Buying Nothing New, A Mindset
future generations deserve better, buying less shit is the very least we can do
Last night I attended a packed school board meeting, where students (and parents) passionately urged the board and district leaders not to make cuts to Unified Arts, and to preserve the position of a beloved teacher and ally. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride, and heartbreak. They deserve so much more. The adults making decisions (both in the room and *waves arms around* at large) are not considering the best interests of these kids. On a systemic level, we are failing them.
I’ve been doing a lot of reflection about why I’m doing another year of buying nothing new. When I decided to do it for the first time in January, I was so exhausted and drained from the endless consumption cycle I’d been in for almost a decade, it was the only thing I could do to find my way out. At the time, I wanted to extricate myself from the influencer industry, something I could no longer in good conscience be a part of.
I guess it’s no longer a “year of buying nothing new” but an entirely different way of living. One that values people over profit, and meaningful experiences over materialism. American consumerism sells the story that more is more, and nothing is ever enough. The alternative is a mindset that recognizes the responsibility of being one of the adults in the room. In knowing that every action we take—from attending school board meetings to decisions we make as consumers—demonstrates to the next generation what we value and where we stand.
We’re at a pivotal moment in history right now, and we are going to continue to face hard choices. Making an honest effort to challenge late-stage capitalism, a system that encourages overproduction, hyper-consumption, exploitation, corporate power, and wealth inequality will require systemic and individual action. We can show future generations that the adults are paying attention, that we care, and that we are working to find a better way forward. Pardon my language, but buying less shit is the very least we can do.
Here’s how I plan to approach the buy nothing mindset moving forward
Buy Nothing New. This means exactly what it says. I plan to buy nothing new for all non-essential items. I will prioritize second-hand when making any purchases for myself or my family.
Mindful Consumption. This is about accountability and making thoughtful choices. Before buying things, asking myself why, and if/how this item truly adds value to my life.
Shop Local. For all purchases including non-essential items, making an effort to shop locally, even if it’s not the most convenient choice. I’ve already cancelled Amazon and avoid shopping online whenever possible.
Repair and Up-cycle. I plan to take a sewing class this year as I’d love to learn how to fix, mend, and even make my own clothing. I also love our local buy nothing group and always go there first if I’m looking for something before purchasing. I also share/donate any items I have that others are looking for as well.
Prioritize experience over material. The ultimate reward of a buy nothing mindset is seeing firsthand the value in prioritizing experiences over things. I’ve already felt the immense joy and mental-health benefits of stepping back from consumerism culture. And at the same time, sometimes doing this is hard. I look forward to digging deeper into that.
We’re in this together
As I mentioned here, we all have different reasons for adopting a buy nothing mindset. It will play out differently for every one of us, but I hope this community can offer a source of encouragement, inspiration and support. We can start by sharing our why. What is your reason for adopting a buy nothing year? What do you think will be challenging? What are you excited about? What do you hope to gain from this group?
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I set out to do this just with clothes at the beginning of this year, and it ended up trickling over into categories of things I'd previously never considered buying secondhand before (like kitchen tools/cookware, for example). The biggest and somewhat unexpected victory (besides a few very cool thrift scores) was the way it truly seemed to rewire my brain when it comes to buying things. I was such an impulse shopper before; now I take the time to check thrift stores, browse Poshmark, ask on my local Buy Nothing group, etc, before making a purchase. It forces a pause in the need-to-purchase pipeline for me that's really helped curb my own knee-jerk consumption habits.
I really want to do this because I have felt trapped in the “this one thing will make my life better” mind set, and I know that’s just the fantasy. This will be hard for me! And especially when it comes to buying for my kids. Feeling like my kids are going “without” things (they have plenty) triggers feelings that I’m not a great mom. Definitely something I want to work through.