Project No-Buy 2019

A bit of a different post from me today – although we’ll get back to the travel shortly, I promise!

We have too much stuff.

I think that’s pretty evident, but it bears repeating.

We have too much stuff.

We have never had as much stuff as we do now.

We are at peak stuff levels.

Everywhere you go, everything you do, you are bombarded by adverts trying to sell you more stuff.

I Google ear infection symptoms, I am presented with an advert for a cough medicine.

I go on Instagram to see what my friends and various drag queens are up to, and have to scroll past an advert for some £20 slutty-looking patent boots.

I search for a fucking spaghetti bolognaise recipe, I am presented with EIGHT – count ’em – EIGHT adverts for anything from a ballgown to a funeral company (I wish I was joking, check it out below):

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of it.

I’m sick of feeling guilty for not buying something, and then somehow also feeling guilty for buying it.

I’m sick of the constant barrage of utter shite that gets thrown at us as ‘desirable’ or a ‘must-have’ item.

But most of all, I’m sick of the way society’s heading. We’re starting to value things rather than each other or the world around us.

And I think that’s fundamentally wrong.

So.

Starting 1st January 2019 (although God knows I’m practicing this already), I am committing to a no-buy year.

I will not buy any of the following:

• Makeup
• Body products
• Clothes
• Shoes
• Gadgets
• ‘Unnecessary’ products

If something necessary breaks (for example, my only coat), I will either repair or replace it, but I will not be deliberately buying new things for the sake of owning them. I have a CONSIDERABLE amount of the first two – an embarrassing amount which is tied to some long-term psychological stuff, and if you’re anything like me, you may want to check out r/MakeupRehab or r/PanPorn on Reddit for some inspiration on working through this – and I ABSOLUTELY do not need any more. Sayonara, ASOS mailing list!

I will, however, continue to spend money on the following:

• Food (because duh)
• Fuel (again, duh)
• Experiences – be that travel, a gig ticket, my Spotify subscription, or a meal at a fancy restaurant.
• Necessary evils (insurance, rent, taxes, and a gym membership).

I’ll try and track my progress here every month – including products I’ve used up, and an overview of how I’ve found the month. I hope you’ll consider joining me – and I encourage you to do similar next year, even if it’s something small.

Here’s to relationships with people rather than relationships with the latest releases from Urban Decay.

And don’t worry, I’ll still be travelling 😉

R xx