I failed my low buy: 2024 low buy year finale & everything I bought this year!

[@kateclark8400]

I think this was a success. You didn’t go shopping as a hobby or go on a spending spree. You made thoughtful purchases and considered whether you really needed something before getting it. I think maybe a low buy where you replace the items you’ve used to the point of being worn out or sizing up or down if your jeans don’t fit and just count the things where you’re adding something completely new to your wardrobe.

[@kendra555]

only 3 frivolous items is absolutely a win in my eyes!! i was one of the people yelling at you to buy new running shoes and not count them LOL but yeah honestly you inspired me to take my low buy seriously next year (i “tried” to do one but it ended up being me just tracking my purchases which i’d never done before so kind of a win! but i definitely bought 25 new items and maybe 5 were necessities whoops)

[@michaeladickson]

Tracking purchases is sooo helpful, I found it really eye opening!

[@user56gghtf]

I can also suggest tracking things you were going to purchase but decided. At the end of the year it's really eye opening to see how much money you saved by not impulse buying but taking your time and making a purchase with intention.

[@michellerojas9545]

Yes!! I can relate to this so much… started 2024 thinking I will do a NO buy year. (very limiting) and I was able to do it for two months. Then I switched to a low buy year thinking it was more attainable and realistic considering I also wanted to work on my personal style. I have learned to track my purchases, definitely bought less and more well thought items, learned more about my style. Found a new mindset for thrifting (I didn’t like it before)… and thanks to saving money (from not buying useless stuff) I was able to pay in cash when I had two emergencies.

[@12harrypotterfan34]

I completely agree with all of the points that you made in this video. Even though you technically “failed” the low buy challenge that you set for yourself at the start of the year, it’s clear that you’ve developed healthier shopping habits and put a lot of thought into the pieces that you’ve added to your wardrobe - I’d chalk that up as a success! I’ve also mostly stopped following content creators who are constantly posting massive shopping hauls (especially SHEIN or Amazon). I’d much rather watch people (like you!) who shop mindfully and actually rewear pieces in their wardrobe.

[@artemisatsea]

I think people forget that you can't have forever pieces. Clothes do wear out. As a person with disabilities, it's kind of hard to thrift certain things, although I try, when I have functional needs.

[@user56gghtf]

Truth. Most clothing averages 120 wears. Some clothing will last well past that but some don't depending on the quality.

[@Ajb259]

@@user56gghtfI read this as 120 years and was very confused for a minute 😂

[@user56gghtf]

@@Ajb259 🤣🥰

[@fl2298]

15 items espacially as around 1/3 are sports related is a big sucess in my book.

[@reggiemoon1763]

Shoes and bras worn on heavy rotation wear out within the year. Sensible shoes are never a bad purchase.

[@13thswimmer]

You’re saying a lot of things I’ve been thinking this year about shopping/consumption/the internet, but haven’t seen reflected online. It’s so refreshing Loved following along on your low buy!!

[@visibleghost1]

I'm expecting to gain weight (intentionally) and potentially outgrow my current jeans. It sucks for a lot of reasons but what you said rly resonates with me and "punishing" yourself for your body changing is just adding extra stress on top of whatever body image issues someone might have already. wearing clothes that fit your current body is like the bare mijnimum to be comfortable in your day to day life ):

[@linnearoyale]

I think you had an incredibly successful year! you used what you had and considered each purchase - your habits have changed. It’s hard to find more gentle and realistic takes like this, sometimes the no buy community can lean into this really grizzled take of literally having your shoes fall apart or I’ve seen people do like, no snacks…what are we doing lol. shoes that aren’t going to lead to injury and pants that fit aren’t what’s driving over consumption.

[@michaeladickson]

You described my thoughts perfectly hahaha like some minimalists have lost the plot 😂😂

[@ellee2206]

Im so happy I found your channel. I’m a big fashion girlie and I love watching fashion content but I’ve been getting so sick of influencers who are just buy buy buy micro trend micro trend micro trend. Watching a fashion oriented channel that’s focused more on sustainability is so refreshing to me. I dont have a super nice closet at the moment and don’t have a lot of money to spend but I’m trying to make it a goal to save up and buy higher quality items that I know will last. Also hoping to learn how to sew

[@kellygarland63]

I’ve recently lost 80 pds due to a health issue. Went from size 14 to 2/4. Had to replace my entire wardrobe including shoes and boots!! (Went down 1 size in footwear! Weird!) So 2025 is about low buy and adding those little bits like belts etc via thrifting. I’ve also changed my shopping habits and only buy quality, no fast fashion and better materials. I’m so tired of filling up bags of clothes that don’t last.

