Buy Nothing for Six Months

ChihiroSen

Hello Everyone:)

I am thinking on embarking on Buy Nothing for six months challenge (except essentials like food, bills and toiletries.)
And was wondering if anyone had done anything similar, and would like to share any experiences or tips.

Although I am doing this is because I need to save money to pay off my debts and help save for an MA. I am really quite excited about trying to live outside consumer culture for awhile. Anyone fancy joining me?

cottage_retreatist

I did this for about a year when money was so bad sometimes all we ate were the free apples from the tree on the side of the road!!!!

It really made me realise just how few clothes I need and even more importantly how few i actually wear! I now have a capsule wardrobe and just rotate the same 5 skirts and 3 dresses and a few different tops every day at work and lounge in jeans and 'slobwear' on the weekends!

We didn't go out either as we couldn't afford to so we invited friends to our place for the weekend instead. So I say go for it! Once you stop impulse-buying you'll find its easy not to buy! I still look at things and go 'oh that's a lovely dress' but can walk straight by without removing my wallet!! I just go on clothes websites and look at them, then never buy them! Extreme window shopping - i just like teasing myself!

zaxdog

We are aiming to do this starting next week. We are selling the car, buying bikes/trailers etc and trying a whole year of saving. Idea is OH will save for a camper and I will put money away to help when we find a house we like :-)

We eat lots of fish during the summer (OH is a keen sea fisherman and we all love mackerel) and hopefully our Lurcher will provide us enough rabbits for the winter for at least one rabbit casserole a week :-)

Ruby_woo

I'm really looking forward to seeing how you go. Good luck and keep us posted xxxx

[Deleted User]

I too will watch wiith interest good luck I hope you manage it I have got food shopping down to every 10 days or so at the moment and rarely buy clothes as I have so many in the wardrobe already .Its good idea to focus on needs, rather than wants, it certainly does help you save more than you think My food budget is now down to £60.00 per month and I usually have some left over from that as well which goes into the 'holiday pot'
I have about 5 things on my shopping list at the moment and as yet haven't been to the shops for food this month so my food purse is still intact:):). I am trying to make it stay that way until I have at least 10 things on the list so fingers crossed it will be mid-week before I see a food shop
Good Luck

tessie_bear

good luck i hope it works out for you, we have had periods of doing similar over the years when trying to save up to pay of mortgage or buy a new car. It has worked well for us

ChihiroSen

Thank you all for you encouragement.! :j I'm going to set up a blog, to post on, at least once a week, to keep myself publicly accountable, and so that I can't cheat!

My mind has been buzzing with how to cover certain things, and whether they come under the category of necessities. Hair colouring for example is something I consider vital, as my hair naturally is an unattractive mousy brown, and my self-esteem suffers if I leave it its own shade, but on the other hand it is a luxury item. Not sure what to do about that one.

I have decided to start my challenge on the 1st of July, so that it takes me over the Christmas period, and in the mean time I am going to have to do some very careful budgeting and planning to see what can and can't be included.

Good luck zaxdog! I will keep this thread updated so hopefully you can post too and let me know how you are getting along. It would be great to compare notes.

Thistle-down

ChihiroSen wrote: »

Thank you all for you encouragement.! :j I'm going to set up a blog, to post on, at least once a week, to keep myself publicly accountable, and so that I can't cheat!

Would love the address of your blog.

About the hair colour....I know just how you feel. I'd be tempted to stock up on a couple of boxes from Home Bargains... they do some good brands for £2-3, then only do your roots as they grow out.

OTOH, is stocking up "cheating"?

CurlyTop

No, I wouldn't see it as cheating. More .... why didn't I think of that! Dizzy moment there, me thinks. If you stock up, its done before the challenge starts. Great idea. It will also make you feel more confident that you will succeed in your challenge, I would think.

Best of luck.

tayforth

What a great idea. I will follow with interest.

Re hair colour, it's something that makes you feel good about yourself and doesn't cost much, as far as I know anyway. IMHO, you should include it in your budget. Otherwise you'll get disheartened and might be tempted to give up the challenge early.

xx

pigpen

does hair dye not come under toiletries??? It is in the same aisle at the supermarket.

I'd join you but with a baby arriving in 2-3 months and school uniform to buy for 5 children I don't think it is going to happen!