Two weeks before Christmas, I stumbled on a New York Times article about someone who’d gone an entire year without shopping. At first, I thought, “Why would anyone do that?”—but I kept reading. The author’s reasons for the experiment were surprisingly compelling:
- It made her more aware of the difference between “wants” and actual needs.
- It pushed her to use items she already owned instead of buying new ones.
- It helped her appreciate what she had, including gifts from others.
- And most surprisingly, it freed up a huge amount of her time.
I found the article interesting but didn’t think much more of it—until that evening, when I caught myself reflecting on my own shopping habits. I realized how much time and energy I pour into shopping, and a question popped into my head: Could I do a year without buying non-essential things?
My Background: Shopping Was More Than a Habit
For a long time, my life revolved around shopping. I worked in high-end retail for years—studied fashion merchandising in school, then jumped into retail management right after graduation. My biggest career milestone was working at Nordstrom, but looking back, it was both a highlight and a curse: it turned shopping into not just a job, but an outlet for me.
Today, I’m 44, with two teenage sons, a wonderful husband, and two dogs. I now work for our family business, so I’m no longer surrounded by the retail world every day—but I still shop a lot. Honestly, I love it. There’s something fun about getting new things: clothes, shoes, home accessories, makeup, even furniture or a new car. If it’s shiny and new, I’m drawn to it.
But here’s the thing: our family isn’t wealthy. We budget like everyone else, and sometimes it’s a struggle. We’re trying to teach our boys (and each other) the value of saving—even if we’re not perfect at it.
Reading that Times article, I connected with the author’s experience. Shopping made her happy too, but she saw enough benefits in a no-shopping year to give it a try. I started thinking… maybe I could try it, too.
When I told my husband about the idea, he smiled and said he’d be incredibly proud if I pulled it off. We’re a competitive couple—we love challenging each other—so that pushed me further. I hesitated for a bit, asking myself, “Can I really do this? It’s going to be so hard!” But eventually, I told myself: “Yes, I can.”
My Plan: Setting Rules and Avoiding Temptation
I’m a huge planner—I love making lists and crossing things off one by one. It makes me feel accomplished, so I knew I needed a solid plan to stick to this challenge for a year.
First, I had to pick a start date. The new year was approaching, so January 1st seemed like an obvious choice—I could even frame it as a New Year’s resolution. But then I realized: waiting until January would let me go on one last “shopping spree” first. That felt counterproductive—it went against everything the challenge was about. So I decided to start on December 26th, the day after Christmas.
J.D.’s note: Kamie’s choice to start immediately is smart. I’ve done dozens of these challenges, and I’ve learned that waiting for a “perfect” start date (January 1st, a birthday, an anniversary) usually leads to failure. You end up having one last “blowout” before the challenge begins, then feel guilty and abandon your commitment. The best time to start is always now—not tomorrow. Every time I’ve succeeded at getting fit, writing more, or cutting back on alcohol, it’s because I didn’t wait for a “better” day.
Once I had a start date, I needed rules to keep myself on track. The first big question: What counts as “shopping”? I didn’t realize how many small purchases I make every day until I tried to define this. I ended up making four key lists:
1. Things I Can’t Buy (Non-Essentials or Overstocked Items)
These are the things I tend to splurge on, even when I don’t need them:
- Clothing, accessories, makeup, and shoes
- Electronics and gadgets (including new phones)
- Furniture and home decor (yes, even candles—I’m obsessed with them!)
- Starbucks runs: I normally spend a lot here, but I decided to only go if I’m traveling for work. (I’ll admit, this one scares me.)
2. Stores I Need to Avoid
Just like J.D. avoided comic book stores when he was paying off debt, I need to steer clear of places that trigger my shopping urge:
- Department stores
- Boutiques
- Malls
- “One-stop shops” (like Target or Walmart): I’ll only go to actual grocery stores to avoid getting distracted by non-essential items.
3. Things to Do When I Get the Urge to Shop
Shopping used to be how I filled free time, so I needed alternatives. When the urge hits, I’ll:
- Exercise (hit the gym, go for a run, do at-home workouts)
- Clean the house
- Organize cupboards or drawers
- Rearrange my closet
- Call a friend
- Bake or cook a meal
- Write down why I’m doing this challenge—reminding myself of the goal helps.
4. Things I Can Buy (Necessities Only)
This list was harder to make than I expected. The obvious ones are groceries, toiletries, gas, and car maintenance. But as I thought about it, I realized how few things I actually need—and that’s a good reality check.
My Start: Cutting Ties with Temptations
Once my plan was ready, I jumped in. The first thing I did was tackle my email inbox. I get dozens of messages from stores, membership clubs, and brands—all designed to make me spend more. It took time, but I unsubscribed from every single one. I’ll admit, I felt sad unsubscribing from some of my favorite brands… but I knew those emails would only tempt me to break the rules.
