The Ordinary Hippie Does a ‘No Buy’

My content is original. 

But my latest idea is not unique. 

I am starting a No Buy. 

“But the ban proved another theory: When you want less, you consume less – and you also need less money.”

-Cait Flanders, The Year of Less 

One of the biggest trends circulating around social media is the de-influencing of overconsumption, aka, promoting normal consumption in all aspects of our lives. Some of my favorite content creators are @DepressionDotGov and @Elysiaberman and I am absolutely here for this trend.

But, these conversations are not new, just rising to the top of the sociological cycle of ethical issues we grapple with decade after decade. And they are a lot deeper than 30 second clips on social media. When we address the problems associated with overconsumption we are tackling , head on, the big topics of capitalism, consumerism, poverty, racism, classism, ableism, and environmentalism. (as well as any other -isms that overlap among those categories, that I failed to list).

Normalizing under-consumption (aka normal consumption)  is more than just decluttering and more than just passively consuming content. Diving into this movement involves in-depth conversations, and a hell of a lot of inner work to address why we over-consume, where do we stand on critical issues in our world and society, and what privileges are we functioning from each day as we wake up? From being conditioned by consumerist culture, to our own personal traumas, we, as a society, have made gross overconsumption the “normal” of our lives. And it is creating a horrible imbalance within our communities and for our planet. 

I have considered participating in No Buys or No Spend a few times before, but never really made it happen. I briefly tried it out in January of this year and was committed for about 2-3 weeks before I essentially became bored. Recently, influenced by some of my favorite creators, I have landed on that I REALLY NEED to do a No Buy. I need to do this consumerist cleanse, not because it is trendy and I have FOMO, but because I recognize that I still have a lot more inner work to do with my own financial and consumer sustainability, and I need to re-write how my brain functions in this realm. 

Why Do I Need A No Buy? 

Overconsumption can occur regardless of how environmentally sustainable or unsustainable your life habits are. For me, with shopping, I am guilty of over-buying secondhand and from small businesses (often using the fact that they are more ethical choices to justify my consumption). I am not a minimalist by any means. While I do find merit in many components of minimalism, being a maximalist is part of what brings joy in my life. 

I have reached a point in my life where I no longer can handle the time that is being robbed from the things that are most important to me. I see myself losing out on time with my family because I am “de-cluttering” sections of the house or re-organizing the same areas over and over because there are too many items to keep track of. I see myself unable to secure the financial future that I want for myself, because I keep sabotaging myself with my purchasing habits (that often occur when I am heavily disregulated with anxiety). I realize that I have been putting some of my own basic needs on hold, because I choose to not make them a priority. 

In so many ways I have grown as a person, and overall, I am really satisfied with who I am and where I am in my life. But, my consumption habits are the area that is still holding me back, and I want to liberate myself from them. 

Depending on how well you know me, you might be surprised to hear that I over consume. It has taken me many years to figure out the “why” behind this behavior. I have so much inner work to do and trauma to continue to work through, but here is what I have learned so far: 

I experienced financial abuse and trauma

(If you are someone close to me reading this, and this statement shocks you, please come talk to me about it, don’t make assumptions, because it is more complex than you realize). 

Growing up I experienced being comfortably upper middle class where for the most part we were able to get what we wanted. Years later I would learn that there may have been a lot of hidden debt, but that was never shared with me. As a teen and young adult I would experience poverty, witnessing my family stress about affording basic needs, sometimes lacking food in the house, and having to “miss out” on normal activities or things like grabbing a coffee with friends. It wouldn’t be until I was in my thirties that I would realize that those responsible for me lacked resiliency, and could have taken steps to help us be in a better situation. I was taught my entire life the “correct” essentials of money management, but then I watched those same teachers do the exact opposite on a daily basis. I’ll let you guess which lesson stuck with me. 

My relationship with money is complex and spans over 30 years, with different experiences, conflicting information, and influences that shaped my mindset and led to addictive tendencies, that I am finally, just now, working on undoing. 

I need the chance to breathe 

Because of my consumption habits (mainly in the form of shopping), I have ridden the dopamine high for so long of what is next, that I feel suffocated and uncomfortable at the thought of sitting in the present. 

