r/nobuy • u/Teacup_Monkey_72 • 2d ago
Is anyone else doing no-buy out of spite? š
When I learned that Elon Musk makes about $40 million per day, an amount it would take me approximately 20 lifetimes to earn, I felt I had justĀ had it. If billionaires are determined to wring every last cent out of me āfor housing, for education, for healthcare, forĀ groceries, and then demand that I work on increasing the Domestic Supply of Infantsā¢ājust no. I am going to withholdĀ my money from your economy. If you insist I live in precarity, I'm taking you down with me.
I am obviously primarily using no-buy and low-buy to reach my own financial goals, like retirement and homeownership, butĀ for some reasonĀ those seem increasingly out of reach.
531
u/VonJeane 2d ago
That is part of my motivation. I was left feeling powerless after the election, and this is really the only power I have. Focus on myself and my financial health and stop participating in the economy as much as possible. I am sick of ads. Sick of my data and person just being a commodity for businesses. Sick of rich people getting richer while not adding anything of value. Time for some self reflection and love.
150
u/Fit-Ambassador-6544 2d ago
I have long ago deleted my FB and IG accounts. Deleted WhatsApp (another Meta product) and switched over to Signal (also more secure). I have an alias email that I use for online accounts and purchases, and only use my government name for banking and health accounts.
Data is money these days. And remember, if you arenāt paying for the product, you are the product.
78
u/DeadlyViking 2d ago
I feel this. After the election, I went off to my husband about everything. I spewed off all the "rules" and things we can/cant spend our money on. He just looked at me and said "ok, wifey. Whatever you want" because he knows its the only way I can feel control over the S show about to happen.
174
u/Fit-Ambassador-6544 2d ago
Please consider buying your meat and produce locally! (If you have the means to of course) Farmers markets are a great start. We need our farmers and they need our support.
Same goes for small businesses.
19
u/meanho2020 1d ago
This but I'm working on starting a craft store lol wish me luck people love Amazon
7
u/pizza_mom_ 1d ago
Iām super into crafting and I go out of my way to support local or small businesses whenever possible! Nothing beats talking to the person who dyed the yarn youāre buying
7
u/Books_and_lipstick91 1d ago
Thereās a craft warehouse near me. All crafting businesses selling their wares. I buy my candles there. Next year all my Xmas shopping will be done there.
3
u/helloworld1313 22h ago
My Nan has an embroidery store. The thing that gets people motivated over Amazon is the community. Set up classes, tutorials and whatnot - it makes a huge difference and a reason people will shop with you over Amazon. I remember when my Nan retired from a storefront this year, people cried because they loved her store so much. Good luck!!
173
u/DeadlyViking 2d ago
Yes, 100%. We cut back since the election, but I told my husband we are saving as much as humanly possible in 2025. Partly because I finally want our student loans gone, but also because I do not know what the prices are going to be after the crazies get into the White House. We arent rich or anything, but if more people who have discretionary income become more mindful (stingy) with their money, it will affect the economy.
79
u/Floopydoodler 2d ago
it's about the numbers. We don't make ungodly sums but if we collectively spend less with the greedy corps, they might notice. No guarantee, but I am making drastic spending changes coming up.
27
u/Cloudy-Dayze 2d ago
Yeah! And even if there aren't enough of us to impact their bottom line, we make a better world by supporting good alternatives.
78
u/woolandwhiskey 2d ago
I totally hear you. For me personally, Iām choosing my health and beauty purchases very carefully because I hate that there is a billion dollar economy built on making up BS about everything āwrongā with women - weāre too old/gray/wrinkled, not skinny enough, we smell bad, etc - all problems manufactured to sell us shit we donāt need. At the same time as we are being denied our hunan and reproductive rights. Iām not alive on this earth to be your pretty little thoughtless baby machine. /rage
28
u/Teacup_Monkey_72 2d ago
Oh my god, this category alone. The various expensive bottles of goo that promise to make my hair look smooth and shiny and frizz-free literally occupy a bucket next to my bathroom vanity.
