April No Buy Year Setbacks and Lessons

My successful failures and ongoing lessons through the No Buy Year challenge

At the start of the year, I set myself to spend nothing on clothes or to achieve what many call a “No Buy Year” challenge.

The idea is simple: no unnecessary purchases for an entire year.

Sounds easy, right?

So far, April’s been the hardest month to uphold the No-Buy-Year challenge.

The more I dealt with stress and sadness, the more material things I bought. In hindsight, this behavior probably was an attempt to regain control: when everything seems uncertain, it feels empowering to — at least — control where your money goes.

Hopefully, this quarter-life crisis doesn’t break me (financially).

Despite the difficulties, taking on this challenge has been enlightening.

By developing a habit of not buying non-essentials, I can recognize my spending impulses, which — to my surprise — are delicious food. Perhaps I should limit my takeout intake, rather than the amount of clothes I consume?

Anyways, rather than quit on the whole challenge because of a small slip-up, I am looking to begin this month with a clean slate.

There are still two-thirds left to make this year’s challenge a success.

Are you taking on a No-Buy-Year challenge this year?

Please share your setbacks, lessons, tips, and hacks!