What is the No-Buy Challenge?
It is when you buy nothing but essentials for the entirety of the challenge. I tried the no-buy challenge for 30 days and it had a massive impact on my life as I was able to assess what I was buying and why.
4 years ago I tried the no-buy challenge, and it completely changed my life. I never thought I had a shopping addiction until I realized that I couldn’t go a week without buying something, it didn’t have to be clothes but it would be some kind of nonessential item that I would get excited about. Once the excitement faded I would have to buy something again, and so the cycle continued.
When money was tight I began to budget and realized how much money I was wasting every month/ year on items that really didn’t add any long-term value to my life. This sent me down a rabbit hole to the no-buy challenge and it completely changed everything for me.
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How The No-Buy Challenge Changed My Life
Saving Money
Pretty obvious right? Well, this was mind-blowing when I realized how much these small items added up over the months and year… I’ve always been very conscious about getting the best deals and saving money but all these little items really added up. The sad part was that they were things like clothes and decor that I didn’t use long-term.
Self Reflection
Once I started the no-buy challenge, it forced me to step back and look inward. I began to ask myself, why did I have to buy this item, and what was wrong with what I already owned?
My entire perspective changed, and I began to realize some of the spending issues I was having. I realized that I loved the high of searching for products, purchasing them, waiting for them to arrive, and opening the package. It was like Christmas every week but the high would leave after a few days and I would have to continue the cycle.
Mindful Shopping
I began to notice that I didn’t love the clothes already owned, I had a closet full of clothes yet nothing to wear. This is where I adopted the rule that if I don’t love it then it doesn’t belong in my closet, and also if I didn’t wear it within the first 2 weeks of owning it then I would return it. I made these rules because I was buying clothes that were a good deal but I didn’t love or it didn’t function within my daily outfits, therefore it would sit in my closet completely useless.
3 Day Rule
Once the no-buy challenge ended I wanted to challenge myself to think about whether I was buying something for the thrill of it or if it was truly something I needed and loved. This is where the 3-day rule comes into play, I add the item to my cart and wait 3 days before buying it. If you are addicted to the thrill of purchasing an item, this will immediately break that cycle. I’m not going to lie, this was difficult to do but it stopped me from purchasing so many unnecessary items.
Less Waste
I no longer own items that I don’t love, I shop with purpose, and if I don’t love it or use it then it gets returned to the store. It’s crazy to think of how often I was throwing away old clothes and decor. Now I have a closet full of clothing that I love and always have something to wear. I am so much more conscious about the things I buy and therefore, don’t have as much waste. I do one clean sweep in the spring and one in the fall and often only have 1 box of items to donate.
Less Clutter
It turns out that when you stop purchasing things, you have a lot less clutter. When I first started the no-buy challenge, I also decided to go through everything I owned and got rid of everything I didn’t love. Now that I only purchase things that I love and use, my home is completely clutter-free.
Living Minimally
I’m obsessed with home decor and creating a beautiful space but I also hate clutter and unnecessary trinkets. Rather than filling my home with items that I knew I wouldn’t love long-term, I swapped out all the accessories for plants and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Plants have saved me so much money over the years, I buy them small and let them grow over time. In order to save even more money, I sell my plant cuttings and also swap a lot of plants on Facebook Marketplace. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone but living minimally creates such a clean, calm space.
Appreciation For What I have
I am a lot more conscious about what I buy, I have a new appreciation for everything I have. It’s made me realize how fortunate I am to have a home that I love. I began to understand that constantly consuming items is not happiness, now I go out more, visit family, go on hikes, and appreciate extra time rather than looking good. The amount of time that I wasted looking for items, trying to find my style, purchasing, and styling them, I could have been living life instead.
Financial Freedom
I used to work a commission job, which meant the more I worked the more money I made. It’s sad to think of how much time I wasted working just so that I could buy something for temporary happiness. Now, I have more time to do the things I love, I don’t have the pressure to make more money. The bills aren’t stacking up and I don’t feel trapped in paying off my credit cards every month. I remember listening to Dave Ramsey, who said “You are a slave to the lender” and that hit hard. The feeling of being financially free is truly priceless.
Influential Recommendations (Not sponsored)
Catherine Mychas – (YouTube) Advice on the no-buy challenge, capsule wardrobes, and debt
Malama Life – (YouTube) Advice on minimalism
Aja Dang- (YouTube) Getting out of debt and achieving financial freedom
Dave Ramsey- Books or YouTube (He is very inspirational if you are struggling with debt)
