30 things I'm NOT BUYING this year (2023)

[@JoJo-is-the-name]

I'm not buying ANY more pens, pencils, or NOTEBOOKS until I use up the 1 million I already own!!!! The amount of journals and art sketchbooks I only half fill in is ridiculous lol I have an addiction. I'm going to finish the ones I have!

[@salty_katt]

Same 😭 I love stationery but I really need to stop buying pens and markers

[@pinkfeet518]

id love someone to break down the science behind HOW stationary is so addicting! i recently decluttered my pens into the ones i ABSOLUTELY love and i’m not buying anymore of anything until i run out of what i have. skincare, makeup, clothing, etc. included

[@juliadandy6019]

Oh, guys... Same here... We can do it!!

[@ericasambogna1528]

I told myself this a few years ago and let me tell you: realizing I finished all my pens was a joy that you can only understand when experience it. And now I have 3 black pens that are so cute and a few colored ones for my planner

[@TheKangeiko]

Oh my goodness, YES. I have a notebook addiction and it is a constant struggle to refrain from buying any…

[@99leadpencils]

Love the point about not buying something that is only marginally better than what you have. I actually get a lot of satisfaction when I can retire an item that I feel has been used to its fullest potential, especially if I already fixed it once.

[@MNeathway]

Mending clothes is so satisfying

[@frankensteins_mermaid]

Yeah! Mend and reuse

[@lolal-t2027]

As someone who is still under the influence of parents(Im 16), I can’t make too many choices on lifestyle things. However, I will definitely not buy any fast fashion, and just any unsustainable brands. I would much rather make my clothes with crochet, thrifting or supporting sustainable brands! + no more period products since I have reusable pads and my favorite period undies Also, ive been guiding my mom to be more sustainable and she has been much more conscious than before! TY for educating me on sustainability ❤

[@rachaelxss]

honestly so proud of you for caring and taking the steps especially as a teenager

[@MNeathway]

This is so inspiring even for us old fogeys 😊

[@denden798]

Taking the time to educate yourself and others are such big steps!

[@lolal-t2027]

Yall are way too sweet thank you 🥺 I love the community here its amazing

[@soman3324]

Im 18 and live alone, I was just like you two years ago ! It feels so good knowing you’re taking (mostly) good decisions. I hope you’ll feel just like me when it’ll be your turn ❤

[@kaitlin5264]

If you ALREADY own a pod coffee maker (like a Keurig) then get one or two of those reusable/refillable mesh pods! I was gifted a Keurig for a going off to college present years ago, and instead of buying another coffee maker-I just got a mesh pod and can put my own ground coffee (or loose leaf tea) into the pod, pop it in like normal, and still have convenient coffee or tea!

[@thatjillgirl]

Yep! I love my reusable mesh for my single-cup maker. Stick whatever coffee (or tea, or whatever) you want in that baby, give it a wash, and use it again. I really can't understand why so many people use the pods. I get it in a communal setting where it's not realistic to be washing up all the components multiple times a day (like an office breakroom or whatever), but at home? Reusable all the way.

[@hibiscus-dreams]

Even tho we've got a Mr Coffee, I had us try Keurig for about 6mos a couple yrs ago. Even then I personally reused the pods up to 3x (I don't tend to like strong coffee) and would compost the grounds when finished with it. I finally passed it on to someone else. My favorite coffee maker is now something I'd wanted since the 90s, a French Press (and I still compost my grounds)

[@haven9013]

And, I bet your own, fresh grounds taste so much better. There's no telling how long those pods just sit.

[@Rokokitti]

I'm not buying anymore tea in individual sachets, I'm transitioning to bulk & lose leaf. Also I'm working on mitigating impulsive & over optimistic shopping when it comes to food, clothes and hobbies. I'm practicing more resourcefulness/thriftiness by exercising creative skills, spending time to make use of things I already own & resources around me to probelm solve, instead of immediately buying a new thing to 'fix' an issue.

[@AshleyBromiley]

Something I discovered this year is that whenever I have tried to first find something used on FB Marketplace or even eBay you first have to sift through the dozens of people drop shipping. Sometimes the listings look like a real preowned product because they use photos from someone's home when really they are all just drop shipping. It makes it really hard to try and shop used when so many people are scamming like that.

[@winterzealot]

I know, that drives me crazy... I wish there was a good way to filter all those listings out.

[@abbyhoffer]

there is… you can filter by “used” and i do it all the time. the down side is you’ll miss out on brand new items being sold by regular folks, but at least you can remove the drop shippers!

[@HosCreates]

Yes! Drop shipping is terrible !

[@izy0321]

Yes! I’m still figuring out ways to avoid these listings on FB marketplace and Poshmark and Etsy!

[@alwaysemilia]

Makes me so mad!! Poshmark is full of drop shippers, but at least there you can tell when the size says “various”.

[@shelley5449]

It absolutely does not matter that this video was posted in feb, I feel like the begining of the year actually feels like it starts in Spring anyway.

