If a no buy year sounds too harsh for you, try this instead.
Let me be honest, a no buy year sounds so empowering at first and then you see all those TikTok videos and Instagram videos where people are committing to a no buy year and then you think, “Yes, I can do it too.” But for most people, the reality hits pretty fast. And for a lot of people, it’s just overwhelming and frustrating. And when something feels overwhelming and too much, we just quit and don’t stick to it.
So if a no buy year sounds impossible for you and you really get a tight feeling in your chest and you’re like, I’m about to panic that I can’t buy anything, let me help you.
I also recorded this blog article as a YouTube-Video, so make sure to check out my channel!
Why a No Buy Year Felt Impossible for Me
When I thought about doing a no buy year for 2026, I also felt uncomfortable. I thought, “Wow, buying nothing for a whole year besides food and gas is going to be super hard,” because I already knew there’s my 33rd birthday where I always plan to go on several trips and I had some things sitting on my wish list which I wanted to purchase for my 33rd birthday and there are going to be several occasions for my sons, for example.
And so it really stressed me out that I was like, I can’t do this challenge anyway, so why should I even bother to start? And even though I’m on a really low level of consumption already right now, I just feel like it’s impossible for me.
So I’m actually doing a mixture of different low buy approaches this year. And I’m going to introduce some alternatives to you when a 2026 no buy year sounds too hard on you.
What I’m Doing Instead of a No Buy Year
For me, it’s going to be rather some intentional low buy quarters. So I’m going to divide the year into four low buy quarters and then redirect myself and re-evaluate after every quarter what is still on my wish list, what makes sense, and then I’m going to commit to new rules for the next three months instead of doing a whole list of rules for a whole year.
Before we actually dive into my different alternative approaches to a no buy year, I just want to mention the waiting list for my 30 days underconsumption challenge.
Get your name on the waiting list. It’s absolutely not binding right now. You can just put your name on the waiting list and get informed when the 30-day challenge is starting.
The underconsumption challenge is going to tackle not just overspending, but also overconsumption of digital content. So we are going to take a closer look at what is really stressing you out, what is really draining your money, and we’re going to evolve actual strategies to reduce stress and financial pressure and change a lot of habits.
Alternative 1: Low Buy Quarters
My way, I already mentioned it, is to do low buy year quarters instead. A no buy quarter like three months, that’s long enough to break some habits and rewire your brain, but short enough to feel doable.
So pick one quarter, let’s say from January till the end of March. Set some rules. Set some things you don’t really want to buy. Write it down and then just go for three months.
And actually, I did that last year for a quarter and I was shocked by how much clarity I already gained within those 90 days. And because it triggers your pain points where you’re like, “Oh, I really want to go to Target” or “I really want to buy new makeup.” And you see where your problem areas are, but it’s not super painful.
And then you can just think about, “I see makeup is my problem. Are there maybe one or two products I’m going to buy within the next quarter?” And then you can set that on a wish list and then buy it in the next quarter but without overspending. And then you have a little bonus for keeping up with the three months challenge.
Alternative 2: Low Buy Instead of No Buy
I always feel like no buy sounds super harsh. So when you just swap it to a low buy, then it sounds more doable.
You allow yourself to buy only certain things, only maybe one piece of clothing a month, one piece of makeup a month. So you’re doing it more intentionally. Or you set yourself a fixed fun budget. Let’s say I have 50 dollars a month I can spend on whatever I want, but that’s it.
This builds awareness without restriction.
Alternative 3: The Closet Reset Challenge
Number three is actually my absolute favorite right now. I’m doing this challenge right now and it’s amazing. I’ve never seen that before on any channel. Maybe I am the one inventing it. I can’t believe that I’m the first one doing this, but I think it’s pretty cool.
Before buying new clothes, you put everything in your closet to one side. Everything. And then when you wore one piece, you put it on the other side. And you’re only allowed to buy new clothes when you’re finished wearing every single item of your clothing on the right side.
You have to get so much more creative with what you already own. You will have to go on Pinterest to look up different styles and you will find pieces again in your closet that you totally forgot about. And yes, you have to wear even the uncomfortable pieces.
And if you have worn them once and feel like this is really not my thing anymore, then you can directly declutter it. So you get two things at the same time. You get a new style and you can declutter your closet at the same time.
So I actually realized through this challenge that I don’t need more clothes. I only need fewer, better ones.
When I was forced to wear some clothes, I was like, “Okay, this would actually look good if I would have a cotton cardigan in this and this color.” And I put this on my wish list. And if it’s sitting still on my wish list in two or three months, then I’m going to buy it. And then it adds up to my wardrobe and I actually know that I’m going to wear this piece.
And I know it can at some point feel uncomfortable. It actually did for me. Some days I was just wearing something I didn’t feel comfortable in. That was the exact time my brain needed to stop buying just random clothes that I don’t actually really love.
Alternative 4: Use Hobby Equipment Before Buying New
Same goes and that is number four. Before buying any new hobby or crafting equipment, put everything in another storage box or in another closet or in another cabinet. And then you will use all of your hobby equipment before you buy anything new for a new hobby.
