Conscious Consumerism Becomes...PROJECT NO BUY (2025)

[@Marsolan]

Thank you, Alexa. You have inspired me to do a no/low buy 2025. My reasons for it: 1. Save $ 2. Consume less 3. Avoid influence 4. Have fun without shopping Wishing you and everyone a successful 2025!!

[@ST-wo3uw]

I'm ready for my Project No Buy 2025 and am right there with you, Alexa and all! I canceled Amazon Prime and unsubscribed to numerous emails and KZbin channels (Sezane is my weakness!). My "why" is to be able to retire in 5 years at age 55! I'm not on any social media other than YT, which I think helps a ton. Love your offer to have this shared space for accountability, Alexa! Let's do this!! 🎉💰

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

Good luck! 5 years, you can do this!

[@angiec8784]

I also have the goal of retiring early in 5 years 😍👏🏼 doing my 2025 no buy!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Totally understand the weakness of Sezane, there are whole channels out there dedicated to their reviews! But I am also a lot more content and satisfied with what I have, having stepped out of the cycle of consuming that kind of online content. We can do this!

[@ecoariel8232]

I am also working on contentment in my intentional spending year. I set a alarm and every night at 6pm I either think about or my family and I name out loud 1. Something we have enough of 2. Something we are grateful for 3. Something that brought us joy 4. Something we can use that we haven't used in a while, use up, or repair to make last long. It helps me bring awareness to these things. I havent bought myself a new piece of clothing since October with this practice.

[@ivpetr4544]

Oh, this is lovely, thanks! I might try this out - just thinking of this regularly! ❤ best regards!

[@ecoariel8232]

@ivpetr4544 I wish you success!!!

[@lifeoutnumbered]

I love this idea!

[@ST-wo3uw]

Beautiful! I'm enjoying listing things in my No Buy journal that I already have that I'm grateful for and that bring me joy! 😊

[@ecoariel8232]

@ST-wo3uw i love that! I may steal this idea!

[@saininj]

I love how so many people are on board with this!

[@walterlippmann4361]

seems to be catching on quite nicely. hopefully people stick to it. 👍

[@victoria9663]

I have been minimalistic and frugal for a long time (I thought) but writing down every purchase in 2024 and tallying it all up yesterday was so shocking. I questioned whether I'm frugal at all! I had already had a low buy planned until April 2025 but I made my rules far more solid, put hard and fast limits on several categories of spending and basically tightened up my low buy rules considerably. I am very excited to see what it will look like this year.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I'm excited to hopefully hear some of your updates as the year goes on!

[@victoria9663]

@Alexas.nobuyyear I think checking in on your channel's comment section occasionally could be really motivating for me this year. So I do plan on giving updates!

[@Amy-vr5yt]

Yes this happened to me- I thought I was already doing well and then went through every single transaction in 2024 and was humbled very quickly!!

[@victoria9663]

@@Amy-vr5yt glad I'm not the only one! It was very helpful to get that shock. I needed it in order to be more realistic going into this year.

[@snowyghostbird]

Happy 2025! I'm with you. Really felt when you said how icky it is that we need to have a conscious goal of avoiding substances that are known to cause human harm, otherwise we would just be consuming them by default. Like you've been discussing, this doesn't just apply to food or cosmetics (things that we eat, apply to our skin, etc.), it also applies to the materials our clothes are made of, the harm the products we buy cause to the people making them, and all of those negative externalities. Because of the system we live in, the burden of making ethical choices is totally on us and we can only help each other to decrease cognitive load--companies at large will continue to do whatever is legal and makes them profit because that is their goal, regardless of the harm.

[@M_SC]

Thiiiiiiiiissss

[@vasserialchiller]

4:38 it sounds great! i went minimal when i couldn’t afford much but now i see how i only buy things that i actually use and it’s meaningful for me, i’m glad this is talked about.

[@brittany7288]

I first tried to be a more conscious consumer about a decade ago with minimalism, followed by learning more about environmentalism and sustainability. But, of course, I wasn’t perfect which eventually led to my first low buy in 2022 (and 2023 and 2024). After three years of low buys (all of which were useful even if some were more “successful” than others), I decided to try something a little different for 2025. The thought of having a project with lots of rules, exceptions, etc. felt tiring and too focused on stuff for where I’m currently at. So instead, I looked at my financial tracker/planner and figured out how many non-essential items I purchased in 2024 and how much I spent on those items. I reduced each by about a third and made those calculations my targets for 2025. I’ve made so much progress over the last few years that I think I’m ready for more simplicity. And more flexibility to use those limits how I see fit, such as unexpectedly finding a gem on the secondhand market or saving up until my November birthday. Now, I’ll only need to ask myself if a potential new to me item fits within the budget and item limit for the year.

[@Xenia-h7c]

Genius idea

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

This does sound a bit more similar to what I am doing in a practical sense this time around, with the monthly budget and ideal item numbers in some categories! I hope to get to the point where my "focus on stuff" has decreased, and likewise my interest in non-essential items!

[@Xenia-h7c]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear my only problem is that if someone tells me I shouldn’t do something, I actually start doing it…even if the person is me lol

[@patriciastepanek3241]

I love this idea. Makes total sense if that is where you are with your purchasing.

[@wyrdwitch13]

I failed my 2024 low buy too-but I learned so much from my failures and still ended up a much more conscious consumer! I am re-doubling my efforts again in 2025. My goal is to learn to create at least some of my own apparel and accessories & also shop my own wardrobe and practice styling what I have in innovative ways. Fashion is my passion (and shopping weakness), btw I love your sweater!! :)

[@zagros3280]

Hi Alexa.. I am on this with you. I start here and now my project no buy year (2025) for exactly same resons you mentioned. We 'll see if we can crack the programming.But I think we do we have so much awareness around our shopping habit and the triggers. I will be following you religiously. we against the machine så help me GOD.

[@rabbitngoose]

Thank you for making such genuine content. I am also doing a no buy year with you guys. Unsubscribing to email ads, getting off social media, and limiting wish lists helped a lot last year. Best of luck everyone!

[@Jijidede2]

For what it’s worth, you inspired me to do a no buy challenge this year. I actually started December 13th so that I get a head start and not making it so daunting of a task on the 1st. I’m feeling really good about it. I’m excited for the year. I’ve uninstalled the tempting shopping apps. There’s a unique peace about not going to look for something to buy, to not even be tempted. Or even the peace of not waiting for something to arrive is very eye opening. I’m hoping this is gonna stay for the long haul. Just wanted to say thank you!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

That's amazing, and good idea to start early to avoid the weight of the "new year!"

[@gritshelme]

I'm so excited to embark on No Buy 2025 with you and everyone else here! I have a very strict budget for any exceptions to my buying ban (replacements, consumables, travel, and one new item per quarter to support my new indoor cycling hobby) and any money I save will go into my down payment fund. I love the idea of your comments sections being a place for accountability and sharing our stories with one another. And I'm really excited to see that lowering our consumption habits seems to be so trendy!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yes - hoping it continues to trend beyond the positive push for resolutions in January 😁

[@DrJennyPhD]

I’m doing a very similar no/low buy year! Last year I saved my money all year to buy things during the holiday sales. I ended up buying so much at once it just didn’t feel good. Kind of like how after the holidays and eating so many extra sweets, you just find yourself craving veggies? Now I find myself craving a break from buying. I’m just aiming for the first 3 months for the “no” buy part. But for the low buy, i am inspired by your targets! I am going to spend some time really thinking about how many things I do want to buy this year.