[@rosafeldman531]

This year I’ve decided to go low waste. The thought about my child being left on this planet to deal with the consequences of me not thinking about the planet really got me thinking so now I have started to educate myself. I no longer buy toilet paper, shower liners (I now have one that is washable), shampoo bottles, disposable period products, pull ups, I’ve switched to blue land for their cleaners, and now use toothtabs. I’ve gotten into composting and picking up trash around my neighborhood. It’s discouraging looking outside and seeing people consta liter around where I live but the comments have helped me realize I am not alone in my efforts to try and do better for the planet!

[@raapyna8544]

Most times I've gone litter picking, someone has stopped and complimented me! Mind you, I live in Finland in a city, and passers-by don't usually greet you. Spontaneous kindness is soo nice. :) Also personal kudos to you for not buying toilet paper. I hate the forestry industry. Forest certificates are greenwashing! Our forests are suffering a lot. Everyone who identifies as an environmentalist should know that products made from European trees are not sustainable.

[@TheNinjapancake14]

Do you use any alternatives to toilet paper? There’s so many problems with it from the way it’s packaged to the impact on sewage and the environment

[@rosafeldman531]

@@TheNinjapancake14 I use a bidet from Tushy and decided to make cloth “toilet paper” to dry off. Nothing gets on them if you use the bidet correctly. Then I wash them.

[@Megan-nt7dm]

Rechargeable lighter is one of the best things I've ever bought. My parents used to have a junk drawer that was 90% lighters, most of which didn't work. For Christmas I got them this thing. And got rid of all of the dead lighters

[@yoricade]

I got one for my mum too!

[@4SHomestead]

The electric ones are so much easier to use than Bic lighters too!

[@mAgnoliA510]

I bought one too and I've been told that it was probably the smartest thing I've ever bought I love it for my candles

[@wingedyera]

I have never heard of this product it sounds amazing. And like a great gift for my MIL

[@racheljames9187]

I don't have a rechargeable one... but I have this habit of finding a discarded cigarette lighter on the road just when the last one I found on the road runs out! My supply of matches I bought ages ago will last years.

[@natgil460]

If you live in the Chicagoland area, there is a fabulous organization called the Wasteshed and they have gently used art supplies to purchase and a section of so many supplies for educators to take for free!! Also, they have a free section to prevent anything from going to waste. They’re so conscious of waste and such a great place to exist. ❤

[@NicSz1]

In 2023 I’m not buying mass produced art either! It’s been interesting to transform our 1970s home into a functional midcentury modern space (and on a budget, bc 2 little kids). It takes lots of time to curate and be on the lookout for legit pieces. Thanks for the inspo!

[@foxgloved8922]

I grew up treating zip locs (and salvageable plastic packaging of any kind) as reusable. Why buy those silicone things when I can reuse plastic yogurt tins and zip close packaging from stuff I bought? I get that these are often lower quality, but it makes sustainability more accessible to not have to buy more things!

[@ellaronci2703]

i did the same thing! i never got why people threw them away, especially the resealable ones they are still so useful!

[@sephrapearce5102]

This is true but a silicone one will still last waaaaaay longer and generally you just get a couple in a pack… so if you’re using “single use” bags over and over you’ll still eventually be throwing away a whole pack over time. Granted you’ll have used them as much as possible which is great, but they still end up in landfill faster and in larger quantities. Silicone ones can last for yeeeeears.

[@thelullinthestorm]

Ideally people stop buying items in plastic to begin with so if you can get to that point then having the stashers can be helpful so there’s still something like it to store things in. I personally use mostly glass but have some silicone bags that are great for the freezer since they take up so much less space

[@HosCreates]

The problem with those is they leach plastic into your food. I grew up reusing plastic yogurt cups too. Now I don't buy the single serve yogarts. I buy one big container and divy it out. It's not perfect but idk how to make yogart and it takes time I don't have to make. I've had silicone bags that lasted me for 5 years and I've loved them ! Very easy to use and reduced my budget for plastic ziplocks. In fact when I switched over from throw away like: toilet paper ,plastic ziplocks, paper towels, plastic razor blades, etc I saved $900 a year for a family of 4 on a budget of $50,000 a year. That's alot ! Helped us repair our car when it broke down and we can go out to eat and do fun things with our family occasionally.

[@tashholly3346]

Yeah! Unless whatever food was in was in there had gone properly bad, we always rewash and reuse our ziplock baggies.

[@GeeklingNo1]

I’m not buying dryer sheets. They’re a waste of resources and they leave a waxy film on your clothes.

[@thishappycrafter272]

Completely agree! 🙌

[@Venuscent]

I'm Australian and I have never seen dryer sheets. The first I ever heard of them was in U.S low waste videos.

[@bhsprinkle]

I find it ridiculous as well. Especially since the dryer catches the lint for you. What are they even doing?

