How A No-Buy Year Can Change Your Brain's Response To Consumerism

Chelsea speaks with YouTuber Hannah Louise Poston about her year-long no-buy challenge, battling consumerism, and how her attachment to material items has changed.

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[kimberlyperrotis]

I remember when my ex got his third $10K bicycle, but was criticizing me for buying some new socks! It’s so true, sexism pervades the financial world, too. Throughout my marriage, I was the only one who worked, but he still griped about me buying anything new to wear. The formal clothes required for my corporate career were “unnecessary”, but not his extensive collection of expensive cycling outfits. Then, when I was in the process of divorcing him, my (male) lawyer criticized me for having a tiny wardrobe budget in my estimated expense budget, while wearing his custom-made suits and expensive Italian leather shoes! I got rid of him, too, and got a great female lawyer!

[HannahLouisePoston]

Chelsea and everyone at TFD, thank you so much for having me as a guest! 'The Hacking of the American Mind' actually IS by Robert Lustig—his was the name on my lips in the moment but I second-guessed myself. I loved reading it during my no-buy year!

[jae-annedanae]

Random but I love the way that if she doesn’t necessarily agree with what Chelsea said or the way she has said it, she’ll actually combat it and say exactly what she means. It’s always nice seeing people be clear about their thoughts and not being swayed easily

[AnonymousOregonian]

I commented on one of Hannah's videos years ago, saying how perfect a colab with The Financial Diet would be. Hannah replied to my comment saying how she would love to but thought she wasn't a big enough creator yet for them to be interested. I'm so glad it's finally happened!

[manda_d]

The idea I remind myself about all the time is this: capitalism offers us consumption as a hollow substitute for meaning.

[drax]

‘Shopping for beautiful things in a life ruining way’. - this hits home.

[carriei]

Oh man, that twenty minute mark where Hannah talks about the lifelong work of beauty vs the instant gratification of a beauty product, I so feel that. This is a real issue creative people face!

[MISSMADISONMEDIA]

Damn this one hits different. No one talks about SPECIFICALLY how difficult it is to not give up on your creative dreams while chasing financial stability. Thank you so much for your channel!!!

[Romary]

I completely get what Hannah was saying. The unhappiness was from not having the creative success she wanted and shopping as a form of escapism or band aid to her longing of success and beautiful things. I don't think she is alone in drawing to that conclusion. It's common in lots of people. I think no-buy is a good way of re-examining your habits and appreciating material things without owning it. I ALSO believe that creatives are extreme undervalued and underpaid so it may be that at the time she did have reason to buy some of these things but her income was so low.

[geneveiveharper]

I absolutely agree with the idea of chucking clothes that you don't feel good in. Even pajamas. There's no sense in keeping them because if nothing else you'll end up wearing them when you are behind on laundry, and then you'll feel gross. That is my experience anyway. I never regret getting rid of stuff that I didn't feel good in.

[angelaa.]

Not to be dramatic, but this woman changed my life. Big love for Hannah.

[fabdb]

Beautiful things are my vice too 😭 The way she's talked about being compelled by colour and beauty may sound ridiculous to some, but I relate soooo much

[herefortheshrimp]

My god this collab makes so much sense!!! Hannah has honestly changed my life and kept me from falling off of an edge when it came to beauty spending. On top of that, she is beauty and poise and an extremely warm personality all rolled up into one ❤️ (also - SHE’S 37?!?!)

[licoreen]

I did a no-shopping year when I was 26. I had returned from traveling abroad for two months and found shopping repulsive. Why spend time looking for clothes when you already have clothes? Who cares what thing people temporarily admire? It’s been almost 20 years since then, and my attitude is similar but less extreme.

[jingjin]

So related to what Hannah said about the struggle of the want of creativity replaced by marketing and the relief of purchasing. I realize if I am actually intentionally create more, the itch of buying decreases.

[ralphiesarch]

I learned that putting away clothes for years that you don't wear and finding them again is like going thrift shopping in your own closet. Since the fashion of the 00s is back, I'm re-wearing things I used to wear in high school and middle school. I'll call it time capsule closet shopping

[beautifuledie]

I gotta agree with Chelsea and her characterization of addiction. It was a little confusing when Hannah on one hand was explaining behaviors using the language of addiction specifically but unwilling to say she was addicted. Addiction of whatever kind can be really shaming inducing, and everyone deals with it differently. I'm glad that Chelsea brought up that addiction is a spectrum and does not always present itself as an extreme manifestation of severe debt etc.

[Christinamychas]

Love to see Hannah here! Hannah’s no buy and Aja Dang inspired my entire journey to become debt free & changing my relationship with my spending. So cool to see her on TFD!

[Jasmine-in-my-mind]

I relate so much to that feeling of being ashamed for caring about fashion and makeup. I'm in my 50's and have fought those feelings for all of my adult life. For me, it actually helped that I became an artist (musician) in my teens and continued on that career path through my 20's. It taught me to respect the importance of beauty in one's life (and in society). Unfortunately, a life in art and academia has also made it very challenging for me to manage my money! I've watched Hannah's channel from day 1 and have found it very inspiring as well as entertaining for the makeup content. :)

[jodywinter]

This really spoke to me. Hannah articulated things that hadn't even occurred to me. After nearly two years of working from home almost exclusively, my own relationship with clothes and style has been up-ended. The concept of wanting something because you need to show you own beautiful things is something I will ponder for the next little while!