I have prevented myself from having the opportunity to use what I have and to enjoy what I have. And let me tell you. In the moments where I have used up a product fully, or been able to intentionally enjoy what I have in my life, I feel calmer, happier, and content. I want to create a shift within myself where that is the normal everyday, and not something that I am afraid to sit with. 

“It dawned on me that I had never shopped like this before, that I never truly felt a need for something, because I had always purchased things to fill future needs that might come up.”

-Cait Flanders, The Year of Less

I Want to Achieve Goals 

Overconsumption is actively preventing me from living my ideal life and the life I want to create for my family. 

Overconsumption prevents me from reaching my financial goals. It prevents me from keeping organized spaces. It prevents me from managing my anxiety and being in a good headspace. 

My No Buy Starts Today

Well, technically it started September 1st, but I’ve been behind in getting this post out. 

My intention in sharing my journey with this community, honestly, is because I need accountability. I have never been successful at a No Buy simply because I have never actually committed myself to the journey. I create the criteria and then “pretend” like that is sufficient. 

Here are My No Buy “Rules” 

1. Even essential items that need to be replenished need to go on a “wait a second” shopping list and no re-purchasing until I am out with no alternatives to use; 
2. My budget is already pretty stretched, there isn’t much that I can cut other than to never allow myself any discretionary spending, which is neither sustainable nor pleasurable. So, The goal is more to make sure I stay within my budget and not overspend from my discretionary fund, which then takes away from my other financial goals. It is also to help me align myself more with the person I desire to be with intentional purchasing. Even if I technically have the funds available, am I able to afford it? 
3. Allowed purchases are only permitted if you have the funds available.

Allowed Purchases

• Shared Household Expenses – this is already budgeted and split between myself and my husband
• Spooky Season – this includes Cedar Point Trips (we have season passes), Halloween Costumes, and the Starbucks Black Slime Cup (assuming I can even find it)
• Thrifting – $20 per week
• Eating Out
• Gifts for others – planned gifts only for birthdays, Christmas, etc.
• Breastfeeding/ Breast pump supplies
• Activities/outings with friends and family – such as the zoo, etc.

Purchases Not Allowed

• Make-Up (only exception is replacing an everyday item, such as my foundation, once it is completely out). 
• Jewelry – this one will be the hardest, as a passionate earring girly
• Clothes
• Perfumes/body sprays/lotions/bath products/nail polish/etc
• Books/Physical Media
• Lunch While at Work
• Plants
• Any purchase that I need to put on a credit card (because I lack the funds) or borrow from someone else

Where Will The Extra Money Go? 

My goal is to become more comfortable with spending less, so that I can find a healthy balance and allow myself a discretionary spending category, not feel deprived, and funnel more of my income towards my financial goals. If I come across any additional income (extra pay, misc. side hustle, gift, etc.) that will be allocated only for my financial goals. 

What are those goals?

1. *Debts $29,082.87 (this is a combination of credit card debts, student loans, medical bills, car loan, and personal loans from some friends/family)

*My long-term debt goal is to have everything paid off by 2027

2. Annual Family trip to Honduras
3. Overdue vet visit for our cat
4. Possibly a root canal (TBD at the consult)
5. Car oil change and some small repairs
6. New glasses 

I look at these goals as phase 1 of my financial goals. Once these items are funded and I have paid down some debt, my next step will be to focus more on long term saving, and eventually investing.

I will be participating in my No Buy for 5 months,  from September 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025. Every Friday, I will be posting a new update for all of you sharing what my spending looked like for that week, how my journey develops, and what reflections I have been having. And be sure to visit the blog on the 2nd and fourth Tuesdays of every month, because that is when I will be continuing to post all my other content. 

As I Venture Forth

Publicly documenting a No Buy is intimidating. I am not the first person to do it, so the shock value is pretty low. But taking this step means that I am admitting things to myself and finally making them “real.” I am also adding a layer of accountability that I have never attempted before.

I have been wrestling with the various ethical implications, and the overall impact on my life, that overconsumption brings with it, for awhile now. Finally, I feel ready to take action, and I want to prove that I am strong enough to create a better life for myself. 

If you have done a No Buy before, I would love to hear about your experience. Leave a comment or send me a message!