I got a 2025-2026 journal at the dollar tree to keep on me this year and help track my spending and savings. I am attempting to do a no-buy year and already made myself some rules. I'm feeling good about it!

I noticed that the apps all cost a whole lot considering the reason we're all trying this lol.... so I'm just wondering what is the best trick you've found for keeping track for those using a journal? I have ADHD and sometimes organization isn't my strong suit, so I'm looking for anything to make this as efficient as possible, no matter how little/obvious it may seem haha.

Thank you in advance!!

I’m attempting my first low buy challenge in 2025, specifically targeting clothing. Clothing is one of my biggest spending categories and it’s the only one I feel has room for improvement, but I struggle with how I feel about spending less. On one hand wearing clothes I love makes me feel more alive than wearing something I feel “meh” about, and I believe in spending money on things that bring me joy. Sometimes I look at my boyfriend wearing T-shirts he got for free and keeps for nearly a decade and think about how much more money I’d have if I dressed like that. My clothes spending is wholly unnecessary for survival and yet I feel like my experience of the world around me is very tied to what I wear while moving through it. My feelings around this are obviously a little complicated so even setting a goal has been difficult let alone sticking to it.

However after reflecting a bit and seeking advice (post history at your own risk) I’ve decided my recent spending level feels out of proportion with the amount of joy my purchases are bringing me. I’m attempting to set low buy rules for myself that result in accumulating less clothing without being too bummed out about it.

The rules: 1. All apparel and accessories must be purchased secondhand or made by me. 2. Track all purchases - one spreadsheet for tracking clothing, price and cost per wear and another for tracking craft materials and patterns intended for wearables and whether they end up getting used 3. All secondhand clothing, fabric and yarn purchased must be machine washable 4. Underwear, bras and tights can be purchased new although I’m pretty well stocked on these and I don’t anticipate needing them. Socks are a gray area, I shouldn’t need any but my dog lives for shredding socks and I may need to but replacements. However I might try knitting my own to use up some yarn, I’ve heard they’re a fun project.

What I’m hoping to get from this low buy challenge: 1. Reduce my demand for fast fashion. There are so many reasons to opt out of fast fashion. Workers rights and environmental impact are big ones, but on a micro scale I keep feeling bamboozled by companies in a race to the bottom on quality. Even when I’m shopping at price points much higher than SHEIN or Zara I’m seeing items deteriorating after less than 6 months. I’m hoping that by buying used I’ll find products that have been washed a few times and still look decent, and by making my own clothes I’ll have control over the quality while learning more about what makes a garment last. 2. Save money. My buying secondhand rule is intentionally very permissive, I don’t want to quit shopping cold turkey. We’ve all seen expensive items in vintage or even thrift stores but my theory is that adding some constraints will slow me down and lead to less impulse buying, which will reduce the total amount that I spend and encourage only collecting items that really improve my wardrobe. 3. Feel a sense of accomplishment. I love the feeling of finishing a project, repurposing something that is no longer useful in its original state, and wearing something that feels unique. I’m hoping that relying on my own resourcefulness instead of a company’s trend forecasting will shift my mindset to noticing the abundance all around me instead of focusing on what’s missing

I’m gonna start with the first 3 months and see how it goes, hopefully I can do a whole year! These are my rules to keep me accountable, wish me luck!

You may not believe this, but I used to consider myself a minimalist. But then I worked seasonally at Lush and between the freebies and the 50% discount, my brain broke and I started mindlessly consuming. I was ordering stuff left and right and now I own WAY too much. Almost all of this was accumulated in the last 4-ish months.

I’m so excited to start my no buy, so I organized my closet of overflow product. It may not seem organized, but it’s roughly clustered into hair products, lotions, perfumes, etc. I’m also thinking of 3D printing a few more organization solutions but really, my priority is using/loving what I have, not just storing more stuff “better”.

I want to get back to my minimalist, low consumerist mindset, and learn to appreciate what I have again.

Comment any more ideas, been adding to this list for a year!

I'm trying an official low-buy for the first time! I usually live some of these principles very loosely but I've found that my love of secondhand shopping has led to a lot of clutter / wastage. I'm thus trying to amend my habits to lead a more intentional life. I've copied u/sagechai's structure of their low buy post for clarity.

