r/nobuy • u/Cultural_Test4603 • 9d ago
I’ve started to really enjoy not spending money
This may sound a bit insensitive but I’ve actually been enjoying spending as little as possible, maybe because it’s not out of necessity. But there are so many things where in the past I would have spent 20 dollars here, 100 there, 40 here, yet now I am getting genuine joy from not spending. It’s like I’ve realised that I don’t need 90 percent of the junk I was buying, and when I do really need something, I buy the cheapest option that works, and it hasn’t caused any issues yet.
There are times when I have wanted certain things, I will admit that, but resisting the urges and then looking back on the success, is also bringing me so much relief and happiness. I get joy out of not having fallen for the traps.
And this may be different for other people, but a lot of the things I wanted we’re actually just upgrades of things I already had, but those upgrades would have really not made my life or situation any better. There really is a joy to be found in making do with what you have, kind of like the story/cliche of someone being able to be the best with the least amount of resources, letting your own self show your ability instead of the things you buy. And it maybe requires a mindset shift, but to anyone struggling I’d say to try and focus on your wins and the relief of not spending, instead of feeling like you are trying to survive a battle.
Does anyone else feel this way? I’d really like to hear if anyone has similar stories.
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u/NymphaeAvernales 9d ago
I don't have a lot of money right now, being that my rent, insurance, and electric bill have all doubled in the past 5 years, but I've really enjoyed learning to darn/sew, cooking from raw ingredients, and thrifting the few things I do need. I just got some brand new steel pots/pans (I've been needing some for a couple of years but didn't want to blow money on sub-par cookware) for free from a doctor who clearly has/had a shopping addiction and was giving stuff away. I'm trying to get into foraging now, learning all about local plants that can be used for food/medicine. All of the cleaning products I used to buy have been replaced with Dr Bronner's, baking soda and vinegar, all of which can last nearly a year, or sometimes more. It's not even about the money at this point, I just don't want to be one of those people throwing out multiple bags of garbage every week for the rest of my life. No plastics, no excessive packaging, no unnecessary chemicals, all to the best of my ability.
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u/alina-gem 9d ago edited 9d ago
for me the shift happened with clothes. i built a small wardrobe that actually fits me, and now when i want something i ask "ok but where would i wear it?" most of the time the answer is nowhere, and it feels weirdly good to just walk away
once it stops feeling like a battle, it gets so much easier
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u/cassinonorth 9d ago
Once you get through the first few weeks and your dopamine levels readjust to not getting spikes from shopping it feels so calm and nice not spending money.
One of my major triggers for impulse buys was browsing slickdeals at work and grabbing random stuff when it popped up. Now I feel disgusted at all the junk on there and how I already own half of it anyway. I haven't even looked in a week or two.
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u/Untitled_poet 8d ago
I get my dopamine hit from using up stuff, decluttering ruthlessly, as well as curating my own curriculum these days.
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u/sylvanwildflowers 9d ago
I’m curious, what are the things you used to buy and don’t anymore? I have a hard time differentiating wants and needs. Would love some examples.
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u/Cultural_Test4603 9d ago
Something basic would be coffees or beverages when out and about, In the past I would definitely buy one, but now I just save my money and wait to have one at home. And to be clear I’m not one of those ”people waste their money on coffee and thats why they’re broke!” guys, I just genuinely get pleasure out of not succumbing to spending money that way. A bigger example would be a guitar, I have a basic, cheap guitar that works well yet in the past I would look at new guitars to buy and I would think about all the ways it would make me happy, but now just using the guitar I have and recognising that it’s good enough for me is what brings me joy.
Also as for differentiating wants and needs all you can do is try to be very honest with yourself, If it’s something you genuinely need, will use, and actually something that will change your life, then it’s probably okay, but you have to be very honest and critical because it’s too easy to justify anything as a “need”
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u/Untitled_poet 8d ago
Wants are stuff you "didn't know you needed" until you saw it.
That new "IT" brown suede shoulder bag you saw a cute girl carry on the train?
That new seasonal coffee launched by Starb*cks?
That sparkly new colorway of Hydrofl*ask/ Ow*ala?