[@MusicSparkleStar09]

I'm slowly using up the rest of the box I have (dryer sheets get used for multiple loads each) and have dryer balls waiting to use when I'm done with that. These days any savings at the grocery store, even infrequent purchases are good ones. I have laundry sheets for the detergent that are packaged in cardboard and I also use less than recommended (usually half), so that supply will last a long time as well and takes up far less storage space than the plastic containers for liquid or pods.

[@livingvicariously5108]

These made me itchy so I haven’t seen any since I was a little kid.

[@agaymerstale6191]

I've been using the same backpack (Dakine) for the past 10.5 years! It was a gift from the parentals when I started college and though I keep having the urge to replace it, I've yet to go through with it. Over a decade of heavy use and it still looks nearly new. Trying to get into the habit of appreciating (and using!) the things in my life that have been built to last.

[@niamhl6964]

In regards to makeup that's only marginally better than what you already have - Hannah Louise Postons channel is my favourite make up channel, because she heavily emphasises using what you have, and even when she reviews a new product, she will say that you absolutely do not need it, especially if you have something similar already. I highly recommend her channel!!

[@supernova622]

I'm not really into beauty but her conversations about mindful spending and examining the emotional roots of compulsive buying are 👌

[@T.T.M.60]

Thank you both, think I will check her out.

[@Sandra-hc7hj]

I’m not buying diapers this year! I have slowly built up a cloth diaper collection, many of which I bought used or upcycled the cotton receiving blankets I was gifted. I finally perfected my wash routine and found the right set up for nighttime and travel, so no more disposables to sit in landfills!

[@shannonkennedy4233]

This is super specific, but I am not buying any type of paper giftables: no birthday/holiday cards, no postcards, no wrapping paper, no tissue paper, no bows. I have so many leftover cards and tissue paper that I am just going to make my own from here on out. This is actually inspired by your video showing how to reuse cards and alternative wrapping materials!

[@racheljames9187]

Awesome, and great idea. My family aren't into low waste and at celebrations paper is torn off and discarded, so I save items suitable for gift wrapping (tissue from orders, plastic or paper from cut flowers (people tend to save the wrappings for me if they get flowers!), mail satchels, chip packets on the rare occasion I have them... and use those to wrap gifts [in addition to saving wrappers and bags I'm gifted]. I have a big family and wrapped just about all of the Christmas gifts in rubbish last year, so it got one more life.

[@audreysavard3248]

On the rarely occasions I give gifts (witch I think longuely about), I always use what is in my trash bag to wrap it. Strangely, it is the gift that attrack the most attention and that everybody is waiting to see if it is for them and what is in.

[@CherryXValanceX]

I love collecting things like crystals, stickers, funky pops, fabric I’ll never use, etc and this year I’m doing a “no buy” for anything that isn’t a life necessity! My goal this year is to become more sustainable and minimal in a way that fits my lifestyle 😊

[@kellylincoln8244]

I’m on a no buy year for clothes makeup skincare and nail polish. Basically anything beauty related. Over the pandemic it definitely became a coping mechanism for me and so this year I’m saying no! No more!

[@downearth48]

One thing I DO want to buy this year is a dryer rack or clothes line! I currently like in an apartment with limited space, but will be moving into a house later in the year and really want to start hang drying some if my clothes :) Also the one thing I have been buying, for the past 2+ years, is single use menstrual product. I made my own reusable pads (and made some for my sister last Christmas 😈) and have 1 cup that I use frequently

[@Kiterpuss]

Menstrual cup and fabric pads have been game changing for me. After the initial learning curve they're honestly less mental effort to use.

[@vintagedoll4850]

I was wanting one because I live in an apartment without a washer/dryer. I bought one as well as made a clothesline on my balcony. Best decision ever. You won't regret it!

[@heatherpatel2550]

You probably already do, but the shower curtain rod you (probably) have in your bathroom and any door frames are perfect in the meantime! My spouse is definitely a high-humidity human, so this adds humidity back into our air during dry months, too :)

[@faeriesmak]

I bought an all wood, Amish made drying rack and it is amazing.

[@NomadicSims]

You reminded me of when we added a bidet to our home and ran out of tp! We went for 2 weeks not buying it simply because we didn’t need it! Caved when we had guests who weren’t comfortable (to be fair it is a process haha) and now only have it for company

[@lyndabethcave3835]

I have a zero-waste fashion business, selling clothing that's made with zero-waste design. I realised recently that no, I don't need to purchase new fabric at the moment, because I have so many boxes of fabric in my personal stash. Yes, I might eventually need to purchase new yardage for popular designs, but for now I definitely don't need to purchase any new fabric for test-garments and samples. I made my personal stash available for business use because I wasn't using it for personal projects anyway.

[@jewelsfuller7263]

I don't purchase most of what you went through. I have systemically as I aged stopped things that don't follow commonsense and need. Love how young you are and doing, sharing, explaining how over consumerized we are! You have a stupendous channel!