[@lucydawson1344]

Happy new year and good luck with project no buy! I love your videos and looking forward to watching your progress this year whilst I attempt to embark on my own efforts to be more conscious and buy/own less!

[@kirbybike]

20:20 i ride bmx and one of the things my friend who taught me always does is remove the brand name sticker from a brand new bike. she said that once you buy an item it's yours, not the brand's, and if they're not sponsoring your cycling career you shouldn't be giving them free advertising. :)

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Makes sense!

[@jacq17fourmil]

Hi! I'm joining in the no buy/low buy this year :) After a couple of years of taking notes and observing how much money I've been spending on a weekly basis, I think I'm ready to try and stick to a weekly budget. Doing it monthly hasn't worked for me since being self-employed I get paid from different sources at random times throughout the month (a challenge in itself) and it's hard for me to know in advance how much money I'll earn each month. I've decided on a few exceptions including 2 specific houseplants in the spring, postage stamps in November for Christmas cards, Christmas and birthday gifts for family and friends, 4 hardcover notebooks/diaries/planners (I always buy the same kind every 4 years). I am saving for one big gift for myself (something I've needed for many years and I finally decided to save money and buy it) and a dream holiday with my partner. And I have 2 books on my wishlist for my birthday. I've been slowly decluttering so I'll just keep doing that :) Also I'd like to use more the things I already have and spend more time on my creative hobbies. Good luck everyone on (y)our journeys! Happy new year!

[@nowheresonourway]

Hi Alexa, I was so looking forward to this video and it sure as hell did not disappoint!! I feel so motivated and excited for all upcoming videos! And can I just say how much I love the phrase "a gentle resistance"! Something about it - something about being a tiny baby rebel as a person who normally shies away from conflict - feels so empowering and motivating! For now I'm doing a No Buy January, but ideally would like to keep going for longer. I think alternating No Buy/Low Buy months could be an accomplishable goal to me? An additional goal for me is to order as little as possible online! If I really want/need something I'm going to try to find it in a physical store. My reasons for that: - make shopping an experience. Have a nice day in the city, go with a friend etc. - often times I find the thing rather underwhelming irl and end up not wanting it anymore. Especially when it comes to makeup - the shiny photos on the website look so much more exciting than the swatches - environmental impact - and honestly I'm just tired of getting packages delivered (and everything that comes with it - being home at a certain time, missing the delivery, having to pick it up somewhere else, not liking the product and going through the whole returning process)

[@sarahschlosser7430]

I've been following your channel since I saw on of your the early OOTD reels across my feed a year ago! I haven't been able to keep up with your videos, but I do binge and I'm so happy to see your channel and philosophy grow. I dropped the ball on no buy mid year, but we learn from our mistakes, and awareness or consciousness consumerism is really the first step! I realized that my 2024 goals were too lofty compared to my then lifestyle. This year, my goal is to only buy a max five new (clothing/ accessory) items per season. I think this will give me time to take my clothes to the tailors, sell or giveaway items I no longer need, and create more outfits and continue to discover my style. "Playing the tape" has been an effective technique that prevents me from over consuming. Even though I didn't meet my '24 goals, I have wanted and consumed less, so thank you Alexa for your channel and Happy New Year!

[@amykatrina7542]

I'm also doing a five-item challenge this year! And also intending to purchase as far as possible only from small and local businesses instead of giving my money to big corporations that don't share my values. I'm hoping this will help me continue to reduce my consumption overall.

[@sarahschlosser7430]

⁠@@amykatrina7542Yes! That includes second hand, ethical companies, high quality investment pieces, and natural/ recycled fibers

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

You've been here a long time, those early OOTDs were pretty cringe 😆 but thank you! Likewise my 2024 goals were a bit lofty, but feeling better equipped to continue on this path in 2025 !

[@fuchion15]

These are focused, gentle goals that really shows how much you've learned during 2024! For 2025, I will continue to not buy basically any non-consummables unless I truly need it. I also plan on bike commuting to work (not really a choice in that since my bus route was cut and I refuse to drive in a town suitable for alternative modes of transportation).

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Frustrating that your bus route was cut! Hopefully the weather where you live makes for pleasant enough biking.

[@Chunkyshoesuk]

Good luck! Im attempting a low buy this year but have already brought a shirt in the sale today. It was however brought mindfully. I even checked the material to ensure I’ll wear it so Im getting better. Thank you for your wisdom during 2024. Very inspiring! ❤ Lovely to see your chanel growing each time I watch. Happy new year btw! Hope you have a great one!

[@Xenia-h7c]

Me 2, it’s going to be very hard to get out of the window shopping online

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Well I think it's almost more important not to be derailed or let one purchase lead to more, so no worries about one conscious shirt purchase!

[@knitnkitten]

I stopped using (therefore buying) shampoo & conditionner & all/any other hair products in 2019. I was so bored & disappointed with going to the salon to get my hair highlighted I quit going to the salon too. Not only does it save a tonne of money and time, my hair is so freaking healthy! Throughout menopause my hair got longer, thicker, & more lush. Admittedly I take supplements that include a high amount of copper & B-complex, but I've been taking those for over a decade. I rinse my hair in the shower with plain water about 2x/week and trim it myself 2 or 3 inches every three or four months. Bingo bongo! Easy peasy!

[@bthomson]

Our hair should be to our own liking! The idea that we color, cut, curl, or otherwise style for others seems to me bonkers!

[@Narja23]

I totally am on a no buy this year too ^^ I managed to shift a lot my view on purchasing things during the years 2022-2024 and for the first time in years, during these two years, I was able to save money (the previous years, I was not in debt, but I was unable to save money despite a job that was paying okay), and now I want to do the additional step of no purchase outside groceries or replacements if I don"t have an alternative at home. My why are very similar to yours ^^ Let's crush that ! I'm 32 and a teacher, and I want to be able, one day, to afford a home ^^

[@bthomson]

Maybe look for a house with an apartment. We have a rental on the property and it helps a lot with the mortgage payment!

[@linnearoyale]

here with you for a no buy/low buy 2025. we’re also doing the rule of 5 and I’m hoping to remain mindful and that it’s not just an excuse to shop. your last video helped us remember to sit down and map out all the many successes we can have during our year, like going over our finances weekly and monthly, a savings goal, when we have to replace something seeing if there is a more sustainable version, and using up/enjoying what we already have. I think being dedicated to tracking our money (and inflation of goods!) will be interesting and set us up for so many good habits beyond this challenge.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yes! My "rule of 5" is still an optimistic "rule of 0" in my mind, but for the sake of not having to "fail" if I either slip up or didn't think of some circumstance, it'll be the "rule of 5" 😄 Likewise I'm hoping that the increased focus on not just tracking $ but also deliberately putting it where I would prefer it to be (savings, etc) is going to help, in setting up more responsible priorities in some areas!