[@elizaollett]

I was also doing a low buy year, everything was going well until April, then exploded in November. I bought 26 items in total, kept 20 of them. I must say I absolutely love what I bought, wear it all the time. They were very practical items, that made my everyday life so much more enjoyable and after a reflection, I consider my low buy to be a success and I consider it to be my way of life now and normal healthy way of shopping rather than a challenge.

[@jamieson4293]

I did a low buy and had the same experience - I realised I needed some things (shoes) and clothes when I outgrew mine. In a way this was sort of helpful though, when I had NO jeans that fit I realised buying a pair of jeans was a real necessity in a way that like, a sundress but in a different colour to the 5 I already had was not. So now it's much easier for me shopping to differentiate needs from wants and think about being 'bored' of my clothes versus really needing new ones so it was still sort of a success in a way! Also, especially with shoes you're so right. I put off buying new walking shoes and ended up just trashing other shoes that weren't intended to be doing those big kms

[@aliceslayz]

even if you “failed”, you still made an impact regardless!

[@strangersontheinternet]

I wouldn’t consider a few purchases a fail for the entire year. Especially because it wasn’t really impulse shopping. I planned to do a low buy month in November and spent like 600$ on shopping … that’s what I consider a fail LOL but still less than my usual 1k$ a month….

[@morgangeoffroy2741]

The only thing I would add is that if I need new clothes because my body changed I always look second hand first. Obviously you will need to replace clothes at times but most items can be thrifted rather than being purchased new.

[@AmyMarks]

You did amazing!! I think I just want to do a complete No Buy for clothes next year. You're right in that I need to stop the constant looking for something new. I want that head space back and I think I need to go cold turkey for it to happen!!

[@bex4819]

Replacements are exempt! You did great ❤

[@thali89]

Found your channel last month and I absolutely adore your content! Please keep keeping it real and keep being you.

[@ranyaahmed8641]

very inspired by your low buy videos and I agree that excessive restriction just ends up harming your other pieces or causing stress but I want to do a low buy next year now after watching your videos! when you said my life is not revolved around buying stuff something clicked into place In my brain and I was like oh yeah idk why I thought that my life was revolving around whether or not I got a certain pair of ballet flat lol. the axons are firing so I appreciate you igniting them and I look forward to seeing more of your content!

[@awalker127]

I think you killed it!!! You were intentional and very reasonable. Job well done IMO 👏

[@KM-hr6bm]

Totally agree, you have to buy the right thing at the right time, if you wait you end up using/spending more over time. People who complete a low buy have already over bought ;) or have backups!

[@Susan-b9d]

I am new to your channel and love it! This is most sensible low buy video I have ever seen! And yes, please buy shoes when needed!!!! A podiatrist friend told me people wear their shoes way too long and to never buy second hand as they will have formed to someone else’s feet. He said if you wear shoes pretty much every day - replace them at least once a year. Love your energy and looking forward to your upcoming videos and go Badgers! 😉

[@auriblizzard9388]

Love Michaela post days!!! 🎉🎉

[@michaeladickson]

🥰

[@wd5951]

Baby you IS SOO ADORABLE I can't 😭

[@MlleBambi]

I don’t know what your buying habits used to be, but it sounds like a great improvment ! Congrats ! Were you allowed secondhand purchases ? Do you think you could have gotten the jeans, walking shoes and workout gear secondhand ? Or maybe that’s what you did. 😊 I will definetly try that nest year !

[@natalinab8073]

This video was great! I'm so snoopy so I love to hear what other people have purchased lol. Btw love your hair, I might use it as hairspo!