345
u/hauntaloupe 2d ago
Yes! I want to do my part to tank the economy for the upcoming administration. My sister recently told me that women wielding power over/with their finances is a valuable form of resistance and I really want to channel that this year in being mindful of where I spend my money and using my (admittedly little) financial power to make a statement. (And to buy a house and save for the future, of course. But spite feels like a more powerful motivator to me.)
94
u/nochedetoro 2d ago
This is why one of my major purchases for next year will be getting my uterus out. Seeing how much waste kids create (outside of just diapers!) is staggering.
21
37
u/hauntaloupe 2d ago
Hell yes!!! I got mine out two months ago and have not looked back since. Good luck!!
3
u/dongledangler420 18h ago
I also find spite a more effective motivator than positive reinforcement ššš
Why are we like thiiissss
3
u/hauntaloupe 11h ago
Personally I love to think of myself as an inconvenience to the men in power š it just feels so satisfying
9
u/mygirlwednesday7 2d ago
Ooh! I love your point of view. I was about to say that this should be blogged, but seeing the times, it would be counterintuitive. Who knows.
37
u/Electrotango 2d ago
I was thinking of cutting down everything that I can't get from unionized or employee- owned businesses
19
u/goldkats 2d ago
I feel the same way. I havenāt gone to Starbucks in about a year, no Amazon in a year, and now am looking at where to get groceries since thatās what I still would need to buy consistently. Everything else is on a no buy for me.
2
u/lousquared 1d ago
Do you have a list you go off of?
8
u/Electrotango 1d ago
Some of the national unions post shopping guides on their websites and social media, especially around holidays
Here's one from UAW: https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2022-UAW-Shopping-Guide-full-28-pages.pdf
65
114
u/lakeruby7 2d ago
YES. I have a reminder in my calendar for every day after Jan 20th āDo not spend a dime!!ā
29
13
3
64
u/lilBloodpeach 2d ago
Definitely a big influencing factor in my no buy, especially with emphasis on reducing consumption and choosing small and local over big companies when needed.
8
u/Cloudy-Dayze 2d ago
Same. I'm happy to work with local and small businesses when meeting my needs.
148
u/RoeRoeRoeYourVote 2d ago
Absolutely. I have other reasons, but the last election was yet another in a long list of radicalizing events. Women are the primary economic drivers of their households. We make the budget, we decide where to shop, we carry the mental labor of knowing every single household need, and so on. Nobody is entitled to my work and my money. Not a single fucking soul is entitled when I'm laboring in a country that clearly does not want it respect me. Get fucked. I'll pay my bills, replace only the essentials, and that's absolutely it.
23
99
u/empresscornbread 2d ago
My feelings exactly. Iām so mad and tired that they get to dictate what happens to us and itās not our lesson to learn. So Iām challenging myself to a no buy for at least half the year to see how I do. Iāve been spending my hard earned money on silly highs when they have billions and power over how I live. Itās so frustrating. At least I have control over this and will be focusing on my ideal life eg- exercise, creative activities, less on social media, etc.
While I do have investments, Iām also saving for a home and retirement (I have no kids who will take care of me when Iām old). The chance to purchase my childhood home came up and that shifted my whole mindset.
54
u/RandomUser5453 2d ago
ššGo on girl!Ā Ā Having money aside is the best thing ever! The freedom and the peace of mind that comes with it is unmatched!
51
u/MTP_2023 2d ago
Yes! After Bernieās report on Amazon came out, I went from almost a daily Amazon buyer to vowing not to buy from Amazon if I can help it. I will drive, wait, and pay more to avoid Amazon. We also liquidated all of our Tesla stocks.
24
u/goldkats 2d ago
I did the same thing. I canāt contribute to those that continue to minimize the rights of others.
