I think this is a rarely talked about phenomenon. When you get a raise or increase in income it is easy to fall into bad habits because you feel under less financial pressure. It's like moving to a bigger house, it's difficult to not just fill up all the storage space with stuff. It's like you expand to fill the new footprint financially. I would love to have a year of reluctance to buy. I still spend way too much time on poshmark window shopping. I just want my time back! It's not like I can't afford the stuff. But I don't need it, and it's basically hoarding behavior that I've been fighting my whole life!
I find that "the automatic no" helps me reclaim my time, too. When I start going into online browsing mode, I remember that no matter what I find, the answer to the question "should I buy this?" is automatically going to be no, and the hunt kind of loses its appeal :)
What would you do with that time? I spend a lot of time window-shopping too but my brain just needs a break. I feel like i would just spend the time reading news.
@@katerinaschenke819 I would read a book! I've been renting ebooks and audiobooks from the library through the Libby app and it has changed the game for me. Doesn't have to be cerebral, get a silly romance and enjoy!
@@katerinaschenke819 I recommend a combination of any exercise or active activity you enjoy, with reading, and maybe a creative hobby like painting, drawing, sewing, etc. I personally think a no-buy or low-buy is the perfect time to try that hobby that you've always wanted to learn but just never had the time for. I think everyone has at least one of those (examples: learning a new language, starting a blog, writing a book/poem, volunteering in your community, learning to knit, gardening, etc.)
"Thoughtfulness is the only rule" What a beautiful statement to work with and having the foundation of doing a No Buy in the past that helps you find a balance when you are feeling the need for a readjustment. Thank you for sharing this it was super helpful ❤
Omg Hannah , I needed this . I decided to do a no buy year basically just like your 2018 year . I’m calling it Debt free in 2023 . I can’t wait to see your content for the new year . I have binge watched your 2018 videos Sooooooo many times . Thank you for your amazing content .
My motto has been “It’s 2023. Use what you already have.” This started around clothes, makeup and random Amazon purchases. It also includes endlessly seeking answers outside of myself and what I already know. Owning the things and wisdom I already have. And enjoying them.
“use what you already have” i love this so much. i know i am incredibly blessed but i’m always so tempted by new things .. i need to write this down somewhere!!
I can recommend regular no-buys. When I was a student I had to budget a lot. I am Austrian and over here we do not have the system of students loans as education is basically free. If you are lucky your parents pay your living or you work. I did regular no-buys on everything in order to save money (had none for impulse buying) and I used up soap, shampoo, got creative in the kitchen and emptied the fridge or pantry, repaired or adjusted clothing items ... you name it. This approach to spending money has become a habbit and although I have a very good job and income I still practise this habbit at the age of 45. The effect of this habbit is not only a finacial one but so much more: you have a lot of time (if you are not concerned with shopping decisions), your impact on our planet is lower and for me the most important no clutter. I work in the creative/design field and I love beautiful things but I rather admire them in a museum than owning them.
The first year of the pandemic was a very good reset for me. I know that many people shopped out of boredom or anxiety that year, but I completely stopped buying makeup, clothing, and home decor. I was also really put off by the behavior of certain retailers like Sephora that treated their employees so badly at the beginning of the pandemic. So I wasn't so tempted to shop, especially with the big beauty retailers. And another cool thing I learned was that, even though I completely ignored sales, coupons, etc., and often paid full retail for the things I did buy, I still managed to save $6K without even trying. That was an important lesson: If you buy only what you truly desire and use, then you don't have to hunt for sales and discounts--and you can still save real money. Now that everyday life is getting back to normal, I am starting to look at replenishing/updating my makeup and wardrobe. The cool thing is that I have a much clearer vision of what I will actually use, and a greater awareness of how much I can save if I don't overbuy.
Just finished my no-buy year in 2022. Wow, that feeling at midnight on NYE was something else. A feeling of ... I did it! And I can't believe I did it! It was a life-changing experience, and I have you to thank, so THANK YOU for inspiring me. Your 2018 monthly check-in videos really got me through the year. I feel like the year after the no-buy year is where a lot of the deeper changes take root ... kind of excited about what's ahead.
I'm doing a low buy until spring equinox, so for 3 months. My rule is that non-essentials ned to go on a wishlist for a while. it's amazing how many lipsticks I've wanted within this week alone (coinciding with a new city, new job, lots of commuting, exhaustion every evening). I know I want to shop against the stress and the anxiety, as a shortcut (which it isnt). Instead, I make my lists. And I cross things out again and feel smug using my battered drugstore lipstick that has the best rusty red pigmentation ever. And I get every ounce of sleep I can, as many texts with supportive friends as possible, and luxuriate in good music on the train. wishlists save me from stupid decisions and from my tired, dopamine-hungry brain.
I never thought clothes were one of my problem categories when it comes to my shopping addiction, but, as soon as I decided I’m doing a Beauty No Buy Year, my brain quickly decided that now we want to buy all the clothes! I’ve been binging on Poshmark for about a week so it looks like I’m going to have to regroup my no buy game plan.
It's good that you recognize your problem areas and how we can sometimes replace one area of spending with another. Poshmark is one of my problem areas, because in addition to the high of getting new clothes, you also get the thrill of getting "good deals."
I just pin on pinterest and add likes on poshmark but try to recreate those vibes with my own closet so i only use it for inspiration... i also dont have my credit card nearby, i keep it in the living room in a closet. nor carry it or carry cash with me so forces me to really think to make a purchase. I did find myself hoarding like 8 deodorants but i just put them all in sight so i will use them up before i buy again... best wishes with that!
I’m doing a No spend until March, and then seeing how I feel at the end of the quarter. If I still feel uncontrollable urge a to spend, then I’m continuing the no buy until that goes away. No set timeframe. Just following my intuition. Requires a lot of honesty with oneself!
I love your approach to "no buy" and appreciating what you already have. The crow in me always wants the new, sparkly thing that catches my eye. I'm learning to pause and be patient. Most times the urge to buy dissipates, and I'm filled with relief and gratitude for what I already have. Good, good approach you are highlighting, Hannah! Thank you for your intellectual content!!!
I put myself on a no-buy last fall after buying wayyyy too much in the pandemic years. In four months, I read 100 books and padded my bank account by thousands of dollars. It was illuminating to see how much money and time I was truly WASTING with online shopping, just searching for things to fill some unrecognized void within myself. Your channel is always such a great reminder to me of why I chose that path of not buying and has made me a much more thoughtful consumer. 💓💓
@@HannahLouisePoston right?! Now, instead of stalking the Sephora site, I spend all my time poring over recommendations on Goodreads and Kindle Unlimited. 🤣
Just finished my No Buy 2022! I watched your videos all the time to help fortify me. Thank you! It was a success! I only bought replacements when I was fully out of something. As well as a Lisa Eldridge eyeshadow palette, but I did write that as an exception at the beginning of the year lol
Hi Hannah! I'm doing a no-buy year in 2023, for exactly the reasons you did so in 2018! AND it's 100% motivated by you - I had never even heard of "No-buy years" until I stumbled across your videos around September last year. I spent months contemplating it, followed your advice & wrote out specific rules. All of your content is so calming - thank you for what you're doing for the "beauty RUclips" world!
“The love of beautiful things, which is itself a beautiful thing” yes!!! I love the reframing of interest in makeup/fashion/skincare as an appreciation for beauty. seeing this as a genuine love of aesthetics, instead of mindless guilt-inducing consuming, helps me make better choices about what I allow to take a place in my collection. And also, interest in makeup is so often written off as frivolous, when it’s not!
ive been wanting more makeup lately, but ive just realised probably a severe declutter is a better answer. there are still gems in my collection that get lost among the meh products, and my joy is mostly from using makeup. if i added more there would just be more left unused because there is only so much i can use on my one face. i feel like a smaller collection could concentrate the delight rather than dilute it.
The relief you spoke about when it comes to knowing the answer is automatically no - that is the best part about having the rules for me. I love that it takes the decision fatigue out of things. I love your more nuanced approach this year and I am going to encourage myself to have more grace around my strict rules
Entering a no-buy year, here is my self-affirmation: I have achieved everything I truly wanted, and this will be no different. I will do my best, and that means I will succeed. This type of thinking has been helpful to me in the past, and even if I don't always 100% feel it with conviction, it strengthens my resolve. Thank you, Hannah, for providing this type of content. You've helped me realize that this is needed 💗
3 months and 14 days into my no buy year! Doing pretty well. I do still get urges to buy but i then focus on what I have that can do the same thing or provide the same joy and do that instead. Love your channel!!!!❤
I discovered you at the end of 2021 and binged watched almost all of your no buy year videos, following up with watching all of your channel's videos and I made 2022 my no buy year. It was amazing. I needed it and sticked to my rules almost 100%. I have a totally different mindset about buying things now and hope it lasts forever. You saved my life in a way and I am grateful ❤️
@@HannahLouisePoston You became one of my top 3 youtubers and inspire me to be more mindful and considerate with my spending and joyful with what I already own. This year is my "year of less 💩" - I want to own less stuff and if I'm gonna spend I'll do it REALLY thoughtfully. And I won't be tolerating bullshit anymore, too. xD Thank you again Hannah for helping me be the best version of myself 😊❤️ xx
I’ve been spending a lot of money getting ready for my wedding, which is now less than a month away. I am definitely planning a no-buy year after the whole shebang is done. My financial resources have been changing (decreasing), so I have an undeniable need to become more frugal. And even though I’ve enjoyed the permission I’ve given myself to really experiment and try makeup in a way I never have before, I don’t like the way it ultimately makes me feel. A couple of nights ago I was playing with some brand new eyeshadow, and I found a shade that REALLY floats my boat and is super flattering with my coloring. It might be my favorite eyeshadow ever. But within a few minutes of really digging it, I started wondering if I could find the same color in a matte version. The habit I’ve developed is to constantly ask if there’s another version of the things I love. Not even necessarily a version I might love more. I think it’s been so exciting to find some “holy grails,” because it has been a long and very difficult process, and now I find myself wanting to chase that excitement. But I don’t even wear much makeup in my daily life, so if I keep looking for more holy grails of the same types of products (or other types of products that I haven’t even thought to want yet) I don’t even stand a chance of really using and enjoying any of it. I also have been really intrigued by the type of minimalism you’ve been pursuing and talking about. I would love to see more videos about that and how it connects to this new type of no-buy. I especially find it helpful and interesting when you talk about the way these things make you feel.
