Let’s talk about No Buy Year Rules. They can be very rigid and strict or loosely goosey. Whichever works best for you. A No Buy Year is a competition with yourself, not your neighbors.

Why do a No Buy?

Here at Dobedo we like to choose a Yearly Theme and the general undertone of this blog is to try something new, so this year we’re doing something new … a no buy year!

When I see some people’s student loan numbers, I know I’m not the worst off, but I’m in a financial position where one more year of steady paychecks coupled with a no spend year will set me off not too far from my peers.

What are the benefits of having No Buy Year Rules?

To say that you’re not spending a dollar would mean that you’re financially independent and privileged enough to have no reason to spend a dollar for a year. It’s rare and not typically the type of person that needs to go through a No Buy Year, so instead of taking the idea super literally we will make up No Buy Year Rules that work for us.

Point out some themes for a No Buy Year?

Some things are easier to all by another name. Or maybe you’ll have a better fit with something less constrained by time. Here are a few other themes that you can nestle into your No Buy Year.

Thrifty

You could have a second-hand-only theme to your no buy year rules

Under consumption

Underconsumption core is trending these days. The news is like “omg this will ruin the tour” but the S&P 500 is up up and away.

Homesteading

You’ll probably get caught in the “my pig my farm” trap realizing it costs a lot to grow your own, but if you’re in your cute chicken and goat phase, I hear ya. Soup’s on the stove you’re on your last batch of plum jam, but it’s almost persimmon season anyway. who can say persimmon bread 5 times fast?

No buying eggs, amiright?

Frugal

Ripping up old t-shirts and using your dead mother’s backgammon briefcase for game nights. Wrapping all your groceries in produce bags so you don’t have to buy poop bags for your dog. Got it.

Going to Costco with your old neighbor cause they have a membership but need help loading the car.

Zero Waste

I’ve got my fork and my reusable water bottle, here I come.

House Hacking

Saving everything to buy a house someone else lives on the other side of in order to lower your cost of living.

Slow Living

Grandma core, if you will. You’ll be reading and journaling and there are probably candles and 5 types of tea.

Healthy Wealthy Wise

Wake up, work out. Make some internet moves. Smoothie, work out. Internet Moves. Lunch, workout, Internet moves. No time to shop because I’m building an empire. Stuff like that.

Why am I doing a No Buy Year?

Tis the season, I suppose. I’m 1 steady paycheck year away from okay finances. I find it easier to jump on a track headed in the direction I want to go than to keep moving in a straight line on my own accord. A No buy year seems like it will work for me.

What are my No Buy Year Rules?

My no buy year rules are a work in progress

No New Soaps

This doesn’t mean that I can’t buy soap when I run out of it, but that I’m not going out on a whim to try new soap as like a fun thing to do. No retail therapy soap. Just soap that I know that works everytime.

For me, that is tresume shampoo, or the extra one I already have, a bar soap I already have and know exactly where to get next time. I’m not supporting local artisan soap makers. That is not a thing for me in 2025. Sorry, soap makers. I can’t save you.

No Single Serve Stuff

I’m not buying forks, or cups, or paper plates.

No Retail Therapy Socks or Undies

I do not go shopping for socks or undies. When I need to purchase socks, I get them from Target, same ones, everytime. I purchase undies from hankypanky.com. They cost more, but they fit as I wish, are made in America, and I hang dry them to get the most use. I can purchase replacement sets, but I’m not like … going out to discover new socks and undies in the world. I know what works and if I need them, I know what they cost and where to purchase.

No Single Serve Sweets

Sometimes I think about doing a “only sweets i make” rule but that sounds like I’ll give up, so I’m going with a no single serve sweets. So I’m not buying sweets I eat immediately. Like $8 Fro Yo.

No reliving late night Dairy Queen Drive Thru runs with my MIL.

Use what you have

Burn a candle you already have. Read a book you already have. Hang out with a human you’re already near. Create art with something you have.

Make rags from t-shirts you don’t need.

rearrange your bookshelf / plant room / pantry

Relisten to an audio book

hang out with your pet

use the camera you purchased.

How to stay accountable to your own no buy year rules.

We find it easiest to marinade in information surrounding your theme. The more context you can give to your no buy year, the easier it will be to stay with it. There are blogs, videos, and social media accounts taking about a no buy year and the rules that they’ve made.

Search for no buy year rules on Instagram, youtube, google, and whichever video social you can stand these days.

Are her low buy no buy rules my no buy year rules?

The beauty of creating your own no-buy year rules is that your friend’s low buy doesn’t have to be the same as your no-buy. To each their own.

What things will your life benefit the most from you cutting back on?

Is it beauty products, dog toys, lil treats? handbags or figurines? cards or subscriptions? Do you have 144 notebooks? how big is your tbr?

Where can I go for more information about creating my own now buy year rules?

The Financial Diet

Gabe Bult

Wild Mollie

Morgan Evelyn Cook

Lady of the Library

When does a No Buy Year Start?

Lots of people start a no buy year in January. Spring, Summer, Fall. Anytime that works for you works for everyone since this is a challenge you have with yourself, not with other people.

What are the rules?

There aren’t any no buy year rules until you choose them. No buy year is an opportunity for improvement not a reason to fail. You can have as many do overs as you need. We are trying to buy less.

Tricks + Tips for Sticking to My No Buy Year Rules

Dopamine Menu

Take Action

Do some damn burpees.

Do a handstand every day.

Meditate with or without Calm.

Create art.

Look at art.

Become art.

Socialize

Say hello first.

Compliment a human.

Show gratitude.

Get Elementary, My Dear

Play with the elements.

Interact with water.

Meditate on fire.

Strengthen with metal.

Take deep breaths of air.

Choose Your Own Identity

You are what you do, not what you say you do, so what are you?

A writer? Write.

A runner? Run.

A Witch? Witch.

Call me a cauldron, cause I’m here to stir shit up.

Read, Walk, Work out, paint, hike. Get used to doing the things you like to do without spending money to do them.

Stick to what you know and love for no buy year rules

No need to complicate things. What are some decisions you can take off your plate?

An easy place to start is with what you eat and wear.

What can you do 100 times this year?

Breakfast today: Potato and Egg

Tomorrow: Smoothie

Next day: Bagel + Cream Cheese

If I repeat each of these 100 times, I only have 65 decisions to make for breakfast. That took 2 seconds. What else can I decide?

How will you prepare for your No Buy Year?