[@teresekokholm9723]

Your videos are very inspirering ❤ thank you for making them. I am doing a low buy year in 2025 and I feel in good company here 😊

[@bthomson]

The " good company" channel! Like that!

[@candibee8918]

I’m so excited for Project No-Buy and I’m excited about the idea of thinking about low-buy and no-buy in terms of our role as global community-members, not just for our own pocket books (though of course those are important too!) I think my kids are about 10 years older than yours. I mention this because I have a veggie, tea and herb garden which I eat a lot from over the summer and even into the winter. While my kids were still quite small, I worked on establishing perennials (ex: raspberry bushes, chives, perennial native teas), and I started with a very small area which I grew veggies my kids would eat and I knew how to cook. So I literally started with a 4 x 4 box with carrots and tomatoes. As my kids got older and could help I added more and more each year. The perennials like berries and herbs are an investment at first, but they do give if you take care of them! Happy New Year!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

That sounds incredible as far as the garden plan. I didn't even think about tea and herbs, but those would perhaps be even MORE useful to grow myself! Starting small with kid-friendly veggies is also a great idea. Thank you!

[@jungkooksnipple3356]

i'm loving so many of these talking points. would you say that your experience with conscious consumerism last year has somewhat radicalized you? or were you always this aware of "the system"? i just sense more disdain for conglomerates and the ruling class etc than usual, which is nice haha

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yes, 100%. I don't think I was ever THIS aware of the system before, even if I had the vague notion that it was not optimal. I also lived in New Zealand rather than America for my teenage/early adulthood, so things felt a bit different. And honestly part of it was also that prior to about 2022, I myself was in a lot more "survival stress" as far as scraping by working minimum wage jobs, then finishing grad school, then starting a new job that I got laid off from during 2020 and pivoting to public school teaching for a year - so I also remember what it was like to just not have the mental energy to figure out why I was mad at the system... because it was a daily challenge to figure out how to continue to get up at 5am and get through work (a lot of my jobs started EARLY)

[@jungkooksnipple3356]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear awesome, thank you for responding!

[@lifeoutnumbered]

Your Library might have a seed exchange. Ours did and you could rent out seed packets and as long as you didn't empty the packet you could use a few and turn them back in for free. Lot of offers for free mulch and dirt or even pots on Facebook marketplace. Gardening can be expensive as heck but you can also do it for free. Local agriculture branches also can have a lot of free resources. My first year was. Just food for thought.

[@faeriesmak]

Mine had a seed exchange this year too! It was really fun to look through!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@lilies-and-lilies]

omg yeah.... i didn't even think about the fact that the real expectation you had set was becoming a conscious consumer. it was in the name!! 😂 in a way, would you consider last year to have been a successful low-buy? it is so much fun watching your channel. this feels like everything i love and miss about KZbin - creative people sharing thoughts and interests and ideas. ngl, i would enjoy a book about your journey. a fictionalized thought-piece about deconstructing your experience with consumerism over several years? a memoir even? 😂 just a fun thought. it's hard to find a truly curious and intellectually challenging space on KZbin and social media. you're doing cool things here 🎉

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Aw thank you - I like the idea but wonder whether my videos on here would translate well to a book - one of the issues I have with "youtuber books" is that they are so often an inferior version of their video content but maybe making it a fictional tale could circumvent that. I'll keep thinking about it 👀and again, thank you!

[@bthomson]

Unfortunately books are not the dynamic purveyor they once were. Our darned attention spans have shortened! I seem to only actually read when there is a power outage! My Kindle is so very easy! I can listen to all I need! Lazy bum that I am!!

[@Siures]

Yay, shout-out to you and the rest of this community! I still enjoy your intersectional views on consumption, finance, self-empowerment and marketing. As I am currently writing this I changed my opinion. I thought I didn’t need a no-buy. I am already a conscious consumer and won’t buy something just because. But I want also to be more creative in the sense of finishing projects, learning new skills and make time for these things. I feel like I could do without buying any hobby stuff for the whole year. This might help me getting more creative with what I have. I also want to be more aware on what we buy for our kids as I think they don’t use what they have as much as they think when they put it on their wishlists. Maybe I will make rules for the first half year and do a little more planning on what I buy and what I won’t buy. My needs are mostly covered (need a few undergarments and I certainly plan to buy 1-2 new sweaters in the end of season sales as I don’t have undamaged sweaters anymore). On the other hand my life is so busy and full now with 20h/week job, kids, one gifted and with ADHD, and my voluntarily work that I don’t want to be so strict on me when I have a creative idea or craving for a certain book that might help me focus on what I need for myself. So maybe I will go along with a no-buy but a bit more gentleness towards my current needs and more based on reducing my overcommitments (also including buying stuff for my hobbies and not being able to use them).

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Definitely in favor of the "gentle no buy" and creativity coming from less consumption - life being busy can definitely be a huge factor in whether or not we buy something (or even just want to buy something), I've already been feeling this, this year (3 days in 😆)

[@mariekelley7557]

Viola Superfan! I think that falls into the “1000 true fans” category (tone:humor)😊 I do love when you share music with us! And viola is such a soulful instrument! Love this whole video 🩷 I look forward to doing a similar level of change in my year too.

[@bthomson]

Yes! The music is special!

[@bthomson]

I would use a Patreon ( already use it now). I am very aware of OWING to this channel! So glad that these videos can be ongoing!

[@bthomson]

Btw Happy Birthday! 💐

[@bthomson]

The closing music was beautiful and the saturated blue sweater is grand! Twice a week is still magnanimous! Happy 2025 (not 2925!)!😎

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Probably 3x/week, honestly - I just have too much to talk about 😅

[@bthomson]

GOODY! 🎇

[@danamatsukawa4762]

Thank you for your videos and being so inspiring. My project 2025/new years resolution look like this: No buying on Amazon. Limit to as few things as possible buying online of anything. eliminate or reduce online looking at thrift sights, or retailers. Limit my shopping to essentials at big box stores. (Those are my only options for shopping near where I live) For clothing, buy only used in person and keep track of how many things I buy for the year. Goals: I would like to set up a mending group where I could provide this service to my community in some way. Exceptions I will make center around the fact that I have some health issues that cause me pain. Right now I think I have the things I need to help me in this area, but for my health I will buy what need

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

These are great resolutions! Keep me posted on how it's going!

[@nessamcness2399]

Hi Alexa. I would like to offer my thoughts on worrying so much about chemicals and man made things. I agree trying to eat healthy foods and preparing them yourself at home is wonderful. But everything is a chemical. We are made up of chemicals. Almost everything in this world is processed to some degree. I have been down the rabbit hole of wanting things to be "natural" or less chemicals. In the end I have found what works for me and I land much more in the middle now. Looking forward to watching your journey on your no buy this year 😊

[@grreeeeee]

I don’t think she means what you’re interpreting. She said ultra processed food and artificial scents, both of which have evidence of doing harm to the human body. She isn’t one of those crunchy weirdos who turns into an anti-vaxxer. Avoiding certain things is just smart, not hysterical. The USA is kind of behind re. what is allowed in products.

