Hi OP!
My journey to clean pantry and freezer was a success last week. 1 grocery run, spent $88, which for the family of 5 is a win! (we usually spend $200-300/week)
I have to pick up couple more things today (totally out of fresh veggies), but don't expect to spend more than $50-70 - going to Korean supermarket

OP again. Day 7, bought nothing!

We spent the morning decluttering a few closets. We located and reunited more water bottles and tops and coffee travel mugs and tops; also found/reclaimed a lot of personal toiletries we forgot we had (soaps, travel shampoos etc)

I have a WANT: I want to buy a tall, narrow laundry hamper to fit in my bathroom closet, such as this one:

https://www.amazon.com/WISHPOOL-Foldable-Laundry-Hamper-Thicken/dp/B07211WJ7D

BUT I didn't order it. I found an old narrow basket that isn't what I want but will work for a while at least, instead.

My son WANTS a pair of non-bulky gloves. We have several pairs of gloves for him, but he wants some that aren't bulky, (like ski gloves or winter gloves you would wear for playing in the snow). I found a pair online for $25 but that's not in my budget. Am still looking for something free or close to free.

In the past week, I bought one fast food item -- a vegetarian Chipotle burrito bowl for my daughter. AFter she got it, she asked to go the bookstore to browse for a while. I said sure, but reminded her I didn't have any money in my budget for buying anything. She said, "Well, there's no point then"... and I took her istead to the library, where we picked up three books for her.

Other than that one item (which granted was $7 !!!!) we have had NO fast food or take out for a week! Seriously a new record for us!

I have noticed that I have a lot more time to spend cooking, when I am not out picking up takeout food, or doing any shopping.

How are other people doing? Has anyone decided they want something, but found a different way to get it? Or to make do, repair, do something different?

The biggest thing I'm doing is to try to visit Costco less. As we all know, it's impossible to walk out of there spending less than $100 and I had been going as much as once a week. They know how to get you by switching up product seemingly every day. Enough for now.

Anonymous wrote:We are high income but got hit with a very high bill in December that set back our savings plans. So I am definitely with OP. I ate lunch at work every day, but spent about 25% less than I have been.

Bought nothing until this weekend. I found a savings bond I had totally forgotten about and cashed it in for $135--figured this was better than forgetting about it forever. I filled up my car and spent the remaining $100 on: batteries, putty knife, screws, business envelopes, and postage (needs), as well as a spatula (old one broke and was tired of using a wooden spoon instead), a birthday present for DD and one for each of two sisters, and one magazine (wants--everything was on a list except for the magazine, which was a $5 impulse buy).

If this could be my weekly non-food spend for the rest of the year, we'd be in great shape.

Congratulations on cutting back your spending this week PP!

This is OP. Day 6 -- spent nothing again!

We are high income but got hit with a very high bill in December that set back our savings plans. So I am definitely with OP. I ate lunch at work every day, but spent about 25% less than I have been.

Bought nothing until this weekend. I found a savings bond I had totally forgotten about and cashed it in for $135--figured this was better than forgetting about it forever. I filled up my car and spent the remaining $100 on: batteries, putty knife, screws, business envelopes, and postage (needs), as well as a spatula (old one broke and was tired of using a wooden spoon instead), a birthday present for DD and one for each of two sisters, and one magazine (wants--everything was on a list except for the magazine, which was a $5 impulse buy).

If this could be my weekly non-food spend for the rest of the year, we'd be in great shape.

Anonymous wrote:

How much were you buying before? Sounds like a lot if you daughter noticed on day 6

I know!

She's noticing it mostly because we have had several days off from work/school and has therefore been around me a lot to ask me to buy things. She asked me to buy the PSAT book, a protractor, graph paper, new sneakers, and a water bottle in the past week, and each time first I said, "Let's find another way to get it". (Also she asked me why I was trying to repair the pepper mill instead of just buying a new one.)

I probably placed about 2-4 Amazon orders on line a month, and go to someplace like CVS/Walgreens once a week, and Target once a month, to pick up something I think I *need*. Plus of course regular grocery store trips. Like, for example, I would just have picked up some new potholders or a water bottle at the grocery store or from the households section of those stores. The pepper mill and PSAT book I would have ordered online for convenience.

Anonymous wrote:OP here! Thanks, PPs for your supportive comments!

My daughter has noticed that something is "up". She asked me "How come you aren't buying things anymore?" I just told her I'm trying to reduce my shopping habit and environmental footprint. She's really into Zero Waste concepts right now so I think that appealed to her.

It is telling, though, that this is only day 6 of my Buy Nothing January, and she's already noticed I'm shopping less. I absolutely had developed a "shop online" solution to everything, especially for things that cost less than $15- $20 which seems to be my impulse buy natural limit.