Sooo excited for what's coming for you and the channel in 2023! Your content has had an immense impact on my spending and aesthetic habits, so i'm always down for another curve on the ride 😁
First of all, your hair is looking especially wild and luscious today 😍. Since I discovered your channel in ¿October?, I’ve been on a very restricted but not quite no buy, which has been challenging and liberating. I’m still “shopping,” but channeling that energy into creating capsule wardrobe boards in Canva for imaginary clients in hopes of launching my personal styling business by the end of the year. It’s been such a powerful redirect from one creative instinct that had destructive/consumptive undertones into a creative instinct that is a win-win-win. I’m also using my no buy for 2023 as a bargaining chip of sorts for other positive changes. I was neglecting my health and wellness and allowing myself to gain weight and lose fitness, because I could easily get a whole new wardrobe on thredUP for very little money. But staying caught in that trap, with beloved beautiful things languishing and less loved things cycling in and out, just wasn’t fun anymore. And at the same time, I didn’t want to do a total no buy, because I’m good at all or nothing; I’m good at deprivation followed by reckless indulgence, so I introduced a spending account. I’m seeding it every week with just $15. It’s not very much, just enough to easily waste on Starbucks or a few minutes in the Target cosmetics department. But over the course of a year, it’s $780 - enough to get any of several special items I’ve been wanting for a long time but never “have the money.” So I’m giving myself a resource that I can use in any way that I choose, but it will benefit me greatly to choose wisely. And your example of thoughtfulness being the only rule - even though you only expressed it here, it’s been implied all along - has really led the way for something I’m excited to see through to the end.
I've been on a 'replacements only' program since I first stumbled across your channel during your No-Buy Year. I did not have a financial reason or even an over spending reason to do so, I just got tired of seeing a cluttered bathroom countertop, cabinet, shower shelf, etc. Since I began this, I used up all of the random things that were hanging around, and honestly, threw out some things that I decided I was never going to use. This past Christmas, I received several items as gifts and had to determine what to do with the largesse. I decided a cupboard could be dedicated to the items I had received. I will shop them once the items that are currently in use are empty. I am so protective of my lovely, clean, open countertops.
I started to watch this video last week, and I noticed I was starting to feel uncomfortable and internally "called out" l. I stopped the video and moved on. Then I started to watch your newest check-in, and you mentioned this video. I started watching this again, still feeling nervous, but realizing this was the pain that shows an opportunity for growth. I felt I could learn something important here. Then I went and watched your 2022 should you/how to start a no buy year videos again. This time they hit different. This was no longer me listening to someone talk about other people's problems: this time your stories about how (window) shopping had become your main form of entertainment, the fear to look at your bank account before buying something, the guilt that came after... I could finally articulate all of these same things within myself. Budgeting wasn't working (there were somehow always "exceptions") and I was getting myself into financial trouble every quarter. I was losing hours of time comparing things on Poshmark or the perfect new multichrome to complete my curated collection. I needed a change. Or a transformation. So now as of January 20th, I am not buying or window-shopping for any new clothing (except essential warm things and one new pair of shoes), makeup (except for my carefully carved out exceptions), skincare (except replacements), or housewares/electronics (except school and work essentials). Thank you for having this archive and "breadcrumb trail" of videos to lead us along the way, and to help us through the inevitable pain points. I can't wait to see how different my relationship to beautiful things will be in 2024.
I started a no buy year on January 1 this year. And failed in week one. Sort of. A pair of embroidered boots did me in. Stupid me logged into ebay for my husband to look for something, and there, because I had previously searched for boots, were these. I had wanted the style for a year! And these were over $100 less than any I had seen. And my size. I bought them out of pure instinct! And…. They are here now and gorgeous. So, instead of beating myself up too much, I will cherish them and move forward feeling fully satisfied with my NO response. And quit logging into dangerous websites lol!🦋🦋🦋
I just finished a no-buy year because of you! I’ll be forever grateful to you for this. Now I don’t want to buy anything new. hannah you need to write a book about this!😊
One thing I always notice in your New Makeup Hot Takes videos is that you say you're "looking for a reason not to buy something." It makes it sound like your instinct is to buy it, and you have to convince yourself not to, rather than your default being not buying things and needing something to truly be amazing in order to even consider buying it. That attitude shift sounds like what you're aiming for this year, so looking out for those subtle language changes you can make both within yourself and on your channel may be very helpful for you reframing your relationship with buying 💕
I just started a strict no buy period. It’s for the first three months of this year and it’s all thanks to finding your content and falling in love with your videos that made it possible. I want to be more thoughtful and purposeful when I spend money, so thank you for giving me a base to work off of by being so open.
I decided to do a no-buy in the middle of December 2022! Going 10 days strong 💪🏼I was surprised by how liberating it has felt so far. I think my brain chemistry has changed knowing that I won't be going through the motions of deciding which of my biggest vices to buy next. I've been reading more and getting myself to take small steps towards my goal every day. So freeing.
I’m pretty sure I commented on some video in 2019, but I again wanted to thank you because you helped me apply the language of addiction to my harmful (financially and emotionally) shopping behaviors. As an update, I’m doing much better, but I do every now and then get into that addictive mindset (kind of in the midst of one that has last 3 weeks now), but overall I am confident I will continue to navigate it largely because of the seeds you planted and I have since grown since 2019. I’ve enjoyed watching your subscriber count grow and am so excited for new folks out there to discover this video and have seeds planted for them to address some of their shopping struggles. I also want to say I strongly believe your YT content changed the way some of beauty RUclips has talked about spending and budget. I see that a bit more often now and I believe it was/is because of your channel.
I started to make a "wishlist." Whenever I have the urge to buy something, I add it to that list, date it and write a reason on why I want it. Then I let the thought go, and a few weeks will pass and I'll look back on that list and realize I no longer want that thing and delete it! It's been good for me since I'm still kind of acting on the urge to buy by adding it to my list, but never really clicking purchase right away.
I'm so glad that you're doing this! I've decided that this year is my year of appreciation--for all the beautiful people and things in my life! So everything you've said in this video resonates! So excited to see how this year unfolds for you!
i'm also doing a low buy year for 2023, same feeling at the cusp of 2022 into 2023 being like ''man my spending got a bit too big for my britches, time to go back to my roots''. good luck this year Hannah, I'm rooting for you!
Omg what serendipitous timing! It *just* occurred to me the other day that I might want to do a no-buy year in 2023 (well, Feb '23 to Feb '24). I did a low-buy in 2021 that really embodied the "in body if not in spirit" energy of the early part of your 2018 no-buy. Having done that, I think I'm just now in a place to be able to commit to a year-long no-buy with my entire spirit too. In fact, a desire to more fully inhabit my life is one of the two main motivators for me (the other being finances - the cost of living in the UK is ever more punishing and salaries have not increased in line with inflation). If I can get my stuff together to film, I might even document this one here on RUclips 👀
Thank you for gently guiding us through your thought process. It really feels like you are showing us a path that is safe to trek through; different from the one we know, but with more space and freedom. For my January no-buy inspiration, I drew the outline of a clam with its mouth open in my journal. For each day in January that I do not make a purchase, I add a circle with the date to signify a pearl within the clam. Hopefully by the end of the month, I'll have lots of pearls in my clam! As for questioning what I bring in to my life, I use the wish-list method in the form of making a Pinterest board for the thing I want. If I want a new pair of shoes, I'll pin images that I like with the shoes styled or where I might wear the shoes. Then I use that Pinterest board as inspiration to play in my closet! I'll play dress up and photograph my outfits. AND THEN I add those pictures to the original Pinterest board! This method helps me parse out if I'm achieving the fantasy, what the fantasy actually is, if I want the fantasy, if its practical, etc. It also adds a touch of ~glamour~ to see yourself on a Pinterest board with other fashionable images. It's like, okay gurl look at you! I love reminding myself that I already am the fantasy version of my day dreams (and also that a new purse wouldn't equate to more self-love than I already give myself).
Oh Hannah, I’m so glad you are doing this. I’ve overspent this past year too after falling into some spiritual and emotional pits. I haven’t articulated why I need to do this yet. But the instinct is strong. I want to curb that knee jerk reaction to online shop and just buy myself a little treat for a hit of dopamine and then the cycle of guilt that follows. I’m trying to interrogate what it gives me that I’m missing. Anyway, I really look forward to following your journey! ✨
I would ADORE you doing a no-buy adjacent year this year. I’m doing a six-month no buy, inspired by you. ❤ I re-watch your old videos every few days and they really help to keep me motivated and remind me of why I’m doing this.
Hannah, I started watching your content while you were a third of the way thru your original no buy year. Your experiences and thoughts have given me great comfort and support while I've been in the (years long) journey of creating a healthier relationship with shopping, money and a fellow love of beautiful things. Last year (off social media) I completed an effective "no-buy" for make up, clothes and skincare, aside from replacing items in utterly depleted categories. Well, I ended up using up 6 eyeshadows last year, so I cautiously rewarded myself with a 16 pan BH Cosmetics eyeshadow palette that brought entirely new colors into my collection; I really treasure that inexpensive Avocado Toast palette more than past me would have thought possible. I'm continuing that nearly no-buy mindset into this year so I can hit more important financial goals and your years of impactful, conscientious content have been so helpful!
Last year I did what I call a "mindful buy", and I'm continuing in that vein for 2023: Instead of focusing on how much money is spent or the quantity of things I've purchased, the focus is on stuff like "does this fill a gap in my stash?", "would this suit my preferences?", "would I use this regularly?", and even "would having this in my stash spark joy?" in regards to potential ones. I also save stuff to a wishlist and, every so often, go through it to see if I still want what's on it. (Something I've done for years.)
Doing a no buy year in 2023 for some of the reasons you did in 2018 I’m really excited to see the progress I make and enjoy the weightlessness of the automatic ‘No’
"Nothing new for me in 2023!" Like some of the commenters below, I also discovered your channel back in the fall and was intrigued by your approach to a no buy year. I'm newly retired, so there is a strong financial incentive to re-trench (to use a term familiar to Jane Austen's Anne Elliot). But to be newly retired also means a real life shift, and therefore a desire to re-invent the outer self. So I bought some things in the fall, got rid of lots of clothes, and tailored what didn't fit. Now I'm challenging myself to shop my closet and put outfits together that spark joy, with an eye out for the 80/20 rule.........