[@carolineeveratt]

​@grreeeeee I had a shock when I worked in the food and bodycare industry. So many additives, colourings, flavourings and ingredients FDA approved are banned in Europe.

[@ashleyw3326]

Interestingly, there are plenty of additives banned in the US that are allowed in Europe, but we don’t hear about those. My understanding is that they use methodologies for assessing risk - US is based more on keeping the doses of additives low, rather than banning things outright. Both food supplies are considered incredibly safe. I avoid strong scented products as I am allergic but I also avoid essential oils - they are terrible for the environment.

[@grreeeeee]

@@ashleyw3326 you don't "hear about those" because only americans talk about 'europe' like it's the same place with the same regulations

[@KellyNora-p8q]

She probably just means toxic chemicals. I buy single ingredient food in order to avoid additives.

[@alexandranash3947]

Woohoo!!! No buy 2025 LET'S GOOOOOO! I started in august so I'm about halfway there :) So far I've ''cheated'' twice, and I promised not to feel like a failure about it! We just gotta stay the course and do our best to get off the marketing train. I'm still having trouble with the ''desires'' part. Sometimes I fantasy shop without buying and it's such a waste of time.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I feel this too, every time I spend time "shopping" it does feel like a waste, and even worse if I now want something that I previously did not want or care about, before seeing it!

[@e.d.t.]

I'm taking the budgeting non-essentials approach this year. I spent over 2k on unnecessary stuff last year, and this year I want to cut that in half. I have a 1k limit I'm deducting from, so every time I feel the urge to buy something "cute" or "fun", stuff I know I don't need, I'm deducting it from the pot. Dang I'm already down $4.25 including taxes after that trip to Walmart earlier, not a great start, but at least I'm aware. Having typed out the numbers and changing that 1000 to 995.75 there is this feeling of wow, this is real, I gotta be a lot better with my money. Granted I haven't been to Walmart in at least a month, but now I can see how easily it is for me to drop a few dollars on a want and not a need without realizing it. Sure it was on sale, but I didn't plan to buy it, and NOT spending money is free.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

This is GREAT. I agree that that first "spend" is actually kind of reality-checking, and, can actually feel demoralizing to do in January when starting a "year of change" - but, for some reasons I also think January is particularly difficult (I'll be talking about this later this month) and we shouldn't be discouraged if we DO "break rules" or spend part of the budget or use some of the "item limit" right away in January.

[@JillofAllTrades-inMI]

Topic idea, especially as you head into your second year. Each month, pick your heavy-hitter video from the same month last year and react to it. Whether it's the biggest viewcount, the best community discussion, or it just resonated with you the most. How do you feel a year later? Do you still agree with yourself? Would you do anything different in context with how the world seems to be changing?

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Wow, this is an interesting idea - I'll make a note of it and see how it feels! Looking back at the beginning of last year's videos, I'll probably leave it alone in Jan/Feb since it was basically a time of overwhelm, and I covered the most salient parts in the recent overview video of "what I didn't buy in 2024" 😅 I'm sure a lot of my opinions will change and develop though so it could also be a good opportunity to rectify some of my possibly misguided or incomplete statements of the time

[@scrappy6932]

Happy New Year! I agree, your new channel name perfectly sets your intention for 2025 and will help steer me towards my goals for this coming year. I am embarking on a no-buy January-February-March and will probably segue into a very low buy spring. I honestly don't need anything, I just need to avoid the siren call of marketers and the nagging voice of boredom. I am determined to be strong and resolute this time around especially as last year's attempts were a bust 🤷🏻‍♀ Thank you for your encouragement and fearless leadership 😁

[@bthomson]

Yes! Being a leader is much more brave than vainglorious!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Here's to an improvement on last year, even if it "falls short", the goal is always steps in the right direction...and less of a hold for those nagging voices to have on us!

[@scrappy6932]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear 😅

[@zuzzzap]

Happy New Year Alexa :)

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Happy New Year to you too!!!

[@azsubie3177]

I'm right there with everybody else! I have enough but I come from lack mentality over the years and often consume for the 'just in case'. I have multiple 'just in cases' depending on the item. It's clearly a trauma response and just recognizing this and turning my focus inward to heal instead of consume....that is my focus this year. Currently looking for a good therapist and writing in my journal to help me process 'why' I overconsume and buy things I don't really need multiples of, etc.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

All the best to you in doing this work (and finding a good therapist, so important yet so tricky to find the right person!), I hope you can feel better for it in 2025

[@oboemoboe]

I'm so on board for this! (Also, we stan a viola queen, LOL!)

[@bthomson]

🎻👸🎯

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

omg words I never thought I'd hear🥹

[@cjevans6365]

🌸 I think you did really well in your first year, I’m looking forward to seeing how you go this year. X

[@jillianj1016]

I've done a no buy year before and had planned to do one this last year but probably only had about 6 successful months. I got a new job half way through the year that required me to get a new car (luckily I was able to buy it outright partially because of my savings in my first no buy year) and new clothes (went from solely office work to field work) and once I started opening those buying doors it was hard for me to get back on track but I feel like I'm settled enough in the new normal that I think I should be good to do this next year. I also feel like I'm more motivated this next year to do it because I'm seeing it somewhat as a political protest.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Oh yes, life changes make it really hard! Especially as usually we don't get a "trial period" to assess what we might truly need, we have to dress for the job (and drive there, bring lunch, etc.) on day 1. I know I used to "overbuy" out of worry that I wouldn't have enough for a new job or stage of life, hopefully I'm past that for the forseeable future.

[@leahaf808]

Yessss! Let's do it, no buy 2025! My rules: 1. No clothes. At all. 2. Restaurant or takeaway once a month only 3. Track every thing spent in an itemised tracker 4. Personal care/makeup - replacements only 5. Any hobby supplies bought have to be bought with a particular purpose in mind and used immediately (I'm including this because I'm getting married this year and will be making the decor and wedding dress myself) 6. Keep a wishlist during the challenge (I've loved seeing the things you've bought and the things you talked yourself out of)

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Wow - congrats on the upcoming wedding, and the wedding crafting!

[@Joeblacktea]

Another space monkey here! Thanks and happy new year!

