That one question has saved me more money than any budgeting app. I've walked away from clothes, gadgets, and random "good deals" that I completely forgot about a few days later. But when the answer is still yes after I've had time to think, I buy it without guilt because I know it's something I'll actually use. Being frugal hasn't meant saying no to everything. It's meant getting better at telling the difference between what I want right now and what I'll still value later.

Hi, I'm new here, but no stranger to wanting to buy more than I need. My problem isn't the actual spending, it's this constant feeling of wanting to buy something, even right after previously buying something. I know it's a dopamine-seeking mechanism that just wants the next quick fix, but it's pretty annoying.

​I have been reflecting on this behavior and trying to find out the underlying triggers. Turns out that boredom, especially when aimlessly scrolling on the phone, often leads me to some online store where I will put stuff in the cart (luckily I have a good grip of myself when it comes to checking out) and just leave it there. I find that just capturing the item on the shopping cart gives me the dopamine, but what bothers me is the amount of time wasted browsing.

​Since I believe boredom or procrastination is my main trigger, I decided to focus on creating more and consuming less. The result is that my urges have gone down significantly and I haven't bought any new clothing (my guilty pleasure) in almost 4 months. The act of resisting the buy is actually giving me a more profound sense of joy than the purchase would.

​My advice to anyone starting out is to take a moment to reflect on where the urges come from and try to switch from being a consumer to being a creator, it really seems to divert attention away from consuming.

​I've seen a lot of posts mentioning to focus on hobbies to fight the consumer mindset, but I’m curious about the behavioral side: How do you guys actually identify and act on your triggers in the moment? Do you have a specific rule or steps you follow when you catch yourself aimlessly browsing to break the loop, or do you just rely on raw willpower?

Recently I’ve been obsessed with buying concert tickets. Some of them aren’t bands that I listen to but I just enjoy looking forward to them and when they are over I just want that bit of dopamine. I buy them I guess because I keep thinking “this will be an amazing memory” or “this might be their last concert” or just random excuses to buy them. I’ve lost money that I could spend on college and yeah, money does come back.. but my buying is just getting too excessive.

I’ve been stuck in this loop of buying, it arrives, buying again a few days later. Usually different things but similar things. l am just so over it and ready to start saving more and spending as little as possible for now. I plan to start a no buy with essentials only for the next 30 days and see how that’s goes, I would like to continue more than 30 days but I think setting a 30 day goal for now seems like a good idea to start. I’ve been struggling with shopping and buying constantly and debt because of it for many years and now that I’m in my mid 20s I’m tired and drained and need to change.

Today is starting my first day, I also plan to only buy food or groceries if I am totally out or almost out of something, that’s been a struggle for me too for a while.

With the sale season already beginning in my area, all I see are deals on products that I mostly don't need but it just gives me this major FOMO and I end up buying something or the other, whatever I can fit in my budget comfortably. I was a conscious spender for first 6 months of this year but July has been a very expensive month so far.

I've bought makeup that I absolutely don't need and I'm simultaneously trying to pan my current ones (oh, the irony!!!)

I need to stick to a no-buy now.

I've tried unsubscribing and uninstalling apps but I keep going back to them because of this FOMO that internet gives me.

WHERE DO I DRAW THE LINE??!

I’m an avid crocheteer, I do it nearly every day. Like many crafters, I had gathered an abundance of materials through the years. I’d see some yarn and immediately knew what I would make with it, so I bought it. (Spoiler: I never made those things.) Or even worse: I had had no project in mind yet, but I had to buy the yarn because it was pretty. ‘I’ll think of something to do with it later’. Crafters see potential in everything.

A couple of years ago I decluttered a big part of my stash. Last year I decided to finish all my acrylic yarn before the end of the year. I used it all to make hats and scarves to donate to a local homeless shelter. After finishing my own stash, I asked around and people were happy to give me some of their unused yarn. Now I’m almost out of that too, just using the final scraps to make a little baby blanket. I’d like to buy some new yarn to add more color, but I checked and the last time I bought yarn was the end of August last year. I know it’s just a number, but it would be really cool to say I made it a whole year without buying yarn, certainly given my history. Only 6 more weeks to go. 💪

I still have plenty of cotton yarn, but no idea what to make with it. But it means I can keep on crocheting for the next 6 weeks.

