Lent starts on Wednesday. Every year since I was a child, I’ve heard the question “What are you giving up for Lent?”. This year, instead of giving up the standard temptations like potato chips, candy or alcohol, I’ve decided to do something different. I’m going to try a Buy Nothing Challenge.
This post was originally published in February 2021 and updated in January 2024.
In 2020, I set a goal to buy no new clothing for the year. Since then, I’ve been thinking about expanding that to a Buy Nothing Challenge. Lent feels like a good opportunity to give it a try.
If you’re not familiar with Lent, it’s the most solemn period of the year in the Christian calendar. The 40-day period, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter, represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his ministry. It’s a time of fasting, prayer and reflection as we prepare for Easter, the biggest celebration of the year for Christians around the world.
What is a Buy Nothing Challenge?
As the name implies, a Buy Nothing Challenge is an opportunity to rethink and reduce your consumption. As I’m spending a lot of time decluttering and simplifying this year, avoiding buying new stuff aligns well with that goal.
Why do a Buy Nothing Challenge?
When you think of buying less and reducing consumption, saving money is the obvious benefit that jumps to mind. But there are a few other reasons to consider a Buy Nothing Challenge.
It’s environmentally friendly. One of my favourite quotes from 21 quotes on the environment to inspire you in 2021 is this one.
The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.
Joshua Becker, author of The Minimalist Home
Buying less gives you an opportunity to rethink your relationship with stuff. We often buy things out of habit and treat shopping as a form of entertainment. A Buy Nothing Challenge is an opportunity to reset some of those habits. See Mindful shopping tips to save you money for some thoughts on how to get started with breaking those habits.
The challenge is also a great way to accelerate your decluttering efforts. If you get rid of things without bringing any new items in, you’ll notice an immediate benefit.
Finally, reduced emphasis on buying and accumulating things frees up physical and mental space to focus on what really matters. It’s a chance to reset your priorities and prioritize people over things.
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What are the rules of the challenge?
There are different ways to approach this kind of challenge. I’ve seen it referred to as a “buy nothing new challenge” or even a “buy local challenge”.
Realistically, I can’t go six weeks without spending any money or buying anything. There are some consumables, necessities, and services that I will need to buy. Instead, the focus is on not buying “stuff”. By stuff, I mean durable goods that I don’t need or can do without. It’s the kind of clutter that I’m working so hard to remove from my life.
With that in mind, here’s a list of things that aren’t included in the challenge.
- Food and beverages, including takeout from local small businesses.
- Medication
- Gas
- Replacements for necessary items that break or wear out.
- Essential personal care items and services. Shampoo and deodorant are allowed. That latest new shade of lipstick or eyeshadow is not.
- Cleaning supplies
- Gifts, but again I will focus on local business and choose experience gifts and consumables over things.
- Necessary repairs to our car or home
No Sundays off this year!
If you do the math and count the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, you’ll notice there are 46 days, not 40. That’s because Sundays are considered a “day off” from our Lenten fasting and observations. For Christians, Sundays and other religious solemnities are days of celebration, relieving us of our Lenten obligations.
In years when I’ve given up things like candy and potato chips, I did indulge and enjoy a treat on Sundays. This year will be different. Planning Sunday shopping sprees during Lent would sort of defeat the purpose so I’ll stick to my buy nothing challenge seven days a week.
I’m excited to do this challenge. If you’re looking for something to give up for Lent, or just wanting to reduce your consumption, why don’t you join me?
Have you ever done a buy nothing challenge? Tell us your experience below.
What you are doing with your blog is SO IMPORTANT. I think many/most of us continue to learn via “monkey see, monkey do” for our entire lives (even though it is much more obvious when we are young…) Your example is very powerful and inspiring. I now think about you almost every time I was my hands and remember to turn OFF the water while lathering up. The main things that jumped out at me from this blog post are: “The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.” Joshua Becker, author of The Minimalist Home and “We often buy things out of habit and treat shopping as a form of entertainment.” I have NEVER understood shopping as a form of entertainment. Maybe it’s because of some innate sense of understanding how everything is connected — and purchasing something is implicitly endorsing how it was produced (paying fair wages? using sustainable materials/energy? supporting manufacturing and jobs in one’s own country? — probably not if it is very inexpensive and “a bargain”) I also love the comments your blog posts inspire. Please keep up the great work with your blog.
Thank you so much Will. What a lovely comment to read to start my day!
I am not a fan of shopping. For me, it would be the worst form of entertainment. I used to go on shopping weekends to Buffalo, NY with my friends when I was in my early 20’s. Part of it was the appeal of crossing the border. I enjoyed just hanging out with the group, going out for dinner, and going to the nightclubs far more than the shopping aspect.
I haven’t been to the mall since pre-COVID and I have no desire to go. When I do go, I make a beeline for the store I need to go to and then get the heck out of there.
Really cool idea, best of luck and looking forward to finding out how it goes.
I imagine the hardest items not to buy will be those that crop up being needed/wanted unexpectedly. Me and my wife did a no plastic challenge a while back, did prep beforehand and felt pretty confident we could do it. Then two days in remembered toilet paper was wrapped in plastic and we franticly had to find how to source some that wasn’t.
Will you be allowing yourself to borrow stuff from others?
Thank you. I know what you mean about the plastic-free challenge. I tried it last year and it was eye-opening. It would have been much easier without the pandemic restrictions on using my own containers.
Yes, borrowing stuff from others is allowed.
All the best with tbe challenge, Michelle! Looking forward to hearing how it went.
Thanks guys!
Great idea – focus on consumables and buy local. Since COVID i have bought very few things I didnt need, like the IP.
Thanks Judy. I am interested to see how it goes.
What a great idea! I’ve never heard of doing this before, but I’m going to do this challenge this year. We’re trying to declutter and save money and this is the perfect way to do that!
Thanks Michelle. I’m glad to hear you’re in! I look forward to hearing about how it goes for you.
I love that you talk about consumable, non-“stuff” gifts. When we first started asking our families for less stuff during the holidays, it was a difficult change for them. But I think they’re seeing the benefit of less clutter, and they enjoyed the box of sustainable meat & seafood we sent them last year.
It is hard to get families on board. My sisters and I agreed “no gifts” years ago. They continue to show up for Christmas and Birthdays with “a little something”. This makes me feel bad for 2 reasons: I am abiding by the no-gift rule and didn’t get them anything, and I usually end up with something I don’t need and wouldn’t go out and buy myself.
Oh, that is awkward. At least my sister doesn’t believe in Christmas gifts, she makes it super simple!
What a great idea!
Thanks Suzanne. I’m curious to see how it goes.