[@Makorie]

Love your channel! I've never commented before. I'll be joining for a "low buy" year. I love your idea to cut off Amazon, that's a great goal to have. I just have a few rambly thoughts on your ruleset; feel free to discard/ignore the input if it's unneeded or not applicable. 21:00 - It might be pedantic but I'd be wary of labeling certain categories of things as "acceptable" for events, or to think of an "acceptable" amount of indulgent items. This is not because people should feel ashamed of getting items - but from my experience, treating every purchase as equally important is easier to maintain over the course of a no/low buy rather than trying to memorize some lists or numbers of "acceptable" slip ups. You might also run into the scenario where the "acceptable" list conflicts with your needs in the future. (Ex: you gave yourself an exception for a makeup product, but once holiday season happens, you might only be buying it to fulfill that list.) The goal for me, at least, is to be honest with what I want, and to treat everything that enters my home with the same amount of importance. I'm also trying to decouple the idea that holidays require absolutely any gifts to be received or given, and am learning to unpack why holidays may feel "incomplete" without them.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I appreciate your thoughts! I was perhaps not pedantic enough in my descriptions of the "possible exceptions" - on reflection of what happened in buying for Christmas 2024, which was the first one working under "intended no buy parameters" but also an occasion for which I forgot to actually specify any amounts or categories (just that gifts were a blanket exception), I thought it would be helpful to at least have some targets but with internal flexibility with the specifics. Similar to the gifting rule (I'm not sure of origin, but I've heard it from multiple sources) of "something you want, need, wear, and read" for a 4-gift Christmas, but I wouldn't arbitrarily follow the categories but rather take them as suggestions for a maximum of four gifts. This is what I loosely follow for the people I am responsible buying for (kids) but adapted to their actual needs/wants at the time. If clothes/books aren't applicable then it'll be something else...the point for us right now, is more about the cap of 4 gifts, coming from a place of observing and participating in more than that. Pleased to report this year that that felt like the "right" number (again this is for the kids), despite having had years where it was certainly higher before. And likewise it's the real goal, to continue my personal journey of not wanting new makeup products and also not having mandatory presents for Christmas and birthdays... and also by extension, not shopping at all during the November marketing bonanzas. All of that would be fantastic...but I'm skeptical that I will be able to totally decouple on this between now and next Christmas, and certainly not before my next birthday. So for me this is a way of telling myself "ok, maybe I want to try this product or indulge in this now, but I should wait for Christmas since that's supposed to be the time I get to try a makeup product I don't actually need." But at the same time, not keeping an active wishlist because I don't want to fixate on "wants" in that way anymore. And so if by then I don't remember that I wanted it, great! Keen to hear any additional thoughts that might relate to these more-specific explanations 😁

[@Makorie]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear That makes sense, for sure! I can understand that having some "breathing room" rules can definitely ease any stress about slip ups. I appreciate your reply a lot :) I'm replying here but I've watched your latest video clarifying your rules. Your "circle of success" section in your latest video helps me understand your mindset a lot more, and it seems very reasonable to offer exceptions for family/loved ones who aren't participating in a similar no/low buy year. (For context) I'm going into low/no buy personally as ADHD and some stresses about scarcity or prices rising can make me impulse-buy. The act of buying/shopping isn't addicting to me (more stressful), but the idea of "missing out"/having purchases looming above my head is my biggest issue. I'm not in the loop for any popular online low/no buy rules, but I really resonated with people like Fumio Sasaki and Mai Yururi. For what's worked for me, it's almost how you describe your mentality of using the term "no buy" instead of the term "low buy". So far I've benefitted most from a system that's the same for the entire year, regardless of holidays and special events. There is a sort of stress that I get from knowing that I could buy under xyz conditions, and that sets me up for failure. Essentially, the fewer reminders (wishlists, exception lists) I have, the better I usually do. The holidays do genuinely offer a sense of pressure that you must consume, or else you're just "ruining the fun". It can even just be for food, this is the part of it I struggle with the most. I can definitely understand why people may slip a lot or feel frustrated with themselves after the holidays are over, it's really impossible to avoid marketing unless you stay in an empty room all year long lol

[@kylieridler8795]

🎉 I’m so glad you’re back with a new no buy 🎉

[@roses.9181]

Alexa, this is my favorite channel ever. Thank you ❤

[@Xenia-h7c]

Interesting username

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Aw, thank you!

[@CAGChannel1]

Always match your Stanley to your sweater. I had visions of those crazy walls and shelves of Stanley’s :). JK, but sweater does look nice and warm! Side note - unless you have a green thumb, attempted gardens have cost me a lot-lesson learned. I suck at it and denying that wasted so much money on trying to succeed.

[@bthomson]

Mostly you get twenty tomatoes all at once and tiny pinky sized carrots and HUGE inedible zucchini! 🌱🚫

[@svetlanadreher7190]

I confirm. I tried growing some things and the only success was cherry tomato plant that I bought at a farmers market 😂

[@ST-wo3uw]

​@@bthomson 100% true! 😂

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Haha if that's the rule, then you will only see me in this sweater and with this drinking vessel 😆

[@wen.ye.y]

Hi Alexa! I just created my Low Buy 2025 rules :) Last year I was doing well for the first half of the year but last half was kind of lost when life got busier. Going to do my best and not “give up” when things arent perfect. The one thing that is a No Buy for me this year (replacements only) is MAKEUP. I have a strict budget to stick to for everything else :) Good luck to us all!

[@Happyfrogreading]

I am aiming for low buy year with a set of rules like green yellow and red purchase. I also want to tally everything in a spreadsheet to see my spending categories. So one mesure of success is to fill up those spreadsheet even if I bought things I am embarassed about.

[@lifeoutnumbered]

My biggest goal for 2025 is to create over consume. Create clothing, create art, grow food, knit garments, cook more food where I can. Art before scrolling if you will. I'm a busy mom of three who homeschools and works online from home, so we will see how much I actually accomplish but still that's my goal.

[@Xenia-h7c]

You can’t be serious, there is no way you have time for all of that unless you have access to more hours in the day than me :)

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yes to creating over consuming! Maybe some of those are things the kids can get involved with too, if they're old enough and so inclined to help/participate...valuable skills!

[@shawnaripari]

loved this sweater on you, love this video, love everything!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

🥰

[@joanamarch8847]

Hi! I’m starting on the 10th of January (need to be honest with myself cause I know I’ll be buying clothes during the winter sales in the next days…😂). Good luck everybody!

[@yalazha]

Love the meaning behind the new name! Since you mention wondering if it gets easier over time, were you nervous going into the no-buy year at the beginning of 2024? Was your experience more or less challenging than what you had thought going into the no buy? I've been thinking about my clothing item limit for this year's low buy too, and tentatively settled on 6. Somehow 5 felt daunting for me 😄

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

EXTREMELY nervous going into 2024, and I think it was probably more challenging than I thought, although I did think it would be almost insurmountably challenging. And 6 does feel like a nicer, even number than 5 😄

[@dg8275]

Been watching you for quite some time now. I am looking forward to giving this a try. Here’s to us.

[@carolineeveratt]

Dangnabbit. Just realised i forgot to cancel Amazon Kindle subscription - been billed tonight. 😢 oh well. Bit of a fail on day 1 on my part.... Gardening!!! Ive put plants, seeds, compost on my allowed list..

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Trying to convince my husband to let us join a compost subscription service since he'd rather not do it in our own backyard 😅 and hey no worries, cancel it now and onwards you go!

[@finn_english]

good on you, this is the start - in order to help others outside the framework of capitalism you can volunteer your time to those who can benefit from it that are less well off. in addition, you can do 'time bank' or other styles of bartering where you swap skills for time, not money. finally, biggest way to reduce your environmental impact is to go plant-based - whole food plant-based diet is also one of the least processed, cheapest and healthiest ways to eat. best of luck and keep it up!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Intriguing ideas here, thank you!