[@cassieforsha532]

Every time I start to get the consumer itch again, I come watch one of your videos! I only discovered you a month or two ago but I love watching your videos; you are so firm in what you believe and it helps ground me and make me more conscious of the consumer decisions I make. Thank you for all that you do!

[@katerinarouskova8232]

My ziplock bags are definitely not single use. I never knew they were supposed to be, I just wash them and re-use.

[@racheljames9187]

same. I haven't bought new ones since going low waste, and I have a habit of claiming those from other people if they're going to be thrown away and are in good condition!

[@xerrias]

I have never bought bags the entire 5 years in my apartment, i just acquire ziplocks from different places, family, people bringing or giving things. And I just wash and reuse them until they finally fall apart.

[@haileakent6422]

​@Xerriasorsw haha me too! I have stolen them from my grandparents trash

[@juniperjabber]

my family does the same thing with plastic straws haha

[@mortemracoon]

8:49 Misto is great! Most of the issues I’ve seen with misto is people not cleaning them properly or as often as they should.

[@Steph_J]

I love your lists like this! 💓 This year I'm not buying razors (I don't shave), makeup (I'm trying to run out of my older stuff), coffee filters (finally found a reusable filter that fits my coffee maker), and plastic bottles of hand and dish soap (Clean Cult subscriber) ☺️

[@epichealthyeating]

I am a total hobby switcher and always get caught in the have to have it trap. I decided this year to not start any new hobbies and to go through what I already have and donate what I don't use to friends and family that will use it. I also am not buying any produce without having a meal plan. I want to stop the food waste in our home. I did purchase a compost bin and really want to invest in one for my backyard.

[@RaLiviaW]

Yeah, I've added that to my list, either don't start new hobbies (I currently, and this is downsized, have sewing, knitting, thread crochet, embroidery, watercolor, journaling supplies) or buy a kit to try instead all the materials to start a whole collection.

[@jadaochoa2911]

I'm not buying a lick more makeup, I was in the bathroom one day and I was like, "Oh my god, I have so much lipstick and eye products". I definitely have enough makeup to last me at least the next year and a half, maybe two years! Afterwards, I can see what I actually use a lot and look into brands with goals I agree with ♡

[@jamieharris2593]

I found your channel about a year ago and have overhauled our lives because of it. We have already implemented pretty much all of the things you mentioned on this list! We use Who Gives A Crap TP, bar shampoo and body wash, Dropps laundry products, I even bought a Lomi to up our garden game and cut down on our kitchen waste. My kitchen goal for this year is to cut out package heavy crap and make snacks. I notice our trash is still more than I’d like and it seems to come from the kitchen. I’ve already started making crackers with my sourdough discard. We cloth diaper, use reusable diaper wipes. I bought all our baby stuff second hand, and quit buying fast fashion. All of these changes and loads more are thanks to YOU! I’m always on the lookout for ways to cut waste and chemicals out of our lives. Thank you so much for all of the info you put out, it really does make a difference 💚

[@miajulio1702]

I love this list! Mine is pretty much exactly the same. I’ve heard of Larq so many times now and would love to send one of their bottles to our family in Mexico, since they don’t have access to safe drinking water. ✨

[@friedagerhardt]

Reusable (fabric) Pads are also an option! There are loads of different brands as well as sewing patterns, to make them yourself, if you're so inclined.

[@amygionta804]

I didn't make any one thing un-buyable this year, but I did tell myself I can only get one physical 'thing' each month and I have to wait at least 48 hours before purchasing it!

[@MasonMiko]

This is a really good idea! Is this in regards to fun items or for things like shampoo as well?

[@emilytavarez6039]

Girl, I feel you with the no conditioner. Obviously, this might not be conducive for every hair type, but as someone with super fine hair, I stopped using conditioner over a year ago and my hair has never looked better.

[@jesaenza69]

I’ve already stopped buying so much. However, I’ve recently started making my own laundry soap. So no more laundry washing sheets for me. 😊 luv u shelbizleee

[@TravelSoMuch]

I agree with most of this list! One other thing I will NOT be buying is new textbooks! I went back to school to finish my degree just over a year ago, and since then I have purchased one used textbook, rented another, and downloaded the rest. There were even some classes where I looked at the syllabus ahead of time and realized that I didn't even need the textbook in order to ace the class. (I'm also taking all my classes online so that it's flexible with my work schedule and I don't have to drive over 60 miles round-trip every day to get to the school- this also eliminates any additional school supplies since I take notes, write papers, and take tests all from my laptop.)

[@alexandriahowerton7292]

I don’t buy new clothes. I only shop thrift stores, especially one store that has great selections and don’t take dry cleaned clothes and have a full Sustainability page on their site of how they are doing there part for the environment. This includes: energy use for store, products they use to wash clothes and how they do it, clothes rental membership, fixing tips and buttons, reusable utensils and dishes for staff and some other cool stuff to get closer to minimal impact on the planet!!

