r/nobuy • u/theraininspain11 • 2d ago
Advice needed : no buy / low buy without feeling deprived
Hello, My spending has really crept up and I am feeling like I want a low buy or a very mindful buy year. I have done few no buy months here and there but each time it has either been a case of buying too much before starting or ending the no buy and going on shopping binge.
The months of the no buy were spent browsing but not buying and earmarking things for buying. I’m currently going through some health issues and also not in a happy place work wise so sometimes the random 100s I drop on skincare and hair care and clothes and shoes really keep me going from day to day.
Any advice or how people avoid the feeling of being deprived during a no buy Thanks
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u/Penny_Tuesday 2d ago
Also, be mindful of what you already have (skincare, clothes, whatever you like to shop for), maybe empty your cupboards and drawers and take an inventory? It will help you realize how much you own and how fortunate you are to already have this much.
I'm not a huge shopper (I work part-time so I can enjoy life more, so my wages aren't very high lol) but I always like to remind myself how lucky I am to have everything I have.
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u/theraininspain11 2d ago
Yes i think working towards contentment is a goal of mine. Going through drawers does make me feel a variety of emotions from shame for having wasted so much money on nonsense to gratitude to having so much
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u/Penny_Tuesday 2d ago
I understand the shame - as another user commented, that money is already gone, if seeing products you dont use makes you feel bad, give them away to family or friends! Out of sight out of mind, and they'd probably mane someone happy :)
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u/Abuela_Ana 2d ago
Sorry you are going through rough times. I would suggest skipping any restrictions on your buying for now. It isn't helpful to binge buy before and after the low buy month, also doesn't help to be browsing and lusting over items during the low buy.
Consider a different tactic. How about you just try to do something else. Pick a time of day and just go out and take a walk, it doesn't have to be the same time everyday. Doesn't have to be a long time either. Just walk a block one day, and maybe a block and half the next. Another block the 3rd day. Don't have to be more each day just do what feels doable. During those few minutes walking don't have your face on the phone, just think about the stuff you bought the day (or week) before. Did those items make you happier, or give you some pleasure?
Another thing you can do is organize your creams and lotions. Make an inventory of them just so you know what you have. Or clean and organize a closet, again to see what you have and may need alter or give away or just organize it.
Buying is an activity, one that you think about and fills some of your worries. You can't just say I'm not gonna buy more. What are you going to do the moments you normally dedicate to buying? Need to figure that before deciding not to buy.
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u/theraininspain11 2d ago
Thank you I jotted down some inventory and already feels like I have enough
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u/No-State3110 2d ago
I just started my low buy year so take this with a grain of salt but I found three things to fight boredom: - rotating products (e.g. having an everyday make up bag and storing the rest of my make up seperately. When I get bored of the current make up I switch the products in my everday bag shopping my stash)
finding new combinations and ways to use things (really getting in there and play with clothing/make up finding new ways to style/combine your stuff. I started loving shades of make up pallettes that I never even touched before and it feels like having something new to me)
Really disconnecting from the shopping websites helped a loooot with the fomo. (I have an album with outfits of mine that I like so if I want to browse online I just browse the album instead)
But I think that‘s more difficult if shopping is a coping mechanism. Maybe try and find new strategies to cope with stress. For me therapy was super helpful in finding healthy coping mecanisms to replace the ones that ultimatly made my life harder. Good luck on your journey!
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u/RandomUser5453 2d ago
Whenever you get those urges to specs on hair care and skincare. If you have the time go and have a look in your collection and get some products out of there and have a spa day a home.
When it comes to clothes is quite difficult going from buying a lot and no buy or low buy if you didn’t fingered out why you are actually buying and is even harder if you didn’t find your style. If you did try to go through your stuff and see what works together. To be honest I find this category to be the hardest if you are in your early to mid 20s or if lost/gained a lot of weight and still figuring out what works.
I will say to cut yourself some slack. Start with a low buy and give yourself a budget like 50 bucks a month and if is not enough for what you want just wait another month to have 100.
Or another thing will be to send money in your savings account every time you want to buy something.
Another thing is to go out of the house and get yourself a small treat every time you want to buy something.
Again,try different things to see what sticks for you.
My weak point is toiletries and I plan to make some price labels for them. (Look up how much they cost in the store and put that amount of money in my savings for trip)
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u/eperdu 2d ago
Try low buy. Use what you have and when it’s gone replace it. Like for like. This doesn’t have to be penance for everything you’ve done in life.
If you’ve bought stuff and don’t like it, get rid of it. Don’t let it torment you. But at the same time, don’t let it be an excuse to buy more. Take stock of what you have. If you’ve got 5 face cleaners you like, use them up. When they are empty replace with your favorite and move on.
I used to be obese, I realized that food was never going to make me happy, no matter how much I ate. I had to realize how much I needed to live a happy and healthy life. Skincare and hair are products are like food. They may make my life nicer but they sure aren’t solving my problems. I do that. I solve my problems.