No-Buy February – What is a No-Buy Challenge?

Introduction

In last week’s blog, I talked about curbing impulse shopping to save money and clutter to become a more mindful shopper. This week’s post will speak of my No Buy Challenge, which I’ve set for February 2022.

So, what is a No Buy Challenge? How does it work? What are the benefits of it? What will my No Buy challenge look like? Read on to find out!

What is a No-Buy Challenge

A No Buy Challenge and its cousin, a Low Buy Challenge, is a challenge in which a person for a set period buys nothing bar the essentials. This could be a week, a month or a year. Andrew Krosofsky, in an article on Greenmatters, sums up a No Buy month very well:

‘A no buy month, otherwise known as a no spend month, is a month (though it can be longer — some people do entire no buy years) where you don’t spend money.

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The parameters of no buy months are up to individual interpretation, but most of them suggest that you don’t buy anything you don’t absolutely need. That might mean that you end up eating all the food you still have cluttering up your pantry and freezer. It might mean you end up using the “bad smelling” cleaning products sitting in the back of the cupboard.’

A low-buy challenge is slightly less restrictive and allows for more leeway in buying some non-essential items. This could include one take-out coffee a week or the odd piece of clothing.

A No Buy Challenge is simple as a concept, you stop buying, you stop spending money, and you start saving. But how does it work in practice?

First, you decide on the length of your No Buy Challenge. Mine is going to be a month – February. Second, you need to decide what to include and not to have in your challenge. For my challenge, I will not buy clothes, books, CDs, gifts, random knick-knacks, stationery, take-out coffees, drinks or deli food. I will, however, still go for my weekly visit to the café as I like to be amongst people when I feel lonely. I will buy groceries and replace toiletries should I need to. If my washing machine or any other household appliance breaks, I will allow myself to replace that. Fingers crossed, it won’t! I am also travelling to Scotland mid-month and will allow myself to buy food and drink at the service stations.

Reasons for doing a no-buy challenge

Why do people do a no buy month or year? Some people want to save money, and others want to do their bit for the environment.

YouTuber Christina Mychas spoke to Select about how people can use a no-buy period to save money and spend less:

‘Mychas emphasizes that the goal of a low buy or no buy period is not only to achieve your financial goals but to change your mindset around shopping. After your no buy or low buy period, you might be more intentional about your purchases and may be able to delay instant gratification by waiting to make new purchases.’

My reason for doing a no-buy challenge

My reason for doing a No Buy Month is twofold. For one, I recently cleared my flat and discovered that I had multiple of many items—for example, toiletries and tinned food. I thought I wouldn’t buy more soap until I used the six bars in the bathroom cabinet. I wasn’t going to stock up on tinned tomatoes. One or two spare tins are OK; ten is excessive. The second reason is that I have regularly encountered a No Buy Challenge in my research into decluttering and minimalism. I wanted to have a go myself.

I will try this challenge for the whole of February and will report back in a few weeks to let you know how I got on and what I learned.

trabantbettina

Bettina Anna Trabant, Founder of Life Organised, your professional organising and decluttering service in East London. Eco-conscious minimalist and avid tea drinker,