I love it when you compare new items to what you already have, or have seen. It reminds us that we may already have this thing which solves the problem or accomplishes the same goal. 🤩
I'm playing a game with myself this year called 'one or two nice things'. I have a lot of anxiety about spending money. But that also can mean that in the past I abstain so much that it explodes into overspending and then more anxiety and shame. So this year I'm telling myself, I can get one or two nice things every month. Doesn't have to be pricey, just a hot chocolate or a new pair of socks, but it does mean that I'm allowed to spend my money on myself without guilt. And I think that this kindness to myself should also, hopefully, mean that I don't explode into uncontrolled spending like I used to! Fingers crossed
I thought, Oh Goody! Hannah is doing another No Buy year! That year, I watched you persistently. Cheering you on and seeing just how much you eeked out of your makeup you already had. Watched you use samples to stretch things out. And the satisfaction of seeing empties just go. I loved watching your journey because I too had a habit of spending when I didn't need to. When you asked the question of why you would consider another no buy, I said, Control. That you could control yourself. To suddenly put into practice wanting less. That mindset is hard to break. I went through the grocery today shopping before the snow expected to come tonight. I wanted junk food so bad, yet I knew these foods would make me miserable. That coconut pie, those cookies, donuts. I told myself NO. The muscle memory of saying NO to myself in order to say yes to the good things that the outcome would bring. I had lost a lot of weight and I was successful. I told myself NO. Before I gain a lot of weight back, I want to tell myself NO a lot more and say yes to other foods. I want to tell myself NO to that pretty piece of clothing in the Talbots catalogue. I have last year's version of that. I have lots of clothing. I need no more. The "act of NO" is a good thing and I revel with you as you set yourself a higher goal and the good outcome that NO can bring.
I think no-buys are tempting for folks because 'the relief of the automatic no' gives the non-buyer a sense of control and an automatic self-esteem boost.
Yay! Very excited to see some no buy style content on your channel this year. After discovering your channel and No Buy Year in 2020, I finally got the fortitude up to do my own No Buy Year this year. Your message about kindness to yourself came at exactly the right time for me today- a retailer I shop at gave me a $25 credit this week that's only good for two weeks, and while I picked an item under that amount, with tax and shipping it ended up being $2.51. I purchased the thing anyway despite it being outside of my rules. I've been beating myself up about it all day, about how dirty it made me feel to "break" my no buy. But $2.51 isn't the problem, its not going to sharply change my financial situation, and the thing itself (exercise shorts) is actually a very practical purchase. What I'm obsessing over is not maintaining perfection and purity, and violating the thing that part of my subconscious is viewing as punishment and penance for my bad behavior the past couple of years. So while small overages on giftcard purchases weren't part of my rules, I am better off allowing in a set amount of flexibility for the handful of times I'll have giftcards this year (I've decided on a $5 cap) to start to teach myself that its okay to buy fewer things instead of trying to meet the free shipping minimum like I would have done before my No Buy Year. So while I'm disappointed in myself, I'm going to try to show myself kindness and learn from this hiccup and move on.
I've over spent so much on clothing in 2022. I know this was a coping mechanism in trying to deal with very uncomfortable emotions my relationship issues with my SO, losing my dad to cancer in early 2022 and the grief that came along with it. I've learned that Shopping does not get rid of the emotional issues! I need to exercise the art of saying No and channeling my nervous emotions into more productive endeavors that require no money to be spent with the exception of essentials only.
Thank you for this video, it was a good reset for me. Since 2012 I've followed a strict rule of only buying clothes, shoes, accessories or yarn (I'm a knitter) with money I get for selling things in my home that I no longer need. I guess you can call this my personal "circular economy shopping fund", or something like that. This both makes me think twice about every purchase, and also makes me work much harder for the things I accumulate, plus it helps me keep my home uncluttered, and forces me to get rid of my old things in an environmentally responsible way (by passing it directly to another person). For the last ten years or so I've also followed a personal rule of only buying one or two new clothing items from the racks per year, that is - I buy almost only second hand clothes (with the exceptions of socks and underwear). Sometimes, when I find something second hand that I feel is too good to pass by (like a designer piece I've been dreaming of for a long time), my shopping fund „borrows“ money from my future sales, so it's temporarily in minus. This is exactly the case now, so a reluctance to buy is exactly what I need now while I restore my circular economy shopping fund.
Currently doing a no buy year and have already been questioning the rules I made for homewares. Clothes and skincare/makeup need a full stop, but I made some questions to ask myself and wait periods to enforce rather than a strict no for kitchen/cleaning/organization supplies. I haven't noticed a problem with homewares in my life, I just do not want my energy saved not shopping to go there. I think this idea of reluctance vs eagerness is very useful for me thank you so much!
Well I often struggle with buying things for myself, i don't value myself enough to get stuff i like. But seeing this content weirdly has me being more okay with sometimes allowing myself to get things i need and want
I've finally built up the courage and self resolve to do a no-buy for 2023. Watching your journey through it has really helped with that, so thank you.
It is extremely liberating to want something so badly and just to say NO to it. It makes me feel empowered. Thats exactly what happens in my wardrobe...when I want something so badly...what I already have similar in my closet 'rises up' and becomes highlighted. Ive done no buy months eventually forgetting it was suppossed to be a year I committed too....and watching this video has made me realize that I actually was forced to do a no buy 2 years during covid because of job loss etc. However...now that we do have a job again, I really want to prove to myself that I can do this out of my own accord . So this is it ladies...as of today 23/08/23...Im committing to a NBY!! Wish me luck😅
I'm doing a low buy year on everything but especially on snacks and gas station food, that's what most of my money is spent on😅 though before i purchase anything else, clothes, or skincare i plan on being very intentional with what i do decide to buy. Pro tip for anyone else: if you want something put it in a wish list for several weeks or months to think about before buying. I've found that often times I'll later decide that I really don't actually want the thing and will delete it from my list.
I'm on my first real no buy year. I've tried shorter no buys last year, but I just fell right back. During my one month no buys I would check my favorite website every single day and buy stuff the moment the month was over. The only time it worked better was when I did a two month no buy and forbade myself from browsing. It worked well, even for a full month after but. then it slowly creeped its way back in. The obsessing, the browsing and the buying. I'm doing a six month long no buy. If I'm still super obsessive and fall right back into the same patterns once it's over I'll prolong it for the rest of the year and make it a full no buy year. It's been up and down. I've felt relieved and stressed. Happy about it and unhappy about it. But I'm really glad I'm doing it. I also need a complete reset of my brain.
Hannah I did a no-buy in 2022 (it was October 2021 to November 2022 to be fair) and it was great! I just had a weird December though with mental health and spending (I was transitioning between therapists and my meds were not helping etc etc) so I found myself spending a little bit more than I wanted to (nothing debt inducing or even remotely concerning but it still made me feel like I was slipping a bit) and I think I’m gonna do a bit of a quarterly low-buy this year with this thoughtfulness principle in mind. Having a quarterly budget with limited shopping periods BUT always with the questions of “is what I have enough? Do I already have things that serve this purpose that I can use instead?” before the shopping begins. I’m always happy to see your videos and feel like they’re super helpful with things like that.
I thought about doing a no-buy but I know myself. It won't last. So I've decided to just make this a year of smarter choices. "Just because I support a brand, doesn't mean I need all the releases" etc.
Oh how I love your videos! Instead of doing a “No Buy Year”, I’m starting with a “Use What I Have Month” as the word ‘no’ triggered a deprivation response in my head. It’s actually exciting to see and use what I already have, starting with a shampoo that was buried in the back of the cabinet. It’s so good! ✨💖✨
These are exactly my reasons for doing a focused low-buy this year. My passion for the environment has always played a role in my consumer consciousness, but necessity also played a big part while I homeschooled my children. My homeschooling now complete for a few years now, I have more income and found myself buying things more whimsically than I would like when I take the planet into consideration. It depends on where your motivations lie. For me, being able to afford something does not ultimately mean I should obtain it, not to mention the added hidden costs of caring for said items once they are mine. Fewer obligations always means more freedom and that remains my north star.
When I clicked on this video, I was very excited. The “reluctance to buy” approach was initially a little disappointing but actually I am excited about it now. And this is why. I have been subscribed to your channel from the first video and fell in love hard with HLP 🥰. Your thoughtfulness, your reflections, the process of the year was amazing to watch and unfold, and I learned a great deal and thought a great deal. IMO, HLP was the star of the channel, not the no-buy year (even though that was the point). Since that year, I find it has become more and more about stuff (the beautiful things). I know this is a review channel but somehow in that first year, even though the focus was the no- buy, HLP was the star. I miss her sometimes. I am a faithful subscriber but I don’t see her as often as I would like. I’m hoping the “reluctance to buy” approach will bring her back a bit more. Looking forward to the future content. Happy New Year 🥳 ❤🇨🇦
I can 100% relate to having a part of my brain that is always & forever trying to convince me that we need new shiny. The more sensible nobuy part of my brain is like "ok we'll compromise, you can build a cart, but you can't buy" & I'm ok with that. The only time my nobuy brain makes a rare exception is when it's something truly unique to my collection (exceedingly rare) or it's a replacement or it's something I've been waiting for it to restock for a very long time & fits within my budget. Having a budget also truly helps me. I always appreciate your feedback on these issues Hannah, ty! 💜
Interesting video. I guess it can be hard to learn the balance between investing in your business and buying for your own pleasure. I thought your reckoning videos were a great tool for keeping that in perspective. Also, I know that psychologists say that avoidance in generally an unhealthy way to cope with a challenge, and a better way is exposure until you get comfortable with it. First rule, are you uncomfortable with it - then it's time to take a look at it! Happy new year, Hannah!
When I found you Hannah I was kind of all over the place in terms of my finances and ever since I found you and have been more conscious of the way that I spend money and what I need and what I don't need and putting those things in the perspective even gift-giving I've been able to buy a home and be in my home for going on 3 years successfully and it's because you really help me to put things in perspective also I'm making more money than I ever have in my life and I am super proud of the way that I look at my money and it's because of you thank you
"No-buy" year(s) going bad or extreme frugality is something I am currently struggling with, and it's a slippery slope. It's not exactly a common problem but let me tell you - "No-buy" for a prolonged period of time is not fun to get out of. I have been living very minimal and frugal most of my life but for the past 10 years that was more self-imposed than anything else. In 2021 I dipped my toe into starting to allow myself to buy things but in 2022 I finally managed to actually let myself buy multiple frivolous things. When I checked my "shopping" list at the end of 2022 I felt egregious - my brain immediately went to "Noooooo" - a decade of limiting yourself is hard to overcome. A year of "reluctance to buy" sounds great to me tbh
I have been cutting back on my beauty spending. I used to be really bad but I am slowly becoming more reasonable as I ask my self what I have in my collection that is similar that I can use instead. I also got super overwhelmed and did a huge declutter and still have so much that it stressed me out which really kicked me into gear to be more mindful with my purchase
I joined The no buy July you introduced and have been on a no buy since! What helped me was also depotting and making my own franken palettes and I realized I absolutely LOVE my self made palettes . I also depotted my lipsticks in one small lippie palette- hence use them more often , mixing shades . Coupled with doing a one month one palette/lipstick/fragrance. I got to really know my stash and love it. I am now at a place where nothing launched seems to be better than what I have. I am confident this year will also be a makeup no buy. Just use what I have start panning .