How much were you buying before? Sounds like a lot if you daughter noticed on day 6

OP here! Thanks, PPs for your supportive comments!

My daughter has noticed that something is "up". She asked me "How come you aren't buying things anymore?" I just told her I'm trying to reduce my shopping habit and environmental footprint. She's really into Zero Waste concepts right now so I think that appealed to her.

It is telling, though, that this is only day 6 of my Buy Nothing January, and she's already noticed I'm shopping less. I absolutely had developed a "shop online" solution to everything, especially for things that cost less than $15- $20 which seems to be my impulse buy natural limit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Failed miserably - spent $230 on furniture I didn't need but really wanted (upgraded from a twin to a full-size bed and got a proper dining table instead of a folding table). I'm going to regroup on Sunday. Thoughts and prayers.

LOL! I mean, my sincere condolences on your dreams of a Buy Nothing January!

I'm the pp and I find this whole thread hilarious and sad. It's admirable that folks want to reduce spending, for whatever reasons (reducing debt, saving the planet , living a minimalist life) but to forgo some of the basic things folks are giving up just seems ridiculous. If you're agonizing over buying a frying pan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

I do agonize about buying a frying pan, but it's because I absolutely hate buying stuff.

Anonymous wrote:Agree - I don't see any agonizing in this thread. And while I don't participate in buy nothing challenges myself, I do actually practice a lot of this thinking throughout the year as I try to live frugally and achieve our financial goals. It helps me consume less and not spend frivolously. Maybe in a few weeks she'll decide she really does need that frying pan, that the benefit of buying a new one outweighs the cost, but at least she will have thought it through and will know it wasn't just an impulse buy. There is a lot of satisfaction in not creating more waste more needlessly buying more things for a short term need, and by finding things you already have, and by saving money. Good luck to you all participating!

+1 I'm not participating in a buy nothing challenge either, but see creativity and resourcefulness rather than "agonizing." Our planet would be better off if everyone took to heart. It fits with the American tradition of "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without" that I try to be guided by even though my finances allow for much more consumption. I actually think it's as important to develop this mindset when you have ample finances since we have so much more to waste. As per the frying pan example, doing this challenge helped her learn how to cook eggs successfully with the other cast iron pan she already had which is healthier anyway--and one less pan consumed with the whole chain of waste that entails, and a little more space in her kitchen. Seems to me like a win. The "agonizing" part is the pain of getting out of mindless habits, not becoming miserly. Kudos to those trying and good luck!

Agree - I don't see any agonizing in this thread. And while I don't participate in buy nothing challenges myself, I do actually practice a lot of this thinking throughout the year as I try to live frugally and achieve our financial goals. It helps me consume less and not spend frivolously. Maybe in a few weeks she'll decide she really does need that frying pan, that the benefit of buying a new one outweighs the cost, but at least she will have thought it through and will know it wasn't just an impulse buy. There is a lot of satisfaction in not creating more waste more needlessly buying more things for a short term need, and by finding things you already have, and by saving money. Good luck to you all participating!

Anonymous wrote:

I'm the pp and I find this whole thread hilarious and sad. It's admirable that folks want to reduce spending, for whatever reasons (reducing debt, saving the planet , living a minimalist life) but to forgo some of the basic things folks are giving up just seems ridiculous. If you're agonizing over buying a frying pan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Not agonizing. Just trying to stop the habit of purchasing things to solve problems that can be solved in other ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Failed miserably - spent $230 on furniture I didn't need but really wanted (upgraded from a twin to a full-size bed and got a proper dining table instead of a folding table). I'm going to regroup on Sunday. Thoughts and prayers.

LOL! I mean, my sincere condolences on your dreams of a Buy Nothing January!

I'm the pp and I find this whole thread hilarious and sad. It's admirable that folks want to reduce spending, for whatever reasons (reducing debt, saving the planet , living a minimalist life) but to forgo some of the basic things folks are giving up just seems ridiculous. If you're agonizing over buying a frying pan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Begone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Failed miserably - spent $230 on furniture I didn't need but really wanted (upgraded from a twin to a full-size bed and got a proper dining table instead of a folding table). I'm going to regroup on Sunday. Thoughts and prayers.

LOL! I mean, my sincere condolences on your dreams of a Buy Nothing January!

I'm the pp and I find this whole thread hilarious and sad. It's admirable that folks want to reduce spending, for whatever reasons (reducing debt, saving the planet , living a minimalist life) but to forgo some of the basic things folks are giving up just seems ridiculous. If you're agonizing over buying a frying pan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Anonymous wrote:Failed miserably - spent $230 on furniture I didn't need but really wanted (upgraded from a twin to a full-size bed and got a proper dining table instead of a folding table). I'm going to regroup on Sunday. Thoughts and prayers.

LOL! I mean, my sincere condolences on your dreams of a Buy Nothing January!