Hello. I am setting a goal for a one-year NoBuy. Starting now. Aside from groceries and the necessities of life, like home/car maintenance, medical expenses, and maybe one vacation this year.

It’s part of a decluttering. I have too much coming in all of the time. I have a shopping addiction I need to quit cold turkey. I know myself, there is no weaning. I’m sick of material items consuming my time and money but I keep buying.

I need your best advice you got for me. Thank you in advance. Less stuff; more life to you all.

I'm tired of having no personality outside of wanting, desiring, researching and dreaming about something to buy. I'm tired of being tricked into thinking this next item will make me the person I want to become. I'm tired of trying to go back to the times I felt safe and good about myself with items that remind me of those times. I'm tired of trying to catch up on all the stuff I had no money to buy when I wanted them. I'm tired of being convinced of needing something I didn't even know existed. I'm tired of feeling like what I have isn't enough when it is more than I could ever need. I'm tired of becoming everything I've once hated.

The money doesn't bother me, money can always be made. It's the time. I spend too much time consuming instead of creating something. I have completely lost that part of myself, something I used to take pride in. Instead of picking up a pen, brush or other tool, I pick up my phone and consume. I watch someone else's life and I compensate for the lack of mine. If it makes me sad and ashamed, why is it so hard to stop? I've tried so many times but have ultimately failed after a couple of months. It's almost as if I'm afraid of finding out who I am without consuming, whats's left of me if that's all I have.

I will try again. Not because I believe in myself or because I can, but because I deserve better. Hell, the world deserves better. I'm done being the problem. I'm done giving away my precious time to the consumerist hell we live in. I'm done living trough others and material goods. I'm going to start with one month of nothing but groceries. Then work my way up from that.

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.

I’m currently laid up recovering from surgery. I have been laid up for almost 3 weeks already. I am unable to walk and spend all day in bed. I don’t have tv, or people to visit, and I’m getting bored of video games, books, and my phone. Getting downstairs is okay, but getting back up is super difficult and really impossible until I can put some weight on my leg. I’ve always been bad at impulse control spending but while I have nothing to do, it’s hit an all time high. Thankfully I can pay my bill without going into my savings, but I never want it to be this bad again. I read some other people in this groups threads. I deleted instagram, and tiktok. I have started compiling photos of items I want into a folder on my phone to satisfy my acknowledgment of those wants without actually spending the money. I’d still ideally like to treat myself to something once a month or once a pay period but I can’t trust myself right now and I never want to spiral like this again. HELP! Any other advice?

If I hadn’t seen it online/in a store/in an ad, would I feel like I needed it?

Not “would I still need to solve the problem this item claims to solve?” (Example: I’d still want to shave my legs even if I never saw a fancy at-home-laser device)

But if I never saw THIS particular item, would I feel like I was lacking it?

95% of the time, the answer is no.

If I hadn’t seen that perfect pair of brown riding boots, I wouldn’t want brown riding boots today.

If I hadn’t seen a trailer for that movie, I wouldn’t feel the need to rent it today.

If I didn’t know that serving dish/throw pillow/coat, whatever existed in the world, would I want it?

That’s usually enough for me to realize if something is actually a need, a want that is coming from my actual identity and goals, or a “stimulated” want that’s basically a reaction to seeing a shiny thing that’s been placed in my way.

Over the past four months, I have developed an addiction to buying watches. I currently own 22 time pieces, and seriously want to buy at least a dozen others. I think about the watches that I don't own all day, every day. I'm realizing it's not healthy, so that's why I'm posting here.

As of March 2026, I owned two watches, like a "normal" person. One nice Rolex Datejust my wife gave me for our 10th wedding anniversary, and then a less flashy Casio G-Shock I would wear while traveling. I called it my "bang-around" watch. My younger brother (who was my best friend) was tragically murdered six months ago, and he left all his money to me. A couple hundred thousand dollars.

I got the idea to buy a nice watch to honor his memory; a type of watch I didn't own. So I settled on a "dress watch," something on a leather strap, and bought a nice Grand Seiko for around $4500. Looking back, I wish this would've been the end of my watch buying.

Instead, I became more and more obsessed with researching different watch brands, styles, and values. I've bought one watch after another, from a $150 Timex to a $55K Rolex. I've blown through about $70,000. Just typing it out, it's nuts. I now don't even have enough space in my watch display for all my watches.

