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After the buying spree many of us tend to go through from Black Friday in November to Boxing Day in December, January can be a good time to re-set and make a commitment to not buy things that are not necessities. Overconsumption and buying things we don’t really need has a huge impact on the environment, as many of these items end up in the landfill and create Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in their manufacturing and travel to you. To learn more about overconsumption and how companies market products to us, you can check out the Story of Stuff short documentary.
No Spend January can be a great reset for our wallets and the planet.
What is No Spend January?
Just as it sounds, you try as best you can to not spend money unnecessarily. You choose the length of time and the categories you’re going to spend vs. not spend (like spending on groceries but not on dining out). Spending on necessities like groceries, household bills, transit and transportation, and supplies for your personal and family care and home, are exceptions. When do you buy things, make a point to support local businesses. It is up to you to set the rules, make sure they are realistic while allowing you to make changes in your spending habits. Here are some ideas of what to cut out:
- New clothing (can do clothing swaps or trades)
- Eating out, ordering take out or only eating out for a special/planned occasion not just because you don’t want to cook
- Items from major online retailers (e.g., Amazon, Shien and Temu)
- Takeout coffee
- Impulse purchases
- Books, movies, toys, video games
- Beauty treatments (manicure, pedicure)
There are a lot of reasons to participate in No Spend January:
- Resets spending habits—especially after spending a lot over the holidays.
- Stops instant gratification — makes you wait to see if you truly need something before buying it, which is a great habit, especially with the ease of buying things online.
- It halts the influx of clutter and waste– with less coming into your home you can better see what you need and what you don’t and declutter what you are not using.
- Keeps some extra money in your pocket.
- Encourages you use up what you have or repurpose things for other uses– like food in your pantry and freezer or items stored away in closets.
- It’s good for the environment. All those items we buy may eventually end up in a landfill, as well the carbon footprint production and delivery creates.
To help you with your No Spend January, download this free tracker to help you see how you do through the month.
Tips to help you be successful:
- Utilize buy nothing groups: There is the Buy Nothing Gravenhurst/Muskoka and the Muskoka Free groups on Facebook. If you do need something you can post an ISO (In search of) or browse what people have posted. It is also a great way to share things you do not need anymore but don’t want to throw away.
- Check out your local library: There are local libraries across Muskoka, which stock a great variety of books, magazines, DVD’s, video games and graphic novels. Your local library is also a great place for free events and to learn a new skill.
- Focus on your why: This should not feel like a punishment, but it should be to help you in some way. Figure out what that is for you and your family.
- Map out your month ahead of time: To ensure you are aware of any major events, birthdays, etc. that you might need to be creative about or work into your rules as exceptions.
- If there is something you want, put it on a wish list and let it sit for a month: This allows you time to think if you really need the item or not, you might forget about or if you really do need/want after a month then get it.
- Check out this video that goes over how to be successful in your No Buy January journey.
Buying less not only helps you save money but also helps reduce GHG emissions and waste going into our landfills, its good for you and the planet!
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