A year without buying | Lucia Gonzalez Schuett | TEDxHECParis

After leaving the fast fashion industry Lucia set herself a new challenge - could she spend an entire year without buying things? Sharing the ups and downs of her year, Lucia's honest and entertaining story is an inspiration for all of us to try living our lives with just a little less junk. Lucía González Schuett was born in Barcelona but moved to a tiny rural community in southern Spain while she was still a child. Her father had made an abrupt career change to follow the family’s farming tradition. Suddenly they were harvesting cork and managing cattle on horseback. Being so close to nature helped Lucía develop the balanced and healthy lifestyle she treasures today. She began playing the flute at age nine and has been part of several bands and chamber music groups. She also plays volleyball and is an avid skier.

[turtlebuster]

The speaker nailed it. She has learned to be resourceful with not only her money but also with her time and words. I came here for the motivation to do my own No Buy Challenge.

[charliejeane]

I did 2023 with buying zero clothes, shoes, or other ‘stuff’ and gave tons to charity and sold some things. A cluttered home is a cluttered mind.
If people invested money that they spend on things they did not really need, they would have the chance to get wealthy.

Great talk, thank you ❤

[granitemoss]

I really like her point about borrowing/lending. If we don't have it, someone we know probably does and would be happy to loan it out. Helping each other out like this more often would help all of our wallets and this planet we all share immensely!

[irenefang]

This idea seems obvious but is totally wonderful. I practiced with stopping buying clothes in case I really need them for a formal occasion and turned to secondhand clothes or hand-me-down items of clothing from my relatives or neighbors nearby and somehow I feel that my fashion is getting better than the time I purchased new clothes. The experience has been exciting and changed my life in an unexpecting way. Thank you for your sharing!

[granitemoss]

I'm not buying any clothing in 2021 save a few preselected items (underthings, workout shoes). I have more than enough clothes for all seasons and occasions!

[maybellineravencroft]

Love it. She was Minimal in her presentation and exactly on point in speech ❤

[Ms-Jones]

I'm doing a no spend January and I'm very interested in doing an entire year...it just scares me a little

[obakengthomas]

Okay I need one winter jacket and then it’s challenge accepted

[chrisbrown]

Live like you're broke until you are rich

[lxemmnj]

This idea is very interesting and is wonderful. The experience has been exciting and changed my life in an unexpected way. Thank you for your sharing!

[Europa]

I want to have a no spend month to start with anyway. I have a thrift store spending problem. I think I'm getting a bargain but do I really need 40 pairs of second hand yoga pants? My stuff is causing a lot of anxiety.

[Anna-iofs]

I was trying to get rid of stuff my my mum wants me to show her everything I'm decluttering. If it's something she thinks is essential for me to keep, she'll say "you're just trying to find stuff to get rid of, because this is perfectly good." But for me, I never use it and I won't so what's the point in keeping it?

[chamallow]

My parents think that every single drawer should be a junk drawer and that it’s the same for everybody in every single house. Everytime I talk with them about doing something they think I want to throw all of their things away so they get mad. I don’t really know what to do at this point because everytime we try to clear up a drawer, I find the stuff in it piled up in another drawer. This means my parents need multiples of everything because they obviously struggle to find their pair of scissors or their measuring tape ...

[Vsiudysvoia]

Thank you for sharing your journey! I'm on my way too

[kaw]

After my minimalist journey, that junk drawer picture gave me anxiety. I had an entire junk closet where there were bins stacked on one another that looked exactly like that drawer.

[johncharles]

Lol didnt know you could do a TED talk on this, that's how I've lived most of my life... I never miss shopping

[zanazaki]

I need some major help .. I catch myself buying on Amazon and not even realizing I am buying this is every day multiple times a day …. Not to mention the targeted ads on social media😳

[susanharlow]

I’m 73 and learnt very young to make do and mend as do many people my age. I don’t have a junk drawer - everything has its place. I rarely buy new, I buy secondhand. This talk is not new. So many people on YouTube are presenting this idea as innovative.

[Mishfamilyshair]

I have like 10 junk drawers...we won’t y’all about my garage 😩

[cherylsmith]

Very basic stuff to me & amazes me that this is even considered insightful