I’ve got to be honest, buzz phrases like ‘no-buy’ and ‘waste-free’ freak me out a little bit. Don’t get me wrong, I think that giving up consuming and waste is admirable, I’ve just never imagined that I’d ever be able to do it. The idea of giving up buying makes me feel like I’m losing out, especially as an avid lover of clothes. It scares me and makes me feel like I’d suffer, endlessly missing out on what I want and need. Meanwhile, cue eye rolls, the planet and it’s inhabitants are suffering at the hands of our constant compulsion to consume. That is why I’ve decided to give this ‘no-buy’ business a go. Inspired by my favourite YouTuber, leena norms (previously JustKissMyFrog), I am trying the ‘no-buy’ challenge.

Sounds fun, right? Well – not exactly, but I’m hoping to re-programme my need to buy things in an effort to combat in some small way the force of consumerism that threatens our environment and ethics as a species.

Why should ethical shoppers cut down their consumption?

“But you already have 5 velvet items of clothing”, my confused boyfriend gently reminds me as I add a gorgeous velvet midi skirt to my thrift+ basket. “Yes but this one is different” I explain with a hint of exasperation, as to a child who just can’t understand the complexities of adult life, as I excitedly click the checkout button. “It’s second-hand anyway, and the money goes to charity – it’s an entirely positive process”.

Charity shops, second hand, vintage and ethical clothes shops are brilliant ways of indulging in fashion whilst reducing your impact on the environment and your support of exploitative supply chains. The ever present compulsion to buy new clothes, however, is an instinct borne from years of being sold the idea that new things will make life better somehow. I don’t believe that a new skirt will change my life, but the thrill of the new overcomes my sense of rationality and fills me with an absurd excitement. It is this excitement that causes me to overstock my bulging drawers and play fast and loose with my arranged overdraft limit – and this is not a good thing. The clothes I have are beautiful and deserve to be worn well, but this can’t happen if there is always a new addition overshadowing them. This is more generally associated with fast fashion, but can exist with ethical fashion too. Be it ethical or not, consuming takes up energy and resources that it is not sensible to take up. It is good for the economy, but poses confusing questions for my morals in the face of climate breakdown. Not only that, it poses confusing questions for how I am going to cram another pair of vintage jeans into my already breaking chest of drawers, and how I can be content with myself if I am constantly driven to seek more. I am reducing my buying for both the planet and to try and find a greater sense of satisfaction with what I already have.



Marie Kondo-style minimalism has taken the planet by storm – her Netflix show ‘tidying up’ has encouraged millions like myself to purge their lives of excess. A natural follow on from this has to be purging our lifestyles from excessive consumption. My no-buy six months is a step on the way to doing this, and I will be updating you on this journey and offering my tips and tricks!

So, what are the rules?

No new clothes (apart from replacements)

Starting with the most difficult challenge, I won’t be buying any clothes, ethical or not, for six months. I want to make the most of my wardrobe, get wear out of what I have and focus on refining my style.

No coffee from coffee shops, or food bought on-the-go.

As a vegan I tend to avoid on the go food anyway, as I’ve had too many falafel wraps in my time. This rule is important as on-the-go food and drink has to be one of the most wasteful and pointless industries out there. It is hard to resist grabbing a coffee, or a snack, when you’re out. Doing so, however, usually funds large chains that have a monumental global impact. Even when packaging is recyclable, the energy required in the production, distribution and recycling of packaging remains incredibly large. In addition, the food wasted by companies providing on-the-go food and drink is often massive. This is also one of my most expensive habits, and I’m sure my bank balance will be happier from me giving it up.

No cleaning supplies (replacement only)

Cleaning supplies have become increasingly specialised, leading to many purchasing increasing amounts of different, specific products. Apparently, the specific mix of chemicals needed to clean your kitchen sink are entirely different to those for your bathroom. To be honest, I call bullsh*t. It has also been revealed that many of the mainstream cleaning products contain chemicals that are carcinogenic and/or damaging to health when used regularly. That said, I’m still going to unclog my drains and bleach my toilet. Over the six months, I’m going to try and test as many home-made cleaning solutions as I can, from making cleaning rags from old clothes to mixing my own window cleaner. Any products I find to be neccessary will be purchased on a replacement-only basis.

No home decor

I’m going to make this one short: My flat is small, we have things in it, there is little room and little point in adding other things, however cute they may be.

No books/magazines

My small flat is full of books, most of which I am yet to read. Nevertheless, I can never resist the urge to purchase aesthetically pleasing new titles from Waterstones that promise to change my life. I love reading, but I am going to focus on material that I already own, and save the other stuff for very occaisional special purchases.

So, what will you still be buying?

Groceries, obviously.

Spotify and Audible subscriptions – amazon is meh but audiobooks get me through my commute and I’m yet to find a suitable alternative

Tickets to concerts etc. because this is about what I own, rather than what I do – although the entertainment industry also needs to radically change it’s environmental impact.

So, that’s all for now. Check back in a week or so to see how I’m getting on!