People that tend to overspend love to start a new hobby because then they have a reason to buy new stuff for the hobby. And in the end you have a whole equipment for seven different hobbies and at some point you really love that hobby but you just let go of it.
And I’m sure that all the hobby equipment you already have can entertain you for at least the next low buy quarter. So get out your art supplies, your fitness equipment, your kayaks, your whatever you still have sitting in your garage and actually use it.
If you tried the hobby again and it’s not for you, get rid of it, declutter it, and then just let it sit and enjoy the hobbies you actually want to do.
This challenge separates real interests from just impulse hobbies.
Alternative 5: The 30-Day No Buy Rule
Number five is just a 30-day no buy challenge. Instead of buying something immediately, write it down, put it on a wish list, and wait the next 30 days.
So I feel like a no buy year is pretty long, but a no buy month is pretty doable. So just get yourself one of your old notebooks and then just put down your wish list every time you have an impulse to buy something.
We live now in a market where we have pretty much access to everything at all times. So it’s not like you’re missing a super good deal. You can probably get it in a few months, even cheaper.
Just put it on the wish list for your next birthday or next Christmas or whatever and let it sit there. And take a look at the wish list after 30 days and you will see that a lot of those wishes just disappeared.
Alternative 6: Ban Categories, Not Spending
The sixth alternative to a no buy year is just banning categories and not spending as a whole.
So instead of banning everything, ban one category for every month. So in January you could say this month I’m not going to buy any clothes. In February I’m not going to buy any makeup. In March I’m not going to buy any beauty products. In April I’m not going to buy any decoration. Like that. You get the point.
So just write down months one to twelve. Figure out your biggest spending pain points and then take one for every month and then you will see a lot of progress.
Alternative 7: The Replacement-Only Method
Number seven is actually one of my favorites. I’m actually doing all the time anyways. It’s the replacement-only method.
With this method, you’re only allowed to buy something new if you either declutter two things or if something breaks.
If I finally decide that my broken iPad is not good enough anymore, I’m allowed to buy a new one. But if I decide I want to have a new shirt and I still have three shirts, then I have to declutter two of the shirts first and then I’m going to buy the new one.
And this is going to hurt a little because when you have to declutter two pieces, you get aware of the money you spent on those two things. And then you’re like, well, that was money at some point. And then you think twice about buying really a new thing.
But if you really want to buy it, then at least it doesn’t clutter your home.
General Rules That Make Saving Easier
Okay, these were the alternative methods. I want to add some general things that make it easier for you to actually save and not spend your money.
First, really make it a priority to use what you already have. You probably don’t need a single piece of makeup until the end of 2026 because your cabinet is full.
So start a project pan. Try to use everything you own. Try to use every soap, every cleanser, every concealer, everything you already have.
Even if it’s not a perfect fit, you can also just use face cream that didn’t work for you as a body lotion. But use what you already have. Finish products. Read unread books. Cook from your pantry.
This builds gratitude and reduces waste and saves you a lot of money.
Set a Meaningful Financial Goal
And when you’re saving a lot of money, then second, you can set yourself a really nice financial goal.
Maybe there’s something you’re really saving for. Maybe there’s something you really want to have, a travel destination where you really want to go, something that’s really important for you.
And then set the goal. Maybe it’s 3,000 dollars. Maybe it’s 5,000 dollars. Maybe you want to invest in something. Or maybe you just need an emergency fund.
So set your financial goal. I’m going to save in 2026 5,000 dollars or 10,000 dollars.
And believe me, saving 10,000 dollars when you are a former overspender is really doable within one year when you’re cutting down your expenses with a low buy year. And watching that number grow is actually more motivating than any purchase.
Remember: This Is Seasonal, Not Forever
And third, always be aware that this is seasonal, not forever.
You can do the quarters as a little sprint or the 30 days challenge as a little sprint to reset your brain. Because all our habits have been piled up over a couple of years, over decades sometimes.
And you can’t just break your spending habits within, I don’t know, a week. So it takes several cycles of 30 days or several quarters to get to a really low consumption level and to rewire your brain.
So take your time. This is seasonal. Don’t panic. You can do this.
A Kinder Conclusion
So we don’t really need extreme rules to become financially independent. We rather need awareness and intention and systems that don’t make you hate your life.
So maybe we all don’t really need this radical reset of a no buy year. Maybe it’s already enough if we sit back and implement a system that actually works for our lives so that we don’t put even more pressure on our stressful lives. We all have enough stress already.
So maybe one of those realistic alternatives is something for you if you’re struggling with your no buy year.
I would be super happy if you would just comment below what your no buy or low buy year plans are or were. Maybe you already gave up and what your struggles were. What’s your financial goal?
If you want to stick around, I would be super happy if you would like the video and subscribe to the channel. Don’t forget to get your name on the waiting list for the 30-day underconsumption challenge and then we will see each other in the next video.
