Need help planning your no-buy year? Download this Notion template
2025 is right around the corner...
Why I’m doing a slow-buy year in 2025…
When I moved from the United States to the Netherlands in the middle of the pandemic, life felt overwhelming. Everything was strange and new, and I was often alone. But one thing I knew how to do—no matter where I was—was shop online. And shop I did. I went on a tear, filling my days with the thrill of deliveries: fast fashion, new eyewear, furniture, gadgets. It felt like I was building a sense of home and identity in this unfamiliar place. But as the packages piled up, so did an unsettling realisation: none of it was filling the void. And I was drowning in STUFF.
Three years in, I saw that what I truly needed wasn’t something I could click “Add to Cart” for.
This wasn’t my first experience with rethinking my spending habits. Back in 2019, I committed to a low-buy year and managed to save $10,000 by the end of it. I was so proud of myself because I set realistic goals, allowed a few “cheat” days, and, for one of the first times in my life, found a sense of discipline I hadn’t thought possible. That experience taught me the power of intentionality, and it’s the same approach I’m bringing into this workbook—to help you uncover what truly matters and achieve your own goals with grace, purpose, and a little flexibility.
Now you may be wondering whether you should do a slow/low or no buy year. I hope this guide will help you make the decision AND help you commit to the task. Will you join me?
View the guide in Notion to duplicate and edit.
If you’ve never tried Notion before, this is a great opportunity to try it out.
Notion is a collaboration platform with Markdown and including kanban boards, tasks, wikis and databases. It is a workspace for notetaking, knowledge and data management, as well as project and task management.
Notion offers a free version that provides a decent set of features for personal use.
(This is not sponsored.)
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