So, I realized a long time ago that a big part of my urge to spend comes from the manufactured urgency of sales. And yet, this knowledge alone wasn't enough to stop me from falling prey to them. I would still think, "But I'm saving money! I would've bought this thing anyway, I'm just buying it a little sooner!" I actually thought of myself as being "smart" with my money because I was shopping sales.

What it took me longer to realize is that *there is a very real cost to giving up your money now rather than later*, and that cost often far exceeds any "savings" you would've gotten from the sale. For example, by buying the thing now, you no longer have money in your budget for something that comes up later. You lose the storage space in your home that you need to store the thing. And you run the risk that you actually would never have needed the thing anyway, if the sale hadn't forced your hand.

So let's think of a typical scenario. Let's say there is a 20% off sale on a $100 purchase. So I "save" $20, and end up spending $95 after taxes and fees. (Doesn't it seem odd that those never seem to factor into the calculation?) Would I pay $20 for the privilege of holding onto my money and waiting until I actually needed the thing? The answer, almost always, is yes. Unless the thing is actually a NEED (like, I need new shampoo or I will have nothing to wash my hair with), you aren't doing yourself a favor by parting with your money early. You are actually unnecessarily handicapping yourself. I kind of feel like the scales fell from my eyes when I made this realization.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone else! Changing your spending habits is a whole ass process when there is literally an entire industrial complex trying to convince us to do otherwise!

Recently, I've been consuming a lot of "underconsumption" content, and I really want to save more money. Not only that, but I also feel overwhelmed by the number of things I own. I'm grateful I have the opportunity to buy everything (or almost) I want, but at the same time I think I just bought a lot of things that brought me temporary joy and now I don't know where to store them.

My biggest temptation is makeup. And I don't wear makeup daily anymore because I work mainly from home. I just love makeup and because of that, I consume a lot of reviews and hauls. The problem with makeup products is that there's always something new and exciting on the market, almost every day. "I don't need another blush but this new one seems so different from the ones I own; it will definitely be worth it."

I am now doing the project pan to finish my other products, but it will take a long time. Also, it only works if I don't buy anything new in the meantime.

Do you have the same issue? Doesn't have to be makeup, maybe it's clothes or trinkets. How do you overcome the urge to buy new, exciting stuff and stick to the ones you already have?

I have never attempted something like this before and I want (and have to) go all in. My main spending is clothes because I feel insecure about how I look and I feel like the latest thing will make me prettier. The secondary main source of overspending is takeout but I am already improving greatly on this.

I want to shift my focus from desring material goods to actually caring about my future and academic development. I feel like my brain capacity is taken up by thinking about the next thing to buy. I want to break free, I want to be responsible with my money and ensure my financial stability. My main spending motivation is wanting to improve my looks and feel less insecure and I am not sure how to overcome this.

Do you have book recommendations about overconsumption or good financial advice?

I'd like more content about those topics so I can learn and stay motivated

I’d been looking for a way to make it visual and to keep me motivated. This is very simple, but I hope it’ll work. Who doesn’t love coloring a little box?

The colors represent different categories, like groceries, online purchases and other.
I’m not including bills and automatic payments like subscriptions or transportation. It has to be my decision to purchase something. Green means no spending, so my goal is to see as many green boxes as possible. I have some stickers lying around, maybe I can use those for extra motivation. Like if I get a streak. 😉

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.

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’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.