Next, I canceled my subscription boxes. I had a few, and they were always fun to get in the mail. Canceling my FabFitFun box (my favorite) was the hardest—there’s something so exciting about opening each little item and falling in love with it. If you love shopping, you get it. But it had to be done.
J.D.’s note: After I visited the FabFitFun website to grab a link for this story, I started seeing their ads everywhere online. You’ve been warned—those targeted ads are no joke!
By the time I finished unsubscribing and canceling, I was exhausted. I even felt emotionally drained—like I was grieving the loss of shopping. It sounds silly, but shopping had been my hobby, my escape, my way to fill time. I wandered around the house for a bit, trying to figure out what to do with myself when I wasn’t working. Eventually, though, I found productive ways to use that free time.
Productive Ways to Fill Free Time
One of the first things I did was clean out our cupboards and drawers. As I sorted through things, I was shocked by how much stuff we’d accumulated over the years. By the third day, I had three garbage bags full of junk—and I also found brand-new items I’d never used. That felt wasteful, but it was a good wake-up call.
For the unused (but nice) items, I started a “present box.” It’s filled with things I bought for myself but never used—things that would make great gifts later. This helps in two ways: I’m getting rid of clutter, and I won’t have to break my no-shopping rule to buy gifts for birthdays or holidays. My goal is to have every drawer cleaned out by spring (or earlier!).
When I’m out of the house, I used to head to the mall or a store—now I go to the gym instead. I already have a membership, so why not use it? Some people might count a gym membership as “shopping,” but I decided it fits within my rules. Going to the gym has been a great choice: it gives me a place to burn off extra energy, gets me out of the house, and keeps me focused on the challenge. I’m actually loving the exercise!
Mistakes and Wins: Conquering Coffee (and iTunes)
No challenge is perfect—and I’ve already slipped up a few times. The first mistake: I bought a song on iTunes. At first, I thought, “No big deal”—but then I realized: it wasn’t a necessity. It was a habit. You don’t notice how many little shopping habits you have until you’re trying to quit them.
J.D.’s note: I have the same iTunes habit. It’s something I’m still working on, too—those $1.99 song purchases add up!
I felt bummed about breaking the rule, but I fixed it by making new playlists with the music I already own. It feels “new” again, even if it’s not. (Secretly, I’m crossing my fingers my husband buys new music—we have a joint account, so maybe I can “steal” it? Is that cheating?)
The bigger challenge has been Starbucks. I’ve already bought coffee there a couple of times, but I’m cutting back. To fight the urge, I now make coffee at home and bring it with me in the morning. I also stocked up on coffee and tea supplies at work. These small changes have had unexpected benefits: I’m saving money and time (no more driving to Starbucks on my breaks). I’ve even started bringing my lunch to work, so I’m saving twice as much.
I haven’t kicked the Starbucks habit yet, but I’m making progress—and that’s what counts.
Revising My Rules: What Counts as a “Necessity”?
Over the past month, I’ve had to reevaluate my rules. Everyone’s definition of “necessity” is different, so I needed to adjust mine to fit my life. For example, I added hair products and face creams to my “allowed” list—but only when I run out completely. Healthy hair and skin are part of my basic hygiene, so I don’t see this as “shopping” (as long as I’m not buying extra just because it’s on sale).
It’s a fine line, and I had to think hard about it. But setting clear limits—like only buying when I’m completely out—has helped me stay on track.
When “Free” Isn’t Actually Free
One night, I had a realization while watching TV. A commercial came on for a cash-back shopping app—two women were talking about earning money back on their purchases. At first, I thought, “That makes sense—it’s like getting a free gift with your buy.” But then it hit me: my husband has been telling me this for years: “If you have to spend more money to get something ‘free,’ it’s not free. You just spent another $50.”
The commercial was pushing people to spend more to earn tiny cash-back rewards (like 2%). I thought, “Why would anyone do that?” It felt like a wake-up call—another reminder of how easy it is to justify unnecessary spending.
The Best Surprise: Support from Family and Friends
The most exciting part of this challenge so far has been the support I’ve gotten. My mom even decided to do the no-shopping challenge with me! Having a partner makes it fun—like we’re in this together. I don’t feel alone in the ups and downs, and that makes a huge difference.
Full disclosure: J.D. is my brother-in-law, so he’s been cheering me on too.
The first few weeks have been tough, and I’ve made mistakes—but I’m determined to keep going. I’m learning to be more logical about my goals, saving time and money, and most importantly, I have my family right there with me.
Now I’m curious: Have you ever tried a no-spend challenge? What rules did you make? How long did you stick with it? Did you have any slip-ups? And do you have any advice for someone just starting out?