The exact words I needed to hear - wow. I have always used RUclips as a momentary escape from my life but your channel (and your general personality honestly) is helping me realize who I want to be and giving me the tools I need to get there. For real, you need to write a book. Thanks so much!
I love this mentality of thoughtfulness when it comes to purchases. Last year was a low buy year for me. Your form of really dissecting what about the eyeshadow palette I like, and what I won't use, was so helpful. I could look in my current palette/singles collection, and dupe the vibes. Also, when you talked about not buying the backup that you don't need, or a similar product to what you already have, it stopped me from buying so much. I'm continuing this mentality into this year. I'd rather save that money, or spend it on travel, and food, experiences.
I did a hard "no collecting/buying things without jumping through a bunch of checks and balances" inspired by your videos a few years ago, but ended up really letting up on a lot of that when the pandemic hit (made it easier to justify getting more things) and then I moved out of my family home last year (where I realized "Oh actually I NEED to buy a bunch of things" because I realized how many normal house-things I just didn't own). At that point, I had felt like I had healed my relationship with spending and collecting enough to do those things in a safe-enough way. But now I'm at a point where I'm feeling that "I want to put it in my nest" urge over a bunch of things again. And I'm having to refocus. With the help of some of your makeup videos, actually, where you talk about having "The one perfect thing" from a given product line, I'm training myself to further hone in on what will satisfy my desire for precious items that are meaningful (and at times genuinely heal my inner child), while also healing my relationship with spending and hoarding. I'm learning to find that sweet spot where I have the amount of precious items that satisfy me long-term, while also being responsible with my very modest budget. For instance: -Finding the exact three hamtaro toys that delight and heal my inner child, who had their toys stolen from them, without feeling like I need to re-collect all the less-precious pieces without a lot of consideration first. (The extra consideration has thus-far convinced me to pass on more little rubber hamsters and their playsets) -Only buying the number of pink depression-ware glasses that I would hypothetically need to host a party with my five friends, and doing so at a slow rate that won't overwhelm my budget. (Honestly I felt satisfied with four glasses, but I'm not going to pull a Sleeping Beauty and leave someone without a suitable piece of precious dinnerware at the party)
Hannah, the way I do it is to have an specific goal of the amount of money saved I want during the year. It works for me better than think in a restrictive way, sort of speak.
Love this update Hannah! I am doing a budget this year of $100 per month. I have SOOOOOOO much but I do love getting new things. I was hard pressed to commit to a no buy but I can definitely see me succeeding with a budget. I'm tracking every penny and have my rules in place. No borrowing from other months. $100 per month, period. I'm excited to watch your journey this year and always enjoy the thoughtful content you make. 💗
Always good reminders! This year my goal is to save a lot since I just spent a year spending a lot. I moved and got married! Lots of money for lots of beautiful things! I'm ready now to save for our first house. This approach of learning to appreciate a beautiful thing but not buying something every time I hear that little voice will be essential.
I find that I have a binge/restrict relationship with money. I know how to spend nothing or spend recklessly. I'm hunting for moderation and an ability to spend without guilt. This specifically applies to spending on myself.
Before the end of 2022, I counted all the eyeshadow palettes, all other types of makeup, skincare, body care, perfume, etc. I listed everything in an excel doc and realized I had 500+ products. I realized I need to do a no buy year so that’s my goal to see how many products I can finish, declutter and get to a more reasonable amount of products in my collection
"The relief of the NO" - 💯 yes!!! My problem is not that I technically spend too much. I can afford it and am also able to save money. But I don't want to overconsume. The worst part for me is the decision making, though. You could also call it obsessing. I don't want this anymore. So, I'm really looking forward to your thought processes regarding the "thoughtfulness" aspect!
This is exactly how I feel about making purchases this year. The first time I was actually able to put it into use was with the Oden's Eye single eyeshadows. I started drooling over the metallic sparkly red and decided that I should just shop my stash for shadows that could serve the same purpose. I had two perfectly good sparkly reds that I was able to use to slake my thirst for the Oden's Eye shadow. This is the strategy that I am going to be using for the rest of the year. Thanks for always giving us such though provoking content, Hannah!
Hi Hannah! I am doing alright, the end of last year really put me in a bad place financially and yet I was still spending money where I shouldn’t have. I told my therapist about us 😅 meaning I sent her all your video’s explaining the no buy year and how I desperately needed to work through the changing of habits. She obliged and now we are about to embark on unpacking it all. I follow along your old videos whenever I feel lonely or upset as a way to not spend money. It’s worked this far! Hoping to last all year
Aww I found you during the OG no buy year so this feels like a full circle moment. Although I've already bought some new makeup from Odens Eye, I want to challenge myself to simmer down and do more no buy months to break that cycle of finding joy in buying new shiny things instead of from what I own, makeup and beyond. So excited to see how this goes 💜
At the end of 2022, I re-watched a bunch of your past no buy content and decided to do one on makeup, skincare and haircare for myself for 2023. Would be so lovely to hear your updates as you go through!
i had a similar 2022: indulged in the second half, esp final quarter, directly related to increased financial security. but after witnessing that, thoughtfulness and the desire to enjoy what i have vs acquire more has been a strong pov for 2023. so far it’s been great as well! the energy and alchemy around clutter clearing is a main focus too.
I overspent in January, not by much, but over my budget. I don’t regret it, it was a great deal on something I really wanted. But now I’m on a mini no buy until I can pay myself back in February. And there’s some sweet relief in not trawling every website for deals, all day every day. And just appreciating what I have?
I am on a no buy for makeup but not for skin care. That doesn’t mean I am going to buy all of the skincare it just means I am going to really concentrate on skin care and if I need a product for skincare I will buy it. But makeup? No, I have more makeup than I need or will use. Mascara is the only exception to that but only because of the 3 month rule that I stick to like glue because I got an eye infection one time from using old mascara. Thanks Hannah! 💕
I hear you describing the deep spiritual practices of trust and allowing. So cool. It’s a cool practice, and so useful as an addict to know we have everything we need already. Beautiful. In Truth, we are the thing we are looking for, and with. Your radical self honesty and willingness to retool is courageous and helpful.
This was helpful. I had a strict budget last year and I don't want to buy as much this year because I love my collection. These questions you pose to yourself help me. I remember once you said, "would I rather have this or another Gucci lipstick" and that stuck with me and helped me weigh decisions because it wasn't a yes/no, but rather a well do I want this instead of other things.
Once again I'm somehow along similar paths as you Hannah. Gentle questioning and reluctance to make purchases that don't end with the hardest of hard No's. My area is simply perfumes this year, which took the place of skincare and makeup. I've already created 3 rules and also created a list of other things that I have put off buying, in an effort to indulge in my greatest luxury in 2022. But this year I deserve a new bed, a proper vacuum, pants that fit, etc. I plan to buy with the intent to treat my Future Self over and over again when I use those items.
I absolutely love you bringing this up. I need a no buy year because you are so right - a year of good intentions isn’t struck enough to remember and learn like a no buy would.
I have a more of a replacement mindset with things like pants and shoes. Right now I need to replace a few pairs of shoes and some jeans. I also want to decorate my new space and I don’t want to spend a lot of money. So I going to finish my may painting for my kitchen before I go ham
I found your channel in October last year and am making 2023 my No Buy Year. Your videos have been so, SO helpful and have caused so much introspection. I hope you continue updates like this on your channel as they have been so insightful and useful. Thank you!
I am in a no buy since 5 months and sometimes it's hard even very hard but I am so proud of myself, i use what I have and it's so simple finally. I ve seen all your videos during tyour no buy year which help me so much, so Hannah I hope that you will be the good method for you in 2023 to be happy and not be frustrated guilty and achieve your goal of what you really want to be with yourself. Kisses from France
I’m doing a no-buy year thanks to your 2018 no buy! I got excited at the possibility that you would do a no buy year in 2023, but alas. Can’t wait to hear more about your year of reluctance
I have learned SOOOO much about retraining my brain from you! Now, when I get these ideas in life and want to buy things, I just make a wishlist and I take like a week and price compare or just think about it and often at the end of the week, I don't do it OR alter my cart (like for groceries) OR I get it sometimes. I do it for everything now!!!!!! Clothes, stuff for my kids, household items, makeup, groceries... It's so awesome! And I make more thoughtful purchases now. Thank you for your content and all the time you take to make videos for us to enjoy! I actually unfollowed a lot of people I used to watch bc....their content just isn't fulfilling after watching yours 😬🤣
I only found your channel recently, and it's inspired me to do a 12-month no buy from next month! I've already come a long way with recovering from impulse buying and other bad money habits, but i want to see if i can do even better now. It also ties in super nicely with my original resolution for this year - to finish the things I've started!
I think this is a rarely talked about phenomenon. When you get a raise or increase in income it is easy to fall into bad habits because you feel under less financial pressure. It's like moving to a bigger house, it's difficult to not just fill up all the storage space with stuff. It's like you expand to fill the new footprint financially. I would love to have a year of reluctance to buy. I still spend way too much time on poshmark window shopping. I just want my time back! It's not like I can't afford the stuff. But I don't need it, and it's basically hoarding behavior that I've been fighting my whole life!
If you’re looking for more content about that you could try searching the term lifestyle creep
I find that "the automatic no" helps me reclaim my time, too. When I start going into online browsing mode, I remember that no matter what I find, the answer to the question "should I buy this?" is automatically going to be no, and the hunt kind of loses its appeal :)
What would you do with that time? I spend a lot of time window-shopping too but my brain just needs a break. I feel like i would just spend the time reading news.
@@katerinaschenke819 I would read a book! I've been renting ebooks and audiobooks from the library through the Libby app and it has changed the game for me. Doesn't have to be cerebral, get a silly romance and enjoy!
