What I learned from my low buy year 👀

Last year I was determined to do a low buy year. I made a list of things I won't buy and things I'm allowed to buy. Little glitches here and there, but I did it. hehe. Cheers to all klikindomaret buys (and peanut butter party) 🥂

And these are some lessons learned from my low buy year. 

Photo by onesaveaday on Unsplash

Do not stock up, only buy what's necessary

This is just something that I unconsciously do because I hate shopping again and again and again, and I have this suggestion that buying more will save more money because the price will be cheaper, also cut some delivery fee, and I don't have to worry when I run out of toothpaste or soap when I want to take a shower. But actually what I realize is that when I have some stocks saved up, I tend to not use the item preciously, it is like I have this thought back in my mind that 'do not worry, you have the spare item', which lead to me emptying the toothpaste faster and not really trying hard to empty and squeeze them all till the last paste, before changing to a new tube. Meanwhile, when I don't have the stock, I will use it till the very last drop, or even opening up the tube to get the paste to the max. and so I learn to not stock up, but just buy what I need at that time and use them to the max.

The sale is always there

It is funny that I work in an e-commerce company yet, I still fall to this scheme. Sale have this power to delude you to think they won't last, and it is your last chance, otherwise, you're not getting it at all, and you lose your money later. The sale makes you think you did a great job in saving your money, secure your future, and will help you get a nice villa near the river in the middle of beautiful mountains. Yep. But the truth is, it is never gone. It will come back, it is a cycle, sometimes, it is always there, the sale price is just a marketing strategy. I remember when I wanted to explore a new sunscreen, then I found a brand I want, and then lucky me, it was on sale, almost 40%. Great. But I still have my sunscreen, I intended to buy it later when I run out, so..."but it is oooon saaaleee...you won't get the same price whenever you want!" shhhh.... I was very determined to maintain my low buy especially on skincare, so I was like yea whatever, I will wait when I need them.

And then 2 months later I got reminded of the sunscreen again so I check them again, and guess what, the price is still on 'sale'. But I also didn't buy it then, because I found I still have another sunscreen (stock) that was given to me as a birthday gift, so I'm gonna use it first. Fast forward to many months later. You guess what...The price is still on 'sale'. Yepp.

Make use of promo for your necessities

I remember 2 years ago, it was the day after harbolnas, and everyone in the office talked about the stuff they buy. "what did you buy?" "you should take advantage of the free delivery! and the discounted voucher!". I didn't know it was harbolnas (sorry not sorry, but harbolnas was not in my team's concern so I was not lacking off at work! lol). And after all, I didn't have anything I want to buy..so..yea..no need to make up a need to buy just for the sake of using the promo code or whatever, right?

Fast forward to last year, oh gosh, I saw so many posts on the internet of people buying stuff without knowing what it was or not really need it, just because it was on a flash sale! I'm dying here.....*peeking at all the packaging and transportation used to deliver those unneeded items, and eventually thrown away*

Here is the thing, I don't hate promo or sale or voucher, but I think it is better to use it wisely when you need it, and not creating a fake need just to take advantage of those promos. What I did was, putting all my usual necessities in the cart (just what I need, no need to stock up or anything), and then check out on the promo day, and it is ooookaaaay to have 4 or 5 unused vouchers if you don't need them. I used to feel that I need to take advantage of them to the max, and it only leads me to browse things I didn't really need. So, don't spend them all just because you want to use those promos to the max, okay. 

Do not tighten one budget, only to let it fall into other streams

This is one of the hardest parts actually. So I've succeeded in not buying the things that tempted me, but then this thought comes "well, now that I saved money because I don't buy that I have spare money for other things..hoho". No. Nope. You saved it and put it towards your goal, okay, think of the money as gone, spent. Do not let it fall to other streams. *looking at the box full of wood and knife and paints...I'm fine...yeah 

Analyze not only 'what you buy', but also 'when you buy' and 'why you buy'

Yes I've analyzed my spending from last last year to decide what I'm allowed and not allow to buy. But interestingly, I still buy some stuff from neither lists, hmm, why is that so? So I tried to take a look into the reason why I bought those things. I looked at the time I bought them first, when do I purchase them? what kind of event happened before or after I purchase the items? what makes me buy them at that time? why?

For me, turned out I made big purchases every time I experience this kind of *secret* emotion, which makes me feel that what use of this money even If I try so hard to save them. Well, it is when I feel so intense with my thought about being hopeless with life, thinking that...well there is no future, the world will end soon if I don't enjoy my money now, who will? why would I work so hard just to let this money turn into *shit*. Yes, that kind of emotion happened to me, triggered by some events that I identified first. So after I acknowledged that emotion and understand the effect on me, I try to be more mindful about it and stay away from online shopping app whenever I feel like that. And so it helps.

Do not feel so guilty about buying something, after all, money is a means not an end. 

Lastly, things happened, you bought stuff you didn't plan to buy. It is fiineee...it is totally okay. Do not beat yourself (or myself) over spending some money, don't feel guilty about it just because you broke your own rules. It is your money...and after all, money is just a means. If your spending makes you happy even just for a few seconds or hours (from the excitement of clicking buy or opening the package, or whatever), the money already did what it is for. Money is a means, not an end. You saved them to use later for the things you prioritized, not just for the sake of saving them and having a big balance on your bank statement. So if you slipped once in a while, it is totally okay. 

So those are 6 lessons learned from my low buy year! very excited to start my no-buy year challenge in 2021! yeay..uhm haha it is still January..hoho