For years, I was caught in a cycle I didn’t fully recognise:
I was a shopping addict. I was shopping to make myself happy, which gave me a false feeling of self-love.
It didn’t look dramatic from the outside—just “treating myself,” chasing deals, ordering small things here and there. But underneath, there was a pattern:
A rush before buying something
The dopamine hit when I clicked purchase
A quick crash into emptiness
A new desire to repeat the cycle
And repeat it did - until it created debt, stress, but the most annoying of all, lost time and opportunities. Eventually, something shifted. I realised I was outsourcing my sense of fulfilment to objects that couldn't possibly provide it. So I made a decision that changed everything:
I would buy only food and bare essentials.
I committed to using what I already had and getting more creative with the resources around me. What started as a financial boundary became a personal transformation.
And while I did save money, that turned out to be only a small part of what I gained. Here are the unexpected advantages of my “Buy Nothing” practice:
1. I Became More Creative
Necessity truly is the mother of invention. When I stopped buying, I started problem-solving.
I repurposed things
I fixed things
It’s easy to overlook the richness of our lives when we’re always reaching for the next thing. As I reused, repaired, and re-imagined, I saw the value in what was already around me.
2. I found new hobbies (that are free):
Swimming in the cold seawater
Country walks
Beach Sundo
3. I Broke the Emotional Cycle
The biggest shift wasn’t financial—it was emotional.
I learned to sit with discomfort instead of numbing it with a purchase.
I learned to identify the real trigger behind the urge.
I learned that fulfilment isn’t something I need to buy.
4. I Regained Control
Addiction -of any kind - takes our power. Choosing “buy nothing” gave me my power back. I became clear about what I truly value.
And that clarity didn’t just transform my spending… it transformed my mindset, my habits, and my confidence.
“Buy Nothing” isn’t about deprivation. It’s about liberation. It’s about breaking a cycle that promises happiness with every purchase but delivers emptiness instead.
5. I freed up plenty of energy
Buying nothing eliminated decision fatigue. Every purchase—big or small—quietly drained my cognitive energy.
Do I need this?
Is this the right one?
What if there’s a better option?
Should I wait for a sale?
Choosing to “buy nothing” for a period of time removed that mental clutter and redirected my energy toward far more fulfilling pursuits. I’ve come to a simple conclusion:
I will only buy what I truly cannot live without. Everything else costs more than money - it costs my energy.
Warmly
Olga Smith