@@katerinaschenke819 I recommend a combination of any exercise or active activity you enjoy, with reading, and maybe a creative hobby like painting, drawing, sewing, etc.
I personally think a no-buy or low-buy is the perfect time to try that hobby that you've always wanted to learn but just never had the time for. I think everyone has at least one of those (examples: learning a new language, starting a blog, writing a book/poem, volunteering in your community, learning to knit, gardening, etc.)
"Thoughtfulness is the only rule" What a beautiful statement to work with and having the foundation of doing a No Buy in the past that helps you find a balance when you are feeling the need for a readjustment. Thank you for sharing this it was super helpful ❤
I love your no buy and makeup declutter videos! ❤
Omg Hannah , I needed this . I decided to do a no buy year basically just like your 2018 year . I’m calling it Debt free in 2023 . I can’t wait to see your content for the new year . I have binge watched your 2018 videos Sooooooo many times . Thank you for your amazing content .
Me too !!
Me three! ❤
4! I'm here for it!
You got this! I'm cheering you on 😊
How are you getting on with your goal 😊
My motto has been “It’s 2023. Use what you already have.”
This started around clothes, makeup and random Amazon purchases. It also includes endlessly seeking answers outside of myself and what I already know. Owning the things and wisdom I already have. And enjoying them.
I had no money at all in 2019 and I wanted to paint a jar. I would’ve needed to buy acrylic paint, but saw I had old nail polish and used that. 😂
“use what you already have” i love this so much. i know i am incredibly blessed but i’m always so tempted by new things .. i need to write this down somewhere!!
I can recommend regular no-buys. When I was a student I had to budget a lot. I am Austrian and over here we do not have the system of students loans as education is basically free. If you are lucky your parents pay your living or you work. I did regular no-buys on everything in order to save money (had none for impulse buying) and I used up soap, shampoo, got creative in the kitchen and emptied the fridge or pantry, repaired or adjusted clothing items ... you name it. This approach to spending money has become a habbit and although I have a very good job and income I still practise this habbit at the age of 45. The effect of this habbit is not only a finacial one but so much more: you have a lot of time (if you are not concerned with shopping decisions), your impact on our planet is lower and for me the most important no clutter. I work in the creative/design field and I love beautiful things but I rather admire them in a museum than owning them.
The first year of the pandemic was a very good reset for me. I know that many people shopped out of boredom or anxiety that year, but I completely stopped buying makeup, clothing, and home decor. I was also really put off by the behavior of certain retailers like Sephora that treated their employees so badly at the beginning of the pandemic. So I wasn't so tempted to shop, especially with the big beauty retailers. And another cool thing I learned was that, even though I completely ignored sales, coupons, etc., and often paid full retail for the things I did buy, I still managed to save $6K without even trying. That was an important lesson: If you buy only what you truly desire and use, then you don't have to hunt for sales and discounts--and you can still save real money.
Now that everyday life is getting back to normal, I am starting to look at replenishing/updating my makeup and wardrobe. The cool thing is that I have a much clearer vision of what I will actually use, and a greater awareness of how much I can save if I don't overbuy.
Just finished my no-buy year in 2022. Wow, that feeling at midnight on NYE was something else. A feeling of ... I did it! And I can't believe I did it! It was a life-changing experience, and I have you to thank, so THANK YOU for inspiring me. Your 2018 monthly check-in videos really got me through the year. I feel like the year after the no-buy year is where a lot of the deeper changes take root ... kind of excited about what's ahead.
YAY KATIE!!!!! YOU DID IT!!!! But I knew you would :)
I'm doing a low buy until spring equinox, so for 3 months. My rule is that non-essentials ned to go on a wishlist for a while. it's amazing how many lipsticks I've wanted within this week alone (coinciding with a new city, new job, lots of commuting, exhaustion every evening). I know I want to shop against the stress and the anxiety, as a shortcut (which it isnt). Instead, I make my lists. And I cross things out again and feel smug using my battered drugstore lipstick that has the best rusty red pigmentation ever. And I get every ounce of sleep I can, as many texts with supportive friends as possible, and luxuriate in good music on the train. wishlists save me from stupid decisions and from my tired, dopamine-hungry brain.
I never thought clothes were one of my problem categories when it comes to my shopping addiction, but, as soon as I decided I’m doing a Beauty No Buy Year, my brain quickly decided that now we want to buy all the clothes! I’ve been binging on Poshmark for about a week so it looks like I’m going to have to regroup my no buy game plan.
It's good that you recognize your problem areas and how we can sometimes replace one area of spending with another. Poshmark is one of my problem areas, because in addition to the high of getting new clothes, you also get the thrill of getting "good deals."
@@theprousteffect9717 yes!! And the perceived “scarcity” that there’s only 1 of this item.
I just pin on pinterest and add likes on poshmark but try to recreate those vibes with my own closet so i only use it for inspiration... i also dont have my credit card nearby, i keep it in the living room in a closet. nor carry it or carry cash with me so forces me to really think to make a purchase. I did find myself hoarding like 8 deodorants but i just put them all in sight so i will use them up before i buy again... best wishes with that!
I’m doing a No spend until March, and then seeing how I feel at the end of the quarter. If I still feel uncontrollable urge a to spend, then I’m continuing the no buy until that goes away. No set timeframe. Just following my intuition. Requires a lot of honesty with oneself!
I love your approach to "no buy" and appreciating what you already have. The crow in me always wants the new, sparkly thing that catches my eye. I'm learning to pause and be patient. Most times the urge to buy dissipates, and I'm filled with relief and gratitude for what I already have. Good, good approach you are highlighting, Hannah! Thank you for your intellectual content!!!
I put myself on a no-buy last fall after buying wayyyy too much in the pandemic years. In four months, I read 100 books and padded my bank account by thousands of dollars. It was illuminating to see how much money and time I was truly WASTING with online shopping, just searching for things to fill some unrecognized void within myself. Your channel is always such a great reminder to me of why I chose that path of not buying and has made me a much more thoughtful consumer. 💓💓
reading is the BEST replacement for shopping :)
@@HannahLouisePoston right?! Now, instead of stalking the Sephora site, I spend all my time poring over recommendations on Goodreads and Kindle Unlimited. 🤣
Just finished my No Buy 2022! I watched your videos all the time to help fortify me. Thank you! It was a success! I only bought replacements when I was fully out of something. As well as a Lisa Eldridge eyeshadow palette, but I did write that as an exception at the beginning of the year lol
Hi Hannah! I'm doing a no-buy year in 2023, for exactly the reasons you did so in 2018! AND it's 100% motivated by you - I had never even heard of "No-buy years" until I stumbled across your videos around September last year. I spent months contemplating it, followed your advice & wrote out specific rules. All of your content is so calming - thank you for what you're doing for the "beauty RUclips" world!
“The love of beautiful things, which is itself a beautiful thing” yes!!! I love the reframing of interest in makeup/fashion/skincare as an appreciation for beauty. seeing this as a genuine love of aesthetics, instead of mindless guilt-inducing consuming, helps me make better choices about what I allow to take a place in my collection. And also, interest in makeup is so often written off as frivolous, when it’s not!
ive been wanting more makeup lately, but ive just realised probably a severe declutter is a better answer. there are still gems in my collection that get lost among the meh products, and my joy is mostly from using makeup. if i added more there would just be more left unused because there is only so much i can use on my one face. i feel like a smaller collection could concentrate the delight rather than dilute it.
"concentrate the delight" Yes!
The relief you spoke about when it comes to knowing the answer is automatically no - that is the best part about having the rules for me. I love that it takes the decision fatigue out of things. I love your more nuanced approach this year and I am going to encourage myself to have more grace around my strict rules
Entering a no-buy year, here is my self-affirmation: I have achieved everything I truly wanted, and this will be no different. I will do my best, and that means I will succeed.
This type of thinking has been helpful to me in the past, and even if I don't always 100% feel it with conviction, it strengthens my resolve. Thank you, Hannah, for providing this type of content. You've helped me realize that this is needed 💗
3 months and 14 days into my no buy year! Doing pretty well. I do still get urges to buy but i then focus on what I have that can do the same thing or provide the same joy and do that instead. Love your channel!!!!❤
I discovered you at the end of 2021 and binged watched almost all of your no buy year videos, following up with watching all of your channel's videos and I made 2022 my no buy year. It was amazing. I needed it and sticked to my rules almost 100%. I have a totally different mindset about buying things now and hope it lasts forever. You saved my life in a way and I am grateful ❤️
YAY I'm so happy to hear this! Thank you for reporting back!
@@HannahLouisePoston You became one of my top 3 youtubers and inspire me to be more mindful and considerate with my spending and joyful with what I already own.
This year is my "year of less 💩" - I want to own less stuff and if I'm gonna spend I'll do it REALLY thoughtfully. And I won't be tolerating bullshit anymore, too. xD
Thank you again Hannah for helping me be the best version of myself 😊❤️ xx
I’ve been spending a lot of money getting ready for my wedding, which is now less than a month away. I am definitely planning a no-buy year after the whole shebang is done. My financial resources have been changing (decreasing), so I have an undeniable need to become more frugal. And even though I’ve enjoyed the permission I’ve given myself to really experiment and try makeup in a way I never have before, I don’t like the way it ultimately makes me feel. A couple of nights ago I was playing with some brand new eyeshadow, and I found a shade that REALLY floats my boat and is super flattering with my coloring. It might be my favorite eyeshadow ever. But within a few minutes of really digging it, I started wondering if I could find the same color in a matte version. The habit I’ve developed is to constantly ask if there’s another version of the things I love. Not even necessarily a version I might love more. I think it’s been so exciting to find some “holy grails,” because it has been a long and very difficult process, and now I find myself wanting to chase that excitement. But I don’t even wear much makeup in my daily life, so if I keep looking for more holy grails of the same types of products (or other types of products that I haven’t even thought to want yet) I don’t even stand a chance of really using and enjoying any of it.
I also have been really intrigued by the type of minimalism you’ve been pursuing and talking about. I would love to see more videos about that and how it connects to this new type of no-buy. I especially find it helpful and interesting when you talk about the way these things make you feel.
Sooo excited for what's coming for you and the channel in 2023! Your content has had an immense impact on my spending and aesthetic habits, so i'm always down for another curve on the ride 😁
First of all, your hair is looking especially wild and luscious today 😍.
