Number 1 Tip for a Low Buy Year

When I decided to do a Low Buy Year aka modified No Buy Year, I realized I needed to be flexible with the parameters. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making excuses to purchase something, but I also knew that sometimes the ‘really good deal’ is actually a ‘really good deal’, giving me an excuse to break my rules. I also knew that if I was too strict with those rules, I was going to be less apt to follow them and it would all backfire on me. To assist me with this, I employed this one very important tactic:

TAKING INVENTORY!

In order for me to take inventory of my belongings, I needed to implement two practices. One was decluttering and the other was organizing the things remaining after I decluttered. I’ll cover both those topics and the strategies I used to implement those tactics in future posts. For today, I wanted to focus on inventory.

Everything we own takes up physical space and we have to find a place for it somewhere in our residences. It also took mental space whether we were reading blogs or watching Tik Tok or Instagram videos about that perfect mascara or whether we were researching which rain gear was best for an Alaskan cruise. In addition, that item took up calendar space/time while we traveled to shop for the item in person or while browsing our favorite retailers online to price compare. If we look at the time, energy, and cost of every item we own we would be astounded at how much we actually have invested in our ‘stuff’. I wanted to come up with some rules and boundaries for my low buy year. To do that, I really had to know what I had first and I had be honest. I didn’t want my efforts to be a lesson in futility, I wanted to it be productive and beneficial towards my overall well-being and mental health. Down to every last lipstick, nail polish, towels in the linen closet, and even my holiday decor. ALL OF IT was inventoried in some way.

I know it sounds overwhelming to look around your home or apartment and think of every single item you own and actually counting it. I didn’t keep track on a spreadsheet or anything, but I did take note of the things I truly will not need to purchase this year because I have plenty. And, the process I used was not something I did in a day, a week, or even a month. I took my time and went closet by closet, room by room, and eventually completed the garage and the kitchen cabinets, as well. All in all, I would say this was a good 6 months of consistent assessment.

THE NON-SHOPPING LIST

What truly helped me was making a list of things I know I didn’t need to buy this year because I had enough to get me through at least 9 months or possibly a year. The amount of skincare items I had accumulated were giving me anxiety, to be honest. I used to get turned on by the latest and greatest makeup trend or skincare solution to the point where I had 4 different full size moisturizers, 3 various retinol products, and multiple eye creams, Vitamin C serums, neck creams, etc. The problem with this is that these products will expire. The magic ingredients (you know, the ones that will make all my wrinkles and saggy skin disappear) break down resulting in products which may be deemed ineffective or even unsafe. I was doing myself a disservice while I also lined the pockets of some very happy retail companies (I’m looking at you Sephora and Ulta). And, so, I made a list of things I didn’t need to buy. I thought of it as a Non-Shopping List. Instead of a grocery list for purchases, I did the opposite and I would bring that list with me when I went shopping to remind myself that I didn’t need a certain item whether that be makeup related, a household cleaning product, or body lotion. I mean, am I the only woman on the planet who has hand/body lotion in nearly every room of the house?

Make that List: You do You

I don’t really have to tell you how to make a list. We all know how to do it. Yet, some of us are too lazy to care. Some of us are unmotivated. Some of us are overwhelmed and don’t think they can find the time. While others are perfectly happy accumulating things and buying more plastic organizing bins, trays, and totes to store all the things. I’ll admit I was that person not too long ago. Yet, I knew it was time to take inventory, to simplify my life, and being mindful in taking stock of where I spent my hard earned income was going to be necessary for me to find a path to a modified minimalism and to a less cluttered life.

There are some really great tools to help you keep lists and even share those lists with family, roommates, or your dog. That’s probably a joke, but hey, you never know! All kinds of apps and varying ways to use them. You can find a good article covering list making apps here: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-to-do-list-apps?test_uuid=05n7gTzbSo0Sh5pVEDljnCi&test_variant=a.

If you aren’t the app type person, a simple piece of notebook paper and a pen really help. And yes, I’m stating the obvious here. Personally, that’s my preferred method until I accidentally throw it out while trying to find my dang car keys at the bottom of all that purse clutter, gathering up the random receipts and pieces of paper. I’m still a paper and pen kind of gal, but no method is perfect. I promised myself that these low buy changes would be small baby steps for myself. Apparently, I am not quite ready to use the organizing list making apps shared above so maybe it’s time to update my habit here?

Hence, what I noted above: YOU DO YOU. Whatever works and floats your boat. Do yourself a favor and just for giggles, go ahead and see how many tubes of toothpaste are around your house. Collect them up. Check the kid’s bathroom and all the drawers and cabinets under the sinks, the guest bathroom, the spare bin of toiletries in the linen closet or laundry room. And, don’t forget to count those travel sizes or the ones your dentist gives you for free twice a year if you’re going for regular cleanings. We all have our unique style of managing our homes and it’s never a one size fits all when it comes to household management. Yet, I’m really hoping that none of you will have to buy toothpaste for the rest of the calendar year! Go ahead and take inventory and make that non-shopping list!