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!

A week to go but an ok month. I'm still picking up secondhand and reduced kindle books but reading them and donating/selling the physical books so not creating clutter. Homeware purchasing is contained (mixing bowl at £8) and no random items/miscellany purchased.
April S&B so far:

• Replacement mascara (ran out!)
• Replacement shampoo/conditioner
• Pair of Cos Organic Cotton PJ bottoms -55% reduction
• Pair of Toast trousers - £20 Vinted find.

Both clothing items have been worn a couple times so far and enjoyed. I didn't need them but I think I'm going to forgive myself here. I'll look for a couple of other items for the donation/sell pile to offset.

I don't realise we were including books! 2 from a table in the supermarket. I'll donate them once I've finished.

No clothes and one quarterly beauty subscription box which contained cleanser which I needed so a win there.

Went shopping yesterday and bought nothing. All I seem to buy is food, fuel and the odd craft item.

Please say we are NOT including books otherwise every month is an epic fail for me! 😂

Ha ha - I'm including books (and other stuff) as I'm trying to cut down. I think this thread is primarily for clothes (and maybe Beauty).

I stuck to my one item a month limit this month which makes it 5 items of clothing so far this year. I went over my self imposed limit by one item last month. Which I am pleased with but, and it’s a big but, I’ve hardly used most of these purchases. I’d convinced myself that they were vital and they’ve not been yet.
I bought a suede jacket last month and that I have worn multiple times. Other than that there was a cream handbag (January) worn once though to be fair it was intended to be worn in the Summer. A silk blouse and a rain coat on zero wears (it hasn’t rained since) and a pair of sling backs on 1 wear. I hope Ive learned something from this.
I wonder whether I need one of those apps which tells you how many times you’ve worn something and helps you plan outfits. Anyone find them useful?

@narniabusiness as a result of some threads on here, I downloaded Whering. I don't think I've uploaded enough of my clothes yet to make full use of it, but I can see that if you use the stats on there properly, it does highlight the proportion of your wardrobe that you make most use of. I need to bite the bullet and spend a day uploading everything.

@narniabusiness can any of the other purchases be returned? I’m debating returning some leopard print trousers but I’m sure I will wear them come summer (and they only cost £10 from Next sale so I’ll not be kicking myself too much if I don’t end up wearing them).

Other than those I bought a stunning silk dress for an event but I’ll wear for a few different occasions and sell on, one in-one out hence not ‘counting’ in my world. I also had Liberty credit so felt like a free purchase anyway lol.

Hands up, I've bought a pair of white jeans on a whim.

I saw them on a stylist I follow so went to try them in River Island and bought them! They are very flattering. And white.

Also had lunch and cocktails with a friend 🧡

Thanks @outofideas2Ill have a look at that app.
Too late to return them @D20but I will wear them it’s just that they are not as ‘essential’ as I seem to think they are when I’m buying them. Lesson learnt hopefully.

I only buy essential replacements anyway and books are from the library.

@Augustus40

I use the library a lot but still buy books - particularly when I get into an author and the library doen't have full back catalogue.

Sticking to essential replacements only is very restrained and commendable. Have you always done this or is this a relatively recent thing?

I do treat myself to an occasional new item of clothing but have been tightening my belt since the cost of living crisis. No option but to.

@narniabusiness I have a started keeping a list of what I have purchased for the past two years and reviewed at the end of each year and put a heart next to each one that was a good buy/well used. Maybe not quite as scientific and sophisticated as an app!

I’ve just gone back over them because there have been a couple of things that were worn a lot at the time but less so now (still keeping them) and vice-versa. That has been an enlightening exercise. Hopefully that means I’ve been making good choices over the longer term.

Ha - v similar to my system (I use hearts, question marks & crosses).

Ooh crosses… maybe I need to be a bit tougher on myself? What do you do with the items with crosses? Get rid?

@D20 - usually return/sell if I can. Otherwise charity.

I have a bit of a deal with myself - if I return for full refund or sell for same amount I paid (e.g. resell clothes bought on Vinted). then I get to remove from list when money hits account. Otherwise, item has to stay on list to haunt me forever 😂.

@D20 - I heart and cross as soon as I can tell rather than wait end of year.

I do a ticklist on a Google note
Write it on, with month
If it gets worn it gets ticked and crossed off
If it gets returned it gets deleted off the list
If it sits there at the top of the list unticked I get the guilt
At the top of the list so far I have a jacket for my hen party in May, a dress for DDs graduation in July, both of which I'm happy to leave there til then. And a leopard print leather bag from February, that to me is a buy I'll keep for years, so I'm okay with not being used yet.

This month I have a bundle of items from Vinted added, all of which I have bought massively discounted off the actual price. If they aren't actively being chosen to be worn, they'll go back on Vinted (I've already sold 2 that didn't fit and made a profit!).
It's quite helpful having a list to make me feel guilty I'm not wearing it, do I need it?

How is everyone doing towards the end of May?

I did well for a while, but at the end of April/start of May I had a bit more money and I bought a few things. In my defence (because there's always a defence, right??) I did get things that had been on my wish list. I got some gold hoops earrings which I had wanted for a while; plus a chunky asymmetric gold ring from COS. I also bought some underwear, which, although not strictly needed right now, is a useful purchase as they were on sale and my underwear is years old and slowly falling apart. I also got some beauty products (lip balm, glycolic acid and a new mascara) but these were replacements for what I had ran out of.

Things that I bought that were NOT on the list were a stripy cardigan from Sainsburys, bought on a grocery shopping trip (not the first time this happened), and a brown boxy t-shirt from Uniqlo I just couldn't pass by because the colour was perfect (I was shopping for DH who hates shopping and sends me instead -while he cleans so win-win)

Not disastrous, but could have done without the impulse buys though I love both and have worn them already.

Doing pretty well here actually.
I have brought a few items but I have lost five stone so needed
Definitely more considered purchases rather than just buying because (insert reason of justification) it's Tuesday/today's raining/ooh I once had something like that etc.
Brought a lovely animal print skirt from monsoon which I am living in this month.

New bra from Bravissimo and that's it.. very proud of myself!

Trying to learn from my mistakes and making sure to buy items that can be worn everyday. This month I bought a pair of trainers in the same design as a pair I used to have which wore out and which I loved.
Ive also used the cream handbag I bought in January a lot now the weather has improved, but still on zero wears for the Mac (it’s not rained) or the silk blouse (I’m hoping it will get used more as a winter going out top).
I’ve not been obsessing over clothes as much this month as I’ve been able to enjoy wearing all the summer clothes I’ve not worn in ages. Each year I would usually have bought at least three summer dresses by now just because I like the look of them. Theres plenty already in my wardrobe so I don’t need any more. I’m pleased that this year I’ve resisted even though I’ve seen some beauties.

Three S&B items purchased. Two are justified: a bargain/new white Hush tee from eBay (I've been wearing my only other white tee to death) and some Bioeffect EGF serum from Vinted (I use every day and I'm running out). Final item is really lovely but probably superflous: a linen tee shirt from Navy Grey.

Not doing as well as planned but I am buying less than I normally do. I have also spent less so far in 2025 than I have made from eBay sales.

@Tarnishedbutton - well done on the weight loss.

I’m also resisting the pull of fresh new clothes while i have plenty of summer stuff just sat waiting to be worn again. I bought some boots from eBay but they never arrived so I haven’t technically bought anything this month. I have wavered a few times though I will admit.