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My year of no-shopping experiment
2025-09-09T14:09:05
Two weeks before Christmas, I stumbled on a New York Times article about someone who’d gone an entire year without shopping. At first, I thought, “Why would anyone do that?”—but I kept reading. The author’s reasons for the experiment were surprisingly compelling:
- It made her more aware of the difference between “wants” and actual needs.
- It pushed her to use items she already owned instead of buying new ones.
- It helped her appreciate what she had, including gifts from others.
- And most surprisingly, it freed up a huge amount of her time.
I found the article interesting but didn’t think much more of it—until that evening, when I caught myself reflecting on my own shopping habits. I realized how much time and energy I pour into shopping, and a question popped into my head: Could I do a year without buying non-essential things?
My Background: Shopping Was More Than a Habit
For a long time, my life revolved around shopping. I worked in high-end retail for years—studied fashion merchandising in school, then jumped into retail management right after graduation. My biggest career milestone was working at Nordstrom, but looking back, it was both a highlight and a curse: it turned shopping into not just a job, but an outlet for me.
Today, I’m 44, with two teenage sons, a wonderful husband, and two dogs. I now work for our family business, so I’m no longer surrounded by the retail world every day—but I still shop a lot. Honestly, I love it. There’s something fun about getting new things: clothes, shoes, home accessories, makeup, even furniture or a new car. If it’s shiny and new, I’m drawn to it.
But here’s the thing: our family isn’t wealthy. We budget like everyone else, and sometimes it’s a struggle. We’re trying to teach our boys (and each other) the value of saving—even if we’re not perfect at it.
Reading that Times article, I connected with the author’s experience. Shopping made her happy too, but she saw enough benefits in a no-shopping year to give it a try. I started thinking… maybe I could try it, too.
When I told my husband about the idea, he smiled and said he’d be incredibly proud if I pulled it off. We’re a competitive couple—we love challenging each other—so that pushed me further. I hesitated for a bit, asking myself, “Can I really do this? It’s going to be so hard!” But eventually, I told myself: “Yes, I can.”
My Plan: Setting Rules and Avoiding Temptation
I’m a huge planner—I love making lists and crossing things off one by one. It makes me feel accomplished, so I knew I needed a solid plan to stick to this challenge for a year.
First, I had to pick a start date. The new year was approaching, so January 1st seemed like an obvious choice—I could even frame it as a New Year’s resolution. But then I realized: waiting until January would let me go on one last “shopping spree” first. That felt counterproductive—it went against everything the challenge was about. So I decided to start on December 26th, the day after Christmas.
J.D.’s note: Kamie’s choice to start immediately is smart. I’ve done dozens of these challenges, and I’ve learned that waiting for a “perfect” start date (January 1st, a birthday, an anniversary) usually leads to failure. You end up having one last “blowout” before the challenge begins, then feel guilty and abandon your commitment. The best time to start is always now—not tomorrow. Every time I’ve succeeded at getting fit, writing more, or cutting back on alcohol, it’s because I didn’t wait for a “better” day.
Once I had a start date, I needed rules to keep myself on track. The first big question: What counts as “shopping”? I didn’t realize how many small purchases I make every day until I tried to define this. I ended up making four key lists:
1. Things I Can’t Buy (Non-Essentials or Overstocked Items)
These are the things I tend to splurge on, even when I don’t need them:
- Clothing, accessories, makeup, and shoes
- Electronics and gadgets (including new phones)
- Furniture and home decor (yes, even candles—I’m obsessed with them!)
- Starbucks runs: I normally spend a lot here, but I decided to only go if I’m traveling for work. (I’ll admit, this one scares me.)
2. Stores I Need to Avoid
Just like J.D. avoided comic book stores when he was paying off debt, I need to steer clear of places that trigger my shopping urge:
- Department stores
- Boutiques
- Malls
- “One-stop shops” (like Target or Walmart): I’ll only go to actual grocery stores to avoid getting distracted by non-essential items.
3. Things to Do When I Get the Urge to Shop
Shopping used to be how I filled free time, so I needed alternatives. When the urge hits, I’ll:
- Exercise (hit the gym, go for a run, do at-home workouts)
- Clean the house
- Organize cupboards or drawers
- Rearrange my closet
- Call a friend
- Bake or cook a meal
- Write down why I’m doing this challenge—reminding myself of the goal helps.
4. Things I Can Buy (Necessities Only)
This list was harder to make than I expected. The obvious ones are groceries, toiletries, gas, and car maintenance. But as I thought about it, I realized how few things I actually need—and that’s a good reality check.
My Start: Cutting Ties with Temptations
Once my plan was ready, I jumped in. The first thing I did was tackle my email inbox. I get dozens of messages from stores, membership clubs, and brands—all designed to make me spend more. It took time, but I unsubscribed from every single one. I’ll admit, I felt sad unsubscribing from some of my favorite brands… but I knew those emails would only tempt me to break the rules.
