Throughout 2019 and 2020, I tried and failed at following countless No Buys and Low Buys. When I saw Angelica Nyqvist partake in a Low Buy-inspired tag, I knew I wanted to do my own version of the Low Buy x No Buy Beauty Tag. Keep reading for my thoughts on my current No Buy x Low Buy.
About the Tag
The Low Buy x No Buy Beauty Tag was created by YouTuber, Anya, in 2019.
The No Buy x Low Buy Tag
1 | How long have you been on your low buy/ no buy?
I *attempted* a budget-based Low Buy starting in May 2019, but I failed at holding myself accountable. Additionally, I contemplated trying a yearlong No Buy starting in Dec. 2019. However, it is clear I failed at that, too.
With the above being said, I am glad to share that I successfully navigated a 30-day No Buy. After nearly 2 years of reckless spending, I challenged myself to a 30-day No Buy and shared the journey on Instagram.
As of October 19th, my 30-day No Buy came to an end. Thankfully, I kept myself accountable and refrained from buying any makeup. Now, I am maintaining a Low Buy with no strict goals.
2 | What motivated you to try a low buy/ no buy?
I realized that my makeup spending spiraled out of control in 2019. My excessive beauty shopping reached an all-time high last year due to personal struggles. Essentially, my anxiety drove the bulk of my impulse spending. Oddly enough, money-related anxiety even contributed to me spending more.
Although I spent the bulk of my money on gifts for family and friends, paying my credit card bills this year felt sobering. Although I haven’t taken on any major debt, I hated the feeling like I could never get ahead with savings.
Beauty spending reached levels that made me uncomfortable. I don’t want to chose between having experiences with loved ones or buying things.
It should be a no brainer.
3 | Are there any YouTubers who motivated/ inspired you on your low buy/no buy journey?
I realize that my answer is cliche, but Elle S and Jacquelyn Lovene played a major role in my desire to try low buy the first time around (in 2016/2017). I was originally drawn to Elle and Jaclyn due to their mission to use up products and limit spending. I started watching Elle when she was deep into Project Panning and Jacquelyn when she was on a minimalism journey. Read more about my favorite YouTubers here.
At the end of last year, I discovered Hannah Louise Poston while she was on a yearlong No Buy. Although she isn’t on a No Buy currently, she focused on beauty budgeting in 2019, and is focusing on downsizing her possessions in 2020.
Finally, Angelica Nyqvist is one of my all-time favorite YouTubers. Seeing her success with an item-based Beauty Low Buy in 2019 filled me with hope that I could successfully take on a similar challenge.
4 | What is a positive aspect that you’ve experienced in your low buy/ no buy?
My inability to follow my Low Buy exposed my borderline addictive impulse shopping habits and how badly my anxiety impacts my spending. While this may sound negative, making this discovery felt positive.
In fact, my realization made me more aware of my spending triggers. With this awareness, I can better work on myself. Check out this post if you think you may have an unhealthy relationship with purchasing makeup.
Also, I am ecstatic to find my balance again while on my 2020 Beauty Low Buy. I relearned that I hold the power to keep myself accountable for my spending. Finally, I’ve relearned discernment when shopping.
5 | What is a negative aspect that you’ve experienced in your low buy/ no buy?
My 2019-2020 Beauty Low Buy failurse hurt my confidence. In fact, the constant failure left me feeling a ton of shame.
However, at the end of the day, makeup is my hobby. Therefore, I shouldn’t be ashamed of my hobbies. Throughout my 2020 Beauty Low, I felt sad to miss out on certain releases. Nevertheless, I do feel that I need to keep myself in check.
6 | Do you think a low buy/no buy is beneficial for everyone? Why or why not?
Low Buys and No Buys are helpful for anyone who can’t seem to jump off the consumerist wheel. A Low Buy makes you much more aware of what triggers spending. Also, Low Buys help you to ideate on ways to reduce spending.
For buyers with a big spending issue, a No Buy might be much more helpful… but only if the No Buy is for an extended period of time (think: 1-month or more). Check out my very successful, six-month No Buy here or my Pan that Palette Challenge.
Short-term No Buys and Low Buys are pointless. Too often, consumers just keep a mental list of the items they want to buy. Then, they purchase them the immediately after their short-lived Beauty No Buy ends.
7 | What is some advice that you have to people starting a low buy/ no buy?
Get off social media. Stop watching reviews or looking at new releases as much as you can. Unfollow accounts that trigger you to spend and unsubscribe from the hundreds of email lists flooding your inbox.
Ever think about how much social media consumption influences your purchases? Take a look at the posts detailing how my favorite beauty gurus, YouTubers, and social media inspired many of my impulse purchases.
8 | What have you learned from the Low Buy x No Buy experience?
I need to take drastic measures to break the bad habits I’ve developed. Shopping should not be a coping mechanism. Excessive shopping can be damaging in the long run. It is not financially healthy to use shopping as a means of manufacturing happiness or calming negative emotions.
No one’s Low Buy x No Buy experience will look the same. Do not be disappointed if you find that tactics that work for others don’t work for you. Ultimately, we are all on different journeys and have different beauty buying goals.
Final Thoughts on the Low Buy x No Buy Tag
Writing my answers to the questions in the Low Buy x No Buy Tag made me much more self-aware of the fact that I failed to hold myself accountable for the majority of last two years. Moreover, I was tormenting myself by trying to force myself into a mold that didn’t fit me.
I love beauty. However, I need to curb my excessive shopping habits. With that said, I’ll never have a minimalist collection. Therefore, I need to stop making myself feel guilty about my hobby.
I’m not ready to give up on myself. Moving forward, I will continue to challenge myself to be better.
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Would you ever consider going on a Low Buy or No Buy? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below.