[@AlicedeTerre]

That's freaking awesome, I've never seen a thrift store like that.

[@thealet]

I’m not buying skincare and makeup in excess! Unless I run out, I’m not grabbing anything. This is the first time I’ve ever even considered doing this because I love beauty stuff so much

[@karlal23]

At the end of last year, my husband and I decided to get rid of the clothes we no longer use, never use, and the ones we will most likely never use again. Most were sent to my grandmother in Mexico who sells them in the market so they'll definitely not be going to waste. We will be purchasing just a few things but will make the switch to buying from our local thrift stores or just used in general. I've been given plenty of clothes that weren't new in the past and they're wonderful and just as good as new clothes. That will be my main change this year, for sure.

[@crystalleigh87]

I am not buying anymore plastic water bottles! I am already slowly starting to the make swap on most of these and plastic water bottles are such a waste! Thank you so much for this, super informative and keeps motivated!😊

[@kat_thefruitbat]

I’m not buying any hygiene products, household cleaners, or laundry products that are packaged in plastic. Or, if there’s not a plastic free option, I’ll buy in bulk. Within the past couple months, I’ve switched over to a lot of plastic free products from Ethique- love that they have expanded their options and added the powder concentrates! 👏

[@dianeanderson6038]

I am also not buying ANY more office supplies, pens, pencils, highlighters, colored pencils and notebooks until I work thru my stash. Also on the list is skincare and makeup! UGH! 2022 was a rough one for me and I definitely succumbed to some old consumerism habits!

[@breannaa8890]

I'm not buying any jewelry. I want to love and appreciate the pieces I already have. 💚

[@Yeavemealone]

A huge thing for me is not buying toys for my baby. I’ve had plans to make things for her and just end up buying them instead. So this year I’m not buying her toys. It feels like a hot take but it’s my resolution for this year. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Other things for this year are dryer sheets (for like the 5th year now?), clothes specifically for a special occasion, or anything when I’m bored and trying to fill time.

[@racheljames9187]

It amazes me how many toys babies have these days. They like having a few things to play with, but there's research to say the more toys they have, the more overwhelmed and less creative play children engage in. It's hard as there is so much cute stuff and it's super inexpensive a lot of the time. Facebook marketplace is good for exchanging things :) I have bought a few of the 14 inch Disney princess dolls for my niece to play with when she comes over from the local op shops and tip shops for $2 each, I will make them some funky outfits :)

[@lizzeyflower]

I used to have my own pitcher but my family toss it out saying that plastic water is more healthy. I was crying alone for hours Glad your recommendation 😊 I want get one of those

[@raapyna8544]

what the ffff

[@HosCreates]

Nope . Prebottled water is just tap water without as much chlorine. It's been proven

[@mushroomsandsidhe]

Another really good water filter pitcher is the brand Life Straw. It filters everything from heavy metals to micro plastics. It's a great brand that also helps communities who don't have access to clean drinking water. It's pretty cheap for a water filter and it's helping a good cause.

[@Astropheminist]

I will also not be buying single-use period products this year! You inspired me to get period undies and I’ve loved them!

[@ThaoNguyen-eq1iv]

About a year ago, I switched from using a menstrual cup to a menstrual disc and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Like the menstrual cup it takes a little bit of time to get used to.. but is so much more comfortable because it doesn’t use suction when inserted (which also makes it much more comfortable when you have to go #2) AND it automatically empties itself when you go to the bathroom 🤯 so the only time I take it out is when I shower.. anyone who hasn’t tried it, I highly recommend. It also helps to watch videos about it and how to use it ✌🏼

[@pointeplusplus]

I got some stasher bags for Christmas, so I won’t be buying plastic bags this year either! I plan to use the ones I have left to store board game pieces because I feel like they actually work in a non-disposable way for that I’m glad you got some time “off” in January even if you had some work you were doing 😊

[@looseleafthoughts]

I'm not buying craft supplies! I love to DIY but am working to only use what I already have in fun new ways. I used to knit and have a lot of leftover yarn, so now I use it for tapestry weaving! My next project is making candles from leftover materials. I recently used my friend's bottle cutter to create candle jars out of beer bottles and am currently swapping for wax with people from my community

[@MusikGirl23]

Yes, I’m on a craft buying moratorium…

[@LCx829]

Thank god I found you again. Mental health for the past 3 years mad me buy so much makeup to feel better. In January I finally stopped. Nothing is perfect but I finally paid my car off which is another waste since I work at home.

[@hindelhatimy8394]

OMG, I just came across your channel for the first time and I loved this video. I think that at this point everybody should make an effort to save mother earth because it is suffering from our actions. As for the things that I won't be buying this year, which there's alot, but I'd say unnecessary clothes, stationary, beauty products I don't need, water bottles...the list goes on.

