If you have to make a list of no-buy stuff this year what would be in your list?
Just before the year 2022 ended, I made a no-buy list for 2023. A quite long list. Almost 50 items in the list. These are all items I do not want to buy in 2023. I said to my self ‘I have it enough. I do not need anything extra’.
And it included footwear, shirt, jeans, bags, luggage, some cosmetic items and also utensils.

This is what a minimalist advises to simplify life, to give your resources including time, energy and money only to what matters.
I told my friend about my list. It was like a commitment to myself. When I shared it to someone, I feel like I declared it.
Only a few days before new year, I and my friend went to a shopping mall. My friend wanted to buy sneakers. We went to two different shops and she bought 2 pairs of shoes from these shops. She took a while to choose the shoes for her. While she was giving a try some shoes, I was also giving a try to a new released one. It looked very pretty on my feet and super comfortable. I liked it.
An inner battle was happening whether I should buy that shoes or not. I knew it was a very tough battle. Because they were just new released, probably somebody would purchase that shoes very soon if I did not buy that shoes right away and next time I would not be able to find that same shoes again with my size.
I told myself that I have got 2 pairs already. One pair is actually running shoes and the other pair is the casual one and they were enough.
To be honest, I forgot my no-buy list at that time, until my friend reminded me about the promise I made with a reasoning ‘It has not been 2023 yet!’ She said. I won the battle that day. I kept telling my self that 2 pairs were enough.
Another advice says if you are conflicting inside whether to purchase something or not, pause for a few days, think it again. If after a few days the urge is still very strong, you can go back to the shop and buy that item you like. You might need it. Very often I don’t want it anymore after a few days for thinking about it again. It works.
This last few weeks I have been thinking about buying footware that more water resistant and comfortable for traveling during the wet weather.
The urge is getting stronger. And I know I still need this kind of footware. So I plan to break one promise.