[@paulwade4322]

Another goal or idea you may want to think about is decreasing your amount of waste. I no longer use laundry soap, dish soap (use a dish block instead), dryer softeners, toothpaste and hair products in plastic containers. There are actually wonderful alternative formulations that work wonderfully. You can search and find items which fit your needs but there are quite a few options out there. It is gratifying to actually see the trash you send out weekly (or take to the recycling center) decrease. Of course, this involves shopping and consuming until you find what you are looking for : )

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Absolutely - I have been on this quest as well! We no longer use most kitchen-related single use plastics, we switched to laundry strips and I don't use dryer sheets (my husband prefers to, so we got some from the same eco-conscious brand that does the laundry strips) and my compromise on the personal care products/things like dish soap is that we either buy the largest quantity and refill (therefore less plastic containers) or use pretty sparingly, sometimes not even on purpose - I use a dentist-prescribed toothpaste that I'm not willing to forego, but I might go through two bottles per year, maximum using it twice daily. I'm also still pretty wary of "shopping around" for these more sustainable replacements, when that in the past has led to more unnecessary purchases for me and I may not yet be out of those woods completely. I'm hoping to join a compost club this year since my husband is not really willing to do it ourselves in our own backyard right now. So that IS another goal this year too!

[@jochenkraus7016]

A bit off topic, what does KZbin statistics say about your audience? (gender, age, location,...) It looks to me like the majority of consumerism and low buy creators are women. While the product categories for men and women differ (warning, stereotypes ahead, e.g. make up and handbags instead of bike parts, computer upgrades, etc.) some of the ideas (wants/needs, brands, FOMO, future self, etc.) are the same.

[@belkyhernandez8281]

My anecdotal experience is that men over spend on different things. They spend on movie and game paraphernalia, games, gambling, sports equipment, bikes, tools etc.

[@annie-sc]

​@@belkyhernandez8281so true. Their purchases are different. I've played several games with so many people overspending just to be the best. Literally trying to "pay to win." It's quite typical in MMORPGs and gacha games.

[@CocoLicious]

​@@belkyhernandez8281 Statistics in general show that while the overall numbers aren't that different that women spent more on "smaller"/"cheaper" items and men tend to spend more money at once - bike, truck, expensive tools etc. Of course, generalization. If you look at financial audits and so on, being bad with money and consume over the needs happens with everyone- even every income bracket.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, my audience is mostly "like me" in demographics: 94% female, 47% in the USA, and 66% between ages of 25-44 (I combined two age categories, the largest category [37%] are between 25-34) I can make comments about what I observe men doing regarding spending, but I can't be relatable in the same ways without that lived experience 😅

[@jochenkraus7016]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear I didn't expect it to be that close to female only :-o

[@Lisa-kd6ro]

I cancelled all my auto pay account's, unsubscribed from all the "haul" video creators on KZbin and deleted all my retail apps. I also made my word of the year: Enough

[@Iquey]

😮🤩😜 i LOVE that you watched and read fight flub and are referencing Project Mayhem!!! 😁😆🤣

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

It feels pretty relevant right now 😅

[@sarahjamieson-bas6156]

Hi from 🇳🇿 NZ Alexa. Im doing a low buy 25 in 2025. Have flexibility of 2 things a month and 1 bonus this year but goal is none! Not included is things i use up or break and gifting. I dont buy online and i use cash. I prefer to $upport bricks and mortar shops. I am trying to relearn what is Enough. Looking forward to watching journey! Best wishes.

[@bigwildonion]

Lots of good ideas here!

[@KellyNora-p8q]

You can start a garden with very little money. If you are friends with gardeners you can use their produce and flowers for your own seeds. You can deadhead flowers on the streets to collect seeds. I have begun gardens in plain, loosened dirt without adding topsoil or anything.

[@marleenab5677]

Hi! I just found your channel. And I love what you are doing. I am trying to shift the purchases I need to make away from the huge companies and not via Amazon. I also am on a very small income, so low buy is pretty much the norm for us. On the other hand I am conflicted, because my income is directly dependent on someone else buying jewellery I make. I absolutely hate marketing and trying push things to people. If I dont put my work constantly out there, we essentially disappear. Because of my prices, I need a lot of people to see my work to find the one person who can afford to buy. Do you think something like conscious production exists? From your point of view, what does it look like? Is it only producing things that are needs, never wants? Is it only making things to request to avoid over production? Is it abstaining from marketing? Where is the line drawn between displaying what you have made on social media and influencing? I would like to see a video or podcast from this point of view as I know the no buy movement is worrying many of the people in my threads feed. 😊

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I think if a creator is even thinking about these things, it is a sign that they are probably on the "right side" of things. While I'm exploring my own relationship with non-necessities and whether I need to buy anything, I do think there is a place out there for beautiful things that are crafted with care. And of course people need to know about these things in order to buy them, and the people who make these things need people to buy them in order to survive from their small businesses. As someone who is a bit of an "artist", I suppose (by being a musician, although I'm currently not marketing, I have had websites before) my approach is to focus on the quality of my work as well as on the actual needs of the person looking for it. I guess it may also be easier to avoid things like FOMO marketing because someone looking for event-music or music lessons is likely already going to be looking for that service, so there's no advantage from marketing that urges people to "buy now" or offering "once in a lifetime sales!!!" or things like that. But perhaps it's similar with your level of jewellery - the one person who can afford to buy probably has a reason for doing so, rather than making impulsive purchases of things they don't truly love because they saw an attention-grabbing ad offering a 40% once-in-a-lifetime discount on a trendy product. I'll make a note to do a chat about this though, as it's a point of discussion I have received a few times!

[@markieuanroberts]

Going to try no-buy for Jan, hopefully longer but a month seems an achievable goal

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yes! one month at a time, or even one week or day if a month feels long!

[@wlammy4ever]

Yas I am so on board!

[@deersakamoto2167]

Criticism of polyester clothing is common among sustainable fashion pundits, but (1) it often ignores the material's valuable properties. Brands like North Face, Arc'teryx, and Patagonia (that people usually don't consider fast fashion) use polyester and other plastic materials not to "cut costs," as those pundits assume, but for its durability, moisture resistance, etc. (2) This critique can also reflect a consumerist mindset: as long as people buy "natural" or "sustainable" clothing, they feel like "good consumers." It's akin to a recovering alcoholic justifying drinking only expensive alcohol

[@chaoticneutralsheep]

You can at least compost materials like cotton, natural fibres can go back to the environment. Synthetic fibres don't actually have sweat wicking properties, what it means is it can't absorb it, so sweat is actually trapped in when worn, it's a terrible fabric to wear in the heat and will melt into your skin if exposed to fire, it also offgasses and causes microplastics with every wash. Plastic clothing is already at its last destination as soon as it's made, it can't be recycled, and there's around 92 million tonnes of it a year. Most countries fill their landfills with it or try to send it over to Africa, where they sell some and destroy their own fashion market but more of it is thrown in a landfill and covered in tarmac.

