2026 No Buy

[Eatingmusselsfromashell]

I am planning a strict 2026 clothes no buy. I’ve tried in the past but the maximum I achieved was 3 months or so.
I’m sick of the cycle of seeing/ wanting / buying. I want to couple my No Buy with some other habit changes. I would like to limit screen time to one hour a day (except when listening to podcasts/ books and language learning). This is the year to brush up my Spanish and German for trips later in the year. I am annoyed at the hours of life I have wasted scrolling online sites.
I’ve tidied wardrobe in preparation and am ebaying / charity shopping anything which isn’t currently working for me.
Anyone else want to join me for moral support?

No thanks. Far too boring. However good luck and hope you achieve a sense of wellbeing.

I’m in OP. I tried last year & failed spectacularly (once I bought one thing I just completely gave up & went a bit wild!)
I’m with you on the screen time as well. I average about 2.5 hours a day on my phone & want to get down to no more than 1 hour. However I need to stop replacing phone time with laptop time because that’s just cheating! It’s so difficult though.

I’m definitely in OP! I tried to stop buying clothes last year and definitely managed to reduce this but started buying other things (decorative items for the home). So now I have too many clothes and too much clutter! I get very frustrated at my spending on unnecessary stuff. I don’t need it. I really should come off social media because I get drawn in by adverts and buy a lot of items because they have appeared on my social media page. I find the cycle very depressing and I have spent thousands on stuff I don’t need.

Reducing scrolling would be a start for me. I’m excessive and it leads me down rabbit holes for unnecessary purchases.

I’m in. I have developed a Vinted addiction after losing weight this year and I now need to stop. Would also like to replace the time I spend randomly scrolling screens with reading actual books!

Joining please! Like the OP I’ve managed 4 months solid Jan to April two years running but then I just start to pick bits up here and there. Here’s to better choices for 2026!

Signing in!
Will fill my aims and challenges in later.

Thanks for joining me. It will be good to share thoughts, strategies, successes and hopefully not too many failures as the year progresses.

@cotswoldsgal1234Thanks for the good wishes. I will have to adapt from the hedonism of lots of new things and I dare say I will find it boring, unfortunately!
@Itwasallyellow2I’ve experienced that sort of displacement buying in the past and will have to keep a handle on that. I agree that the ‘cycle’ is extremely depressing.
@bobby81I agree it’s so difficult. At this point I’m not sure what’s worse - problems with screentime or problems with shopping. They feed off each other.
@LadyClumberI used to be a voracious reader but the phone has spoiled that and atrophied my concentration. I want to get back to reading too. Have plenty unread kindle books to get through this year.
@ADifferentKindOfMumAbsolutely - here’s to better choices
@ChipshopPickledEgg I’m going to reflect a bit about my personal parameters/ aims and post them in a day or so.

I am going to try to buy nothing apart from items that are absolutely essential - food, cleaning products, replacing household items that are broken. I have more than enough. I end up buying items because I can’t find them. Of course, a few days later they turn up.

I too would like to get back to reading rather than scrolling (I have numerous unread books). I am going to aim to limit scrolling / phone use to 1 hour a day total. Given I currently do 6 hours a day this is quite a challenge 🙁

I'm in. I've bought far too much this year, I have lots of lovely clothes already and some of it I haven't even worn. Mostly I need to stop convincing myself that if it's second hand it doesn't count.

I have also just set myself a rule that I can't look at my phone at bedtime for more than 15 minutes, starting last night. Hopefully I can make that last too

Good luck OP, it sounds like you have some serious goals for the year.

I'm half in (if that counts!). I planned no buy last year and failed miserably so this year I'm going to aim for 6 months no buy. If I can stick to that figure I can increase it the next year.
Small steps for me!😄

Im starting this too. Ive already tried to retrain my mind and not buying Christmas junk. Focusing on crafting with what we have, and memories.

It sounds so cliche but the sheer amount of clothes and tat in my house. I really dont need more.

One in one out policy on trousers and tops etc.

Im sick of overconsumption.

