So for those who want to try a No Buy July with me, I thought I’d give you some pointers and tips. This is my third No Buy July and though I’m not a seasoned pro, this is not my first rodeo. You might think not buying anything for one month is going to be easy, but let me tell you it’s not for the faint of heart. And that’s because July is the start of the summer sale season. I know this because this is what derailed my second No Buy July attempt (but I did succeed the first time). So here are some of my tips for a successful No Buy July:

1) Write down the ground rules

This is of course going to be personal and you can make it as detailed as you’d like (though I’d say the more details the better). My ground rules are: 1) no purchasing of any wardrobe items whether from a store or online and 2) no makeup or skin care products unless it’s to replace an empty. But that’s it. I’m still going to let myself buy things for Emi if she needs it or household items since I don’t really have a problem controlling my spending when it comes to those categories. But I should warn you that sometimes abstaining from purchasing in one category can lead to an increase in buying in another category because you’re essentially continuing your consumption habit. This happened to me when I tried a No Buy year when it came to clothes (and I just ended up buying a ton of makeup 🤦🏻‍♀️). But the point of a No Buy is to be more mindful of what you’re spending your money on, so just keep an eye on yourself (and your wallet) and add rules if necessary.

2) Have Distraction Strategies

One of the best ways to successfully complete a No Buy challenge is by not browsing. Seems like a “no duh” idea, but these days marketing is so sneaky. So during a No Buy period I don’t go to any malls or into any stores (easy), I don’t look at the promotions in my emails (a little bit harder), and I try to spend less time on Instagram (very hard). I also delete my most used shopping apps (so bye bye TRR, Etsy, and eBay). You can always re-download these apps at the end of the month. As for my distraction tactics, I usually try to focus on my other hobbies during a No Buy month. So I plan to give a lot more love and attention to my plants in July and hopefully spend more time giving back to my community (volunteering and other non-profit work really helps me see the bigger picture and helps me feel more grateful). Working on that gratitude muscle keeps me focused on all that I already have and is a great antidote from seeking more, more, more. Another great distraction technique for me is cleaning out and re-organizing my closet (because every time I do that I’m like “Wow look at all the clothes, shoes and accessories I have” lol). Or do a 10x10 challenge (as in 10 items of clothing worn in 10 outfits over 10 days).

3) Resist the FOMO

This is especially important during sale seasons. No matter how hard I try, there is always something I’ll stumble upon during a No Buy Challenge that I have to have. The trick for me is to write it down and revisit it later. If I still love it after the No Buy Challenge then it’s ok to buy it (at least I had a lot of time to think about it). And it’s ok if it’s not on sale later because if I really love it then I’d be willing to spend retail. If it’s something that is going to sell out and never be restocked ever again, then think long and hard before breaking the No Buy rule. Trust me, you probably don’t need it and that item will not make you smarter, prettier, more loved etc. And it will only make you happy for a hot minute before the dopamine hit wears off. But if you end up failing (like I did last year)…

4) Don’t be too hard on yourself

This little exercise in restraint isn’t a miracle cure. You’re not going to suddenly be a minimalist saint after a one month No Buy (or even a year for that matter). This is just a reset so that hopefully you can work on flexing that restraint/gratitude muscle whenever you need it again in the future. And like I said, I’ve failed at this once before 🤷🏻‍♀️. What can you do but pick yourself up and try again?

{July 2022 Update: So last year’s No Buy July went well if I recall. This year I’m also doing a No Buy challenge but am also including home goods and Emi’s items as well. Basically a complete No Buy month. I feel pretty good because I warmed up with a No Buy June—actually I’m not buying anything on months that start with a '“J.” And this year I have the added distraction of my renewed passion for reading. I think that’s partially why June was a lot easier than most No Buy months.}

{July 2023 Update: I’m not planning to do a No Buy July this year because I haven’t been spending all that much for awhile now. After several years of being more mindful of my purchases, my spending has gone way down. However, I did buy several things on sale already so I feel you guys who are challenging yourself with a No Buy July. But keep it up! You can definitely do it!