[@planetkendal]

my goal this year is to stop going to places like target for a pick me up and making impulse purchases because i think it will make me feel better. in the end i probably don't need that item and it probably won't last long. this year i do want to get a mirrorless camera and get back into photography but i don't want to buy it new, so i will be constantly looking on fb marketplace or second-hand tech sites to find one for a good deal. i think a good rule for me this year is if i want to buy something to see if i can find it second hand. it's been my rule for 3 years now, but it's a nice reminder to come back to because you can probably find whatever it is you're looking for cheaper and still in good quality if you look second-hand

[@lexanneklimes5411]

I think that the rechargeable lighter and the no single-use menstrual stuff are good goals for me.

[@Showl.l]

Lovely video! I am not buying almost all of the things you mentioned this year and almost everything that I do buy has been amazing swaps that you have suggested here!! My hair products still come in plastic and I still use paper towels for my pets but they are from Who Gives a Crap. Along the lines of beauty TikTok, I'm not buying any new makeup this year (apart from mascara). I feel you on the skincare rant-- my skincare routine and products are non-negotiable and I don't need to risk irritation by trying out something new. Thank you so much for being an inspiration to the eco-minimalist space, it is so refreshing to hear you speak about NOT consuming since a lot of influencers are very much the opposite.

[@craftyluna6381]

I know I'm very late, but I wanted to put this out there: a lot of people, myself included, buy things we don't need because we're bored and you get a bit of a high from getting something new. For myself, I have found the remedy for this: make something. Whenever I get the itch to shop just for fun, instead I make something. I'm already a crafter and I have lots of craft supplies (one of those things I buy even though I actually don't need more) but you can make things without having to buy anything. There are free graphics programs where you can make digital art. You can write a poem. Write a song. Just draw with pencil and paper (which, ok, you might have to buy if you don't have it already). You can make collages or even beads out of magazines and junk mail. You can paint rocks, or just stack them up or arrange them in your garden to make outdoor mosaics. If you want to do something you need supplies for, if you have friends who already do that craft or art, they might share and let you try things out, or even just give you stuff if they need to de-stash. The point is, using your creativity and making your own art, or crafting something useful, or making something for someone else, is way more satisfying for your soul than just buying things.

[@maliahjoy2959]

All of this

[@emilieh4813]

This year I’m not buying any new yarn! My long time hobby is crochet and knitting, and lately my yarn stash has been getting out of hand, as it seems like a trend to have a lot of yarn. This year I’m working through what I already have! ❤️❤️

[@MusikGirl23]

Me too!! I kind of broke my moratorium when a website had a sale, so I unsubscribed from their mailing list.

[@TashaCropper]

I'm not buying new clothing for myself or my children. I'll been shopping second hand from thrift shops and online second hand shops exclusively unless I need anything especially that I cant find second hand. I'll also be using a menstrual cup.

[@KimSJoy]

Love your channel! I have not bought a plastic bottle of water in years, I use a charcoal stick in my old Brita- works great. I also use rechargeable batteries. I am not buying any journals, notebooks, pens, markers, cookbooks, magazines, watercolor paint or acrylic paint. Using what I have or donating stuff I do not need/want to charity.

[@mish730]

I’m not buying any more makeup this year - which I feel is gonna be a huge challenge, but tbh I’m excited to take it on. Watching your videos and thinking about my own consumption has made me realize how much makeup is literally just marketing. Like realistically how many eyeshadow palettes can one person even use?! 😅 I am a sucker for aesthetics but at the end of the day I know my wallet and the planet will be better for it.

[@ciannacoleman5125]

My skin care is 90% carrier and essential oils. I have both an off brand makeup eraser and bamboo/cotton washable rounds. I use ACV as a toner and either soap or micler water as my second cleanse. When I don’t go for a week without washing my face my skin has never been happier.

[@MagicalMandi]

Low Buy 2023!! 💚

[@tifacorn3522]

This year I'm not buying new shampoo or conditioner or bofywash or hand soap. I've been slowly transitioning to bars for all of it and I have a bunch of random half full bottles that I need to finish so I can get them out of my cabinet & life! I've been making soap with herbs I grow and it's honestly been so fun

[@corinaofcalifornia]

After seeing you talk about misto before, I came across one the other day and added it to my life as one of my recent swaps. Thank you. 😊

[@dianewright6537]

I watch you tube videos to fix things I already have or to find the multipurpose use in everyday products (lipstick I already own is eyeshadow, cheeks and lips....brilliant). Your channel is a direct "here's how you can make change" in your life and with those changes affect areas that are meaningful to me. I appreciate the content in your videos for those reason. Thank you.

[@navl666]

I’m not buying an upgrade to anything I already have that functions and do not use regularly. Even if it’s used…even though I’ve been eyeing overhead headphones, I have on ear but only find myself using earbuds, even for traveling. I also wanted a medium film camera but use my current a few times a year. LASTLY clothes, whether it’s used or not/on sale. I definitely don’t need more clothes and if it hasn’t been on a list for longer than the previous season I probably can “live” without it. Good luck Shelby! 💚

[@yc5000]

My focus this year is using more of what I already have. Work with what I've got and only buy the absolute necessary.

