What

This year I will not be buying anything from the following five categories:

• Clothes
• Art Supplies
• Fabric
• Books
• Dolls & Toys

Why

First of all, it just so happens to be convenient timing that I am starting this challenge at the beginning of the year. It could have been the middle of August and I still would have chosen to do a 365 day No Spend Challenge given the circumstances I had put myself into. This No Buy started on the 15th of January and will continue until the 15th of next January.

Let’s talk about the circumstances that led to me taking on this challenge:

I realized that I had prioritized buying little plastic women over my physical needs, when it occurred to me how much trouble I was having sleeping on my old mattress. With no money left to address this issue, I hit a rock bottom.

Debt is something I have feared for most of my life after seeing my parents struggle under the burden of it. So the fact that I got into even a small amount of debt in order to pay for a DOLL of all things absolutely baffles me. Retrospectively I really can’t believe I did that!!

One shouldn’t use pay-in-4 for a piece of plastic. Going into unsecured debt for things we can objectively live without, especially novelty items, is honestly ridiculous. I am really glad I realized this before I had done even more damage.

And while I do love many of the dolls I purchased, I could have purchased them slower and more sustainably. It would have been wiser to spread out my purchases in order to fit them into the confines of my small budget, instead of stretching my budget to fit my voracious appetite.

Not to mention how spoiled this was making my daughter, since I share my collection with her. I saw it affecting her too. She got used to frequent shopping trips and would influence me to buy even more. I’ve had to explain this No Buy to her and apologize for my behavior. I’m grounded, I told her! Surprisingly, she has taken this quite well.

My goal is to deprioritize shopping and no longer have it be a hobby for me. I am sick of feeling like anything short of prowling through thrift stores is boring, and I’m running out of space for more stuff anyway!

Most importantly, I want to embrace an abundance mindset and appreciate what I already have.

How

Not buying things isn’t always as simple as it sounds, so I had to make a plan of action. Each category has its own plan so I will break this part into five chunks.

Category #1: Clothes

Not only do I have more clothes than I actually wear on a regular basis, (despite having a notably smaller wardrobe than practically everyone I know,) but I’ve also spent much of the last year learning machine sewing and the basics of garment drafting and construction. If I am truly in need of something I can ask around or sew it myself.

I believe this category will be extremely easy. I will also not be needing any new bags or accessories. Shoes likely won’t be an issue either because I already have a backup replacement of my everyday shoes waiting in my closet. My hardcore minimalist phase taught me I need significantly less clothes than I had originally thought.

Category #2: Art Supplies

I’ve done this before. I only made it to the end of October, but 10 months of not buying is still a big deal and a huge victory in my books! However, I am confident in my ability to stick it out through the whole 12 months this time.

In my opinion I have not been using what I have enough to justify how much I own. In fact I’ve actually been continuously on a Low Buy since that initial No Buy, and I still feel like I have way too much, even after many rounds of decluttering.

I feel like I make more art when I’m limited to just one art supply, like a single ballpoint pen, which is kind of what I’ve been doing lately. I tried Inktober again this year, and for fun I decided to make it Pinktober. I was only allowed to use pink art supplies. This mostly resulted in me only using a pink ballpoint pen. I am still working on that challenge and that sketchbook!! It might take me all year but I will get it done eventually.

I am going to count jewelry making supplies in this category as well. Findings can be purchased if necessary to complete a project, but any beads or charms will have to wait. I have plenty already. And I have polymer clay, as well as resin, to make my own! It’s even more gratifying to make something completely from scratch anyway.

Category #3: Fabric

This one is a little more complicated, because I am still very much allowed to acquire fabric, I just can’t be spending any money on it. This is because my local library has a fantastic fabric swap, apparently we have a huge local quilting community! There is so much fabric I can acquire for free, there’s really no good reason for me to spend money on this category.

Notions can be purchased as necessary to complete a project. However, I’m required to shop my stash first and see if there isn’t a suitable substitute.

Category #4: Books

Quite simply, I do not read physical books enough to justify buying any more, and I am running out of room to store them!

Thanks to the ADHD I’m far more of an audiobook person, I process books better and remember them more clearly when I’m listening and doing something simple and repetitive with my hands. Like drawing, or hand sewing!

I have a fantastic library system at my disposal, that comes with a large catalog on Libby as well. This is a privilege denied to many. It’s not like I don’t use it though, more than half of the books I’ve purchased come from my library’s book sale!

Considering my very limited income, it’s silly that I’m spending any money on books that I don’t even read when I could just check them out instead. Libraries are awesome!

Category #5: Dolls and Toys

Ah yes, the category that started this whole thing! It was really hard for me to add this, everything else is so easy in comparison, but it is probably the most important category for me to tackle. It sounds so silly because mass manufactured toys, mere fancy pieces of plastic, are not at all essential.

The fact of the matter is that I was being influenced into purchasing more than I really needed to. I have noticed it has been quite easy not to buy dolls because I have significantly cut back on my doll related media consumption. When it comes to dolltube, I only watch restoration and crafting videos now. I am not allowed to watch shop-with-me, hauls, unboxings, or review type content anymore.

Even though my YouTube channel about my doll hobby originally started with thrift haul restorations, I have decided to change my focus but keep making videos. I am going to make the kind of content I want to see, doll appreciation videos that do not center around buying and accumulating.

Primarily I will be restoring dolls I already own, sewing them clothes, and crafting accessories for them. I will also openly discuss my No Buy whenever it feels relevant. I have stopped calling myself a doll collector and moved towards the label of doll enthusiast instead.

In conclusion

I really just need to de-center shopping as a hobby and pastime. I already see the benefits and it hasn’t been that long. At the time of writing this, it has been 21 days since I’ve made any purchases in any of these categories. I’m past the acute withdrawal stage, I no longer feel a burning desire to go to the mall or hit up a bunch of thrift stores. I blocked eBay and Mercari on my phone as well, so that I would not be tempted by scrolling. In fact, I have these websites reroute to the shopping addiction subreddit using a site blocker add-on for Firefox!

Place your bets now! Will I succeed with a home run? Absolutely no purchases in any of these categories? Will I have just a few slip-ups here and there, getting right back on the horse every time I fall off? Or will I throw in the towel before Spring is over? Only time will tell!

Wish me luck, and hold me accountable, I’m going to need it.