Since I discovered your channel in ¿October?, I’ve been on a very restricted but not quite no buy, which has been challenging and liberating. I’m still “shopping,” but channeling that energy into creating capsule wardrobe boards in Canva for imaginary clients in hopes of launching my personal styling business by the end of the year. It’s been such a powerful redirect from one creative instinct that had destructive/consumptive undertones into a creative instinct that is a win-win-win.
I’m also using my no buy for 2023 as a bargaining chip of sorts for other positive changes. I was neglecting my health and wellness and allowing myself to gain weight and lose fitness, because I could easily get a whole new wardrobe on thredUP for very little money. But staying caught in that trap, with beloved beautiful things languishing and less loved things cycling in and out, just wasn’t fun anymore.
And at the same time, I didn’t want to do a total no buy, because I’m good at all or nothing; I’m good at deprivation followed by reckless indulgence, so I introduced a spending account. I’m seeding it every week with just $15. It’s not very much, just enough to easily waste on Starbucks or a few minutes in the Target cosmetics department. But over the course of a year, it’s $780 - enough to get any of several special items I’ve been wanting for a long time but never “have the money.” So I’m giving myself a resource that I can use in any way that I choose, but it will benefit me greatly to choose wisely.
And your example of thoughtfulness being the only rule - even though you only expressed it here, it’s been implied all along - has really led the way for something I’m excited to see through to the end.
I've been on a 'replacements only' program since I first stumbled across your channel during your No-Buy Year. I did not have a financial reason or even an over spending reason to do so, I just got tired of seeing a cluttered bathroom countertop, cabinet, shower shelf, etc. Since I began this, I used up all of the random things that were hanging around, and honestly, threw out some things that I decided I was never going to use. This past Christmas, I received several items as gifts and had to determine what to do with the largesse. I decided a cupboard could be dedicated to the items I had received. I will shop them once the items that are currently in use are empty. I am so protective of my lovely, clean, open countertops.
beautiful!!
I started to watch this video last week, and I noticed I was starting to feel uncomfortable and internally "called out" l. I stopped the video and moved on.
Then I started to watch your newest check-in, and you mentioned this video. I started watching this again, still feeling nervous, but realizing this was the pain that shows an opportunity for growth. I felt I could learn something important here.
Then I went and watched your 2022 should you/how to start a no buy year videos again. This time they hit different. This was no longer me listening to someone talk about other people's problems: this time your stories about how (window) shopping had become your main form of entertainment, the fear to look at your bank account before buying something, the guilt that came after... I could finally articulate all of these same things within myself. Budgeting wasn't working (there were somehow always "exceptions") and I was getting myself into financial trouble every quarter. I was losing hours of time comparing things on Poshmark or the perfect new multichrome to complete my curated collection. I needed a change. Or a transformation.
So now as of January 20th, I am not buying or window-shopping for any new clothing (except essential warm things and one new pair of shoes), makeup (except for my carefully carved out exceptions), skincare (except replacements), or housewares/electronics (except school and work essentials). Thank you for having this archive and "breadcrumb trail" of videos to lead us along the way, and to help us through the inevitable pain points. I can't wait to see how different my relationship to beautiful things will be in 2024.
I started a no buy year on January 1 this year. And failed in week one. Sort of. A pair of embroidered boots did me in. Stupid me logged into ebay for my husband to look for something, and there, because I had previously searched for boots, were these. I had wanted the style for a year! And these were over $100 less than any I had seen. And my size. I bought them out of pure instinct! And…. They are here now and gorgeous. So, instead of beating myself up too much, I will cherish them and move forward feeling fully satisfied with my NO response. And quit logging into dangerous websites lol!🦋🦋🦋
I just finished a no-buy year because of you! I’ll be forever grateful to you for this. Now I don’t want to buy anything new. hannah you need to write a book about this!😊
Hannah, I love this content, it makes me feel like I am less alone in where my head is at this year. Thank you.
One thing I always notice in your New Makeup Hot Takes videos is that you say you're "looking for a reason not to buy something." It makes it sound like your instinct is to buy it, and you have to convince yourself not to, rather than your default being not buying things and needing something to truly be amazing in order to even consider buying it. That attitude shift sounds like what you're aiming for this year, so looking out for those subtle language changes you can make both within yourself and on your channel may be very helpful for you reframing your relationship with buying 💕
I clicked on this video immediately 😅I just really love listening of Hannah's budgeting thoughts, her growth and style discoveries💕
I just started a strict no buy period. It’s for the first three months of this year and it’s all thanks to finding your content and falling in love with your videos that made it possible. I want to be more thoughtful and purposeful when I spend money, so thank you for giving me a base to work off of by being so open.
I decided to do a no-buy in the middle of December 2022! Going 10 days strong 💪🏼I was surprised by how liberating it has felt so far. I think my brain chemistry has changed knowing that I won't be going through the motions of deciding which of my biggest vices to buy next. I've been reading more and getting myself to take small steps towards my goal every day. So freeing.
I’m pretty sure I commented on some video in 2019, but I again wanted to thank you because you helped me apply the language of addiction to my harmful (financially and emotionally) shopping behaviors. As an update, I’m doing much better, but I do every now and then get into that addictive mindset (kind of in the midst of one that has last 3 weeks now), but overall I am confident I will continue to navigate it largely because of the seeds you planted and I have since grown since 2019. I’ve enjoyed watching your subscriber count grow and am so excited for new folks out there to discover this video and have seeds planted for them to address some of their shopping struggles. I also want to say I strongly believe your YT content changed the way some of beauty RUclips has talked about spending and budget. I see that a bit more often now and I believe it was/is because of your channel.
thank you so much for this lovely comment! I'm glad to know you are doing well
I started to make a "wishlist." Whenever I have the urge to buy something, I add it to that list, date it and write a reason on why I want it. Then I let the thought go, and a few weeks will pass and I'll look back on that list and realize I no longer want that thing and delete it! It's been good for me since I'm still kind of acting on the urge to buy by adding it to my list, but never really clicking purchase right away.
I'm so glad that you're doing this! I've decided that this year is my year of appreciation--for all the beautiful people and things in my life! So everything you've said in this video resonates! So excited to see how this year unfolds for you!
i'm also doing a low buy year for 2023, same feeling at the cusp of 2022 into 2023 being like ''man my spending got a bit too big for my britches, time to go back to my roots''. good luck this year Hannah, I'm rooting for you!
Omg what serendipitous timing! It *just* occurred to me the other day that I might want to do a no-buy year in 2023 (well, Feb '23 to Feb '24). I did a low-buy in 2021 that really embodied the "in body if not in spirit" energy of the early part of your 2018 no-buy. Having done that, I think I'm just now in a place to be able to commit to a year-long no-buy with my entire spirit too. In fact, a desire to more fully inhabit my life is one of the two main motivators for me (the other being finances - the cost of living in the UK is ever more punishing and salaries have not increased in line with inflation). If I can get my stuff together to film, I might even document this one here on RUclips 👀
Thank you for gently guiding us through your thought process. It really feels like you are showing us a path that is safe to trek through; different from the one we know, but with more space and freedom.
For my January no-buy inspiration, I drew the outline of a clam with its mouth open in my journal. For each day in January that I do not make a purchase, I add a circle with the date to signify a pearl within the clam.
Hopefully by the end of the month, I'll have lots of pearls in my clam!
As for questioning what I bring in to my life, I use the wish-list method in the form of making a Pinterest board for the thing I want. If I want a new pair of shoes, I'll pin images that I like with the shoes styled or where I might wear the shoes. Then I use that Pinterest board as inspiration to play in my closet! I'll play dress up and photograph my outfits. AND THEN I add those pictures to the original Pinterest board! This method helps me parse out if I'm achieving the fantasy, what the fantasy actually is, if I want the fantasy, if its practical, etc. It also adds a touch of ~glamour~ to see yourself on a Pinterest board with other fashionable images. It's like, okay gurl look at you!
I love reminding myself that I already am the fantasy version of my day dreams (and also that a new purse wouldn't equate to more self-love than I already give myself).
I really loved your budget year! It was very fun to watch and I looked forward to your monthly “what I bought” videos
Oh Hannah, I’m so glad you are doing this. I’ve overspent this past year too after falling into some spiritual and emotional pits. I haven’t articulated why I need to do this yet. But the instinct is strong. I want to curb that knee jerk reaction to online shop and just buy myself a little treat for a hit of dopamine and then the cycle of guilt that follows. I’m trying to interrogate what it gives me that I’m missing. Anyway, I really look forward to following your journey! ✨
I would ADORE you doing a no-buy adjacent year this year. I’m doing a six-month no buy, inspired by you. ❤ I re-watch your old videos every few days and they really help to keep me motivated and remind me of why I’m doing this.
Hannah, I started watching your content while you were a third of the way thru your original no buy year. Your experiences and thoughts have given me great comfort and support while I've been in the (years long) journey of creating a healthier relationship with shopping, money and a fellow love of beautiful things. Last year (off social media) I completed an effective "no-buy" for make up, clothes and skincare, aside from replacing items in utterly depleted categories. Well, I ended up using up 6 eyeshadows last year, so I cautiously rewarded myself with a 16 pan BH Cosmetics eyeshadow palette that brought entirely new colors into my collection; I really treasure that inexpensive Avocado Toast palette more than past me would have thought possible. I'm continuing that nearly no-buy mindset into this year so I can hit more important financial goals and your years of impactful, conscientious content have been so helpful!
Last year I did what I call a "mindful buy", and I'm continuing in that vein for 2023: Instead of focusing on how much money is spent or the quantity of things I've purchased, the focus is on stuff like "does this fill a gap in my stash?", "would this suit my preferences?", "would I use this regularly?", and even "would having this in my stash spark joy?" in regards to potential ones. I also save stuff to a wishlist and, every so often, go through it to see if I still want what's on it. (Something I've done for years.)
Doing a no buy year in 2023 for some of the reasons you did in 2018
I’m really excited to see the progress I make and enjoy the weightlessness of the automatic ‘No’
"Nothing new for me in 2023!" Like some of the commenters below, I also discovered your channel back in the fall and was intrigued by your approach to a no buy year. I'm newly retired, so there is a strong financial incentive to re-trench (to use a term familiar to Jane Austen's Anne Elliot). But to be newly retired also means a real life shift, and therefore a desire to re-invent the outer self. So I bought some things in the fall, got rid of lots of clothes, and tailored what didn't fit. Now I'm challenging myself to shop my closet and put outfits together that spark joy, with an eye out for the 80/20 rule.........