[@klairer9427]

Love this so much! I'm aiming to not buy any more yarn until I go through my current stash - definitely resonate with what you were saying about hobbies!

[@tomieeegun]

Also not buying plastic body wash ! Would love to know what shampoo you are using without conditioner I would be scared my hair wouldn’t brush out after a wash!

[@Flofromprogressive]

This year I am not buying flowers from the grocery store that are covered in plastic. Rather, I will be crocheting my own flowers out of the yarn I already have at home 😊

[@jeanetteyarbrough3286]

I'm not buying clothes. Even though I almost exclusively buy second hand clothes I was still going to the store every week, sometimes multiple times a week and buying something because "it's only a few dollars" "it's secondhand so it's okay" and then never wearing it and wasting my money. I'm trying to be a lot more selective about what I do bring into my home. Also I'm pregnant so buying any clothes right now doesn't make sense because it won't fit me long term and the clothes I do have are oversized so they'll still fit me up until labor. Thanks for the video!

[@racheljames9187]

I used to have the excessive thrifting problem... something that helped me was cleaning my wardrobe of excessive items (my local community has a 'Free' market when you can have a stall and give unused items to people who want them, it's brilliant) - I wanted to be able to actually use my wardrobe, it was hard with too much stuff in it - and then having a limit on how many thrifted items I can get in a year... I think I allowed 10 last year and 12 this year. I've found that with a limit, if I really love an item and can see me using it all the time I can get it... but it means I make fewer purchases of items that sit there unused and forgotten. I remember all of my thrifted clothing purchases from last year and treasure all of them, that is a new experience for me as an avid thrift shopper!

[@kierrahayes7802]

I am not buying anymore pads. I have recently bought some reusable pads and underwear that works like a charm for me. So glad that they work and can’t wait to keep using them for the months to come.

[@MusikGirl23]

Yeah! I HATED disposable pads from age 13 to 18…rashes, itching, chafing…I then was a tampon girl for about 10/11 years then I got into reusable pads from a company based out of my home city!!! Shout out to Treehugger Cloth Pads, which also has an underwear line now.

[@xerrias]

You have made me want a misto for FOREVER. Currently though i just wipe a little oil onto things without a spray. I haven't actually needed a spray oil, though many times it would have saved time or been convenient

[@chelseaharvey2861]

On the subject of art, I have found a few local artists I love who sell prints of their work. Its a great in between if you want to support them but you can't afford an original piece!

[@racheljames9187]

I did this to get an artwork (watercolour fallen autumn leaves) for my first home - thrifted frame and matted it myself.

[@MMHay16]

I am not buying gardening tools, with one exception. My husband and I bought our first house in December. The house came with a huge garden and raspberry bushes!! And ever since we bought it I've been so excited to get to growing our own vegetables in the spring. My parents recently moved from a house into a condo and have offered us any gardening tools we want from their house. The one exception to 'not buying' is that we're buying a home composting system. Our city doesn't do municipal compost and I think so often about all the things I could be composting that instead go into the garbage right now. But I'm watching Facebook Marketplace and such to see if I can find the composting system secondhand.

[@hibiscus-dreams]

Hey Lady Storm, welcome to the composting club. Started that about 5yrs ago!

[@timikaballantyne6144]

Super important video! Love it.

[@Sims3kaizoku]

So many good tips in this video and I’m glad to see that I’ve already started to do some of those things! This year I’m not buying any more coffee pods. My keurig mini drives me crazy and it’s too difficult to dispose of pods properly. For Christmas I asked for a French press and a milk frother so I’m determined to reduce my waste this way ☕️

[@graceelizabeth1147]

I am absolutely done buying chapstick or lip balm! I’ve had to stop myself from buying even the sustainable version. I have so many and I’ve committed to collecting them all in one spot and using one at a time until their all gone (probably the next decade).

[@maliahjoy2959]

What do you use instead?

[@veryaveragecabbage]

Hi Shelbi! This year I will not be buying anymore random trinkets :) Coming from parents that held onto anything and everything, it was difficult to give away things that I knew my parents would of stored away for those "what ifs". Well those "what ifs" moments never came 😅 But now that I am older and have the choice to give my older items a better home, I feel like I'm going into 2023 with a better mindset :) I will not be filling the empty spaces in my room with random things anymore :)

[@Jigglywood]

This year I won’t buy art supplies! I have a craft room full of supplies that’s I’ve accumulated over the years and I need to reduce the stash. My only exception is if I need something to use something else (thread for sewing, etc) but I’m in a freebie group so hopefully I can get help there first and then check second hand.

[@juliadandy6019]

I love how the plants are taking over the house! On the off chance you might see it: the no conditioner, so you just shampoo? Any oils or something? Reason I as is because I really want to try it and have similar hair (which is a factor, I know there are hair types that need treatment).

