topic Re: No buy year in Community Chat

No buy year

pinkcrystal — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:07:40 GMT

Has anyone done a successful no buy year? This year I'm not buying any new clothes, shoes or jewelry. I retired last fall and I have more clothes than I could ever wear. I've already given much away but I still don't think I need any of the above.

Has anyone done this? What did you not buy?

Re: No buy year

SandySparkles — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:14:09 GMT

Although I have TRIED, despite my best efforts, I have never been successful for an entire year!😁 I have learned to ask myself is something a need and not a want, and walked away, or abandoned my online shopping cart on occasion!😊

~~~ALL we need is LOVE💖

Re: No buy yearto

kaydee50 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:18:03 GMT

I've done that--not bought anything for myself--for the 6 weeks of Lent. Would not even try to do it for an entire year--LOL!!--despite the fact that I have enough of everything to last at least a decade!

Re: No buy yearto

pinkcrystal — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:22:37 GMT

It's hard for sure, but I've already gone a month and a half so hopefully I can do it!

Re: No buy yearto

spumoni99 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:30:12 GMT

I don't buy many clothes since I retired, my daughter is getting next month so I have had to shop for clothes for that for me and my husband, almost done just need shoes.

I mostly buy for my grandchildren. I can't foresee myself being able to not do that.

Re: No buy year

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:34:05 GMT

@pinkcrystal wrote:
Has anyone done a successful no buy year? This year I'm not buying any new clothes, shoes or jewelry. I retired last fall and I have more clothes than I could ever wear. I've already given much away but I still don't think I need any of the above.

Has anyone done this? What did you not buy?

@pinkcrystal

I've done it very successfully but the wording is differrent, and that made all the difference.

I now have given myself permission to buy anything that I absolutely cannot live without.

Turns out, there are many, many, MANY things I can live without.

It separates the wheat from the chaff and works for me.

Re: No buy year

SaveTheTurtles — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 21:49:42 GMT

I have not done this nor do I think I ever would. With my luck as soon as I committed to doing it something would come up that I needed to buy.

Re: No buy year

Big Joanie — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:33:22 GMT

I havn't yet .. but I should ....

Re: No buy year

wagirl — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:53:19 GMT

This year is my ---trying to live in a budget year----I have gone thru extraordinary situations since 2021 that has caused me to over spend. So am trying not to buy except for the obvious things to live month to month. I really don't need 3/4 of what I already have anyway.

Re: No buy year

Bookplate — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 22:53:59 GMT

I think I can confidently state that I am NOT buying a boat, a tiara or a tractor in the coming year, and don't try to talk me into it. Everything else, sadly, is on the table.

Re: No buy year

cheriere — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:08:50 GMT

@pinkcrystal wrote:
Has anyone done a successful no buy year? This year I'm not buying any new clothes, shoes or jewelry. I retired last fall and I have more clothes than I could ever wear. I've already given much away but I still don't think I need any of the above.

Has anyone done this? What did you not buy?

Goodness no, but I sure need to. I will say that I haven't bought nearly as much as I have every other year though. Plus, I did make a list of clothing items that I only REALLY NEED. So far, I've stuck to that. I'm only going to be getting one more pair of jeans and two shorts because I need a different size. Wish me luck!

Re: No buy year

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:16:51 GMT

I haven't bought a piece of jewelry in the past 10 years.

Re: No buy year

Cookie2025 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:28:14 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
I haven't bought a piece of jewelry in the past 10 years.

Congratulatons ! That is amazing !

Re: No buy year

Still Raining — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:28:23 GMT

Right after I had my first, we were transferred overseas to be housed in furnished housing for six months. We were allowed 300 pounds.

Well, over seven years later we came back to the States. That really taught me how to live light. A most excellent lesson. Still think in terms suitcase capacity.

Re: No buy year

Effie54 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:34:41 GMT

No, I bought. We're retired but I like to dress up when I go out. Plus, I have a love affair with shoes, sneakers and boots.

Re: No buy year

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:55:31 GMT

@Cookie2025 wrote:

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
I haven't bought a piece of jewelry in the past 10 years.
Congratulatons ! That is amazing !

Not really. I mainly wear my wedding rings my husband bought, a cross necklace my grandmother bought when I turned 16, and diamond stud earrings my parents bought when I graduated from college. I also inherited my grandmother's pearl necklace and matching drop earrings.

I'm not much of an accessories collector.

Re: No buy year

AuntG — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:39:45 GMT

Usually, I limit myself to one QVC purchase a month. Currently, I'm not overspending on anything. I might splurge on some flowers this spring, but even then, the Amish growers are reasonable and have beautiful plants.

Re: No buy year

KathyM23 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:43:52 GMT

Would not even attempt this and set myself up for failure. I did decide that I was going to drastrically cut down my clothes purchasing this year tho.

I started out real well - only bought one item in January and was so proud of myself and thought I can do this. However it is only February 14 and I have already bought 7 items this month. I knew when spring clothes started coming out I would weaken. Hope I don't see anymore for February and can decrease items purchased in March.

I am going month by month and am determined to end the year with a lot less purchases than in previous years. That is the best I can do - can't go "cold turkey" but hope I can greatly reduce purchases. I surely don't need any more clothes - I have more than 4 people could wear in a year.

I have done very well the last couple years in not purchasing shoes. I have only bought 2 pair last year. What helped me there is I don't like the styles of shoes now - clunky thick soles on loafers, etc and I can't wear heels any more. And I have only bought 5 pieces of jewelry in the last couple years. Something else I have way too much of.

Re: No buy year

Icegoddess — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:10:11 GMT

Yes, I've done it. After I was laid off from a job, I tried my hand at being my own boss. While I was trying to get a business off the ground, I didn't buy any clothing, jewelry, shoes except what I needed for my job which was work-type clothing. That was a little over a year.

It really wasn't that hard. I had a closet full of clothes from my previous life as an engineer that I could wear to church. That's really the only dress-up events I went to except maybe a couple of holiday events. To tell you the truth, I didn't think about fashion that much during that time. I guess since my job was physically challenging, I may have been too tired to be too worried about what I might be missing out on anyways most of the time. I did continue to take care of myself though in the form of haircuts, color, basic skin care, etc.

My advice would be stop watching the shopping channels and limit your TV watching. I was only watching TV in the evenings. You'll find you want a lot less if it's not staring you in the face all the time. And don't watch any influencers on the net. They're just there to separate you from your money.

Re: No buy year

Zwervend — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 00:10:20 GMT

I could easily go a year without buying material things like clothing, shoes, jewelery, etc. I have plenty for this life and the next three. The only exception would likely be golf gloves and golf balls. I seem to go thru those quickly.

Experiences though? That's a completely different story. I'll happily spend whatever I feel like on those, mostly travel related. Heck, I just picked up a cheap ticket to do a day run to ATL to check out the new AMEX Centurion lounge in concourse E that opens tomorrow!