I Quit Shopping For a Year | My No-Buy Year in Review

At the beginning of this year, I decided to quit shopping for all non-essentials (in other words, I could buy food and replaceable items like deodorant, but that was it). After 12 months, my life has totally transformed for the better and I still cannot believe how this casual challenge turned into such a huge life-changing experience for me. Not only have I overcome my shopping-addiction, but I've developed a new, healthy relationship with money, consumerism and self-worth.

Disclaimer: I am a Book Depository Affiliate. I am not sponsored for any of my reviews and will always disclose if a book I am reviewing has been sent to me for review.

[CinziaDuBois]

Hi everyone! So I need to address something which people new to my channel keep asking me about. In my no-buy rules 2019 (: I explain the rules I'm following and one of those rules is to maintain my regular beauty regime, but I wasn't allowed to add to it (I could only replace items). So, I was allowed to re-buy makeup I used; I was allowed to go to the hairdresser twice a year; I could go to the dentist; I could still wear moisturiser and I could still do my nails every two months. The nails aren't an essential beauty regime item, I know, but they were in my rules because I have horrible nails which bleed all the time, break in the middle of the bed and come off entirely sometimes XD (we have no idea why; I've had it since childhood, we think it's something to do with my Raynaud's but no one really knows haha).

It's really NOT an essential by everyone else's standards and I hold my hands up there and admit that - I went nail-free for four months of this year and I hated it, I was so self-conscious of my nails coming off and snapping in the middle and coming off halfway - it's a sore ugly mess which makes it just painful to type and to touch things and they're just ugly. So, for £15 every two months I stick nails on and they stop breaking in the middle and they stop hurting so much and being ugly and bloody XD It's like really gross and embarrassing and if they weren't so sore I'd just go 'hell with them' and let them all broken off and fallen out, but I'm afraid I'm human, I'm vain and I like being able to type without ripping a nail out of my finger.


Thanks for reading, I hope this answers your questions regarding the fact that I'm wearing makeup and nails. They were in the rules I set myself for the 2019 no-buy and they're the rules I followed (:

[samarie]

"No mannequin in a window is going to display what I need in life." Girl, this was deep. How have I never thought of this?!

[violetaquintanar]

I’m totally doing a no buy January! What you said is so true! Having grown up so poor that I often went several days, sometimes a week without food. As an adult with a career and some money, I’ve found myself spending unnecessarily and I’m so ready to stop!! Thanks for sharing:)

[JoanBette]

I recently went through a financial crisis where I was forced to only buy essentials. I am back on track now, but because of going through financial distress, I no longer buy anything except food, meds and other basics. Ironically I work in retail and I’m shocked at the money people spend on what I really consider junk from my store. Obviously I would be out of a job if they stopped buying so it’s a strange situation for me to be in. Shopping was always something I did to “escape” when I was feeling down, but now I don’t care much about shopping at all, and it’s quite liberating.

[CarlyUTube]

If you can do a No Buy Year, you can do just about anything.

[Mjaukski]

5:28 Financial issues in childhood = spenders, hoarders, collectors in adulthood. So true!!

[HanadiH]

Jeff Bezos just got shivers down his spine

[deboraharies]

"Only the rich, can afford to look poor" my Mother used to say. Got me through 62 years without worry. Thanks Mom! Oh, she had a great modest sense of humor.

[laurachanwo]

I began buying only second hand clothes at charity shops, and I really like it.

[mynailsarewet]

You know, this is the first no buy video that I’ve seen that makes sense and is actually very profound! It’s giving me the courage to try out no buy. I’m desperately wanting to break my shopping addiction as well and realizing that things that can’t fill voids is motivation enough to stop. Thanks for such an honest opinion.

[NicoleCeleste]

First no buy video w someone who seems to have a really good grasp of the emotional side of this. I also love that you still look so glamorous. As if you are using everything still you own and love. Like your nails and lipstick. Loving that you can free yourself from consumerism and still love what you have so stylishly. Thank you for that.

[cindyc.]

This is a wonderful video. I totally agree with you. I had a brain tumor almost 2 yrs ago. I had to retire and go on a budget. I realized I had enough stuff to live a long time with. So I didn’t shop. At all. I only bought food and necessities. I didn’t mind it at all. I was able to stay on a budget and I appreciated having what I had and I was just happy being alive. Everything else didn’t matter ❤️

[simona]

yall this is literally how i HAVE to live i hate having no money

[hereforit]

I don't know where you came from, but i needed to hear this.
2020 year of no buying, here i comee!! #fuckcapitalism

[anonymous]

I did this for 8 years while I paid off my student loan.

[isabelchaparro]

I grew up in a single family home and I recall my grandma and then my mother hoarding little things. I had to catch myself from doing it and realizing the money I’ve spent I could have been saving, a concept I was never taught. I always just assumed I would live paycheck by paycheck just like my family did. Hoarding and over consumption is very much a psychological issue and I wish more people would adopt a no/less buy, I will never go back 🥳 TFS! From a fellow vegan to another.

[Mariongr]

"I love going to the market everyday, because there are so many beautiful things there that I do not need to buy"
~Socrates

[karolinaiwanska]

That’s so inspiring. I’ve just written down the rules for my “less-buy” year - I don’t feel ready to go full no-buy. Kind of a new year’s resolution but already beta testing it. Looking forward to the savings haha

[mikewilloughby]

Young lady I am very impressed with you. I am a 67 year old man who lives in Tennessee. I not impressed by many!

[nm]

Sales marketing is very manipulative and you realize that life doesn't need to be driven by consumption. I don't need to buy things to attain a status just to impress people that don't really care about you, only money.