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 think generally it is v helpful to get out of the mindset that buying new is the only way to replace stuff. So much can be swapped or borrowed or shared. In our last town I helped set up a library of things where you could borrow stuff like big ladders, double prams, power tools etc. It was great.

@Godesstobe you're welcome, and it is great that you support your local library, too. Some might depend on user statistics for their funding, so the more the merrier - even if your local staff is a bit standoffish.
Buying books of course helps the authors more, and funding the arts, so it's a good option, too.

I was just putting out the suggestion in the spirit of the thread, because probably not everyone is aware that they can get a card from a different town or city; I didn't know at first, either, but it's usually on the library's website who can apply for a card. And since larger libraries often have better funding, the options are greater, too.
Often they have audiobooks and magazines as well 🙂

Is that the Alvin Hall book? We still have a copy sitting on our bookshelf , very much the pre-runner to Martin Lewis.

I'm having a low- spend January. I'm already a secondhand shopper but I have FAR too many (charity shop) clothes! The rules I've set myself are essential toiletries only, to replace ones that have run out, no books/pens/notebooks/ jewellery/makeup allowed. If I do well, I'll continue to February!

Like others have said above, I’m shocked by how often I think ‘oh I’ll have a look on Amazon for [insert impulse buy]’. I have also been to the local city centre and Asda the last two days which actually felt like torture walking past primark or the clothes section in Asda without going in for a look! I managed it though and was very pleased with myself.

despite resisting any non-essential purchases, I’m still surprised by how much I’ve already spent in 3 days! To be fair, we are a family of 5 and it does include a food shop that I have just done, parking and a trip to the pharmacy which is never cheap.

like @TooManyCupsAndMugs , I’m going to aim for a streamlined January, taking one day at a time at this rate! Hoping to break these spending habits asap!

The authors are Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicki_Robin

https://yourmoneyoryourlife.com/

It's connected to Voluntary Simplicity and other movements; probably you could connect it to the repair instead of replace-movement and the swap meetings and places, too.

@meatyryvita welcome to the thread (and anyone else new if I forgot to mention them!).

I’ve stayed home today and spent £0 again. I was tempted to nip out but I had no real need to.

I know I would have came home with cleaning products, homeware and food when I don’t need any of it.

On a side note I just made a load of museli from ingredients in the cupboard - for anyone looking to declutter / use up / no spend it is a good one! Just mix up porridge oats, chopped nuts (of any kind), sultanas or raisins, seeds (anything) and anything else suitable you have in the cupboard - I used chia seeds and flaxseed. It actually tastes really good and is UPF free - and made a lot of space in my food cupboard whilst getting rid of some ingredients I would never otherwise remember to use up.

Well done @TwinkleLights24! Having spent the Xmas period decluttering and tripping over clutter in my house I am looking forwards to the benefits of not buying nonessential cleaning products, food and knick knacks myself. Excited to see how different things will be towards the middle and end of the year!

Still haven't bought my hairdryer, but have borrowed a travel one from MIL which will tide me over while I shop around for a good deals. I did buy some Yaktrax yesterday on Amazon prime after seeing a friend with them - worried it would be a waste, but today I managed to walk over sheet ice with no slipping, normally a real fear of mine so £15 well spent I think. Also need to get DD a new snowsuit as hers is getting too small - back to Vinted I go! Enjoying hearing everyone else's wins and no/low spends, it's very motivating.

I’ve just spent £55 in Sainsbury’s but some of that was one off purchases hopefully. Neither of my car keys were working properly so needed the batteries replacing which was £5. Also needed new kitchen scissors as I buggered mine up doing the Christmas wrapping so another £6.50 for two pairs. Oh and the medicine cabinet needed a bit of replenishing so picked up some basics.

Should have enough food to last a couple of weeks now bar a few fresh bits next week.

Me please! Am I too late? I don't think I've bought anything so far this year (go me)! Although I've already reached for Amazon a couple of times but stopped myself. Such a hard habit to break...

I saw a book by a favourite author on kindle reduced, but stopped mysekf. I’ve got kindle unlimited until March.

I had cancelled it. Then after a month or two, they offered me three months for 99p. Bargain! (I’ve set up a reminder to cancel it just before the membership renews).

@ForestAtTheSea I think there are two books with the same title. The Alvin Hall one was a tie in with his BBC series.

Alvin Hall book

I still remember some of his advice

The big technology companies are already building sites next to energy suppliers; Meta wants to look into new mini nuclear reactors for their data centers 😱
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/meta-seeks-up-to-4-gw-of-new-nuclear-power-to-help-meet-ai-sustainability/734599/

What I found helps with using less data is to reduce the streaming quality when applicable.
If you watch movies on a laptop or videos on your phone or tablet, the highest pixel quality as if you have a whole TV wall is a bit wasted. For a small screen, the difference is hardly noticeable and it is still of a quality which was deemed perfectly acceptable a few years ago.

It's maybe different if you work with films or other hi-res-files but just for watching a movie on a tablet, it's fine. It might not reduce your bills but it will reduce demand on data centers and reduces environmental costs.
Maybe there is a difference with a larger TV but as I don't have one, I couldn't say; could still be worth a trial.

Having read everyone's personal none spend things, I'm inspired to cut down on my spending in 2025.. my downfalls are notebooks, candles & "posh coffee" Starbucks and the like.

I have gorgeous candles Jo Malone, White Company etc that are just unused because I'm "saving them", for what I've no idea! So I'm using them and enjoying them!!
No idea what to do in terms of coffees, the ones at home I don't love 🤣 it just feels a real treat but spending £25 per week I loathe when I've nothing to show for it!
I'm doing Vinted more now too and anything from there is going straight into my house deposit saver account, things like clothes for DS are unavoidable but he's kitted out for the spring & summer from the sales in 2024, anything else I will look on Vinted (and sell his outgrown things on there too), both me and DP love a takeaway so this will be cut down too, last time we went out for breakfast I nearly fell over at £40 for the three of us!

I have been looking at gifts reduced in the sales etc that can be put away for gifts this year and already got 4 people sorted at a fraction of the cost for their full price! Oh also TCB for all eligible purchases! It all adds up!

How do you all avoid the areas like the candle aisle in the middle of Aldi? 🤣 or TK Maxx for notebooks? 🫠

I'd love to join!

DH and I worked out the other day we spent £1k last month on stuff we can't account for. Takeaways, home bargains hauls etc. Scary.

@Beepbeepoutoftheway @wholenutcadburys @Getter you are all welcome (and anyone else if I missed you!!)

Thanks for joining in! Wondering how much we will all cumulatively save - now that would be an interesting figure. 😅

Would like to join. I'm relocating in the summer. Need to declutter so that I can get my house on the market. Every time I want to buy something I need to think, do I want to move that 200 miles?

@BCBird welcome!!

Oh gosh Home Bargains is the devil!
Luckily my closest one is quite a drive away but I get a bit of a dopamine fix from it 😂

When DH asks what we need from Home Bargains, I tell him that a list is never needed. Home Bargains tells you what you need when you get there 😂

Today I've returned £160 worth of sales purchases and also won £125 on premium bonds
I've also cleared a freezer drawer and am going to work through the whole thing this month if I can.

First fail - decided to cut my own fringe instead of paying £7 and now look a complete wally. Shoved my hair in some heatless curlers and hoping it may help (or hide ) the monstrosity that is now my fringe.

Headbands are in fashion now too, aren't they? 😆