I am literally tired of my shopping addiction

I have a list of things I wanna get STILL

But I have bought a significant amount of things as in skincare, makeup ,clothes ,bags etc.

I am mostly addicted to makeup and Bags

I love a good bag and atp I don't have money

I have spent everything I saved and somehow I stil want more

I'm 18 I don't earn so it's mostly my parent's money

Nd I really need control, I have begged every single family member for things and now no one's giving it

Atp imma start e-begging cuz I'm broke af 😭😭😭😭😭

Help a girly out😭😭😭

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.

hi there. is started a no buy roughly end of June. I have done them before but this time I feel like I’m failing. finically we are spending too much for what we make. It’s become stressful. One thing I really struggle with though is as I’ve had a baby I want to buy things for him. We have things but i feel it’s minimal. I want to practice contentment and honestly want to get out of the stress. we do have his birthday coming so I am spending on buying things second hand which is great. But any parents out there that struggle? I’m a SAHM and home often because of the new car. Our city doesn’t offer many free things. I find myself thinking too often of what I’d like for him or the home. i have had some good mind shifts but still find myself stuck at times. Example being it was ok for me to buy some things for party prep but I can’t stop now. I want to please everyone and all the kids to be happy who come celebrate. But I also dont want to be in a financial hole!!

thank you in advance

Today, I had a mental breakdown. The heat, my cluttered apartment, my dissatisfaction with myself caused it. I am starting a no-buy year. Wish me luck

(🙂 = no spend/🙁 = spend)

Day 1 4.07: 🙂

Hi everyone, just wanted to make a post to commemorate making it through 7 months (started in December '25) of my no buy year! For context, I'm doing a replacements-only no buy. Spending on experiences and dining is allowed within reason, but I don't allow myself to buy new clothes, makeup, skincare, homewares etc. unless its a replacement of something I regularly use.

I previously attempted a no-buy year early last year, but failed and gave up after less than two months. This time around I'm feeling much more committed to making it to a full year and after these 7 months I can say this is one of the best decisions I've made in a long time.

Compared to 2025, I've reduced my spending by $600/month on average from Jan-Jun this year, with most months closer to $700-800 below (last month I spent more due to travel and replacing my phone that broke, bringing up the average). Starting my no-buy has also made it a lot easier to stick to the habit of budgeting and I've grown more serious about my finances. I've even managed to add $5000 to my investment account this year.

The main reason I started my no buy, though, was not financial, but to gain mental clarity--to free my mind from spending so much time thinking about shopping and "stuff." Honestly, this habit has been a lot harder to kick than the habit of actually buying things. I still find myself scrolling online shops when I'm bored/sad/procrastinating a lot more often than I'm happy with. I'm sure there's been some reduction in the time and mental energy I spend on shopping, but I'm hoping I'll see even greater changes by the end of this year. Perhaps I need to do something more proactive on top of my no buy to see these changes.

For those of you who have done long no-buys, or even completed a no-buy year, have you observed your shopping behaviours (e.g., online window shopping) and desire for "stuff" decrease in a meaningful way from when you first started?

instead of spending here is what I did

1). Sold 1 items on FB marketplace and earned $10 in the process.

2). Last week I purchased 2 containers of organic strawberries for $7. I froze them for our (DH and I) daily smoothies and used the tops to make strawberry syrup.

3). Cleaned and organized the large freezer and fridge freezer. Found frozen jalapeño peppers from our garden from last year and will be making poppers with them. With the frozen cayenne peppers I plan to dehydrate and make a powder form from them

4). Went for a morning walk on a trail near us. Not a lot of people on the trail. Saw Paw Paw fruits slowly forming and making a note on the calendar to come back in August when they have fully formed.

5) We have a galvanized steel pool from Tractor Supply that was used yesterday. Thought we lost our floats but DH looked and found 2 of them.

6). Broke out the Wii to play golf with DH

7). Participating in our libraries reading challenge. Logged in past days that I have read and can pick up small prize next week. For each day a book is read you earn tickets to put in a drawing for prizes.

So I have been avoiding stores because I don't want to buy stuff. Now I have been fixing up my backyard and pulling weeds. I got my kids a small pool and we are outside every time I'm off, I cleaned up my patio and now I'm trying to fix my flower bed. Being putting money away weekly and watching videos on how to fix things around the house. Any projects are now being carefully budgeted for, if I meet all of my financial goals I might be able to go part-time at work to spend more time with my kids.

