Set 'No-buy' Rules to Save Money, Cut Waste

2024-06-07

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  • Some Americans have been setting their own "no-buy" rules in an attempt to reduce wasteful spending and save money.
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  • Creating no-buy rules themselves can be easy.
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  • People simply make a list of non-essential things they plan not to buy for a specific period of time.
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  • The idea has caught attention on social media, with people and groups sharing progress on their goals.
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  • But keeping such rules can be difficult, especially for extended periods of time.
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  • Reporters from The Associated Press (AP) spoke to some people who have set their own no-buy rules, as well as experts.
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  • Here are some of their ideas on how to come up with a list of rules, as well as ways to keep no-spend promises.
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  • Whether it is beauty products, ordering takeout food or buying unnecessary low-cost items at the store, experts suggest knowing your weaknesses so you can make realistic plans.
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  • Mia Westrap is a Ph.D. student in Southhampton, Britain, who decided to establish a no-buy promise, or pledge.
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  • But before starting, she took a close look at what she spent money on during the previous few months.
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  • Through that process, Westrap realized that unnecessary food and drinks were her big weakness.
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  • "I figured out that I was spending four figures on just carbonated drinks and Pepsi Max," she said.
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  • Experts say one of the fun parts of no-buy rules is that there are no set rules.
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  • Individuals get to choose what to include and what not to.
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  • Amea Wadsworth is a 22-year-old living in San Diego, California.
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  • She told the AP she used to love spending hours looking at clothes and interesting knickknacks at places like Target and Goodwill.
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  • But when she moved back home after finishing college, she realized how many things she had built up over the years.
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  • "When I have those decluttering moments and I look through all my stuff, I was finding things that I bought and spent a lot of money on and then never ended up wearing," Wadsworth said.
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  • To keep her rules, she chose not to buy new clothing and to center most spending only on experiences involving loved ones.
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  • Wadsworth also set her rules to be on a month-to-month basis.
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  • Experts say it can be a big help for people to write down their rules to help remember and keep them.
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  • However, it is also fine to slightly change some rules, if needed, during the process.
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  • Take a break before buying. When Wadsworth feels a strong desire to get something she sees on social media or at a store, she writes it down instead of immediately buying the item.
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  • At the end of each month, she then goes over the list and decides what, if anything, is worth buying.
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  • Between pop-up offers and influencers praising new products, social media can be a trigger for unnecessary shopping, said Courtney Alev.
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  • She is a financial adviser at the company Credit Karma.
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  • If someone feels they are spending too much because of long periods spent on a computer or a device, Alev says they should take a break from any services providing an urge to buy things.
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  • As Westrap began her no-buy year, things did not start well.
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  • During the first month, her car broke down.
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  • Then, she received a costly parking fine.
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  • Experts say unexpected costs or weak moments happen to everyone.
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  • So it is ok if people do not end up following their no-buy rules exactly.
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  • Carrie Rattle is the chief executive of financial advisory company Behavioral Cents.
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  • She told the AP, "If you fail, you probably need a bit more help. You are not a failure. You have simply failed at one method."
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  • Rattle added that the realization is very important so that people don't feel "dejected."
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  • I'm Bryan Lynn