Plan with me | Low buy year 2025

Plan for a low buy year with me today. The video isn't perfect and it's very much the beginning to get us started but I too am working on sorting out my finances, saving for my future and for experiences, healing my relationship with consumption and being a more conscious consumer.

Chapters:
00:00 intro
00:58 The structure of the video
03:46 Step 01: reflect on positive habits
06:19 Step 02: do a financial audit
11:48 Step 03: list things that genuinely bring you joy
15:08 Step 04: write you green, orange, red light lists
15:39 Things I'm not buying in 2025
21:11 Step 05: create a realistic budget
24:40 Step 06: take action
28:06 Tips for no buy months

so I've been thinking about my consumption, my spending, where my values lie and I think I want to do a low buy year next year so here are some of my thoughts, and how I'm going about planning for it...

► order my book: The Conscious Kitchen

► JOIN ME DAILY ON INSTAGRAM

► GET CONNECTED

►For business inquiries:

#lowimpactliving #lowimpactmovement

[ImmyLucas]

I hope you find this video helpful, and if you have any video ideas, requests, things I've missed (as I'm on this journey too) then please let me know!! Immy x

[afreaknamedallie]

Oh! On my calendars I've started having "DINO" days for "DId NOt spend money" and I put dinosaur sticker on the day 😅 so far i had the most DINO days the week I had norovirus but hey! 5 days of not spending money in one week made feeling that awful feel better!

[jessapuff]

Things I’m doing well so far:
-I opened a high yield savings account in 2024!
-I shopped 2nd hand for everything
-I put $375 from every paycheck into savings
-I have no debt on my car, house, or student loans! 🎉

[corilarge]

Just a suggestion on the cookbook and books, you can request your local library purchase a copy of a book. That's great data for library usage (I'm a Librarian). Or if they don't have the budget, ask them about Inter-Library Loaning for a book.

[Theboymombudget]

5 things im doing good
* Stopped going into stores just to browse.
* Started a Roth account
* Reading books on finance and spending habits and the psychology behind it to better understand the impulse and reasons behind buying.
* Use my library for free access to books and events for my family
* Removed my name from coupon lists so that I'm not tempted by a good deal. Went through my email and unsubscribe or blocked account trying to sell me goods.

[jo-veggie]

This video has come at such a good time for me as I am just starting a low buy year. I bought a book and realised when I put it on the shelf, that I already had it🤦🏻‍♀️. Big wake up call.

[sebastianmaker]

The financial audit admittedly stung a little bit to do. I always had in the back of my head "Yeah I could probably spend less on eating out". When I went through my bank statements and added everything up, it was so embarrassing. I had to sit down and remind myself that the point of the financial audit wasn't to shame and scold the things that had already happened, but to do better for the coming year. In that same vein, I often complain to myself that I have nothing to wear and many of my clothes need extensive mending. Well, save for buying my first tuxedo, I spent almost nothing on clothing at all this year. No wonder I have no clothes, I lost a ton of weight and bought nothing to replace the things that didn't fit. A good chunk of dining out money will be put to getting a better wardrobe going.

[xMrsUnfixed]

Coming from Germany, where health insurance is mandatory by law and covers all essential medical services needed to stay healthy, I can’t help but feel grateful. People often complain about the healthcare system, and there are certainly issues, but having to pay for everything yourself—that’s just unimaginable. It’s even worse to think that those with more money receive better care.