I love it when you compare new items to what you already have, or have seen. It reminds us that we may already have this thing which solves the problem or accomplishes the same goal. 🤩
I'm playing a game with myself this year called 'one or two nice things'. I have a lot of anxiety about spending money. But that also can mean that in the past I abstain so much that it explodes into overspending and then more anxiety and shame. So this year I'm telling myself, I can get one or two nice things every month. Doesn't have to be pricey, just a hot chocolate or a new pair of socks, but it does mean that I'm allowed to spend my money on myself without guilt. And I think that this kindness to myself should also, hopefully, mean that I don't explode into uncontrolled spending like I used to! Fingers crossed
I absolutely love this! thank you for sharing!
I thought, Oh Goody! Hannah is doing another No Buy year! That year, I watched you persistently. Cheering you on and seeing just how much you eeked out of your makeup you already had. Watched you use samples to stretch things out. And the satisfaction of seeing empties just go. I loved watching your journey because I too had a habit of spending when I didn't need to. When you asked the question of why you would consider another no buy, I said, Control. That you could control yourself. To suddenly put into practice wanting less. That mindset is hard to break. I went through the grocery today shopping before the snow expected to come tonight. I wanted junk food so bad, yet I knew these foods would make me miserable. That coconut pie, those cookies, donuts. I told myself NO. The muscle memory of saying NO to myself in order to say yes to the good things that the outcome would bring. I had lost a lot of weight and I was successful. I told myself NO. Before I gain a lot of weight back, I want to tell myself NO a lot more and say yes to other foods. I want to tell myself NO to that pretty piece of clothing in the Talbots catalogue. I have last year's version of that. I have lots of clothing. I need no more. The "act of NO" is a good thing and I revel with you as you set yourself a higher goal and the good outcome that NO can bring.
I think no-buys are tempting for folks because 'the relief of the automatic no' gives the non-buyer a sense of control and an automatic self-esteem boost.
Yay! Very excited to see some no buy style content on your channel this year. After discovering your channel and No Buy Year in 2020, I finally got the fortitude up to do my own No Buy Year this year.
Your message about kindness to yourself came at exactly the right time for me today- a retailer I shop at gave me a $25 credit this week that's only good for two weeks, and while I picked an item under that amount, with tax and shipping it ended up being $2.51. I purchased the thing anyway despite it being outside of my rules. I've been beating myself up about it all day, about how dirty it made me feel to "break" my no buy. But $2.51 isn't the problem, its not going to sharply change my financial situation, and the thing itself (exercise shorts) is actually a very practical purchase. What I'm obsessing over is not maintaining perfection and purity, and violating the thing that part of my subconscious is viewing as punishment and penance for my bad behavior the past couple of years. So while small overages on giftcard purchases weren't part of my rules, I am better off allowing in a set amount of flexibility for the handful of times I'll have giftcards this year (I've decided on a $5 cap) to start to teach myself that its okay to buy fewer things instead of trying to meet the free shipping minimum like I would have done before my No Buy Year. So while I'm disappointed in myself, I'm going to try to show myself kindness and learn from this hiccup and move on.
I've over spent so much on clothing in 2022. I know this was a coping mechanism in trying to deal with very uncomfortable emotions my relationship issues with my SO, losing my dad to cancer in early 2022 and the grief that came along with it. I've learned that Shopping does not get rid of the emotional issues! I need to exercise the art of saying No and channeling my nervous emotions into more productive endeavors that require no money to be spent with the exception of essentials only.
Thank you for this video, it was a good reset for me. Since 2012 I've followed a strict rule of only buying clothes, shoes, accessories or yarn (I'm a knitter) with money I get for selling things in my home that I no longer need. I guess you can call this my personal "circular economy shopping fund", or something like that. This both makes me think twice about every purchase, and also makes me work much harder for the things I accumulate, plus it helps me keep my home uncluttered, and forces me to get rid of my old things in an environmentally responsible way (by passing it directly to another person). For the last ten years or so I've also followed a personal rule of only buying one or two new clothing items from the racks per year, that is - I buy almost only second hand clothes (with the exceptions of socks and underwear). Sometimes, when I find something second hand that I feel is too good to pass by (like a designer piece I've been dreaming of for a long time), my shopping fund „borrows“ money from my future sales, so it's temporarily in minus. This is exactly the case now, so a reluctance to buy is exactly what I need now while I restore my circular economy shopping fund.
This is the exactly mindset that works for me. I have never done a no buy year but I did a low buy year in 2020. The way I buy hasn’t changed since.
Currently doing a no buy year and have already been questioning the rules I made for homewares. Clothes and skincare/makeup need a full stop, but I made some questions to ask myself and wait periods to enforce rather than a strict no for kitchen/cleaning/organization supplies. I haven't noticed a problem with homewares in my life, I just do not want my energy saved not shopping to go there. I think this idea of reluctance vs eagerness is very useful for me thank you so much!
Well I often struggle with buying things for myself, i don't value myself enough to get stuff i like. But seeing this content weirdly has me being more okay with sometimes allowing myself to get things i need and want
I love this, Laura! You are worthy of the things you need and want ❤️
I've finally built up the courage and self resolve to do a no-buy for 2023. Watching your journey through it has really helped with that, so thank you.
It is extremely liberating to want something so badly and just to say NO to it. It makes me feel empowered. Thats exactly what happens in my wardrobe...when I want something so badly...what I already have similar in my closet 'rises up' and becomes highlighted. Ive done no buy months eventually forgetting it was suppossed to be a year I committed too....and watching this video has made me realize that I actually was forced to do a no buy 2 years during covid because of job loss etc. However...now that we do have a job again, I really want to prove to myself that I can do this out of my own accord . So this is it ladies...as of today 23/08/23...Im committing to a NBY!! Wish me luck😅
I'm doing a low buy year on everything but especially on snacks and gas station food, that's what most of my money is spent on😅 though before i purchase anything else, clothes, or skincare i plan on being very intentional with what i do decide to buy. Pro tip for anyone else: if you want something put it in a wish list for several weeks or months to think about before buying. I've found that often times I'll later decide that I really don't actually want the thing and will delete it from my list.
the wish list method is AMAZING, I use it too!!
I'm on my first real no buy year. I've tried shorter no buys last year, but I just fell right back. During my one month no buys I would check my favorite website every single day and buy stuff the moment the month was over. The only time it worked better was when I did a two month no buy and forbade myself from browsing. It worked well, even for a full month after but. then it slowly creeped its way back in. The obsessing, the browsing and the buying.
I'm doing a six month long no buy. If I'm still super obsessive and fall right back into the same patterns once it's over I'll prolong it for the rest of the year and make it a full no buy year. It's been up and down. I've felt relieved and stressed. Happy about it and unhappy about it. But I'm really glad I'm doing it. I also need a complete reset of my brain.
Hannah I did a no-buy in 2022 (it was October 2021 to November 2022 to be fair) and it was great! I just had a weird December though with mental health and spending (I was transitioning between therapists and my meds were not helping etc etc) so I found myself spending a little bit more than I wanted to (nothing debt inducing or even remotely concerning but it still made me feel like I was slipping a bit) and I think I’m gonna do a bit of a quarterly low-buy this year with this thoughtfulness principle in mind. Having a quarterly budget with limited shopping periods BUT always with the questions of “is what I have enough? Do I already have things that serve this purpose that I can use instead?” before the shopping begins. I’m always happy to see your videos and feel like they’re super helpful with things like that.
It takes more effort to follow what you are doing this year than a full ‘no buy’. I’m being thoughtful and restrained about my purchases now
I thought about doing a no-buy but I know myself. It won't last. So I've decided to just make this a year of smarter choices. "Just because I support a brand, doesn't mean I need all the releases" etc.
Oh how I love your videos! Instead of doing a “No Buy Year”, I’m starting with a “Use What I Have Month” as the word ‘no’ triggered a deprivation response in my head. It’s actually exciting to see and use what I already have, starting with a shampoo that was buried in the back of the cabinet. It’s so good! ✨💖✨
These are exactly my reasons for doing a focused low-buy this year. My passion for the environment has always played a role in my consumer consciousness, but necessity also played a big part while I homeschooled my children. My homeschooling now complete for a few years now, I have more income and found myself buying things more whimsically than I would like when I take the planet into consideration. It depends on where your motivations lie. For me, being able to afford something does not ultimately mean I should obtain it, not to mention the added hidden costs of caring for said items once they are mine. Fewer obligations always means more freedom and that remains my north star.
When I clicked on this video, I was very excited. The “reluctance to buy” approach was initially a little disappointing but actually I am excited about it now. And this is why. I have been subscribed to your channel from the first video and fell in love hard with HLP 🥰. Your thoughtfulness, your reflections, the process of the year was amazing to watch and unfold, and I learned a great deal and thought a great deal. IMO, HLP was the star of the channel, not the no-buy year (even though that was the point). Since that year, I find it has become more and more about stuff (the beautiful things). I know this is a review channel but somehow in that first year, even though the focus was the no- buy, HLP was the star. I miss her sometimes. I am a faithful subscriber but I don’t see her as often as I would like. I’m hoping the “reluctance to buy” approach will bring her back a bit more. Looking forward to the future content. Happy New Year 🥳 ❤🇨🇦
I would similarly love to see more content about using & appreciating what one already has instead of the accumulation of new stuff.
I can 100% relate to having a part of my brain that is always & forever trying to convince me that we need new shiny. The more sensible nobuy part of my brain is like "ok we'll compromise, you can build a cart, but you can't buy" & I'm ok with that. The only time my nobuy brain makes a rare exception is when it's something truly unique to my collection (exceedingly rare) or it's a replacement or it's something I've been waiting for it to restock for a very long time & fits within my budget. Having a budget also truly helps me. I always appreciate your feedback on these issues Hannah, ty! 💜
I just started a no buy year - thank you for your advice and support- I really need this change in my life ❤😊
Interesting video. I guess it can be hard to learn the balance between investing in your business and buying for your own pleasure. I thought your reckoning videos were a great tool for keeping that in perspective. Also, I know that psychologists say that avoidance in generally an unhealthy way to cope with a challenge, and a better way is exposure until you get comfortable with it. First rule, are you uncomfortable with it - then it's time to take a look at it! Happy new year, Hannah!