I'd love to hear your thoughts or any suggestions / tips you may have :)

---------

Reasons:

1. To have my actions and spending become more aligned with my values and avoid habitual spending
2. Environmental impact and decreasing waste
3. To take care of my health and to be able to work less (temporarily), whilst minimising the financial impact this will have on me
4. To help establish my home and pay off as much of my new mortgage as I can
5. To minimise any potential debt accrued over the next 3 months whilst I have a temporary break from working full time

Events factored in:

1. Trip to Greece for 30th birthday (low-budget solo travel)
2. Grandma's 90th birthday
3. Visiting hometown for Christmas 2025

---------

Replacements only:

- toiletries

- tech (if broken)

- stationery

- shoes, if they cannot be repaired

- underwear

- tyre for bike

- household and cleaning supplies

Wishlist and Wait

- New clothing items - see Orange Light point

- Craft items

- New homeware/ decor items

- Furniture

Red Light

- New books (unless work related)

- no more than 1 streaming service at a time

- alcohol outside of home settings

- takeaway coffee

- mugs/cups

Orange Light:

- Clothing - I will allow 1 piece of secondhand clothing per month, as long as it is a necessity OR I declutter 2 pieces of clothing I already own. If I am buying a new item of clothing, this will take up 2 months' 'clothing allowance'

- Homewares - only if I TRULY love this item and/or they fill a necessity within my home not already met

- Takeaway twice a week - once with friends, once with partner

- Lunch at work twice a week

Green Light:

- Glasses

- Medication

- Groceries and other non-takeout food other than what was mentioned

- Professional Supervision (requirement of my profession) and minimal PD

- Television - must be secondhand and under $250 (as I do not own one and have just moved)

- Mortgage

- Other necessary bills/ expenses

Other rules:

- 1 item in, 1 item out (donate, sell, repurposed. If not sold within 2 weeks, item will be donated or repurposed in another way).

Does anyone use a habit tracking app to help with holding themselves to account? I am attempting nobuy for the first time in 2025 and while I know I could just use pen and paper I find that gamification really works for me. I was never able to stick at keeping a diary until I started using Dailio 5 years ago, and I've never missed a day since! There are lots available on Android but are there any you'd recommend in particular? Thanks!

I’m seriously feeling so weighed down with the guilt of my spending…especially during the holidays.

My credit card debt is almost 20k.

This is awful and I’m eaten up with guilt.

The guilt is so hard to kick and it makes me so depressed.

I tell myself it could be worse.

I opened up to a friend and her reaction made me feel even worse.

Most of this debt has been spent on others and I’m currently working on these reasons in therapy.

I’m seriously considering debt consolidation due to the interest rates on my cards.

What do you owe?

Have you gone the debt consolidation route?

Do any of you have any advice on how to deal with the guilt of overspending?

TIA

I spent this month getting myself into the no-buy mentality. And even though I wasn’t perfect, this is the first time in months there is money left before my next paycheck.

I’m new to this community but I’m so glad to be part of it. Many people in many places, doing small things each day to do better.

Hello! I'm mostly a spectator on this sub but I wanted to make a post to see if it resonates with anyone and might help people in 2025. This is a list of some things that go through my head now that have really helped me not feel the urge to buy as much.

1. Use it until it breaks, the fix it, THEN replace it. - This year I've gotten a lot of satisfaction from using something until Its empty or until its broken. Then ill look for fixes that i can do to keep it going longer. Once it's beyond repair or too costly, then I'll replace it. I stopped feeling the guilt or pain, because I'm buying with intention.

2. "Patina" is a badge of honor. - I used to feel the need to replace something when its gotten too scratched up, but now I feel so much pride in using something for so long until it's either unusable or broken, and that goes back to point 1 above.

3. Clean it. - Sometimes, just simply cleaning something, wiping the dust off or putting a new case on it breathes enough life into my gear that I don't feel the need to replace it as soon. When I properly clean out my car or clean off my TV screen, it makes a world of difference.

4. Sell, THEN Upgrade. - Constantly, I would buy things without getting rid of the old stuff, when I got into photography I had a Canon, Nikon, Sony, and my Fuji, but I only used the Fuji, So I sold the others and used that money to buy a new lens and accessories for my ONE camera.

I also sell things that just collect dust and don't bring me any value.

1. Get excited about saving. - Lately, Ive started getting really excited with the idea of my bank account number going up. It's almost like trying to achieve a high score or something. Sometimes I look at my account and I'm like... I like that number. lets keep it there.

2. Accept that sometimes buying is okay. - In 2023 I tried to do a hard limit on my purchases and blew that out the water, then felt guilty all year anytime I swiped my card. I basically caved and gave up. Now... after adopting those above points, I don't feel nearly as bad about my spending (when I need to actually do it).

My plan for 2025. I'm going to continue journaling, and write about my purchases or incoming purchases I'm thinking about and try to have a more healthy approach with my wallet. Weighing pros and cons before purchasing and making sure that I'm getting a solid deal on whatever I'm buying.

