Low buy/no-buy 2025

[Pigtailsandall]

Anyone up for a low-buy challenge for 2025? We had a no-buy/low-buy 2024 challenge and I found it helpful to check jn and read others' updates. I'm going to set some rules but essentially I'm not allowed more than 1 new item a month - so 12 items for the year, including shoes.

I've decluttered tons, and have 3 empty storage boxes in my loft now and I really don't want to fill them up again!

I was also going say - part of the challenge is to try and style what I already have better and get more use out of my current wardrobe

Im def going to be aiming for a low buy year in 2025.
I lost tons of weight last year and also lost my shizz when it came to buying clothes! I should be able to happily style my wardrobe with most of what I have now.
Im starting slow though and saying no buy for January (then I'll see how I get on!).

I would love to join. In 2024 I challenged myself to only buy from vinted/charity shops but i used jt as an excuse to buy way more than necessary, also fell off the wagon completely in the black friday sales :(

I'm in again. For me it's also about where all the stuff is stored, buying something should really mean getting rid of something, and I already have lots of nice things. Quality is on the decline too so things I bought five years ago are nicer and more durable.

My main aim in 2025 is not to get dragged into buying cheap stuff for a pick me up. Oh that's only £14.99, and then you've spent £500 on total (my 2025 spend was more than that). Although spending £50 on a T-shirt doesn't guarantee it's quality or longevity, I almost want to spend more per garment to give it more value to me.

Many of the things we buy end up in the charity bag sooner than they should. And we think we are being altruistic, but giving cheap clothes away is often more rubbish dumping than doing a good deed. The environmental side is really pushing at my conscience. I was listening to Aja Barber who said it's not about whether you can afford it's whether the world can afford it (paraphrasing). I think it also helps to see new things as potentially just the things in the charity bag in a year or two, if they are not 100% right.

One thing I'm musing on is whether I could manage the Rule of Five. As it sounds, you can only buy five items total. That would be incredibly difficult for me but otherwise I see myself just accumulating clothes I don't really need. I observe that when I get it right, I wear the item again and again. I want all my clothes working hard for me.

ruleoffive.substack.com/p/coming-soon

I'm thinking of seeing a shoe specialist about revamping some boots and a tailor about taking in a cardigan and spending my money that way instead.

I'm in again. I need to at least half my wardrobe this year just so that I can close the doors. I'm not sure what my allowance will be yet as occasionally I see a lovely charity shop item I can't pass up or the kids need something.

I'm also going to to wear everything in my wardrobe this year. If it doesn't look good or fit it's going as soon as I put it on.

I'm so down for this. I've been working on building the fundamentals of a quality capsule wardrobe, so the only items I will be buying will be items to complete that.

I have baaaaad spendthrift, compulsive shopaholic tendencies and previously have bought far too many ridiculous items on a whim, that have been very far from suitable for my personal style, look, or lifestyle.

As a result they have only ended up getting junked, donated or given to friends - but even if someone else can make use of my ill-thought out purchases, the money I have spent is wasted.

Count me in.
I’m so up for this as TheOGCCL said it’s partly space, I have far too much, & partly that the quality just isn’t as good as things I’ve previously bought.
Not sure I can stick to buying nothing so, as someone said, I’m planning on rationing allowing myself just one thing a month so hopefully that will really make me think about what that only thing can be.

I’m in, I’ve got a tonne of stuff I need to put on Vinted just need to get around to it, but need to not just spend the profits on more stuff I don’t really need!

I need to do this, I recently got a suitcase out of storage and it was full of clothes with tags on I'd never worn. I need to curb my spending and be more mindful of just buying stuff because I like it.!

One of my plans this year is to write down every clothes item spend (other then necessary items like new work shoes or tights) in my diary.
Im hoping that if I have to see it all together it will make me think twice!

I'm in please! This year I have decluttered a lot...and think i am about 70% there with only having things that i absolutely love / fit / useful. During the decluttering stage, i grouped together things like toiletries, crafts etc. And realised i have lots of beautiful things that im excited to use rather than feeling overwhelmed that i can't have 'me' time as the house is so full. So this year, i want to do no buy, use up the items we have, not waste anything, and curb any spending. I want to be quite frugal and really build savings to build a safety net after costly maternity / house purchase / childcare etc.

Wow, great to hear there are so many keen no/low buyers! I too challenged myself to wear the usually-unworn items in my wardrobe last year (well, this year but YKWIM). It was quite eye-opening. I had held on to so many things that I had either loved way in the past, or loved the idea of, and then when i wore them for a day they went straight on to Vinted. So many things that were just too short, too itchy, too unflattering, wrong colour etc etc. It really made me mindful of future purchases.