I have been thinking about this - am a permanent member of the no/low buy threads - and am currently reading this. Not sure if denial is going to work for me, and I'm more interested in learning how to have a healthy relationship with consumption, but I haven't ruled it out as partial commitment or less stringent restrictions will lead to me falling off the wagon pretty quick. I spend too much time browsing online.

@SocksAndTheCity - I also need to ‘count’ second hand clothes and train my brain to accept that even if it is a bargain I don’t need to buy it! Great idea re the 15 minute timer for bedtime screen time - will give it a go this evening!

I’m in. Wishing everyone the best with this endeavour.

@henlake7 I was thinking a similar thing earlier. I’ve failed with no buy years in the past because it’s such a long time. This year I’m going to really try to get to Easter as my first goal. If I can get there then I think I’ll have more motivation to continue (especially if my bank balance is improving as a result!)

Welcome @SocksAndTheCity @henlake7 @bobby81and @narniabusiness.Grateful to have you joining (for half a year or whatever suits).

I am sure everyone will have their own parameters but I think it’s best for me to be pretty strict with myself if I want to reset my relationship to clothes and buying.

So for me that will look like no clothes, shoes or accessories until at least Dec 4 , 2026 (started year of no buy on Dec 4). Exceptions are socks, tights or underwear, but on a strictly as needed basis. After that I hope I can move to some sort of low buy (such as 10 items a year). No secondhand buys during the year as I know I can overconsume those too. Birthday gifts of accessories / jewellery are fine. I can replace current toiletries when finished, but no brand new ones l’ve never bought before or new perfumes.

I aim to replace scrolling, buying and what my husband only half-jokingly calls ‘hoard management’ with lots more time outside walking , reading, eating better and language learning.

I do love clothes and seeing lovely and interesting clothes on other people and I don’t think that will change.

I’m in. I’ve just read Patric Grants book Less and it’s revolutionizing how I think about purchases.

Mine will be no new clothes except replacing underwear when needed. I will also add that if I need an item if I genuinely think about it and really need it then that’s ok. Like I’m going to an event in December where I’m wearing a black jumpsuit I bought 8 years ago. I wear it at least 8 times a year to events where I need a smart and dressy outfit and it’s replaced buying cheap shiny dresses every year. So if I find a gap in my wardrobe like that but fill it consciously then I’m ok with it.

And welcome to @LadyClumber@RituelecI appreciate you being here and your input.
@TheOGCCLit will be good to have insight from the other thread

Hi and welcome@WhitegreeNcandle. I loved ‘Less’ - it is a real eye opener and has definitely had a bearing on my decision to try this.

I’m with you OP! No purchases of clothes or shoes but my date will be 15 November in case there is something in the Black Friday sales which I really want. The only thing I can replace if necessary is walking boots if mine get a hole in or a pair of summer work shoes as I don’t have a suitable pair (have never been a shoes person so this isn’t a big temptation for me). I am definitely not allowed any more bags, wallets or purses of any kind.

I agree with you regarding toiletries as I have spent a lot of money previously on toiletries and cosmetics which turn out to be a mistake. I also have a lot of items that are half-used so I need to use those up.

No more accessories for the home (drowning in cushions, candles, throws, rugs, photo frames, crockery, pictures) although I am allowing myself a souvenir from a holiday in the autumn and if I receive a voucher for Christmas or my birthday I can use that towards whatever I want even if it is on the barred list.

I plan to reduce scrolling to one hour per day and replace it with reading books and, like you, walking.

I need to use up and wear out what I already have.

I’m in (never stick to it but will try). I’d love to save the £££ I spend online shopping and plan something really nice like a holiday in 2027 instead.

I also love clothes @Eatingmusselsfromashell , but I wind up forgetting what I have and the buying almost identical new ones - I need to sort out my wardrobe properly and I think that'll help stopping me buying more.

I remember a while back seeing (almost certainly on here) a phone app where you could photograph your clothes and then arrange them into outfits/organise them in different ways and I wish I could remember what it was. It would definitely take some of the temptation away if I could sit on my sofa faffing with different combinations of things I already have 🤔

Whering @SocksAndTheCity.
I use it to remind myself of the clothes I have . All catalogued onto the app. As my kids said I bought the same type of clothes every year.

That's it - thank you! Now I know what I'm doing on Sunday 😂