2021 No-Buy in review
In January 2021, I set “no-buy” rules to limit certain types of purchases through the year - including clothing, books & DVDs, small home décor items, and beauty products. You can read more about my motivation for the no-buy year and the details of the rules in my post from last year.
How it went
#1 - new clothes
My goal was to not buy any new clothes that were not one-to-one replacements for things already in my closet. In January, I was expecting to replace a pair of black pants and purchase a bridesmaid dress. This is a review of what I really bought this year…
One-to-One Replacements:
Black jeans
Polka dot jumpsuit
Navy flannel
Two pullover sweaters
New Additions:
Two bridesmaid dresses
Jean jacket
Work polo
Navy dress
The first three “new additions” were unavoidable. The bridesmaid dresses and jean jacket were both for weddings, and the polo is necessary for work events. The good news is I will get plenty of wear out of each of these items.
My one big “oops” this year was purchasing a navy dress at a consignment store on a whim. It was a classic impulse buy that I justified as a replacement for a dress I had donated recently. I wore the dress a couple of times before deciding it was really a little too short to wear to the office and ended up consigning it later in the year. I wish I had stuck to my no-buy rules better in this instance, and saved me the trouble of maintaining, evaluating, and discarding this dress.
I made a basic closet tracker in Excel (#nerd), and this year I reduced my wardrobe by 43%! I’m very pleased with my progress in this area, and am glad to be rid of some clothing items that were just not working for me. After an entire year of restraint, I am excited to shop for specific items that will fill some holes in my wardrobe and help me update my closet in the new year.
#2 - Hardcopy books & DVDs
My husband and I got rid of many books this year. We also took advantage of audiobooks from our local library.
I did end up purchasing a few reference books to aid in preparing for a professional licensing exam. Those books will live at my office in the long term, so I do not count them in our personal inventory.
We definitely got our money’s worth out of our Netflix and DisneyPlus subscriptions this year. I’m happy to report that we made spent absolutely no money on DVDs this year. I did acquire a few choice DVDs from my dad’s house to lighten his inventory, and have yet to readjust my collection to compensate for the new additions.
I am satisfied that I made no lasting purchases in these areas. I find that I prefer the temporariness of digital media for books and movies. I want our collection to be only our very favorites that we return to time and time again, and I think we are on the right track in this department.
#3 - small Home décor Items
My goal in 2021 was to refrain from buying home décor items that sit on a shelf or horizontal surface, and this no-buy rule was a complete success. I made no additions to our collection in this category. In fact, I bought very little home décor at all this year! I think the grand total comprises of two wall mirrors and a couple throw pillows.
I am especially proud that I didn’t buy any seasonal décor this year. I was very tempted to buy strands of wooden beads for our Christmas tree this year, but I made do with what I already had and even DIY’d some new items instead.
#4 - duplicate skincare or beauty Products
My intention at the beginning of the year was to use up much of what I had collected in the beauty and skincare department. I made an effort to use up a product completely before replacing it, and be more intentional when purchasing a new product. I’ve learned a lot about my skincare needs over the last year, and do feel that I’ve made progress in finding products that work well in my routine. When I look back at what was in the beauty cupboard at the beginning of the year, I am happy to see that I used up many of the products I had in January, and discarded others that were out of date or not working for me. I have also made my way through some travel-sized products as well, which is a big win for me.
Looking back, it’s easy to see that I have raised the bar for the quality of skincare products that I buy. I have had my run with brands like Andalou and Acure, and although they served me for a season I am happy to focus on more technical and simple brands like CeraVe, Neutragena, and the Ordinary. I still look forward to trying new products from brands like the Inkey List, Paula’s Choice, and Youth to the People, but I do my research and will use the product completely as long as there are no adverse affects.
Before
After
I pared down extra products in the beauty department as well this year. I have a few backstock items for special occasions, and only one of each type of product that gets used frequently. I have easy access to one foundation, eyeliner, and mascara for daily use, and the rest is stored in a cupboard for formal events or theatre productions.
I still have a ways to go when it comes to simplifying my beauty and skincare products, but I am definitely on my way to consuming less in my journey.
Reflection
This no-buy year was a training exercise in mindful spending. I would say that overall, I abided by my goals and learned important lessons about consumerism and being grateful for what I own. I am excited to enter the new year with the freedom to buy what I need, and the motivation to make high quality choices.