[marycharlebois]

I am a dedicated “gift giver on a budget”! I love giving gifts and celebrating the special people in my life!! One thing I have learned indirectly from you, Immy, is the gift of home baking. Who doesn’t love a dozen home-baked bagels with a jar of jam, or a tin of Vanilla Scones? I have used many of your recipes and I put them in a thrifted tin or platter. Thank-you for this! These types of gifts are so appreciated, and let’s be real… I’d rather bake than shop any day of the year. Much appreciated💕Ⓜary🎁

[marycharlebois]

Life is expensive… it makes sense to have a plan. I just spent $16K on rebuilding and outfitting our well. Clean drinking water is a high priority when ya live in the wilderness. I don’t have a concrete budget, but I do pay very close attention to inflow and outflow of my money. I appreciate the heightened awareness that you are helping me to create as to what I value spending my money on. Thanks for the great discussion this morning. Ⓜary💕💵

[sarah_mcd]

My motto for this year is "make due with what we have"

[kalilah-oy]

I could listen to you talk about anything really. You are so grounded and down to earth plus your voice is so soothing. Love your videos.

[oddzendz]

Things I/my fam already do:

1. I take the bus instead of drive to work
2. We buy grocery store brand items instead of name brand wherever possible
3. I try to make my own coffee to take to work
4. We cut our own hair
5. We try not to blast the heat/AC all the time

This was a really great video, Immy, and super helpful! Thank you for creating it!

[kirlynz]

Yes!!! I loved this video! 🩷
1. Yes I completely agree, I prefer this more casual style of discussion (definitely don't need a hyper produced video with lots of graphics!)
2. I've always been super into budgeting/finances, and I think you have a very solid, thoughtful plan here!
3. I just quit my toxic job and and am taking a (much needed) sabbatical/break for much of this year, so I'll be having a low/no buy year by default myself. I've saved up to cover my core expenses, but I will obviously have to be much more careful with my discretionary spending this year, so I love the timing of your low/no buy year 🤗. Good luck and can't wait to follow along!

[Aavnborg]

I have never tried something like this, so thanks for motivating me to try a low-buy year!

Good habits I already have include:
- I cook most of my meals myself, I very rarely eat out, get takeaway or buy ready-made meals (eating out is super expensive in Denmark)

- I usually make a meal-plan or at least a shopping list before grocery shopping, so I don't make to many impulsive shopping choices

- I have never been a big shopper of clothes, accessories, trinkets etc., and when I do buy clothes or stuff I mostly buy second hand in thrift-stores where the price is cheap and the proceeds go to charity

- I have automatic transfers setup on pay-day to a "bill account" where I each month transfer 1/12 of my expected big bills and expenses (rent, insurance, union membership, bus pass, Christmas and birthday gifts etc), to a "guinea pig account" so I'm prepared for vet bills for my guinea pigs and to a savings account for hopefully my own home someday. I also save for retirement, but in Denmark it's pretty standard that your employer puts part of your salary for pension before even paying you, so that's completely automatic.

- I don't own a car, partly because bus/train is cheaper, partly because bus/train is better for the environment and partly just because I don't like driving. I would probably quadruble my transport expenses if I got a car

[JuJuZitroni]

i found it very relaxing to not have the stock video cutaways in the video. really felt like we were sitting down to have a chat. i'm also planning to do a low-buy next year. been watching your videos casually over a few years now and finally subscribed, looking forward to the new year :)

[WhaleTank]

My financial goals this year are:
- Max out my TFSA (I am Canadian)
- Reduce the number of places I spend money from, to allow me to keep better track.
- Stick to a 60-20-20 budget. 60% needs, 20% retirement, 20% wants. Unfortunately, my mortgage and property taxes require this to be 60%
- Increase my 3 month emergency fund to a 5 month emergency fund.
- Review my budget more frequently, (I dropped off for multiple months in 2024)
- Talk about money with friend more. I want to tell people what I am learning and learn from others

[VeraVermeire]

I'm a student with my finances being, well, scarce. My whole objective for my entire time studying is not creating any debts. I'm incredibly lucky that studying is made affordable in my country, so that if you try your best, it's realistic not to be in debt. But still, that leaves me with a whopping 10 bucks a month left for personal use and hobbies. Definitely loving this content and the community that it brings! <3

[jo_aspen]

I am seated and ready to take notes and set goals ✏️📝

[ZeroWasteFamily]

I love the idea of how to want to heal one's relationship with consumption.