42
u/hoosreadytograduate 2d ago
Maybe this is the mindset I need to get into because the shift is currently trying to stop spending money on random unnecessary things so that I can save for a down payment but maybe now I need to make my primary reason spite lol
6
u/Imaginary-Item9153 17h ago
In addition to the political spite, I also feel spite for the fact that these corporations have shaped American culture to the point that being a mindless overconsumer has become our global reputation. Letās think for ourselves and live real lives.
6
u/Icy_Measurement_2530 18h ago
I agree. My hatred for MAGAts and how they got us here and then the side crew of oligarchs funding the Felon in Chief might be exactly the motivation I need.
19
38
u/Glad_Astronomer_9692 2d ago
Yep, if all these people screw me over to make a buck then it is my duty to save as much as I possibly can and deprive them of my dollars. I spent way less on Christmas this year and check thrift stores first for anything I may need. I am opting out of this economy as much as I possibly can. Hate is a great motivator and it makes saving money surprisingly easy.
17
u/persian_omelette 2d ago
Honestly, this is likely the only thing that can motivate me enough to not spend any money. Thinking about how rich the people are whose products/services I consume.
30
u/somanylabels 2d ago
This is definitely in my top 3 reasons. Iām absolutely disgusted by what this society has become
11
u/Curious-Ad7410 1d ago
I decided to do a last essentials buy before the new year. Looked up sustainable, woman-owned and diverse companies to support and bought the products directly from the small businesses instead of Amazon. Not only did I qualify for free shipping from every site, but I also qualified for free gifts and discount codes. My purchases were less than what I would have spent buying them on Amazon, and I received them all within a week.
10
u/Curious-Ad7410 1d ago
To note: I am fully disabled and my husband does all the local shopping for me. Buying from Amazon was a convenient way for me to assist him, but itās also not a crutch. We both worked for the company years ago and they let him go for the customer satisfaction rate of his team. Lost his well-paying managerial position because they wanted a near-perfect 98 percentile of customer reviews. Amazon will not see me as a āvalued customer ā in 2025.
27
u/alittlebitali-s 2d ago
Meeee!!!! spite saving over here. With the benefit of using what I have. Which will lead to less crap taking up space in my house and more appreciation for what I do have. And more cash in savings!
11
11
u/Lost-Captain8354 2d ago
Not so much spite as a desire to live a life designed to meet my goals, not the goals of the salesmen and grifters that increasingly run our society.
In regards to retirement and homeownership, you will find those become much more within reach when you cut out all of the unnecessary spending - you both increase the amount of money you can save for the future and decrease the amount you need to save. I was feeling like I would never be able to retire, but now that I've cut down my spending I am on track to retire early. Spending my money based on the happy fantasies peddled by marketers was the thing keeping me on the treadmill and stopping me from achieving what I really wanted.
11
u/joysolicitor 2d ago
Yup, my family is on the same train this next year. I'm so over spending money to line the pockets of billionaires.
19
21
u/curiocat2810 2d ago
Love the spirit of this. Power through and try your very best to shop local and support family businesses, but be mindful of the whole economic maxim of making america great again.
This is of the reason that I get into conscious consumerism and consumption. (I haven't bought jeans for like 3 years now because I simply can't settle for anything less, but I also can't see myself paying 200$ for a pair of jeans at the moment, despite the improvement in my financial situation). At the end of the day, we have to balance out the fucks we're giving because the system is going to drive itself to the ground. While managing finances with such an immediate impact can actually affect us mentally and emotionally.
If anything, I just hope that we're in a better place soon!
19
u/FantasticAdvice3033 2d ago
I have a home and my finances are fine. My motivation is voting with my dollars is all the control I have left at this point.Ā
15
u/elisakiss 2d ago
You can also carefully research which companies you support. We all still have to buy somethings.
19
u/Teacup_Monkey_72 2d ago
This is true. When it comes to things I must buy, I want to prioritize things that are made by local or small producers, and by unionized or cooperative producers.
8
u/mowgliwowgli 2d ago
YES. This is my main reason for living more minimally and reducing my consumption on a whole. I only buy necessities or things that need to be replaced.
