Halfway Through My No-Buy Year: The Surprising Clarity That Came From Owning Less

At the beginning of the year, I decided it was going to be my No-Buy-Year. I have consciously deciding not to buy anything that I do not need, or already have some version of it. So I declared to no longer buy new clothing item, no shoes, bags or purses or anything fashion-related. I get caught up on fashion trends at times and due to my brain's need for stimulation or a dopamine hit, I buy something new. It is so easy with online shopping! See something you like, add to cart, click pay and Voila! Wait for it to arrive at your door. There were times in the past when I don't even remember the items that I ordered, or why there's a package at the door with my name on it. I do get excited with each new item, I try them on, match it with ones I already have and it is a truly fun activity! In reality, I do not need any more clothes or shoes or bags. In reality, I am bogged down by so many clothes, and choices I need to make. I always have the recurring thought of "I have too many stuff" whenever I'm cleaning and tidying up and that it takes too much of my time to be doing that, when I could spend more time doing productive activities.

So, half the year had gone by and proud to say that I have 99% mostly stuck to my promise. And for a big shopper like me, that is a feat! I did buy a pair of souvenir hiking socks that says Rocky Mountains on it, and a shirt after Mike and I completed the El Caminito del Rey hike in Malaga, Spain. All in all, I have kept true to my No-Buy-Year so far! It has not been easy! In the last 6 months I've travelled a lot. I've gone to Hawaii, two trips to Colorado and a spring trip to a country I've never visited before - Spain. And one of the most satisfying part of traveling is of course, shopping!

What has helped at the point of wanting to "add to cart" or when out and about during travel is a mental practice of asking myself a few questions:

Is it a want or a need?

If it is a need, then absolutely buy it. And a few times my brain has tricked me in to thinking yes, of course you need a new outfit for your son's graduation! Or you need a new outfit for this upcoming trip! In past years, every season I'd buy a few pieces for a refresh. But really most times it is just a want. I don't need it, in the truest sense of the word.

Do I already own something similar?

At this point in my life, yes, I pretty much own something similar and everything that one can need in terms of clothing.

Does it add value in my life?

Most new things now, do not. I have bought books though, and I think buying books have become my new bad habit! But, I reason that, yes, they do add value in my life and I'm learning and still learning from them.

What is the true cost?

More than the price tag, he true cost of buying could be added stress, the maintenance of it, the space it will occupy.

And because I wasn't buying, I've discovered some pieces in my closet that I truly love and not just fast fashion. In fact, I've made a fun exercise of comparing the side-by-side image from when I've worn them years before. It is helpful that I have usually gravitated towards quality classic pieces anyway and therefore they have natural longevity to them.

So this year has been a continuous, conscious decision to surround myself with only things that I love, objects that still serve me and getting rid of the things that bog or slow me down, or things that stress me out. My husband is very good about getting rid of things that do not work, while I am in the camp of maybe we can fix it or maybe we can repurpose it. And 2 years later, it still hidden in the closet. So this year, is also about clearing the clutter.

And it is a work in progress.

So as this half year comes up, what are you deciding to keep or let go? Maybe it is not about overflowing closet space for you. Maybe it is habits or routines that are no longer serving you.

What are some of the habits you are willing to keep going because you need to or want to. Is this habit adding value in your life? And what is the true cost of keeping this habit?

This kind of intentional reflection doesn’t just apply to shopping. It’s just as powerful when we look at our daily habits — especially the ones we tend to do on autopilot.

Maybe it’s the soda you reach for every afternoon. Maybe it’s smoking, or scrolling late at night, or that bowl of snacks you eat not because you’re hungry, but because it’s become a routine.

Try asking the same questions:

• Is it a want or a need? Is it fulfilling a real need — like hunger, rest, or connection — or is it just a familiar fix?

• Do I already have something similar? Could water or a calming routine replace that soda or cigarette? Could a journal or gentle movement soothe you better than food at night?

• Does it add value in my life? Does this habit support the version of you you're trying to become — or is it holding you back?

• What is the true cost? Beyond money or time — is it costing you your energy, confidence, or health?

These are not always easy questions. But they are clarifying. And clarity is often the first step toward change.

I have learned so much about myself halfway through my No-Buy Year. It isn’t just in the money saved or the closet space cleared. Learning to be more intentional about my decisions. It is in pausing long enough to ask yourself, Do I really need this? and What am I actually craving? What do i truly need right now?

Sometimes we think we’re craving a new pair of shoes, but what we really want is a sense of renewal, or excitement, or control or getting out of feeling overwhelm. And it turns out, we can find those things in ways that don’t involve a shopping cart. Maybe we can find it in things you already have but, have ignored or forgotten. Maybe it is in rekindling relationships, deeper conversations with your loved ones, or spending quality time with people that will move, inspire and elevate you.

So here's an invitation to a more intentional second half of the year. To letting go of what clutters your space, your time and your mind. And to making room for what truly matters — the habits, people, and practices that bring peace, purpose, and joy.

What will you keep? What will you release? And what are you making space for?