No-buy September and Why?

🛍️ This year, I’ve delved into a lot of YouTube content around “no-buy” and “low-buy” lifestyles. It’s probably because I only started exploring beyond sewing videos in late 2023. Initially, I got caught up in haul videos, but I quickly grew tired of them—seriously, what's the point? That led me to anti-hauls, but those became toxic just as fast.

I also checked out some “style influencers” on YouTube, focusing mainly on BIPOC creators. I really wanted to support them, and they were genuinely funny, but after a few months, the underlying cis-x-tian-hetero-abnormality became hard to ignore. It left me questioning how much I actually relate to or want to engage with that kind of content.

However, I should also say that when it came to no-buy just in general, I really appreciated THIS creator and their video and the reason they put their no/low-buy on hold, and I authentically valued their self-discovery and the path they took toward happiness and fashion.

So, circling back, why am I doing it? 🤔

Short answer: I am broke. 
Less short answer: I was laid off at the end of June and haven’t found a job yet. 

I was recently laid off, which, while somewhat anticipated, still took me by surprise. I had a vacation planned for nearly three weeks, and after returning, I focused on job hunting. I took it easy for a bit in July, spending time browsing job opportunities. Now, I’m approaching my job search with renewed seriousness. I realize I can’t just spend my days daydreaming about sewing projects—actually it is my favorite hobby—I need to put the items I’ve accumulated to practical use.

If you don’t have the superpower to pull off a no-buy year—let’s be real, that’s nearly impossible unless you’re a content creator who thrives on talking about it online—then starting with a no-buy month might be your best bet. I had initially thought about doing it earlier in the year, but I knew that it wouldn’t be feasible, and I was tackling a whole bunch of issues with other aspects of my life. Last year, I did a lackluster job for November with my no-buy. During the month, I made a list of things I “needed” to buy on a piece of paper attached to my fridge, and eventually, I purchased some of them. Some are still listed on that piece of paper and have not been acquired. 

I’ve noticed that many people use “wishlists” during a no-buy period. Once it’s over, you can review the list to see what you truly wanted, if you still want those items — and — what your mindset is. 

So why do a no-buy so late in the year of our Lord 2024?

Let me enlighten you with my methods and reasons (for my own sake, not that I’m telling anyone else what to do—it’s just my thing.)

🧶 Financial Management
🧶 Decluttering
🧶 Mindfulness
🧶 Environmental Impact
🧶 Mental Health

To save money by cutting out unnecessary expenses and focusing solely on essentials.

For me—only buying food, medicine, and cat food—because let’s be frank, your cat’s nourishment is probably more crucial than your own, or you’ll never get a wink of sleep. This will also help me shun (it’s a word that starts with “b”) all the things I’ve been already deliberately and angrily avoiding (the “b” word) because it’s the end of the world, and I’m determined to stand my ground, even if it means departing this mortal coil on this very hill. If you know, you know. 🍉 

To reduce material possessions and organize my living space by using what I already have.

I’m the type who accumulates clutter as effortlessly as breathing. And even though my fabric stash isn’t as vast as those of people with thousand-square-foot sewing rooms, I also don’t have the space to be all demure about it. It’s a mess. I look like a mess. And in all conscience, it’s all just a reflection of my well-refined talent for turning chaos into an art form. I wish. It’s not artistic in any way, shape, or form. And adding insult to injury is that just like any new sewist in their first year, I bought a ton of notions that I haven’t utilized and ... This no-buy is also going to put a stop to purchasing sewing supplies I probably don’t need, simply because they’re shiny and I’m an impulse emotional buyer, no matter how calm and collected I like to think I am. Honestly, you should see me at a grocery store.

To become more aware of my spending habits and make more intentional, conscious choices about purchases.

I think it’s always important to never forget and always identify what triggers your impulse purchases. I have heard about this quite a lot and, of course, know it to be true. As a kid who grew up watching “Going to the Mall” TV shows from the 90s, I know retail therapy is far too real as an alternative to avoiding your problems.

So, how do you channel that 90s mall-rat energy into something more mindful? Start by getting real with yourself—keep tabs on your current fabric stash and sewing supplies (I’ve already started making a mental list of the thread colors I need, but of course, when I go to a store, I want to buy all the colors because I can’t remember which one I needed). It’s been suggested that I will find more joy in finishing old projects rather than getting distracted by that shiny new thing again. Sometimes I go through my bin and think, “I forgot I had this...” which is the worst if you’re trying to be mindful and clutter-free. I struggle with reality and look for temporary distractions, and sometimes, that just means I need to rest. Mindfulness also involves taking a break, going for a walk (apparently), and circling back to your other hobbies if you’re stuck and the only thing you can think of is, “I’ll go buy something.” For example, I love cooking, but I got tired of it for a while. I know I need to get back into it, so instead of online shopping, I might just look for new recipes. Who knows?

To cut down on waste and minimize my environmental footprint by avoiding unnecessary purchases.

My sewing journey started from the frustration of being a mid-size person who didn’t fit into size A/B, and size C/D was too big. I would buy larger clothes, but not everything looks good as baggy and oversized if it’s not your intention. Although oversized and baggy is my style, I don’t want to look like I’m hiding my body. I want to look like what I’m wearing is intentional, matching me, my personality, and all that jazz. I started with upcycling videos and eventually moved on to thrifting and upcycling, then learned so much about why thrifting is essential. My adult life, I thrifted because I didn’t have the money to buy new clothes unless it was fast fashion (which I didn’t even know was what it was called—I just called it teeny-bopper clothes with awful quality). Now I know better. I could lecture for hours about the environmental impact of clothes, polyester, fast fashion, and if I could help it, I only sew with cotton and similar materials. 

Truth be told, I’ve been kind of amazing lately (if I do say so myself) for not visiting a thrift store in months. When I was in England, I bought two things from vintage/thrift/charity shops, partly just so I could say on Instagram that I went to a “charity shop.” But I love my two purchases and plan to hold onto them for a very, very long time.

Even though I’m so conscious of my purchasing and the impact of clothes, thread, and other items, I want my no-buy to focus on reducing waste. I want to use and reuse what I already have and set aside the things I don’t use, and either recycle them or donate them to my local community’s “buy nothing” group. It’s like the total opposite of “Let’s go to the Mall.”

To break the cycle of capitalism and find healthier ways to cope with stress or emotions.

A no-buy period can be a total game-changer for your mental health, especially if you’re already a conscious buyer but find yourself diving into retail therapy out of sheer boredom. It’s like hitting the reset button on impulse spending and tackling the real issue—a craving for distraction. (Hey, since I don’t have a job, why not go online and shop for the sake of shopping, right?)

Embracing boredom can be unexpectedly therapeutic. It gives you the chance to practice Mindfulness and meditation, like those oh-so-useful 5-minute YouTube sessions. By focusing on affirmations and actually resting, I’ve learned to be okay with silence and the art of just being. It’s all about finding contentment within yourself rather than drowning in material stuff.

Taking a break from buying “stuff” can help you reconnect with yourself, away from the relentless urge to shop. I’m hoping it’ll let me circle back to finding peace and satisfaction in just hanging out with myself without the constant distraction of “you know what I need... let me search online for a product.” 

At the end of the day, it’s also all about solidarity with me. I honestly am a little exhausted by the tragedy that has come upon us all and how half of the population has simply decided to look away. I am hoping that a no-shop/no-buy also means I don’t have to search if this company is okay or not - let me just eat my veggies and look for a job with a company that isn’t going to fuel an ethnic cleansing. 

Peace. ✌🏽