9
u/cmgbliss 1d ago
I'm only buying groceries and gas come January. I have enough clothes and goods to last a life time
21
6
8
u/FriendEquivalent4261 1d ago
Same!! I'm really going to try and do no/low buy, shopping local/for mom and pop shops, and second hand as much as possible.
Eff Amazon, Eff Walmart. Eff any company that takes government subsidies and still barely pays their workers.
6
u/business_hammock 1d ago
F*** YES! I am going into a 2025 low-buy (not quite a full no-buy) FUELED PURELY BY SPITE. Iām currently assembling my list of small, locally owned, women-owned, LGBTQIA-owned, and BIPOC-owned businesses, and I plan to patronize them exclusively. I honestly have no idea how it will go, but Iām going to give it my best possible effort and itāll be interesting to track my progress.
6
u/Warm_Feeling8072 1d ago
Me! š I am feeling spiteful too and want to give these rich asshats as little of my money as I can. The world needs a mindset shift to stop supporting this madness.
18
u/JarlOfPickles 2d ago
Same! I used December as a dry run, and will be spending the absolute bare minimum of money after Jan 20th. No Amazon, etc. I already try to shop local and secondhand as much as possible, but now I'm even more determined that they won't get anything out of me.
25
u/blakejones12770 2d ago
I yo-yo so much between this and "you've only got one life, spend your money on what makes you happy" šš
5
15
u/bingo-dingaling 1d ago
Yupppp!!! For me it's also about doing what I can to divest from the capitalist hellscape that wants me dead, and invest in my ongoing happiness instead. As the US descends further into fascism, my trans ass gives a big š to the whole system by keeping my coin for things like gender affirming care, homeownership, or fleeing the country if need be. No-buy helps me take back a little bit of my power to control my own destiny.
5
5
u/LadyE008 1d ago
Yes, same. My primary goals are also just getting my own finances in order, But man society is a bit of a hell ride and Im not having it lol.
13
u/Khalmoon 2d ago
It's a Tertiary goal for me with no buy, first for me second for my loved ones.
I try to slow people down in regards to overconsumption when its needed without feeling too preachy.
4
4
4
4
u/MaesterInTraining 1d ago
Amen.
I admit a massive strike at Amazon is also working in my favor. My dad gave me an Amazon gift card so I am getting a book I was going to get anyway, audiobook, and staples. I got a coffee syrup and micellar water. Thatās it.
Being spiteful can be fun.
6
u/malasaurus 22h ago
Yes. The second Trump won the election I decided to go on an extended no-buy out of spite. I mean, there's more to it than just him (believe me I am fed up with billionaires on the whole as well), and I believe I am going to see massive benefits, but it was certainly a big push for me to take the leap. His glorious tariff-fic economy can go on without me.
3
u/farmingrobin 1d ago
Some what this is what is motivating a friend and me to do a no buy year. My goal for a long time has been to stop participating in this system in the United States as much as possible. I feel like I need to set up some rules for myself so I can finally cut the last cord. The rich are funneling our money up and leaving us with nothing, Iām done with it
3
u/Alternative_Key4199 1d ago
I usually donāt base my purchases upon what is current with the politicking puppeteers. Iām starting to think they are all the same. Itās just that each faction has their own road to evil.
That said, I will still boycott a corrupted company that is working against the general population. One of those is Walmart, because they buy out small businesses to avoid even a minute shred of competition. Thatās awful and exceedingly greedy. Another is Amazon. I used to work for Amazon, and I quit when I realized the gravity of its monopolizing marketing. They are worse than Walmart.
Iām for bartering, swapping, making it yourself or gasp doing without certain things. Buying local is a great choice too. Not everyone is a hero or can forgo Walmart. But, those of us who can, should. It does make a difference!
3
u/Imaginary-Item9153 17h ago edited 16h ago
For me itās not about the money although that is a perk. Itās out of spite for the advertising that preys on our monkey brains, preventing people from enjoying the true luxuries in life (time, experiences, relaxation) because they are chasing stuff. Falling for it makes me feel like a sucker.