[@Xenia-h7c]

@@chaoticneutralsheep i used to hate polyester but my favourite winter coats are polyester based and serve its purpose so well. However, anything that is close to my skin needs to be breathable which polyester is not…

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I agree with not using these parameters to fall into the "good consumer" trap - my preference going forward is to not buy at all rather than buying to avoid a certain material. I'm actually not sure what the accepted definition of "fast fashion" actually is and whether those brands do or don't qualify! But the main complication in my mind right now of anything plastic/polyester I think is the lack of circularity at the moment, where more of it is produced than is recycled or broken down for other uses. But once again those problems can all be avoided by just not-buying as much as possible, as paradoxical as that sounds. I'm not decluttering/replacing any clothing I already have that is polyester, certainly not for the sake of "upgrading materials" - in fact my priority now is rather to continue using that item for as long as humanly possible to avoid it becoming forever-trash.

[@deersakamoto2167]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear Your clarification is fair, but I do have concerns with shallow jabs that many people engage in at polyester clothing or Teflon/PTFE pans, etc. Many people have valid reasons for choosing these products over alternatives, considering factors like cost, performance, comfort, animal welfare, ease of care, and more. It's problematic when some individuals present only the negatives of these products, dismissing their benefits. When questioned, their response of "let me list all the negatives (again)" demonstrates the very one-sided thinking they're being criticized for, failing to acknowledge any positive aspects. The recent discussions about the black plastic study (well-covered in Adam Ragusea's recent two videos) serve as an excellent example of why we should be cautious about jumping to simplistic conclusions on such complex topics.

[@NotAMcDonaldsWorker]

​@@deersakamoto2167 It might be worth it to see less as a "balanced" list of pros and cons, and more through the lens that a single con for polyesters might outweigh any and every positive (for them). Personally I think North Face, Arc'teryx, and Patagonia are not necessarily fast fashion but also aren't ethical; they're all priced slightly higher than fast fashion but they over-represent their brand names in their pricing (especially Arc) when you consider the fabrics, customer service, and actual quality versus the general perception. All this to say, I don't think anyone would argue that a raincoat or similarly specific clothing might necessitate plastic (though I'd love to hear alternatives haha) but it's unproductive to expect that anytime someone list something they don't like, that they also stop to list the positives of those things even though they might not apply to them. Your reply makes it seem like you're taking someone else's personal and subjective opinion too personally.

[@hazeldavis3176]

I like not mentioning brands. Maybe sometimes it's needed for context, however, as a society we give brands too much importance in our purchasing decisions. We often justify a purchase based on what brand it is saying things like 'oh, but X is such high quality' or 'X is a B corp'. When the true question should be do i need this at all, or how can i do the same thing without this purchase. My two cents. In the end I'm sure whatever path you go, good things will come of it. 🌺

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

That's how I feel too - if the actual brand carries topical relevance (examining if the brand is specifically why I want something, or the general perception of brands, etc) then it'll probably still be directly mentioned, but if not I'd love to try using description-based language and see how it feels/comes across in this landscape where we hear so many brand names in so much content in general.

[@michellemccormick8633]

Happy New Year and!! Project No Buy? I love it! Can I be one of your Space Monkeys?? 😅

[@bthomson]

I'd like to be a pet lab rabbit! No make up testing though!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Oh man maybe I need to make that song (Space Monkeys) the theme for this channel

[@michellemccormick8633]

@ Hee hee. Most definitely not!

[@michellemccormick8633]

That would be cool! All jokes aside - great jobs with your content. I've actually started to put some real thought into at least a low buy for the year. Lord knows I don't actually "need" anything!

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

Cutting back on KZbin is a great idea! I might take that

[@cloveroom]

excited to follow along!! :)

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

🤗

[@shannonmacrae]

Hi! I am on the no buy 2025 train! Your very inspiring and I am trying to do the same on another app, I may also start a channel here.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Would love to see it if you do!!!

[@KymMadden-u9k]

Alexia, as a new subscriber I am really enjoying your channel. However I amnit cleat why you are going no buy rather than low buy or very low buy? Am thinking the latter would be more sustainable. You have likely discussed this However I could not locate Thanks!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I'm not sure if I have directly discussed, but I will I think in the next video focused on the rules I mentioned here. I'm sticking to the "no buy" heading rather than the reality of the "low buy" that it actually is, because for some reason the goal of 100% restriction makes it more fun for me, even if I know I cannot achieve it! It shapes my thinking in a different way, and even if at times I appear to be dismayed at my own failure, I find these particular thought exercises pretty enjoyable at their core. But it is a very personal reason/feeling, and won't be helpful for everyone! Maybe just those who find "overthinking" to be a fun activity instead of frustrating or exhausting 😅

[@KymMadden-u9k]

​@Alexas.nobuyyear thanks for your reply. I understand what you mean. It's very interesting the language we use!

[@sarahburkhardt2037]

Not exactly a no buy question but do you have your music channel linked? I would be curious to check it out!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Not linked - I'm not ready! haha. It's quite the mess over there but if you search "Alexa - Play me a song!" maybe with a "viola" in there, it should come up.

[@draugno7]

My limit this year is about 8€/month for non-necessities (a burgundy mascara, jacket no. 5, etc 😅). Maybe I'll up it to 15$, we'll see

[@SamaraFK]

I'm trying online non buy this year.

[@northernsummer8217]

I watch KZbin on treadmill only.

[@KeliOConnor]

I, as a former violinist, would love viola pop covers 😅

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

🥰

[@belkyhernandez8281]

Happy New Year! I think all your goals are great except the music one of 50 pieces seems a little hard if you also want to have fun. Maybe higher that 25 but lower than 50? I'm good with no buys with almost everything except eating out. Maybe because I don't like to cook or do dishes. I cook for the week on Sundays and by Wed I bored of my home cooking. Still working on it. I told myself today I wasn't going to buy street food when I left the house but failed on the drive back. I justified it to myself at the moment by avoiding the $11 meal and getting the $3 meal. When ever I do this I am rarely satisfied. Ideally I would be better off foregoing the cheap street food and saving up for a nice meal at a restaurant.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Absolutely! I actually made one more video covering just "the rules" (with my usual rambling, so it's not concise or anything haha) since it took me 20 min to get to them in this video - and already in that update I mention that 50 was way too many, and unless it gets way easier the more I do it, I might have to aim for 1x month at least at first, assuming I want these to be "good" covers 😆 I solved the problem of eating out by living somewhere where most of the restaurants I've tried are disappointing enough that I'd rather cook at home, which is not ideal, but good for the budget!

[@belkyhernandez8281]

@Alexas.nobuyyear hahaha

[@M_SC]

Hey the piece at the beginning- if that’s the way to play it I’m putting the accents in the wrong place

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

*pulls up the music* well I guess technically the only printed accents are on the measures with two straight quarter notes, and I didn't really do them there so it might just be my interpretation - I like to emphasize the beginning syncopation since it makes it sound more playful to me, like the two musicians are chasing each other (or in this case, I'm chasing myself since I recorded the other part of the canon). I'm also playing it on violin-register on a viola, and possibly a bit faster than necessary, so take it all with a grain of salt. On the other hand I am a musician by profession (and have performed this canon quite a bit!), so maybe my salt is okay 😅

[@valeriemalenfant]

I need to go on a no-buy ... but I will try to go on a LOW Buy .... I think the 12 piece of clothing will be a realistic goal (one per month) and paying at least one credit card up. I only have two. sooo that should be feasible. 🤞

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Yess! You can do it, keep me updated!