Next, I canceled my subscription boxes. I had a few, and they were always fun to get in the mail. Canceling my FabFitFun box (my favorite) was the hardest—there’s something so exciting about opening each little item and falling in love with it. If you love shopping, you get it. But it had to be done.
J.D.’s note: After I visited the FabFitFun website to grab a link for this story, I started seeing their ads everywhere online. You’ve been warned—those targeted ads are no joke!
By the time I finished unsubscribing and canceling, I was exhausted. I even felt emotionally drained—like I was grieving the loss of shopping. It sounds silly, but shopping had been my hobby, my escape, my way to fill time. I wandered around the house for a bit, trying to figure out what to do with myself when I wasn’t working. Eventually, though, I found productive ways to use that free time.
Productive Ways to Fill Free Time
One of the first things I did was clean out our cupboards and drawers. As I sorted through things, I was shocked by how much stuff we’d accumulated over the years. By the third day, I had three garbage bags full of junk—and I also found brand-new items I’d never used. That felt wasteful, but it was a good wake-up call.
For the unused (but nice) items, I started a “present box.” It’s filled with things I bought for myself but never used—things that would make great gifts later. This helps in two ways: I’m getting rid of clutter, and I won’t have to break my no-shopping rule to buy gifts for birthdays or holidays. My goal is to have every drawer cleaned out by spring (or earlier!).
When I’m out of the house, I used to head to the mall or a store—now I go to the gym instead. I already have a membership, so why not use it? Some people might count a gym membership as “shopping,” but I decided it fits within my rules. Going to the gym has been a great choice: it gives me a place to burn off extra energy, gets me out of the house, and keeps me focused on the challenge. I’m actually loving the exercise!
Mistakes and Wins: Conquering Coffee (and iTunes)
No challenge is perfect—and I’ve already slipped up a few times. The first mistake: I bought a song on iTunes. At first, I thought, “No big deal”—but then I realized: it wasn’t a necessity. It was a habit. You don’t notice how many little shopping habits you have until you’re trying to quit them.
J.D.’s note: I have the same iTunes habit. It’s something I’m still working on, too—those $1.99 song purchases add up!
I felt bummed about breaking the rule, but I fixed it by making new playlists with the music I already own. It feels “new” again, even if it’s not. (Secretly, I’m crossing my fingers my husband buys new music—we have a joint account, so maybe I can “steal” it? Is that cheating?)
The bigger challenge has been Starbucks. I’ve already bought coffee there a couple of times, but I’m cutting back. To fight the urge, I now make coffee at home and bring it with me in the morning. I also stocked up on coffee and tea supplies at work. These small changes have had unexpected benefits: I’m saving money and time (no more driving to Starbucks on my breaks). I’ve even started bringing my lunch to work, so I’m saving twice as much.
I haven’t kicked the Starbucks habit yet, but I’m making progress—and that’s what counts.
Revising My Rules: What Counts as a “Necessity”?
Over the past month, I’ve had to reevaluate my rules. Everyone’s definition of “necessity” is different, so I needed to adjust mine to fit my life. For example, I added hair products and face creams to my “allowed” list—but only when I run out completely. Healthy hair and skin are part of my basic hygiene, so I don’t see this as “shopping” (as long as I’m not buying extra just because it’s on sale).
It’s a fine line, and I had to think hard about it. But setting clear limits—like only buying when I’m completely out—has helped me stay on track.
When “Free” Isn’t Actually Free
One night, I had a realization while watching TV. A commercial came on for a cash-back shopping app—two women were talking about earning money back on their purchases. At first, I thought, “That makes sense—it’s like getting a free gift with your buy.” But then it hit me: my husband has been telling me this for years: “If you have to spend more money to get something ‘free,’ it’s not free. You just spent another $50.”
The commercial was pushing people to spend more to earn tiny cash-back rewards (like 2%). I thought, “Why would anyone do that?” It felt like a wake-up call—another reminder of how easy it is to justify unnecessary spending.
The Best Surprise: Support from Family and Friends
The most exciting part of this challenge so far has been the support I’ve gotten. My mom even decided to do the no-shopping challenge with me! Having a partner makes it fun—like we’re in this together. I don’t feel alone in the ups and downs, and that makes a huge difference.
Full disclosure: J.D. is my brother-in-law, so he’s been cheering me on too.
The first few weeks have been tough, and I’ve made mistakes—but I’m determined to keep going. I’m learning to be more logical about my goals, saving time and money, and most importantly, I have my family right there with me.
Now I’m curious: Have you ever tried a no-spend challenge? What rules did you make? How long did you stick with it? Did you have any slip-ups? And do you have any advice for someone just starting out?