobe you are most definitely not a failure for buying something that is such an important ritual for you.

If we are too strict then we set ourselves up for failure is my thinking.

thank you! I think I watched this a few years ago but a rewatch could be super helpful! 😊

This had genuinely not occurred to me! Thanks, I’ll take a look.

Joining! I bought a new laptop yesterday but my old one was kaput and it was technically still 2024...

Need to avoid browsing Vinted. And just to take all my balance straight out once I sell something. Having the money sitting in the account is just tempting because it feels like I'm not spending anything by buying something.

Thank you to the PP who mentioned octopus rewards! I have been with them for ages and didn't know about these. Will definitely try and remember them for future.

I will try and list a few items on vinted tomorrow so I can spend guilt free on the same app when necessary. With 3 growing children it's hard to buy nothing. They are very much little consumers however much I explain to them why things are not needed (definitely wants not needs).

Definitely need to work on my impulse purchases. I'm pretty good but I went to look around the shops yesterday and bought my first ever set of Christmas bedding for next year. Definitely NOT needed but it was so pretty....

Same! I have been decluttering for months. What struck me is how much stuff I've got. I never use stuff up either and start buying more. I've vowed to use stuff up first and then buy if necessary. I'd like to save more money this year

Please count me in too! I spend too much on things I like but it seems I like the shopping and scrolling process more than the actual items. I need a mental reset and learn to save money again. Good luck to all of us!

I really started to think like this at the start of last year and started actively getting rid of a toiletry item, a household item and a clothing item a day. Unbelievably I still have lots to go but I did it all year and it's so much better.

I find I buy more mindfully and try to get one or two high quality pieces a month rather than piles of stuff.

I've used almost all my candles and resisted the beauty advent calendar trap this year, which is just way more clutter. I have bought a few toiletries in the sales and shouldn't need more for a while. I'm trying to use up all my travel sized things.

I'm going to carry on for this year. I try and do a charity bag drop off every week.

Day 1 and I’m proud of myself so far - last night Netflix let me log into my family account for some reason, then today I tried to watch something and it’s noticed I’m not actually at their house 🙈 I was about to look into how much a subscription would be and then remembered I’m not buying anything, so didn’t!
I’ve added it to my list of “stuff I wanted to buy” instead.

I definitely need to join, and will enlist the rest of the family too if I can. We dont buy a huge amount, our main area of concern is food waste and buying too many snack foods and takeaways.

I'd like to join for a few things I can't seem to stop buying for the same reasons as you - I prefer it not be too cluttered! I'm going to try my best not to buy (because I have a backlog of both!) beauty products/boxes and books and use/read what I have. I have well over a year of backlog of books - more like 5 years I'd guess.... I can't resist books and they always feel like a virtuous purchase. But I already read/listen to about 50 a year and I'm not sure if I suddenly expect to have vast amounts of time in which to read (sounds heavenly 😂).

I'm so glad I've found this thread! I need to get my spending down. My weakness is looking on Vinted to buy clothes for toddler, but then buying things for me too. That stops now as he has plenty of clothes and so do I!
I really want to have some sessions with a Personal Trainer to get help with strengthening my core / back. So I will feel I can justify it if I'm not frittering away money on random jumpers on Vinted that I don't need!

My hairdryer has just broken so there goes my good intentions on day 1! However my old one had lasted since my early teens so almost 20 years now, so can't complain really. Will shop around for a good deal and hope the new one lasts as long!