Update on my No-Buy 2024 pt. 3

Update on my No-Buy 2024 pt. 3 – Introduction

In the third update of my No-Buy 2024, I will remind readers why I attempted a No-Buy Challenge, as well as let you in on some of my journal entries that explain how I felt throughout the year,

Firstly, I practice minimalism and have become progressively more minimalist, so not bringing unnecessary stuff into my life is a principle I live by.

Secondly, I regret most of my purchases from 2023. Impulse purchases: I am not immune to advertising or a nice window display!

Thirdly, Climate change: however much we kid ourselves, we cannot shop ourselves into a net zero future.

Fourth, I desired to be more frugal and save money, as my income has drastically reduced since being self-employed.

Update on my No-Buy 2024 pt. 3 -Excerpts from my daily journal

JANUARY

04.01.2024

…Going to be very minimalist and frugal

05.01.2024

Feeling up and down. Loads to do. Loads planned. Already decluttered loads of items. Extreme Minimalism, here I come! Areas I need to work on are the kitchen and the lounge.

19.01.2024.

Need to improve my journaling, spend less and become more minimalist.

21.01.2024

Ordered more books on Zero Waste. Want to get into it. Want to half my waste, drastically reduce my spending and be more frugal. I also need to further downsize my possessions. I still own too much.

29.01.2024

Re-arranged my entire flat and bought a new dining table.

FEBRUARY

05.02.2025

Need to continue on my minimalism journey.

09.02.2024

Liane is here. We sat at the new dining table and chatted for hours.

26.02.2024

Really enjoying my new dining table.

27.02.2024

Areas I feel I am still to lavish and need to cut down:

  1. Eating Out
  2. Coffee
  3. Drinks when socialising

I want to be way more frugal than I am. I have mastered the minimalism quite well.

I want to be a frugal minimalist, the extreme kind.

I have become extremely good at not buying stuff. I do still browse shops, but I don’t shop

28.02.2024

Need to go to the gym and get fit. Need to devise a fitness plan. Going to do the Isle of Weight Challenge. Need to busy myself in order not to shop. Shopping needs to be curbed.

I was tempted to buy some tracksuit bottoms but managed not to buy them. I am proud of myself. Frugalism, here I come!

MARCH

O6.03.2024

I need to be way more frugal, not quite sure how. But my spending is out of control. Not sure how to go about it. What can I stop buying? Might be worth checking the pricing of staples in a supermarket to see where I can save more. I really am way to materialistic.

JULY

15.07.2024

I watched two lesbian minimalists from South Africa. Made me want to declutter even more. They are inspirational. Makes me want to declutter more,

I still desire to be far more minimalist, but I am struggling with it miserably. Not sure what else I can declutter

22.07.2024

Still desire to be more minimalist. Too much variation in my wardrobe. I struggle between thriving to be extreme and not liking it.

29.07.2024

The less I buy the more I can get rid of, good! I convinced myself not to buy a kettle & a stove. Striving to be minimalist and frugal. Way more frugal. My home still feels like a cluttered mess, got to get rid of more stuff.

Desire to be extreme, not extreme extreme, but more than I am now.

01.08.2025

It feels so good to be able to clean my room in 5-10 minutes because I don’t have much stuff anymore. It feels so incredibly freeing, I wish more people were minimalist.

10.08.2024

My living room and house is still taking up a lot of mental energy. Perhaps too much mental energy. Must do more work on it.

22.08.2024

Must declutter more, still have a house full of junk

SEPTEMBER

02.09.2024

Minimise my possessions further so that gives me the clarity I need.

08.09.2024

Being in my nice, tidy, minimalist study and having the space to think as a result of it. I am looking forward to getting the rest of the house clean and tidy. Makes such a difference.

Update on my No-Buy 2024 pt. 3 – Conclusion

I want to point out that the above are my reflections on how I feel about myself and my situation. It would never occur to me to judge anyone else. You do you, I do me, and we get on well.

Want help with doing a No-Buy-Year or help curbing your spending? Get in touch. Life Organised can help.

Have you ever done a No-Buy-Challenge yourself? How did you get on? Let me know in the comments below.

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



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