When I found you Hannah I was kind of all over the place in terms of my finances and ever since I found you and have been more conscious of the way that I spend money and what I need and what I don't need and putting those things in the perspective even gift-giving I've been able to buy a home and be in my home for going on 3 years successfully and it's because you really help me to put things in perspective also I'm making more money than I ever have in my life and I am super proud of the way that I look at my money and it's because of you thank you
Yes! The automatic "No" happens to me, too! I usually do it with a little bit of mental laugh at myself and I let it go!
"No-buy" year(s) going bad or extreme frugality is something I am currently struggling with, and it's a slippery slope. It's not exactly a common problem but let me tell you - "No-buy" for a prolonged period of time is not fun to get out of. I have been living very minimal and frugal most of my life but for the past 10 years that was more self-imposed than anything else. In 2021 I dipped my toe into starting to allow myself to buy things but in 2022 I finally managed to actually let myself buy multiple frivolous things. When I checked my "shopping" list at the end of 2022 I felt egregious - my brain immediately went to "Noooooo" - a decade of limiting yourself is hard to overcome. A year of "reluctance to buy" sounds great to me tbh
I have been cutting back on my beauty spending. I used to be really bad but I am slowly becoming more reasonable as I ask my self what I have in my collection that is similar that I can use instead. I also got super overwhelmed and did a huge declutter and still have so much that it stressed me out which really kicked me into gear to be more mindful with my purchase
I’m in a similar situation. Glad I’m not alone!
I joined The no buy July you introduced and have been on a no buy since! What helped me was also depotting and making my own franken palettes and I realized I absolutely LOVE my self made palettes . I also depotted my lipsticks in one small lippie palette- hence use them more often , mixing shades . Coupled with doing a one month one palette/lipstick/fragrance. I got to really know my stash and love it.
I am now at a place where nothing launched seems to be better than what I have. I am confident this year will also be a makeup no buy. Just use what I have start panning .
The exact words I needed to hear - wow. I have always used RUclips as a momentary escape from my life but your channel (and your general personality honestly) is helping me realize who I want to be and giving me the tools I need to get there. For real, you need to write a book. Thanks so much!
I love this mentality of thoughtfulness when it comes to purchases.
Last year was a low buy year for me. Your form of really dissecting what about the eyeshadow palette I like, and what I won't use, was so helpful. I could look in my current palette/singles collection, and dupe the vibes. Also, when you talked about not buying the backup that you don't need, or a similar product to what you already have, it stopped me from buying so much.
I'm continuing this mentality into this year. I'd rather save that money, or spend it on travel, and food, experiences.
I did a hard "no collecting/buying things without jumping through a bunch of checks and balances" inspired by your videos a few years ago, but ended up really letting up on a lot of that when the pandemic hit (made it easier to justify getting more things) and then I moved out of my family home last year (where I realized "Oh actually I NEED to buy a bunch of things" because I realized how many normal house-things I just didn't own). At that point, I had felt like I had healed my relationship with spending and collecting enough to do those things in a safe-enough way.
But now I'm at a point where I'm feeling that "I want to put it in my nest" urge over a bunch of things again. And I'm having to refocus. With the help of some of your makeup videos, actually, where you talk about having "The one perfect thing" from a given product line, I'm training myself to further hone in on what will satisfy my desire for precious items that are meaningful (and at times genuinely heal my inner child), while also healing my relationship with spending and hoarding. I'm learning to find that sweet spot where I have the amount of precious items that satisfy me long-term, while also being responsible with my very modest budget.
For instance:
-Finding the exact three hamtaro toys that delight and heal my inner child, who had their toys stolen from them, without feeling like I need to re-collect all the less-precious pieces without a lot of consideration first. (The extra consideration has thus-far convinced me to pass on more little rubber hamsters and their playsets)
-Only buying the number of pink depression-ware glasses that I would hypothetically need to host a party with my five friends, and doing so at a slow rate that won't overwhelm my budget. (Honestly I felt satisfied with four glasses, but I'm not going to pull a Sleeping Beauty and leave someone without a suitable piece of precious dinnerware at the party)
Hannah, the way I do it is to have an specific goal of the amount of money saved I want during the year. It works for me better than think in a restrictive way, sort of speak.
Love this update Hannah! I am doing a budget this year of $100 per month. I have SOOOOOOO much but I do love getting new things. I was hard pressed to commit to a no buy but I can definitely see me succeeding with a budget. I'm tracking every penny and have my rules in place. No borrowing from other months. $100 per month, period. I'm excited to watch your journey this year and always enjoy the thoughtful content you make. 💗
Always good reminders! This year my goal is to save a lot since I just spent a year spending a lot. I moved and got married! Lots of money for lots of beautiful things! I'm ready now to save for our first house. This approach of learning to appreciate a beautiful thing but not buying something every time I hear that little voice will be essential.
I find that I have a binge/restrict relationship with money. I know how to spend nothing or spend recklessly. I'm hunting for moderation and an ability to spend without guilt. This specifically applies to spending on myself.
Before the end of 2022, I counted all the eyeshadow palettes, all other types of makeup, skincare, body care, perfume, etc. I listed everything in an excel doc and realized I had 500+ products. I realized I need to do a no buy year so that’s my goal to see how many products I can finish, declutter and get to a more reasonable amount of products in my collection
"The relief of the NO" - 💯 yes!!! My problem is not that I technically spend too much. I can afford it and am also able to save money. But I don't want to overconsume. The worst part for me is the decision making, though. You could also call it obsessing. I don't want this anymore. So, I'm really looking forward to your thought processes regarding the "thoughtfulness" aspect!
This is exactly how I feel about making purchases this year. The first time I was actually able to put it into use was with the Oden's Eye single eyeshadows. I started drooling over the metallic sparkly red and decided that I should just shop my stash for shadows that could serve the same purpose. I had two perfectly good sparkly reds that I was able to use to slake my thirst for the Oden's Eye shadow. This is the strategy that I am going to be using for the rest of the year. Thanks for always giving us such though provoking content, Hannah!
Hi Hannah! I am doing alright, the end of last year really put me in a bad place financially and yet I was still spending money where I shouldn’t have. I told my therapist about us 😅 meaning I sent her all your video’s explaining the no buy year and how I desperately needed to work through the changing of habits. She obliged and now we are about to embark on unpacking it all. I follow along your old videos whenever I feel lonely or upset as a way to not spend money. It’s worked this far! Hoping to last all year
Aww I found you during the OG no buy year so this feels like a full circle moment. Although I've already bought some new makeup from Odens Eye, I want to challenge myself to simmer down and do more no buy months to break that cycle of finding joy in buying new shiny things instead of from what I own, makeup and beyond. So excited to see how this goes 💜
At the end of 2022, I re-watched a bunch of your past no buy content and decided to do one on makeup, skincare and haircare for myself for 2023. Would be so lovely to hear your updates as you go through!
i had a similar 2022: indulged in the second half, esp final quarter, directly related to increased financial security. but after witnessing that, thoughtfulness and the desire to enjoy what i have vs acquire more has been a strong pov for 2023. so far it’s been great as well! the energy and alchemy around clutter clearing is a main focus too.
I overspent in January, not by much, but over my budget. I don’t regret it, it was a great deal on something I really wanted. But now I’m on a mini no buy until I can pay myself back in February. And there’s some sweet relief in not trawling every website for deals, all day every day. And just appreciating what I have?
I am on a no buy for makeup but not for skin care. That doesn’t mean I am going to buy all of the skincare it just means I am going to really concentrate on skin care and if I need a product for skincare I will buy it. But makeup? No, I have more makeup than I need or will use. Mascara is the only exception to that but only because of the 3 month rule that I stick to like glue because I got an eye infection one time from using old mascara. Thanks Hannah! 💕
I hear you describing the deep spiritual practices of trust and allowing. So cool. It’s a cool practice, and so useful as an addict to know we have everything we need already. Beautiful. In Truth, we are the thing we are looking for, and with.
Your radical self honesty and willingness to retool is courageous and helpful.
I’m doing a no buy! Ive watched soooo many of your videos recently and I’m feeling confident! I also set up my budget to keep me on track!
This was helpful. I had a strict budget last year and I don't want to buy as much this year because I love my collection. These questions you pose to yourself help me. I remember once you said, "would I rather have this or another Gucci lipstick" and that stuck with me and helped me weigh decisions because it wasn't a yes/no, but rather a well do I want this instead of other things.
Once again I'm somehow along similar paths as you Hannah. Gentle questioning and reluctance to make purchases that don't end with the hardest of hard No's. My area is simply perfumes this year, which took the place of skincare and makeup. I've already created 3 rules and also created a list of other things that I have put off buying, in an effort to indulge in my greatest luxury in 2022. But this year I deserve a new bed, a proper vacuum, pants that fit, etc. I plan to buy with the intent to treat my Future Self over and over again when I use those items.
I absolutely love you bringing this up. I need a no buy year because you are so right - a year of good intentions isn’t struck enough to remember and learn like a no buy would.
I have a more of a replacement mindset with things like pants and shoes. Right now I need to replace a few pairs of shoes and some jeans. I also want to decorate my new space and I don’t want to spend a lot of money. So I going to finish my may painting for my kitchen before I go ham
I found your channel in October last year and am making 2023 my No Buy Year. Your videos have been so, SO helpful and have caused so much introspection. I hope you continue updates like this on your channel as they have been so insightful and useful. Thank you!
I am in a no buy since 5 months and sometimes it's hard even very hard but I am so proud of myself, i use what I have and it's so simple finally. I ve seen all your videos during tyour no buy year which help me so much, so Hannah I hope that you will be the good method for you in 2023 to be happy and not be frustrated guilty and achieve your goal of what you really want to be with yourself. Kisses from France
I’m doing a no-buy year thanks to your 2018 no buy! I got excited at the possibility that you would do a no buy year in 2023, but alas. Can’t wait to hear more about your year of reluctance
I have learned SOOOO much about retraining my brain from you! Now, when I get these ideas in life and want to buy things, I just make a wishlist and I take like a week and price compare or just think about it and often at the end of the week, I don't do it OR alter my cart (like for groceries) OR I get it sometimes. I do it for everything now!!!!!! Clothes, stuff for my kids, household items, makeup, groceries... It's so awesome! And I make more thoughtful purchases now. Thank you for your content and all the time you take to make videos for us to enjoy! I actually unfollowed a lot of people I used to watch bc....their content just isn't fulfilling after watching yours 😬🤣
I only found your channel recently, and it's inspired me to do a 12-month no buy from next month! I've already come a long way with recovering from impulse buying and other bad money habits, but i want to see if i can do even better now. It also ties in super nicely with my original resolution for this year - to finish the things I've started!