The new 2027 launch of ___ you didn't plan to purchase until 0.2 seconds ago?
Yep. Those are wants.
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u/renlotus 9d ago
I feel the same! I’ve been writing down everything I’ve had the urge to buy over the past month and when I look back, I either forgot it or I don’t want it anymore. It feels really good!
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u/FunMysterious7040 8d ago
sadly I have a different observation with myself... I feel the problem I have is that once I am buying again, it always bounces back... I was on a nobuy quarter and things went well and then I bought a sweater I needed for real (two other winter sweaters have holes beyond repair) and the itch came right back to wanting to spend more... it is like alcoholism... maybe I am doing something wrong... even after more than six months (two quarters) the nobuy feels kinda like a punishment sometimes... And yes I did all the things like redirect the impulses and find an alternative - I am doing more art and go for walks and all that is nice but still...
When did you start to feel better and start enjoying saving money? I have a big car repair coming up so even though I saved money on my no buy, it is still going all away now for a dumb repair that has to be done. Idk
But happy for you, that you are able to find joy in it and you inspire me to fight it through to another quarter...
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u/Cultural_Test4603 8d ago edited 1d ago
I think the turning point for me when I was cleaning and throwing things out, and all the little things I never bought that we’re causing clutter just made me so, angry I guess? The fact they were sitting up space, constantly reminding me of the money I wasted and not just that but this junk is now my responsibility, it made me annoyed. It almost felt like these things were mocking me as crazy as it sounds.
I don’t think it’s easy and there probably isn’t a magic solution but what I would suggest trying is to try and be grateful for the times you don’t spend, think about the money you saved, how if you had bought that thing a month ago it would be sitting doing nothing, just taking up space. Basically just try and remember your wins and try and build good associations instead of feeling like you’re missing out or punishing yourself. Also maybe make it less about the money saved itself and more about self reliance, the fact that you don’t need to outsource your happiness to purchasing or owning things.
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u/WittyDisk3524 8d ago
This is interesting because I’ve been cleaning out things since spring and I’ve been so grumpy. It rang a bell that I may be frustrated aggravated and angry at all the things I’ve bought and now are getting out of my space. Thanks for triggering this for me.
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u/BenGay29 9d ago
Yes, I do. I shut down all but absolutely necessary spending after my property taxes tripled following a reassessment.
I found, after a few weeks, that it feels good to challenge yourself to do without things you thought you couldn’t give up. For example, I love the sugar free Italian sweet cream coffee mate. Used it for several years. But at $4 a bottle, it was an unnecessary expense. I learned to used evaporated milk instead. Huge savings, and my tastebuds adjusted.
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u/systemoverwillpower1 8d ago
i think upgrades are where this gets really weird because you can already own something that works perfectly and still start feeling like you’re missing something just because a slightly better version exists, then 3 months later you barely remember what the improvement even was haha
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u/Cultural_Test4603 8d ago
Yeah exactly, and the diminishing returns are crazy. Also sometimes its not even necessarily better just a “better” brand
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u/ProudWing8202 8d ago
There's very little actual innovation and even less real-world impact everywhere over existing products once you see past the usual marketing fluff.
I'm still using my 3.5 year old S23U phone which replaced my previous 3 year old S20 FE, only because the screen on the latter broke. Otherwise I would have kept using it still.
Its not like I can't very comfortably buy the latest and greatest phone every year, but there's absolutely zero need to.
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u/No-Savings-6333 9d ago
I absolutely do feel this way! Now join the financial independence movement and make tour money work for you :)
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u/ChocolateFormal8123 7d ago
Yes. I enjoy diy a lot more
But it was game over with clothing this year for me I’d managed three years without buying a new pant or sweater until I started cycling and now my jeans are ripped af. I need durable clothing. And I refuse to buy S, I’ll just buy L and it’ll eventually shrink to S over time
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u/Ok_Figure4010 7d ago
I'm so focused on getting my student loan paid off that I'm finally not tempted to shop. I can't wait to see the number on my debt go down
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u/Euphoric_Variation57 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yes, to everything you said!
There is so much more to life than shopping and buying. I get so much satisfaction out of learning to appreciate what I have and simply making do!