Buy Nothing New is a self-imposed challenge that pretty much does what it says on the tin – you buy nothing new for a length of time. A lot of people do a month over October, others really test themselves by trying to do a whole year, and if you’re one Lindsay McDougall from Frenzal Rhomb, you end up buying no new clothes for nearly 20 years.
Here are some of the best tips and tricks from two people who are trying to buy nothing new this year, which sounds overwhelming, but it’s definitely achievable.
1. Find Out What Works For You
The most important part about taking on a big challenge like this is to make it achievable, don’t try and do something insane because you’re setting yourself up to fail.
You need to figure out what’s driving you, and let that tailor how you’re going to change your shopping habits. Maybe it’s no new clothes or nothing new at ALL, there’s no hard and fast rule, apart from cutting down your consumption.
For Melbourne-based transport and logistics retail gun Brooke Walker, it was about recognising and accepting her life as an over-shopper who lives a pretty hectic life and working it in that way.
“I really loved the idea of trying a zero-waste lifestyle,” she said.
“But with two jobs and being not only time poor but financially poor I found that I was setting myself up for disappointment when I know it’s not suitable for my lifestyle at the moment.”
She also said that shopping and buying in-person has made her much more mindful about her purchases, instead of just chucking something in an online cart and thinking about it when it shows up.
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Lindsay said that when he decided to stop buying new stuff after reading No Logo by Naomi Klein, he felt good knowing that he was helping to reduce clothing landfill and not contributing to the human rights violations of the fast fashion industry.
Considering Aussies apparently throw out about 23 kilos of textiles per person every year, Lindsay one less might not seem like much, but it all helps in the grand scheme.
“These days we’ve become very aware of how much clothing gets chucked out,” he said.
“I feel good that I’m kinda standing between perfectly good clothes and the bin.”
2. Be Gentle With The Buy Nothing New Rules
Going to buying nothing new is not an easy transition if you’re the kind of person who has a hefty log of treats on Afterpay and a tendency to buy anything fluffy at Kmart when you’re feeling a little bit fragile (read: me).
Though you’ve set yourself an achievable goal and some rules that work with your life, don’t go wild on them – and more importantly, don’t feel bad if you break them. It’s just a good chance to check yourself, how you’re feeling, and what made you bend your own rules.
“I’m allowing one “new” item per month,” Brooke said.
“In January it was, unfortunately, a bucket from Bunnings I needed to wash the walls of the rental I was moving out of.
“I’ve had to make allowances for what I call “non-negotiables” which so far has included updating my work uniform for my retail job in a size that fits me.”
Lindsay admits that he’s had to wear some ethically-ambiguous jocks throughout the 20ish years he’s been buying no new clothes, but that was because finding ethically-produced Reg Grundys was damn near impossible.
“Buying shirts is a difficult one because I love wearing band shirts,” he said.
“Because I was in a band that had a tiny bit of success, companies were throwing free stuff at us, so I definitely wore some ill-fitting and even more ill-ethical shirts and pants.”
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3. Trick Your Brain, Don’t Let It Trick You
A big way that Brooke has managed to buy nothing new so far this year has been about being actively mindful about her shopping, and figuring out whether she wants something, or actually needs it.
“Shop with intent and purpose and ask yourself before you buy anything do I truly need this or do I just want it,” she said.
“If you are going to buy new, shop local, buy handmade try and make educated and mindful purchases.”
Wrestling with your mind is always the toughest slog of any kind of goal – it’s the self-saboteur, the thing that’s gonna try and tell you that you can’t do it. Tricking your brain into knowing what to look out for, and how to shop with purpose, is the best way to do it.
Maybe you work best with short-term goals, like figuring out the best places to keep an eye out for second-hand goodies, or maybe it’s about getting yourself into forums and chats where you can share tips and tricks with other thrift-shoppers.
Whatever you need to do to get your brain thinking differently about shopping will help you in the long run.
4. Do Your Research
When Lindsay decided to stop buying new stuff, it was when he first joined Frenzal Rhomb and couldn’t just look something up online – I know, it’s hard to picture that life isn’t it. But now, he says it’s heaps easier to find brands that are ethically good, low-to-zero waste, and are actively helping with landfill levels.
“Thanks to baby Jesus and the Internet, socks and undies that aren’t made in sweatshop conditions are easy to find,” he said.
“Australian companies like Aussiebum, Boody and Etiko make it very easy, and it goes beyond the human rights vibes.”
5. Become A Master Thrifter
Brooke said her best trick is to make social media work do the legwork for you when you’re trying to buy nothing new. Local buy/swap/sell groups on Facebook might exude deep Mums Extremely Online energy, they can also be an unending well of thrifting.
“Join your local buy swap sell group and good karma group. Spend time looking on gumtree. Familiarise yourself with the op-shops in your area,” she said.
“Check out great Instagram pages for second-hand clothes and furniture.”
She also said it’s a good chance to learn a new skill, like dragging out the sewing machine and learning how to make and mend your own clothes.
Oh, and don’t waste your monthly item on a 60c bucket from Bunnings, because it’s a real bummer.