[@evciakr4483]

I don't think you failed. Sometimes we just need to replace something! If I remember correctly, you bought only 4 items, that you liked and wanted. As you said sometimes is just better to buy something than suffer prom pain. You did NOT failed, you learned a lesson! I want to do low buy in 2025, the rule of 5 new items is great, however i won't count replacement as new thing. So for example if my running shoes will broke i will buy new pair. I hope i will be able to do that! I told myself that I could buy next leggings when i run my first 10K, and.... I bought one, and i still cannot run 10K! 😂 But, yeah i will try my best in 2025 I am so proud of you! Have a nice day / evening. ;)

[@michaeladickson]

I think rule of 5 for wants is a great plan!! Good luck ☺️💖

[@evciakr4483]

@michaeladickson thank You so much! ❤️

[@wooling.around]

What’s the name and brand of the ballet flats your mom bought you? I love them and want to get them hahah

[@littlestcuttlefish]

I bought a pair of the hiking chunky style converse and they held up to my 1.5 mile walk to lab/ lab job for a year (minimum 3 miles every day most more like 5) I only had two shoes that year and i think they are a great. Platforms are very me i know they are not for everyone but a great walking shoe

[@MidnightMuse102]

I’d absolutely say this was a success not a fail. And 2 of the things were gifted so they definitely shouldn’t count as “strikes against” you. If I could show you my “no buy” year fails you’d feel much better lol. But I’m glad you shared because it helps me too. I’d be curious if your no buy desire was to not consume or to help carefully consume. I had been on a SHEIN Temu spree for a few years & then heard all about the issues w them and took a look at my engorged closet & I still feel I have nothing to wear. So even though I broke my no buy it was more of a low buy where I not only was conscious of cost but quality. PS yay Wisco 🎉🎉🎉

[@lauramolteni2431]

Replacement is not a fail

[@agusfcoronado]

New suscriber here!! Love the vibes

[@thejulietocean]

Oooooh baby I came straight from insta ✨

[@michaeladickson]

😎🫶🏻

[@valeriemalenfant]

1st: as a marathon runner i love new balance clothing and nike running clothing line and i think they are less expensive then lulu’s 2nd : i usually used up 2 pair of running shoes a year so i think every 3 months is a little excessive for walking shoes i usually run 5 to 7 thousands kilometres a year so do the maths lol 3rd: as a Canadian you just need more stuff then people living in more 2 seasons part of the world so yes the coats, boots and shoes are a necessities “more” in a 4 seasons part if the world so dont feel bad and finally i so need to go on a low buy not even funny !!!! 😩

[@michaeladickson]

Haha yeah I agree with your second point, I use my walking shoes for roughly a year before replacing

[@thejulietocean]

You said the words “cardio barre” and I instantly knew 😭🥵😂 omg

[@michaeladickson]

Right like why was it that intense????? 🤮💀

[@detlef3000]

you did great!

[@elisecccccccc]

IMO I don’t think replacements should count! Shoes last 300-500 miles and harming your health to hold onto them longer is not a good idea. It’s also a failure of our system that we can’t take a pair of Nikes to the cobbler to be repaired to lost for longer so I feel like on that note you’re pretty justified! Edit: I work on my feet so I have actually looked into this, but 10k steps is roughly 5 miles. That means if you do 10k steps a day and wear the same shoes every day, your shoes last 100 days max (and I’m sure you end up doing more than that sometimes)! If you have to stretch it at times I’m sure it’s fine, but overall a much less sustainable thing is having to get surgery later in life because of preventable injuries that would have simply cost you and the environment and extra pair of shoes.

[@frappalina]

Well done! You did great. Honestly though, you could have waited and bought all your "useless" items second hand, and use your 5s to replace necessary items. If the rule of 5s exists is because in average, the amount of brand new items that doesn't impact on the environment is 5. Still, failing a low buy year is ok, because starting a low buy year, and sticking to it for the most part, is already a way to be environmentally conscious. Also, you chose a couple of high end sustainable brands. So, you might have failed your ambitious 5s goal, but you didn't fail at protecting the environment. Congrats!

[@saradoyel7490]

lol I tried to do a low buy and then I got pregnant 😅

[@maevismorgan2532]

billie eilish twin????

[@michaeladickson]

hahaha I get this so often 😂