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 would like a specific no/low buy shop our wardrobes thread. I think it would be nice to share this and help keep me on track.

well, I did buy a pair of fleece leggings today but Im counting that under the 'necessary' category! Im getting back into my running this year and realiesed I only have one fleece pair for colder weather.
But I am proud of myself for avoiding the sale racks in Primark and just getting in and out with what I came for!

Also had a big spend on toiletries but not bothered about this. Toiletries and make up arent a problem for me. I only ever use the same things so a few times a year I just do a big stock up in Superdrug.

It varies. Quite a lot for under £5. If its something popular (and perfect condition) I.e. someone would buy full price in a shop for I try to think of the lowest price it would go for in the sale then knock some more off that. Also bear in mind people have to pay postage and the buyer protection fee, so I don't 'charge' for that in my calculations either. I then let it run and see how many likes it gets. If it gets loads it may sell eventually. Other things that may happen- someone may make an offer, I do think it's generally worth accepting these unless it's a silly offer. Or, you can pay £1 to 'bump' a popular item, good to do this at the weekend, this also draws more attention to your whole wardrobe, I've had a run and sold like £40 in one or two days over a weekend when I have a sprint on uploading on a Friday or Saturday morning. You can also keep reducing the price. You can also make people an offer, but I don't find these generally work - loads of people who click like aren't actually going to buy it and you've put off a genuine buyer who may have made a lower offer but now thinks that's your lowest price.

Ultimately we would all prefer something brand new as you can then take it back, but it's definitely possible to make some good money. I've got a Woolovers jumper that I know will sell for £20-£22.

The other thing you can do is invest the money you make. If you put it in a good interest and leave it there it's possibly going to help recoup a little more of the original cost. Tricky to do as usually having money now is better.

I agree, love this idea.

Hi,
Yes, this is a good idea. I need to stop buying almost OK charity shop clothes which don't completely work and instead just buy new things that fit well and suit me.
Its a wonky way of trying tosave money since the charity shop clothes usually end up going back to charity.
I've had to start a wardrobe from scratch having lost a lot of weight so I'm trying to just buy select really good items but the charity shop thing has obstructed me a little.
Thanks for all your thoughts and inspiration!

Can you start a new thread for this ?
I keep on being tempted to buy more knitwear, but then I look on the Whering App to realise that I already have 25 Cashmere jumpers 😂😭

I'm a knitwear fanatic too. I only have 3 cashmere jumpers and 4 cashmere cardigans. But I also have 16 wool jumpers and 8 wool cardigans! So that is 31 wool or cashmere jumpers or cardigans in total!

@noobiedoobie, @Cantonet and everyone else, I started a new thread: No/low buy 2025 shop from wardrobe - www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/5244841-nolow-buy-2025-shop-from-wardrobe

I made around £5k selling on Vinted last year, but it was mainly kids clothes.
Barely any of it was under £5. I have got stuff listed for a few £, but to be honest, it doesn't shift. Even good stuff- I think people don't value it if it's cheaper.
My tactic is to take loads of pictures, buy a wardrobe spotlight on a Friday morning, then consistently list a few items every couple of hours during Friday and the weekend. Also to be strategic with when you are listing- when the summer stuff comes out in shops is when you want to be listing your summer dresses, so April/ May time. There's not much point listing them in August. Christmas clothes/ sequins/ party dresses, list them in October. If you do them in late November or December, people have often already bought something from a shop.

Shoes haven't really sold for me though, particularly heels. Brands like Massimo dutti or mango seem to do okay on shoes though.

Annoyingly, I've just got my hush jeans from the airer, to find that they have split from the back pocket. They're a pair I wear regularly in winter too. I had ordered a pair to try in the river island sale before the new year, but they emailed cancelling them last night, so no replacement there.
I'm unsure whether to break my streak already and buy a replacement pair.

You could look on vinted instead of ordering new? I’ve bought replacement jeans when I knew the exact brand & size for a fraction of the price.

That's where these were from originally , but there's none on there currently. I need to count Vinted in my low spend year anyway, as I'm just as bad with that as I am in the sales!

I'm in!
I need to really work on reducing my immediate gratification spending and clothing is one area I need to work on.

I have decided this year to do it slightly differently. I have a separate "clothes and beauty" pot this has £600 currently, I've cancelled my monthly standing order to it and the £600 is all I have for the year. Unless it's raised through a vinted sale (never done it before but need to!) This does exclude around three hair cuts I'll have.

@in2twentyfivewegothen - well done for resisting London buying opportunities.

@anon2022anon If you have no alternatives to wear, then it’s justifiable to buy a replacement.

@Chorizmo oh I definitely have more 😁 but these were dark wide legs, lots of my jeans are paler which I wear more in the summer, or fitted. I can provide lots of justification if I need to!

@anon2022anon I would have wanted to replace something versatile like this, if it helps to get lots of wear from your tops. Sorry, I am bad influence.

Yep I’m in again. Not sure of my goals just yet but still keen on just ‘less stuff’. I’m continuing with my list of things I’d really love to try and keep focus. Not all S&B but I should really count up what’s on said list!

I've just received a lovely Disturbia skirt from the sales so I'm going to draw a line under buying now and hopefully hold out until I loose some more weight.

Well, I've been stuck indoors for much of today because of the weather and have managed not to buy anything online.

I have just been adding anything I like the look of to a 'wishlist'in the Notes app. List has only been going for 5 days and I've already gone off some of the first entries and deleted them.

I'm following with interest

I love buying stuff but have loads of things. It is boredom I think and that buzz of a bargain

I'm in again - thank you for starting the thread. Did have a mini binge in the sales but will try to send most things back. For me it is a dopamine hit/addiction and I definitely don't need the clothes. I just need to style my existing clothes better.

I'm going to focus on sorting my house out this year which will include furnishing (and accessorising) it better. I used to spend a ridiculous amount on clothes, but hardly ever bought anything for my house.

I've been ill for a few days and the pull of auction sites has been strong. Plus all the pop ups.

This is something I think would/will happen to me if I just give myself some space. I think a lot of online shopping is impulse based and the thing you must have this week is quickly replaced by the thing you must have the following week.

I've prepared a list of 10 items that I think are missing and am planning not to deviate. I think the challenge is more around finding that perfect item, especially with the clothes industry in such a mess. It's easy to buy any old rubbish

I am starting to feel very uneasy about clothes waste. It's not OK to bag up a load of poor quality clothes and dump them at the charity shop. There's a statistic that already existing on the planet is enough clothing to clothe the next six generations of people. Retailers need to keep increasing profits, we want cheap clothes and it's all just a total mess.