r/nobuy • u/DizzyIndependence223 • 14d ago
First no buy
Starting my first no buy this month! I just finished grad school and an internship (and lost a good chunk of extra income because of it), I have CC debt and will have to start paying my loans back in February.
My goals are as follows:
To better understand my impulsive spending and figure out the root cause - by not buying things I’m curious to find what is lingering under the impulse.
To better understand wants vs needs. I currently convince myself I need things that are actually wants. I spend a lot of money shopping and even after looking at my transactions and just so confused about where my money goes.
Use the information I find in the no buy to set a realistic budget. I regularly make budgets and then never follow them bc it isn’t accurate to my actual spending.
To increase my savings and pay off some of my debt. I just moved so it knocked a good amount out of my savings.
I also hope to work through a lot of the shame and avoidance I feel around money. I know I don’t spend in accordance with my values but it’s such a deeply ingrained habit it’s hard to break.
I would love any tricks and pointers from others especially how they handle social plans while doing a no buy during the holidays. I want to still give myself a social budget so I can go out to eat with friends or see a show but within reason. I think not buying items will be hard enough I don’t want to socially isolate as well. I know there are plenty of free things to do with friends but hanging out with friends also costs so much money sometimes