[@randomestfunnythings]

I'm not buying any crochet stuff this year. I got some yarn last year when I said I wanted to start, I already have 5 rolls that I want to use and practice before starting a project

[@rosa3299]

I just found your channel. And thank you, I want to try my best on my part to not damage the environment. While there is a bunch of research I am not a scientist of any kind. So I would not know which to rely on. I still live with my parents so I can't fully do all these things but it is good to know what I can do thanks to this video

[@c1784]

I'm not buying anything that has a sustainable version of. At the beginning I would repurchase items because they were glass and better for the planet. Even I already have it at home and works perfectly well. Amazing video, love the yearly reminder . Helps me keep in check.

[@jordanstovka3987]

I'm moving into my first studio apartment soon, and have been obsessing over art and pottery lately to decorate it with. My budget doesn't allow me to support local artists as much as I'd like, but I've had a lot of luck (and fun) thrifting decorative pieces at my local Goodwill! I've been learning a lot about pottery by flipping over things that visually interest me, looking for signatures on the bottom and giving it a quick Google search. While the artwork aisle is usually overrun with IKEA and Marshalls canvases, I have seen a fair share of artist-signed work and recently bought two matching 1970's illustrations for my bathroom :)

[@siobhanexplores]

I'm not buying any more art supplies until I use up what I have and decided if I like that particular supply enough to repurchase.

[@melly2331]

You made such a great point about how hair color lightening changes the porosity of our hair. This helped me with changing up my wavy hair products while it’s light! I LOVE the Laifen hairdryer (thanks to you!) too!

[@Maverickgouda]

I told myself a candle I came across was unnecessary in January, and yet I soon found that I needed it & went back to buy it 2 weeks later 😊

[@nirvanajude7548]

I’m not buying any new purses or backpacks this year. I used to have a weird fixation on them and noticed I had so many I never even used. After starting my sustainable journey I was able to gift most to friends, now I have one good backpack and that’s all I need.

[@StellaLouisa17]

I'm not buying any new fragrances! I started this last year, but I won't buy anything new until I have used up everything I already have. And when I have, I'm only going to buy one or two fragrances I know I love and will consistently wear

[@JustStopOkay]

I am not buying quite a few things this year. No more fabric softener, no more cleaners for every purpose (instead, reducing down to a couple of cleaners that cover all my bases), no more soda, no more water bottles, and no more sponges with plastic. I've gone a month without these purchases now and was shocked to see how much money I actually saved. Thanks for another good video Shelby!

[@Lifewithjule]

I just moved into my first apartment and I decided that I am not buying any furniture new, only second hand! I’m also trying to do the same for household items, like cake pans, cooking utensils, organization, etc.

[@racheljames9187]

Did this for my first home in 2021! It's so much fun and results in a quirky space when you fill it with pre-loved pieces... and you get to have the memories of being gifted items by lovely people (e.g. in buy nothing groups) or stumbling across the perfect thing when thrifting.

[@katedecker9442]

Can you share your Misto tips? I loved mine for almost a year and then the pump stopped working. It’s been a min and I would like another but don’t want to end up with another broken product.

[@sabrinacloud190]

I had one and I believe your supposed to clean them every so often and when I tried to clean mine I broke the little screen thing🤦‍♀️. So yes some tips if you have ever cleaned them Shelby.

[@kericombs]

Your background color and contrast is beautiful and eye-catching 💙💚🤍🤎

[@terrymorris740]

I have had a really positive experience with menstrual cups especially since I watch and follow many different accounts who talk and give tips about mensurable cups and discs . If you feel like trying a cup or disc I recommend watching videos on the best ones and how to use them.

[@ellaronci2703]

im using a full reusable period routine this year! I have period underwear, reusable pads, and a cup and its been a lifesaver. never going back

[@mariaoswalt7785]

I am also not planning to buy pads/tampons! I switched to reusable period underwear a few months ago and have been loving them.

[@maddie_maddie_maddie_maddie]

Could you do an episode on what you think is worth saving for? I have followed your advice (with a fair bit of success) and now I have a small amount of extra money in my account that I need a purpose for.

[@nutritionallywell2718]

I’m pretty much not buying anything other than your basics which I’ve also cut done on. This has been a journey for almost 5 yrs now, but just extra this yr!,, can’t wait to reach my next level of sustainability 🤗

[@raapyna8544]

I'm not so focused on the things I won't be buying this year, because I have so little money to spend anyway, because I'm living alone and studying. I'm already doing all the money-saving tips. This year, I need to repair a lot of things or get them repaired, and I want to learn to grow food on my balcony. I will get my laptop repaired this month and hopefully it will last me a long time again. I should also get my boots and backpacks repaired. I won't be making any promises for now for specific items, because my things are worn-out after many years of low-buys. If something breaks, because I need it in my every-day, I will probably have to replace it. I will try to repair or reuse anything that's possible, but some things may be so urgent that I won't have the time.