During 2024, I committed to a No Buy Year. I actually finished a month early, in December, so technically, I completed 11 months of a No Buy season. Still, it was a LONG time to go without buying anything unnecessary.
If you’d like to catch up on my No Buy Year journey, you can find links to all the related posts here.
Back in December 2023, I set the rules and goals for my experimental year of not buying stuff. You can read that initial blog post here.
These Were My Goals:
- Free up my mind so I can be intentional about getting rid of possessions and clothes.
- Get rid of the ‘not wanted’ possessions in my house.
- Ensure every item in my home is in the right location.
- Open closet doors without feeling overwhelmed (or being hit on the head by falling clothes!).
- Discover the clothes I love to wear and the occasions I enjoy wearing them.
- Get rid of the ‘unused or unwanted’ clothes in my closet.
- Change my mindset about how I view possessions.
- Organise my pantry and keep it up to date.
- Spend less.
- Save money.
Did I Achieve These Goals?
Now, let’s review each goal and see how I went.
Goal 1: Free up my mind to focus on decluttering – TICK
Yes! Not buying things helped me focus on what I already own. It also gave me a more grateful perspective on my current possessions. Buying isn’t just about acquiring an item—it often involves time spent wanting or planning to buy it. By cutting out this process, I really did free up my mind.
Goal 2: Get rid of unwanted possessions – TICK
This goal was harder than I expected. I’m not very sentimental, so letting go of things emotionally isn’t difficult for me. However, I discovered I dislike the decluttering process itself. It’s time-consuming, and I kept thinking, “This used to be money in my bank account.”
Despite that, I decluttered a significant amount. There’s still more to do, but I’ve made good progress.
Goal 3: Ensure every item is in the right location – TICK (Mostly)
This was an excellent goal in hindsight. Having a specific place for everything makes life easier and reduces clutter. I focused on the kitchen and bedroom, and I’m happy with the results. However, there are still a few things that lack a proper home, so I’m giving this goal a half tick.
As a mum of three, I found this particularly important. Kids seem to accumulate stuff so quickly—birthday gifts, pocket money purchases, school projects, Christmas presents, and more. While my No Buy Year didn’t apply to my family, I made an effort to stem the flow of junk into the house. My children were involved in decisions about donating or giving away their items.
Goal 4: Open closet doors without feeling overwhelmed – TICK
YES! I’m so proud of myself for achieving this. I decluttered bags of clothing and now only keep items I love, that fit nicely, and that I enjoy wearing.
Before, my wardrobe was overwhelming, filled with items that didn’t fit or that I didn’t like (thanks to baby number three). Now, it’s all about quality over quantity, and I couldn’t be happier.
Goal 5: Discover the clothes I love and the occasions I enjoy wearing them – TICK
I did this! It’s now much easier to choose clothes because I know my preferred styles, fabrics, and colours. For example, I love dresses with pockets and viscose fabric. My favourite summer colours are dusty pink, green, and blue, while I gravitate towards caramel, blue, and white in winter.
Knowing these details has saved me so much time and money, as I no longer feel tempted by items that don’t align with my style.
Goal 6: Get rid of unused or unwanted clothes – TICK
I may have gone a little overboard, as I ended up with very few clothes! However, what’s left are pieces I love and wear regularly. It’s a massive stress relief.
Goal 7: Change my mindset about possessions – TICK
This goal was transformative. I’ve shifted my mindset to quality over quantity. I now avoid fast fashion and am more discerning about what I buy.
Previously, I’d buy a dress just because it was on sale for $30. Even if I liked it but didn’t love it, I’d convince myself it was a bargain. Now, I focus on items I truly need and will get value from.
Goal 8: Organise my pantry and keep it up to date – TICK (Mostly)
I tackled this goal earlier in the year, and it was wonderful to see my pantry neat and organised. However, it’s not something you can do just once. I’ve realised I need to review my pantry quarterly, use up older items, and prevent unnecessary purchases.
While it wasn’t part of my No Buy Year, experimenting with pantry efficiency is a goal I’d like to continue.
Goal 9: Spend less – TICK
This was one of the best outcomes of my No Buy Year. We saved a significant amount of money. Now that I’ve started buying again, I’m definitely noticing the difference in our budget!
Goal 10: Save money – TICK
As part of this goal, I focused on financial education. I read several books, including The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.
We saved up an emergency fund this year, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Final Thoughts
Although I didn’t complete a full 12 months of my No Buy Year (finishing a few weeks early), I’m proud of lasting almost the entire year. The experience taught me so much about gratitude, intentionality, and the value of saving.
Would I do it again? Possibly! But for now, I’m happy to take what I’ve learned and apply it to a more balanced approach to spending and decluttering.