How to Not Buy Stuff
Sure, we talk a lot about decluttering and how to have a more minimalist home, but there’s often an important factor missing from the conversation. Removing items from our closets and drawers is fine and all — but how do we prevent them from getting there in the first place? If we’re only addressing the removal portion, we fail to acknowledge and remedy the root of the issue that got us there: buying.
The Internet world takes advantage of our consumerist tendencies in scary ways — reaching far more people at a much faster rate than a magazine ad, billboard, or even a TV infomercial used to. Think about it — advertisers now have access to your attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sometimes even while you’re lying in bed or sitting on the toilet.
So how do we create boundaries over the tempting advertisements we see (both online and off) and ultimately, ignore them completely to curb our buying habits in the long run?
Why Not to Buy Stuff
Before we delve into some ways to stop buying stuff, let’s discuss some of the benefits so there’s purpose behind this practice.
You’ll save money. Duh. This is quite obvious, but needs to be addressed! Buying less saves you significant money, especially over time. Think about the total long-term savings if you cut back on just $500 per year on unnecessary spending. And I’ll bet that number might be a lot closer to $1,000!
You’ll save physical space. Another quite obvious concept — the less you bring in, the more room you have in your home. This creates less packed drawers, less stuffed closets, and less clutter to have to figure out what to do with.
You’ll save mind space. Stuff costs more than the upfront investment — it also takes up room in our thoughts, as we have to think about how to care for it, where to store it, what to do when it breaks, etc.
You’ll learn to appreciate and take care of what you have. Say something gets worn out. When buying something new isn’t our immediate impulse, we often can figure out how to either a) move forward with it not functioning perfectly or b) take better care of the thing to begin with.
Now let’s get practical. If you’re interested in buying less, there are several ways to do so. Some ideas are my own, others are borrowed from others, and all can be adjusted to fit whatever works best for you.
How to Not Buy Stuff
30/30 Rule
Coined by The Minimalists, the 30/30 Rule says, “If something I want costs more than $30, I ask myself whether I can get by without it for the next 30 hours.” And if it costs more than $100, wait 30 days. And the exact hours/days and dollar amounts don’t necessarily matter — the principle is the most important. Make a rule for yourself that makes impulsive purchases less likely. It may be 20/20 or 50/50, or just the looser idea that you don’t buy something the second you find out about it. I tend to step away after I discover something and I end up forgetting about it completely — and if I do remember to return to it, that means it is something worth considering.
Don’t Upgrade Rule
Also established by The Minimalists, the Don’t Upgrade Rule is exactly what it sounds like: a decision to not upgrade to the latest, greatest version of consumer electronics and gadgets, like smartphones, laptops, tablets, cars, etc. As soon as Product X emerges, we are convinced that the model we have is outdated, unimpressive, flawed or lesser than. When in reality, it might work just fine. Train yourself to see through the marketing campaign to understand that what you already have is more than enough. Over time, the temptation will fade!
Unsubscribe + Unfollow
Speaking of marketing, did you realize you are (somewhat) in control over what ads you see throughout the day? Sure, there’s the unavoidable billboard or the targeted Facebook ads, but you can significantly decrease the amount of input you receive telling you to “buy, buy, buy.” Instead say “bye, bye, bye” (I couldn’t resist…) to these intrusive ads cluttering your inbox and your social media feeds. Spend an afternoon cleaning up your inbox, unsubscribing from those brands tempting you with the latest sale. Not sure where to start? I recommend Unroll Me — you can easily unsubscribe from email lists in one place (and you’ll discover subscriptions you didn’t even realize you had!). And clean up your social media feed too! If you find yourself sucked into a buying cycle on Instagram, it’s okay to unfollow or mute some influencers and brands.
Add Friction
James Clear talks about adding friction to eliminate bad habits (and inversely, removing friction to encourage good habits) in his book, Atomic Habits. In this context, consider adding friction to your normal buying routine. If you find yourself online shopping often, refuse to save your card on your browser so you have to get up and get your wallet each time you want to make a purchase. Cancel your Amazon Prime account so you don’t have that one-click shopping experience that makes it so easy to buy something without a second thought. Plus, you’ll have to wait a little longer for it to ship, which may motivate you to go to the store to get it instead! Not to mention, you’ll save that $119 membership fee.
If you’re more of an in-person shopper, don’t wander through malls or stores aimlessly. That’s a trap for unnecessary spending. Go to a mall or store only if you need a specific thing, and try your best to stick to a specific list you’ve written in advance.
Ask: Can I Borrow It?
Sometimes you can still get something you want without having to buy it. For example, if you’re going to an event, like a wedding, and would like to wear a new dress, consider borrowing one from a friend — and offering to do the same for their next occasion. It’s likely you’ll rarely (or never) wear it again, so it makes sense to borrow! Other items worth borrowing include power washers, ladders, and other yard tools and supplies, waffle makers, bread machines, and infrequently used kitchen appliances, etc. There’s also something so beautiful about the sharing economy, where a community relies on one another to fulfill various needs. When my mom bought us a power washer, we told our neighbors, “No one else needs to buy one on our block!”
What About You?
Overall, these small practices will start to retrain a sense of self-control that may have atrophied over time. And it’s not your fault! Our world has conditioned us all to mistake want for need, and chase after the next ephemeral “high” with each purchase we make.
But after curbing your buying habits, you’ll begin to see some big changes in both your finances and the uncluttered space in your home that will inspire you to continue.
Trust me — I’m continually learning and relearning all of the above in my own life (and I fail time and time again!). I would love to hear what helps you buy less! Share any insights or tips in the comments below.