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?

Checking in as will have made it to two months no buy tomorrow. It’s been harder this past week since January pay day but things I wanted last week seem to have lost their lustre a bit. I needed new glasses (prescription change) so choosing them has been a nice wee dopamine hit and that has helped. Still also managing to read more and exercise more.

Well done to everyone succeeding with no buy, low buy or sticking to budget and great to hear updates. I completely agree that it’s brilliant to not be managing parcels, deliveries and returns @coolcahuna. Hope the rest of your trip goes smoothly @PrincessofWells. Hang on in there @DecemberGloomHope your week improves.

Only 3 items brought in January, thats good for me, and all sale items, this month leopard print ankle boots from John lewis reduced from £99 to £29 leather, I couldn't resist and a knitted dress next clearance £21, I didn't kneed the boots, but they fit so well and are so comfortable, I will keep, as I'm trying to buy less but better, so slowly replacing all my cheaper footwear with leather or suede.

I replaced my night-time moisturiser, eye cream and got a refill for my deodorant. All replacements so that's going very well.

I sold a pair of jeans I love on Vinted. They were a size 16 and too big for me. I bought the exact same pair from Vinted in a size 14 and I can't even do them up? What is that?? So they are going back on Vinted. Annoying as I really didn't want to declutter those! So bought one, sold two...

Still not bought anything but was sorely tempted by a waterproof checked short length coat.
Partially talked myself out of it as the weather so bad, it would have only been wearable in Spring, but the seed is planted in my brain now so trying to forget about it. It was very similar to one I sent for on mail order last year which was too big, so I'm really still hankering after it.

Me and Em catalogue arrived today. It’s so bloody tempting. It’s the combination of the rain, doing 100 days alcohol free and a grim divorce that made me feel like shouting ‘but I deserve it’. Put the catalogue in the bin. I’m feeling a bit flat.

Hmmm- succumbed to some high end skincare that was going remarkably cheaply. I am annoyed. I will need it in about 9 months' time but wanted to properly run my stash down first. Not a real issue as will be used up but a good reminder of my propensity to fall for a 'bargain'.

I spent £16 on garden plants today. Not strictly necessary but they were a bargain!

I went through my Monzo and looked at everything I spent last year- I find the categories really helpful. It’s made me realise that eating out/coffees/ quick snacks etc are my downfall more than other spending. Eye opening but a good motivator to stay on track!

Sorry you are having a tough time & great work on the 100 days!

Why not shop your wardrobe and wear some really fab uplifting clothes for a few days (even is they might be technically "unsuitable" for the occassion or whatever)?

Focus on the fab pieces you already own & it might give you a needed boost & a bit of fun too.

Absolutely! Honestly it feels like a never ending story at times. Collections... Returns.... Another return... Another label I actually began to find it pretty stressful.

I was so good with my 14 euro spend (on unnecessary items) and splurged today. Two lululemon trousers, one hoody and bunch of stuff from French sales. However I commit to return everything that is not right for me and I was gifted sum of money that I am going to use for this.

I am going to clear out my wardrobe this weekend and leave only things that fit and I want to wear and are easy to find.

I bought a litre of Aveda Shampure (that's my shampoo taken care of for a year ) and a litre of Phillip Kingsley for my DS.

In Costco they had some Korean skincare (I checked the prices and reviews online before I bought it ) for my DD who was very impressed .

I think for Feb I am sorted . Though there could be a Valentines present bought for me ?

I'm almost at the end of the 5l containers of Faith in Nature shampoo and conditioner I bought during lockdown.

I bought a knitwear comb for £3, to spruce up my wool jumpers.

My spending is turning to food a bit so need to keep an eye on that, I've had a few lunches and dinners out in the last few weeks.

I've also bought a knit wear defuzzer to rejuvenate some items. We're on holiday and normally I'd be a sucker for the shops and new beachwear. Walked past 2 today, didn't even look.
Also agree on the food spending and eating out which is another one of my downfalls. Have started meeting friends for a drink rather than dinner and inviting people over more.