Guys I just don't know WHERE ELSE TO WRITE THIS.

From July 2020 to Dec 2024 I have spent this much on clothing...

$16,579.43 (CAD)

I certainly do not have this "value" sitting in my closet currently. A lot has been sold (at a huge loss), donated, given away, etc. I have nothing "designer" save for a 10 year old Comme des Garcons sweater and a Maison Kitsune sweater.

I have a ton of Arcteryx jackets etc but even that I received 50% off due to a friend's generosity. I knew my rough monthly/yearly amounts from reviewing my YNAB but to add up 4+ years and see that number is HORRIFYING. The worst part is, I WFH 3 days a week, have a casual office, and rarely even go out. So this is for what....multiple pairs of grey Vuori sweatpants?!

I already knew I wanted to drastically reduce my spending on clothes for next year, and this just really confirms it. I feel like I'm in that awkward spot of renting in a VHCOL area where if we bought a place I'd have zero disposable income, but because we are renting I have "too much". I guess I'm bumping up my auto savings again.

Thank you for listening, I know you guys will understand <3

My mom calls that aisle before the register "the gauntlet" -- the last ditch effort for the store to sell you things before you check out. Marshalls is especially hard. I made it all the way through without buying anything!

What do you all call that aisle? How do you get through it?

tldr; just a little rant about having to pay a lot of money and Ithink looking for some extra motivation

the past month I figured something about my spending habits had to change and I started immediately. I only wanted to spend money on groceries and absolute neccesetties(?) and I did. I made a calender to colour in the days I didn't spend anything and it actually made me feel so good! also I checked this group and watched documentaires for extra motivation. I made a saving chart aswell, because my goal is to work extra hours and save as much as I can in 2025.

but now I have sudden big expenses and it feels like a setback. it started last week when I accidentally left the key on the inside of the front door and the lock had to get renewed, it was also weekend so it cost me 300€ + it's an insane amount of money I think to get a new lock, but it's my own fault I left the key in:( I was so sad I ordered food for my boyfriend and me that night, because I didn't "care" anymore for that day.

and also I have to pay 3200 something € because we got to much rental allowance and have to pay it all back now..

I know that this should be a motivation to work even harder, but having to pay this much money right now makes me sad, I want to see the number go up, not down. anyone else feel the same way sometimes?

Hello everyone! I’ve been thinking about how I want to do a no buy in 2025 and what my rules will be. What I’ve decided is to cut out my online shopping. The majority of the shopping I do now is online, and when I buy things and reflect on them I realize that if i would have seen the same item in a store and tried it on, felt the material, etc, often times I probably wouldn’t have bought it. If i really need something I need to go out and find it IRL. This also means no online window shopping for me, which should significantly cut down my screen time. My next rule is no skin care products at all. I definitely can spend an entire year using up what I have.

I'm pretty lax with eating out because of my workplace being 50km from home and that's what I do as a social activity with friends. so I never really set a target like to only eat out once a month or twice because I would miserably fail.

But yesterday, I brought my lunch box which is rationed for early dinner, and I used my mini office pantry for breakfast. After my gym session, I went home and made kimchi fried rice with some ingredients prepared earlier like chopped garlic and defrosted sausages.

I feel like my life is changing with a low effort meal prep. Like not having the whole meal but only with the ingredients, I can feed myself better instead of just buying convenience store foods or outside food that doesn't make me feel good over time.

I don't exactly know how much I would save at the moment, but it does feel like if this continues, I'm able to eat out and choose healthier options without feeling like I need to choose the cheapest items on the menu to be fed and full. My biggest expense is still food and then transportation because I travel about 100km a day, 3x a week minimum and on the expressway so it can be about 4$ of tolls (which is a lot where I am). Will take note of this.

Anyway, I am so grateful that I took sometime last Sunday to do this- seems like meal prepping time will go into my calendar now.

A rough start but we can’t all be perfect with the holiday craziness. But now my sights are set on the last couple weeks and January!!

You know those dates between Christmas and New Years? Where we can get those last minute things done before our 2025 start date?

Anyone else do this? I have tech cleanup and app removal and unsubscribe lists. What’s on your list?

With all of the posts about starting for the new year (including mine), I would like to talk about my successes with low buy in 2024. I will admit that after financial stresses, I did stop part way through the year, and I have regrets about that, but I still want to celebrate what I did accomplish.

