My Buy-Nothing 2025 Rules and Intentions
A few reflections and resolutions a week into the challenge
Recently, I shared my intention to not buy anything new in 2025—a challenge I decided to do with a friend in order to help us consume with greater mindfulness and care, and free up more mental space to focus on what’s really important. Here, a week into the challenge, are a few thoughts and resolutions that have come up for me in the process of thinking of what a year of non-consuming might look like.
First of all, obviously buying nothing for an entire year is a big, beautiful, impossible vow. You simply can’t literally not buy anything unless you live in the wilderness, a monastery or some other community that doesn’t require you to work for a living, pay rent, or exchange money for food and other necessities. That said, it is definitely possible to consume more sparingly and thoughtfully under capitalism, without accumulating more and more unnecessary stuff. So that’s our goal: reduce our consumption of more stuff as much as possible, and see what new experiences and insights this restraint invites into our lives. Sometimes if you want to be open to something new, you have to make room by getting rid of something old.
Desiring, acquiring and hoarding ever more stuff seems like a good place to start. Looking around at my apartment full of clothes, shoes, books, sports equipment, electronics, records, and everything else, I have to admit that I probably have enough already—more than enough to last me at least through 2025. I’m not lacking for clothes to wear, books to read, or hobbies to fill my time. I suspect most of us aren’t, and aren’t seriously in need of more stuff of any kind. Moreover, it feels like our excessive ownership gets in the way of living a clearer and better life—one devoted to something beyond our own enjoyment. What is that something for you? For me it’s using my time, energy and gifts in ways that benefit other people and the world.
With that in mind, here are the three simple rules I’m setting myself for No-Buy 2025:
1. I will not buy any more stuff.
That means no new or used clothes, shoes, books, biking-related stuff or gaming paraphernalia. It also means no new electronics or gadgets. And no more cookware, no plants or anything else for around the house. At the end of 2025, there should be the same amount of stuff in my apartment as there is today, or less.
2. I will only buy consumables and experiences.
I still need to eat and maintain basic hygiene, so I will permit myself groceries and toiletries, including luxuries like coffee, sparkling water, and seven-layer dip. I’ll also still allow myself to pay for experiences, like meditation retreats or going to the gym, and even travel, though hopefully with a little more mindfulness and restraint.
3. If I fail at any point, I’ll keep going.
Something important that I’ve learned is that life isn’t all or nothing. If you eat vegetarian for years, and then one day crack and eat a cheeseburger, your commitment and the difference you’ve made are not void. Similarly, if someone you love disappoints you once, that doesn’t erase the 99% percent of the time that their presence in your life brings you pleasure and joy. Likewise, as serious as I take the vow to buy nothing, all of this is really just a fun experiment, and if at any point I slip up, I’m not writing myself off, and am committed to humbly keep going!
Those are my only three rules for this project so far, though I’m sure many snags and quandaries will come up as the year progresses. I’m committed to keeping myself accountable by writing about the entire process here for those who are interested.
But why do all this? My intention isn’t necessarily to save money, to become a minimalist influencer, or to once again make a well-worn point about how consumerism is bad for the planet, our relationships, our self-image, and our wallets. Of course I do believe that our habits of consumption are harmful to the earth and ultimately personally unfulfilling. But what I want to experience and demonstrate in my own life is the other, positive side of that analysis: to show that it’s not only possible, but much simpler and more fun to live in a humble, lighter way. That sometimes setting limits for ourselves can be both liberating and a source of joy.
And, of course, I’m doing it because it’s fun to make a change and take up a challenge and set a rule for myself to see what kind of effects it has on the rest of my life. It’s also connecting to do this kind of thing with friends—to compare notes, encourage and support one another, and let the experience of living philosophically and experimentally bring you closer together. Nietzsche said that all of life should be like this: a kind of laboratory for experimentation, to see what works. So let’s experiment!