I made just under £700 on Vinted in 2024, and will use the money towards my 12-item wish list. I will need new boots this winter, and maybe sandals and trainers, so I think it will be a shoe-heavy year. However, my last shoe purchase was in December 2022.

I'm in. I've started losing weight and have lost half a stone. My target is to lose 50 pounds. I have a lot of clothes I can't wear at present and am hoping a diet will help. I didn't buy too much last year - apart from underwear which I don't count I bought 3 pairs of footwear and 14 items of clothing, most of which were to replace items that had gone into holes.

Next year will be more expensive as I need to buy more work clothes as I will be working out the house a bit more. I'm hoping a diet in the early months of the year will open up more of my wardrobe though and I will not need to buy too much.

I can't pass a charity shop, so although I only buy second hand, I still buy too much! I think setting the challenge to wear everything in wardrobe is a great idea, I'm going to start with this.

Yes, I definitely need to do this. I have a credit card to pay off and don’t want to make unnecessary purchases. Only buying one (clothing/makeup) item per month is a sensible limit rather than saying I’m not getting anything in 2025 for myself.

I am in.

I want to do a low buy 2025 for all non essentials.

S&B exceptions will be underwear and anything which falls apart and needs to be replaced.

With make up and toiletries, I'm trying to really simplify my make up routine and will only replace used up items. Same for Skincare.

I'm definitely in with the makeup/ cream, no buy until I run out, clothing i find hard, I love clothes, but will try to buy less, I realise I don't need any new clothes at all, when I was young and would pack for a hoilday, I remember all my summer clothing would go in the case, I didn't have many clothes then, now when I pack, I have a hard time what to pack as I have to much choice. I must try harder.

I think using things up has to be my mantra for this year! So much stuff on half rather than being finished....just this week four big family bags of crisps / popcorn opened. Rather than finishing one, another one gets opened! Same with shampoo / bath stuff etc. So im going to try and implement a use it up policy...wish me luck!

Does the 1 per month include just shoes and clothing/accessories, or also other things, eg things for the house, electronics etc?

And are we looking at new only or does 2nd hand/Vinted also count as an item?

Do essentially like socks and tights count towards the tally?

I’m happy to join in 😊 Although… who buys more than 12 items a year?! Unless socks/tights/stockings etc count as well of course, in which case it may be trickier.

I'm going to try 1 clothes item a month. So if that's a pack of underwear or socks it can be one item. Them if I need need new socks ( unlikely as I have about 60 pairs) I can replace them. Or a new outfit for something I don't have anything suitable ( unlikely). Same with my youngest two kids. We all need to be trying to thin out in our house. My 17 year old only has exactly what he needs and wears everything he has.

I'm also using up my make up and creams. Ideally I'd have one in use and then when half used up get a new one ready. There's lots of clutter with four half used face creams. Also I'd like better makeup and less of it.

I have a shopping list for next year
2 new nighties
2 packs of knickers
1 black bra
1 pack of black socks
And absolutely nothing else. There is nothing else i need and in fact i could get rid of 3 dozen tops and a dozen pair of jeans and i wouldn't even notice.

I'd like to join you please!

I've bought very little the last two years, and I need to go through my wardrobe and have a good look at where the gaps are so that what I buy follows a process. Love the idea of mix and matching what I have more too.

What I might do is pick one category every couple of months. If I had twelve new items that I love by the end of the year I will be very happy!

I’d like to do this. I think I tried a few years ago but failed.

I am definitely in on not buying beauty products as have a very full stash of everything. Aiming to only buy things I run out of. And SPF as I class that as a necessity.

Clothes - I have way too much. And discovered a new shop near me that I love and I’ve bought quite a bit from. And although I love it all quite a lot is still unworn. Although in theory is all goes together.

I am also fed up slobbing around in leggings and sweatshirts not making an effort. I feel more put together if I wear something nicer and a bit of make up.

I'm in! I'm very fortunate that I have a capsule wardrobe I'm happy with, and enough make up/toiletries to last a fair while. I will be buying my collagen supplement every month and my pilates membership, but aside from that no other items aside from genuine essentials.

Interesting, if not revolutionary, history of fast fashion in the US. I can feel my mindset changing in terms of needing to see clothing as something that is going to last me. Not just do I like it, can I afford it, does it work for x occasion.