I lived abroad in a country with a reputation for being frugal and realized how much I had been mindlessly consuming back home in the US and how easily people settle for poor quality products here. So many people in the US have houses full of cheap shit for the sake of variety when they could have bought fewer, but actually nice things with the same money (this is not about people in poverty).
The quantity over quality mindset is toxic and affects your decision-making in other areas of life besides just material items. I also like how consuming less pushes me to be a more creative problem-solver and do more research before making a purchase. The research part can be just as dopaminergic as the purchase itself.
Living out of a suitcase for months on end taught me that a curated selection of items is so much more valuable than a million things that donāt suit my needs. You could even try doing so at home with a capsule wardrobe! You realize how quickly you forget about the things you donāt actually use after they are out of sight for a while.
If I do eat out, I will only do so at sit-down restaurants that are family/locally-owned. No corporate chains.
5
2
u/topazdebutante 1d ago
For groceries what would you say is best? I am thinking WinCo bc it's employee owned. I also buy a lot of generics.. but as someone with celiacs and Dr. Schar bread tastes the best I am pissed my 8$ bread will be even more bc the administration gives no effs who or what their tariffs will do..and no sorry American made gluten free bread ain't that great..š
2
u/BoxedWineBonnie 10h ago
If you are into online groceries, Thrive Market is a certified B Corp. I place a big order with them a few times a year for specialty baking supplies.
A lot of my friends and family have special dietary requirements, and it's convenient that the site lets you search by things like allergies and restrictions. A little expensive, though.
1
u/AlienGnome0 22h ago
You could look into local CSAs (community supported agriculture) for weekly veggies and eggs/cheese if you eat those too! I love having it ready to go every week and it keeps my diet varied.
2
u/oesth 9h ago edited 9h ago
I think this exact thing is going to be a big shift for western society. The unprecedented greed that stares us in the face is making some people wake up, or making some believe the illusion to continue to spend more than their means.
When we canāt even go out to buy extras, because theyāre too much and etc. Then businesses, start ups, entrepreneurs, the people, will take the hits. That part of economy will struggle as thereās less and less that can go to them.
But who can spend extortionate amounts on cars, houses, bills, then turn around and also do it to clothes, beauty, events, trips, tourism, etc. Itās becoming a bit of a melting pot and we will probably see some emphasis marketers/companies trying to sell us new āessentialsā. Re write again and again what the must-haves are, whatās in and how we need to keep up, etc.
kinda ties into how when a new business or office pops up, the only thing that benefits in the area are supermarkets. Another billionaires biz. We need to re focus on the local. Actual human necessities, like food, we need to collectively try get as local as possible. I also love the bartering instead of using money concept. And the ancient yet wonderful gifting. (I give an extra bit of my harvest to my neighbour, which then they may return with something baked or grown which is different to what I have) uplifting our community rather than international billionaires should and will benefit us.
0
u/oregon_deb 1d ago
no spite here - I'm doing it for me.
I rarely shop at Amazon not because Bezo's is a billionaire but because I don't like the way they treat their people. Yes, I know he's not there anymore.
A friend has a Tesla and loves it. Would I buy one, no, not because of Elon but because I don't like electric cars in general.
This no-buy is for me and represents me taking control of my life.
-31
u/HieronymusLudo7 2d ago
This is not a popular opinion, seeing the upvotes, but I find such motivations utter nonsense. That is my personal view, and regardless of who holds power where, or who has how much money.
Low-buy is about what is good for me, and mine. Of course I will not begrudge anyone any source of motivation they can utilize!
119
u/willrunforbrunch 2d ago
Yes! I'm doing a zero-Amazon 2025 and with a few exceptions I've written down am planning to primarily shop secondhand, or local when that's not an option. I'd rather drive to a store that at least employs people in my community and pay more than order the same item online. I'm so sick of being ruled by corporate oligarchs.