Men Dig the ‘No Buy’ Trend, Too
Avoiding alcohol or joining a gym are classic moves for January, but is 2025 the year more of us embrace a new approach to money?
One of the New Year’s trends reportedly gaining in popularity is being dubbed ‘No Buy’ or ‘Low Buy’ and celebrates eliminating — or at least significantly cutting back — unnecessary spending.
Scores of people have flocked to social media to share their No Buy rules, which often require using things up, preparing more meals at home, and avoiding online shopping triggers. Many have pledged to stop spending on what’s known as fast fashion (the latest celebrity styles and designer knockoffs,) new makeup, or Starbucks. Others are cutting impulse home decor shopping and trips to places like Target and T.J.Maxx.
While the trend has so far been dominated by female social media creators, anyone can participate. One no-buyer took to Reddit to ask why he couldn’t find a single man on YouTube talking about their no-buy/low-buy plans: “It made me feel quite alone so I thought I would ask here. Am I just a very odd guy with an online shopping problem?”
No, Reddit guy, you are not. Although plenty of the online posts focus on spending categories associated with the female wallet, the purpose of the trend is to promote more intentional spending — and that’s a goal that spans genders. TikTok user Jared pledged to avoid using buy-now-pay-later apps after he racked up too much debt. Stephen took to the platform vowing to use up the food in his deep freezer and curtail DoorDash orders.
(The movement has gained particular momentum on TikTok, but if TikTok is forced to go dark in the U.S., those hopeful no-buyers can always turn to Reddit or Instagram, or even pick up a good old-fashioned book for moral support.)
So what? Anybody can adopt a No Buy attitude, whether they feel like they have a spending “problem” or not. The goal isn’t just to stop shopping on the categories social media has determined aren’t worth your money. It’s to exercise self-restraint and take control of your finances in whatever way aligns with your values. You make the rules, so make it work for you.
Related Reading
• We Have Enough Stuff. No-Buy 2025 Offers Other Ways to Fill the Void. (Washington Post via Yahoo)
• The Ultimate Guide to a No-Buy Year (Becoming Minimalist)
• Needs vs Wants: Knowing the Difference for Budgeting (SoFi)
photo credit: iStock/anyaberkut
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