[@teresasoundworld3103]

i’m in, xo 🚀 🐒

[@Beingnessing]

Did you work out how much you saved last year?

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I did a video on it, adding up the "things I wanted to buy but didn't" - in a practical sense though we did have unforseen expenses (house and medical), and I did still buy some stuff (another recent video) so I'm not sure we actually "saved" more actual money

[@Chirp-zi4nx]

why don't you borrow books from the library instead of buying them?

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I do! I should probably mention it more, but the books I buy are specifically ones my local library either doesn't have or has a months-long waitlist for, or in more rare cases, is a book I feel that I want to take a LONG time to read/absorb and possibly keep afterwards. But when on the thriftbooks app it's too easy to add "extras" sometimes. It's also somewhat difficult to make many physical trips to the library these days, so I do most of my borrowing through the libby app/kindle.

[@Chirp-zi4nx]

@@Alexas.nobuyyear I understand that. sometimes i result in buying a copy of the book after i have borrowed it from the library because i like it so much or haven't finished it and, like you, want to take my time with it. the same thing happens on the rare occasions that i get a manicure, i end up buying a bottle of the color i have chosen because i like it so much!

[@dead_inside674]

The only things I've purchased in last 24 months: Cat food Cannibus Groceries.

[@bthomson]

Replace mj with junk food and that's me too! But... I have STILL learned so much from this great channel!

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

This sounds pretty good! I was going to make some joke about whether you really need the cat, but I'll leave it at that 😅 (coming from someone who likes cats but can't currently have one)

[@sinnela5807]

I'll voice my opinion on your decision to avoid brand names, but I want to say that I appreciate whatever decisions you make for your channel and understand your motivations behind the decision. However, hearing you mention all the brands and influencers and your struggles with them has been an important factor in making your channel relatable, interesting and just so spot-on with your observations. I find there's an element of censorship and infantilization in the decision to omit the brands, kind of like not trusting the viewers and their ability to decide for themselves. Sure, there's a legitimate reason for that mistrust as you naturally have many likeminded viewers who are easily influenced. Personally I just appreciate hearing the whole context and narrative, and then take full responsibility in my decisions as an adult and a consumer.

[@bthomson]

This is along the same reasoning I have.

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

This is an angle I haven't considered exactly, so thank you for sharing and bringing that to my attention. I'll have to think about whether it might seem censored or patronising in those ways, and I don't want to appear not to trust the judgement of my viewers! Luckily (?) so far it has been rather difficult to avoid discussion of brands, since it is so often relevant in a direct way to the discussion at hand, so for the time being, nothing is really changing. There is still a part of me that wonders what it would look like if I do omit branding details when the brand is not a relevant factor. Partly because it may appear radical to do so - we live in an environment where the brand name does seem to be so elevated as far as how important it can be, and what would it look like to see more people saying "use any version of x that you have, with these attributes" like the old makeup gurus used to do in their tutorials? Would we feel more influenced to use the option we have, rather than go buy the specific one they are using? And the fact that that may now stick out in a world where the norm is to say "this is x lipstick or x brand of jeans" rather than "use a warm-toned pink or any jean in this silhouette" is something I'm interested in exploring. As I'm finding though, it may never become hugely applicable unless I am doing content specifically focused on using my stuff, which does sometimes happen, but is not actually the majority of my videos. We shall see!

[@ВалериВалери-г5ц]

​@@Alexas.nobuyyearI agree with this commentator, I have the same feelings. When you mentioned brands and your reasoning why you want to buy this specific item it helped me to better understand why I want to acquire the items from my wishlist and why I put them in the wishlist in the first place. It felt like you are the same person as me who is also can be influenced even if I didn't know some brands that you mentioned. For example I deleted Nars lip balms from my wishlist because I understood that I wanted them only because I thought the packaging is stylish. Anyway it's up to you to mention brands or not it's just a feedback:)

[@thenopedetective]

I think all of that can happen without showing brands. I think unfortunately her talking about a $400 regret can still very much influence others to buy the same. Focusing on the elements of the item rather than the brand can help have the same discussions without focusing on making purchase of it actionable.

[@knitnkitten]

Go Vegan🌱 No body gets hurt💗

[@breaking_real]

Holi :3

[@lolanifenring2692]

There's no such word as 'enoughness' (at 4:17) - u could have just used the noun 'sufficiency'

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

Haha well, I never claimed to be a communication expert! But I have heard others use the word, and apparently the oxford dictionary online does have a listening for "enoughness" whether it's real or not (not trying to be petty or prove anything here, I just got curious!). Always happy to hear alternatives and learn new words though.

[@lolanifenring2692]

Actually, I was just trying to be funny. Anyway, this channel is inspiring, and am glad to have come across it!

[@3times_mom]

1) No money no problem. When you are a young widow with a child with no family support, there is no such as a thing as overconsumption. 2) big corporations employ many people - where will they go if all at once all the biggies disappear because of no-buy-from-the-corporation ideology?

[@CocoLicious]

You only need to watch the countless financial audits and whatnot out there to witness that overconsumption on non-neccessary items is rampant through all income brackets. That's why there is so much consumer debt. Learning how to use the money one has more consciously is always a good idea.

[@JehanineMelmoth]

Those employees could work for the B-corps that will flourish and require more employees if the billionaires’ companies made less money. The employees would benefit too.

[@Xenia-h7c]

My grandparents survived without a supermarket, and don’t worry corporations own the seeds so we will still be slaves to them…

[@3times_mom]

@ if they could have, they would’ve. If they aren’t working now, they are unlikely to be able to do it in the future

[@Alexas.nobuyyear]

I realize that I am very lucky NOT to be in the position of being a young widow, especially with kids. My heart goes out to all in that difficult position. And I agree that on some level having less money does lead to less consumption - I've had more years just scraping by than I have had in my current position of relative security, and I never did a formal "no buy challenge" until 2024. And while the "best" response to having a better situation would be to pay down all debts and/or save the extra, that's not always how it goes when people start making more money - I'm working on it! I could be lacking in imagination here but I feel that we are currently in a position where it's hard to imagine this "not buying from billionaire-owned corporations" ideology actually becoming the main reality or posing a real danger to the employees of these companies. Many of my family do work for one of these large companies, that arguably serves many of society's "needs". So the company would probably still exist even if people bought less. I think a similar concern could be voiced about artificial intelligence taking more and more jobs away from people, within and outside of the big corporations. We will still do our grocery shopping from one of the large corporations. The practical goal is to be motivated not to buy things that aren't strictly necessary, and if the thought of fueling societal inequality in some way is motivating in the arena of not buying stuff we don't need, I'm in favor of that for myself. Thanks for raising these points for discussion!