Here we go! I'm determined to not disappoint myself this month by failing (I've been failing for years!!) Who's with me for No Buy July?

This is my first time posting on this sub, so let me know if my post doesn't really fit here. I recently bought a new micro cut paper shredder during the Amazon Prime Day sale, and my mom wasn't too happy. What's a bit ironic is that she's a hoarder herself imo (she has collected way too much furniture, kitchenware, and clothes for someone who doesn't go out much). I'm guilty of hoarding too, but I highly suspect it's linked to mental health issues (I have been diagnosed with conditions like inattentive ADHD in the past). The whole reason why I bought this shredder is that lately, I have been helping to clean out an old house with many boxes of old documents, the currently owned micro cut paper shredder is a bit banged up (a nice crack on top and one wheel/caster is broken), and I thought that one family having two shredders wouldn't hurt and is worth the financial cost and space. Anyways, my mom is nagging me to return the newly bought shredder, but I'm unsure if returning it is a good idea since I'm a bit traumatized by excessive hoarding of sensitive paper documents.

I'm sorry if this post doesn't fit here. If anyone has experienced something similar to my situation, I would appreciate it if you shared what you did in such a situation. Thanks and take care.

Hi

New to site. I've been trying and retrying to get organized, on a schedule, minimalize and STOP spending. I have closets and had to rent 2 storage units for my stuff. I have been slowly going through everything and dividing by 1. Love, so keep; 2 Just like - send to Real Real or Thredup for sale; 3. donate or 4. throw away. Getting rid of clutter and minimize my belongs. My place is around 980 sq ft and it feels like I'm living in a box. Too much stuff. I have been selling items in home on Marketplace.

It gets frustrating when I'm selling a $3,000 desk for $75 for quick sale and offers coming in for $25 when desk is in excellent condition. I'd rather donate it. I've set a time limit that if the stuff doesn't sell within 1 month, then I'm donating it.

It seems because I've gained about 25 lbs over the past few years, I find I'm buying to make myself feel good. Even though the clothing is beautiful and I'm not feeling beautiful from being out of shape. I start the gym, swimming, cycling and some other hobbies, but I let work interfere with my time and getting to the store or on line shopping feels like I'm doing something for me. I get caught up on ordering on line and if it doesn't' fit, delaying returning or just keeping the item figuring I'll fit into it some time in the future.

I'm at the point that I've had it with myself and this self-sabotage.

So this is what I'm doing:

1. looking at decorations, furniture and selling or donating - 1 item at a time so i don't get overwhelmed then do nothing and it's just taking up space. These are items I can see by just walking around.

2. Clothing - doing 1 closet, 1 bureau and going through the list above 1. love; 2. like - sell; 3. donate; 4 throw away. Working slowly through the house, then moving onto the storage units. Goal is to have no storage units and clothing I can actually find. Too much clothing and I still end up rarely wearing the new clothing or they get lost in storage.

3. Health - sticking to gym 2 to 3 times week; reduce sugar intake; cook vs. DoorDash.

4. Hobbies - either they were lost in time or never picked up again. I'm finding new hobbies that I would like to do that I've had long interest. Like learning to swim better, bike riding, and archery.

5. Financial - stop wasting money - start keeping a list of all spending and reduce the waste.

6. Social - I work from home and my job is not a 9 to 5. There are times I'm working 7 days a week 12 to 14 hours a day. Restructuring work day to ensure I check out at a max amount of hours and still have time for me. Keeping at least 1 day of week without any work. Join social organizations; travel groups, etc. Create Me Time.

7. Health - I have some health issues. I move to a new PCP who worked with me on an action plan to target and resolve health issues and work with specialists. There is at least 3 surgeries in my future.

There is always tomorrow - doesn't work and hasn't worked - only today counts and one small step moving forward; hopefully, will turn into discipline and a better, calm, more structured life.

I would SO appreciate any comments on how to best move forward or corrections to my action plan.

How did your no-buy or low-buy go this week?

Share your goals, progress and how your purchasing habits have changed since starting a no buy.

If you 'failed' this week, remember that it is just a stumble in a long journey. If you did well, inspire others and encourage them when they do well or get off track.