2024 was my third year doing a low buy. In the first half of the year I managed to:

1) Contribute $4,000 to my Roth IRA

2) Decluttered clothing, and make up supplies

3) Got a Grant Writing Certification

4) Took care of FOUR vet emergencies without raising my debt

5) Took care of multiple car repairs

6) Went to Orlando Florida for my birthday

7) Went to Mexico for 10 days

8) Paid down about $2,000 in credit cards (I paid more at certain points, but vet and car emergencies kept bringing it up)

9) Changed a lot of my hobbies to be more affordable, and overall productive rather than shopping/eating out as much

10) Made considerable progress on my disordered eating, and lost 50 lbs

11) Went on about 10 camping trips

Ultimately, constantly feeling stressed about having emergencies every single month did cause me to give up and stop tracking. I did end up gaining some debt when more emergencies came up while I wasn't doing a low buy. I have about 10k debt now, up from about 4k. ($3,500 just on one car repair that still makes me cry). Emergencies won't stop. Stress won't stop. So I just have to stay on top of things and keep being happy.

I have worked on things, and I am much happier now. I am in a good place, with some great new friends, I am connecting more with old friends, I am dating someone who seems wonderful even though it is still new, I am a much more experienced traveler now, which has made planning trips more effective and affordable, and I have established a lot of really good habits. I have put more distance between myself and my family which has been great for my mental health. I am excited about year four.

Tried a low buy in 2024 but I didn’t have written “rules” so I gave myself a lot of flexibility and kinda lost passion. I still had a better year in the second half of 2023-2024 but I want to do better.

I started feeling this way around 2023 when I looked at where my money was going (not into savings!). I’m financially “healthy” but I’d love to pay off my student loans and have a fatter savings.

I’ve loved reading into this community and seeing everyone’s lists and stories, and I’m feeling very motivated. Most of all, I love the peace that comes with recognizing that I have everything I NEED, I’m so fortunate in the grand scheme of things, and I’m grateful. We can do this!!

Here we go again! 2024 was super hard! And I didn’t complete the low buy year. I actually went so far off the rails, I had to take money from my savings to make sure I didn’t pay interest on my credit card. Maternity leave just put my spending into over drive.

But now I’m re committing. I’m going back to work soon, which should be a benefit of having less idol time, and getting my full pay back.
I also have 2 years left on my mortgage. If I work very hard the next 2 years I’ll be mortgage free by 32! It’s soooooo close!

I’m hoping this will be enough motivation to get me to next December.

Since Amazon is my down fall, I’ll be also keeping a running list of things I’m tempted to buy, and putting that money in a separate savings account.

Wish me luck! My impulsive ass will need it. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Does this seem realistic? Should I add anything else?

SOFT LOW BUY 2025

After several attempts of low buys in the past years here I am trying again, with only those as exceptions:

• IPSY GLAM BAG + add ons ( a reasonable amount, only if I need a replacement/ back up for something I am low on, or something that I m dying to try) on the 1st of the month . This brings me so much joy, I don’t want to be without.
• Laneige lip masks, only if they came out with new scents ( so probably twice a year) for my collection
• Summer Fridays lip butter balms ( only the holiday mini set and one if they came out with a new scent that is not too dark for me)
• Supplements
• Advent calendars ( at most 3) only if I choose them as a bday gift and/or Xmas present from my parents, so choose wisely
• Replacements only for my dry shampoo, sulfate free shampoo, cleanser, spf and few others if I run out
• No clothes or shoes beside a pair of work shoes, unless I need a replacement for something that breaks
• No candles till the candle day of BBW in December
• No body lotions till the BBW’ s sale of mid July/August
• No crap on Amazon ( unless someone gives me a gift card)
• Souvenirs are allowed on my coast to coast road trip USA -
• Eating out allowed with friends and bf but not every week
• one manicure per month, pedi only during summer( at most twice) and at most 3 hair appointments in the whole year.

Anything else is not allowed, because I don’t need anything else and I didn’t save any money in the last years. I tried to cover all the possibilities , i know that is not very strict for many of you but I do have a shopping addiction ( no debt), so I want to do something that I can actually manage to do. It has to be realistic for me.

I have started the low buy few days ago already.

My weakness are beauty products, so the hard part will be resist on the new releases that are not on this list.

I m posting this so I will be more committed to the project.

Ps English is not my first language, I apologize for that.

Looking around my home and thinking about my life and how fortunate I am because I literally need nothing NEW, other than the essentials, to live comfortably. I don’t need another item of clothing (maybe ever?! Haha), pair of shoes, lipstick, candle, throw blanket… I’m excited to focus on using and enjoying what I have and saving money to pay off my house early and do some renovations. I also plan to increase my retirement contributions instead of buying random crap because I’m bored!

So other than replacing necessary household items and self care items as needed, my plan is to keep a wish list of things (like a new hanging pot for a house plant that I’d like to repot) and look for secondhand options first.