Checking in. Apart from bargain skin serum and 5 pack of replacement knickers already mentioned, I knee jerk bought some bath oil on Vinted and I already have plenty 😔. It is my favourite brand so I won't return but building up a stash is a pattern I want to break. From now on, I'm only going to buy in advance if a) great price and b) I will genuinely run out (no alternative) within the next 6 months.

On the 'doing better' front, I met a friend in a nearby city today. We did lots of browsing but I came home with only a birthday card and a tub of kimchi. Happy with that.

Ordered two pairs of swimming shorts for DS and both are awful. It’s the first time I’ve shopped online since early December and instead of being exhilarated by it, it’s just been frustrating. Now two returns that will be stealing time from me.

Going back to the high street. If I’m having to spend money I want to see what I’m getting.

Checking in here too - last week (mon-Fri) was great and I didn’t buy a single thing that wasn’t groceries, very happy with that.

I’ve seen lots of nice things in the shops when I’ve been out, but managed to avoid buying anything, I’m making a conscious effort not to browse online as I am weak. I really want a navy gym top and also a burgundy one too, as I have the leggings already, but I have reminded myself that the ones I have in my wardrobe do a good enough job.

Just after Christmas I purchased a 1L bottle of Redken shampoo and a 500ml bottle of Gatineau silk face cleanser, the shampoo will last until the end of the year but I’m already about a quarter way through the face cleanser, I do have some Ren cleanser that is ok but not my favourite so I’ll reluctantly use that before repurchasing the Gatineau. I’m now wishing id also got the 1L Redken conditioner.

The relentless rain is helping with the no buy! I have no thoughts of buying anything new in the shops even with a £25 M&S voucher burning a hole in my pocket! I think I will just spend it in the food hall!

Mixed success here. A brown cotton jumpsuit from Zara’s sale popped up on my feed and I bought it. Completely random and unplanned and can’t wear until Spring.

I did, however, not make a few orders with birthday money. For really petty reasons so I can’t have wanted them all that much can I? Adidas Japan’s still living rent free in my head though.

I also cancelled my Liberty box (at least for a few months) but beauty isn’t so much of an issue for me that I need to control my spending there. I got a Foreo UFO for Christmas that is going to make me look 20 years younger anyway right?

@D20 - at least 20 I reckon 😉

Weekly check in. Still picking up the odd daily 99p Kindle deal - pure FOMO. At least ebooks don't create clutter/landfill. Not bought anything else other than food, drink and replacement household cleaning products.

One of my favourite online shops (knitwear) had a sale and I browsed. I liked a few things but didn't find hard to resist buying. I'm kind of over the wet, cold weather and agree that is helping with the low buy. When it gets warmer and sunnier, might be harder to resist.

Checking in. I’ve only made one frivolous/unnecessary clothing purchase in February so far, found a vintage Celine skirt on vinted and couldn’t resist. Besides I had to buy a new babywearing coat - the zipper on my old one fell apart and I needed a coat quickly. I found one second hand.

So everything looks great on paper, I saved some money and I should be happy. I post daily on the “shopping my wardrobe in 2026” thread and even if nobody else posts there it helps me enormously to see that I have enough clothes, they can be mixed and matched and 99% of my wardrobe is well thought out, it’s not stylish but it’s my own consistent style.

Despite all this I really struggle. I don’t want new things, I am being mindful and putting everything on a wishlist, postponing, waiting, changing my mind. The waiting game works well for me. But I don’t have anything else to give me the dopamine rush I got from shopping and it’s really hard. Anyone who can relate?

I think I can relate to this @CortieTat as I now have the ‘perfect’ wardrobe but still want to acquire more. I have enough clothes. They colour coordinate. They suit my lifestyle and I have clothes for nearly every occasion. My own analysis is that the desire to buy more is driven by the belief that this item will make me more stylish/ cool/ attractive. Of course it never can because I’m still me wearing it and if I could look more stylish/ cool/attractive it would already be the case wearing the clothes I bought last time.

@CortieTat I find myself channeling it into other things- kids, house, presents to get that feeling.

I’m trying to recognise it, put down phone and do something else easy. Re reading books, hobbies, declutterring a box etc. I find getting into a use it up or tidy it up mindset is the closest replacement (but not everyone Bon the household is the same! Which is frustrating)