‘I took the no-buy savings challenge – now I live it permanently’

The total bill, consisting of all previously made purchases in addition to any impulse buys during your workplace break, must match.

Many individuals are seeking cost-effective ways to manage their finances. One trend involves a 'no-buy' year, where for a full 12 months, people rely only on basic necessities, such as food, toiletries and essential bills like fuel. While specific guidelines may differ, the overarching goal is to maximise savings, with some enthusiasts documenting their progress on social media platforms.

Kirsty Kirby, 41, is among those who took the challenge. Last March, she was motivated by a TED Talk not to spend a penny for an entire year.

My rule was quite straightforward," said Kirby, a resident of South Yorkshire, "I only bought things that I required, and not just for the sake of it.

Over and above my rent, council tax, and other essential bills, I purchased food (excluding takeaways and dining out), cleaning materials, and any personal care items I was running short of.

Reducing the amount of clothes, make-up, and holidays she bought.

It was an unsettling experience seeing what others were purchasing on social media," she confides. "It became a challenge to see whether I could make it through one more month. And the shift in my bank account was a constant reminder to persevere.

Kirby managed to save an extra £300 to £400 each month, which initially seemed like "an impossible" amount. "I built up a sum of approximately £16,000 over the course of the year, and bought my first home in August 2021."

Since then, Kirby has set herself more financial challenges, including another "low-spend" year in 2024, with the goal of using the money saved for improvements such as replacing the boiler and renovating the bathroom. Although her "no-spend" rules were slightly less strict, she still managed to save an extra £15,000.

and spending habits.

I don't do my shopping because I'm feeling bored or I've had a bad day," she says. "My shopping habits have actually changed and I'm purchasing fewer, but better quality items, as I'm now carefully considering my purchases and trying to avoid buying on a whim. My aim over the next few years is to pay off my mortgage more quickly, spring for some home renovations and look at making some bigger investments.

‘It’s a mindset shift’

Jordan 42, an interior designer, found herself at a similar crossroads in her mid-30s. At that point, she had accomplished all her wants – maximising her home with an abundance of beautiful possessions – yet still felt unfulfilled.

I'm from Norway, and I was raised with the notion that accumulating more possessions is key to happiness," she says. "However, I was working a full-time job, establishing a business, tending to school pickups and after-school activities, and I didn't have the opportunity to fully live my life.

In 2018, Singh began streamlining her living arrangements. A house in Watford was exchanged for an apartment by the sea in March 2020, and she significantly reduced her possessions, limiting herself to half of what she had before. Despite the considerable reduction in her standard of living, Singh remained resolute in her aim to enhance the quality of her life and her financial situation.

Following several years of reducing discretionary spending, Singh initiated her first year of abstaining from purchases in 2022, and has now successfully completed her third year.

Her guidelines were fairly basic: she only shopped for groceries and gifts for loved ones, and could replace only the bare essentials for empty toiletries. Since she works from home, she saved money on travel expenses. Everything else was ruled out: no subscriptions for entertainment, no disposable goods, just one dining-out occasion a month, which sometimes went unclaimed.

She devoted time to reassessing her lifestyle, with the goal of breathing new life into existing belongings, which also appealed to her desire to decrease the amount of waste in the environment. As an experienced enthusiast of snagging bargains, Singh was surprised to discover that her first year of not buying anything new had resulted in a savings of an additional £1,000.

It was quite surprising and really tricky. When you have a quiet year where you're not buying much, you can sometimes have a little treat, she explains. However, in a year where you're not spending anything at all, I had to think carefully, do I really need to spend money on that? Can I save it instead for something else?

Baca Juga

Three years on, Singh's no-buy year persists, albeit with some changes to the rules, allowing her to utilise some of the savings to fund her travels, like solo trips to Paris and visits to see her family back home.

Not only has it altered Singh's finances, but it has also changed her outlook, as she now regards underconsumption as a "sustainable" way of living.

As soon as my daughter is old enough to move out, I'm going to buy a caravan," she says. "I've got plenty of room, and that gives me the freedom to take my home with me whenever I fancy a trip.

It's a change in attitude, about asking what's truly most important to you. Is it purchasing a jumper that many times? Or setting it aside for something more significant?

One needs to give serious thought to every purchase you make

For many individuals opting for a no-buy year, their biggest weakness is clothing. Leena Norms, 34, vowed to refrain from purchasing any new or second-hand clothing in 2024. In cases of damaged items, she will either need to mend or repurpose them, or craft a replacement by hand.

From knitting cardigans to making a Regency-style gown for the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, creating her own outfit for Taylor Swift's tour, and even attempting to repair her own stockings, Norma enjoyed the challenge of doing things for herself.

Throughout the year, Norms experienced numerous "moments of frustration" and suffered a significant wardrobe mishap just before an event, yet she persisted in sticking to her year-long vow of self-restraint when it came to purchases.

She's recalling an incident where she was due to attend a formal event and was wearing a jumpsuit when it tore down the side, from the chest area to the back. Initially, she thought getting a new outfit would be a simple task, like browsing a thrift store for a replacement. However, she only had three hours to rectify the situation, prompting her to try and repair the damage.

I purchased a £3 sewing kit and found myself sitting in a pub toilet, stark naked, as I attempted to sew up a jumpsuit. It was a challenging experience, but I managed to succeed.

After making significant cuts to her expenditures, Norms, the author of Half-Arse Human, was able to allocate surplus funds to invest in more creative pursuits, like procuring a full arm sleeve tattoo.

The urge to make impulse purchases had unintended consequences, and she found herself letting go of most of her wardrobe.

”

Following the success of her first year, Norms is opting for a no-buy challenge in 2025. However, this time she has the freedom to use two coupons per season to treat herself to pre-loved items or garments from smaller, local businesses – as well as an allowance for new bras, which she admits can be a bit tricky to find.

“When buying anything, every purchase needs a lot of thought,” she says. “I'll see how this policy works out because I think expecting never to buy new clothes again is unrealistic - there will be things I simply can't make do without.”

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