Low Buy 2022

Happy New Year! I hope that the start of 2022 has been treating you well so far. As we ease into January, I thought I’d kick things off by running you through how I’m planning to shop for my wardrobe over the next six months. You may have already caught the gist of this in my latest YouTube video, but I thought I’d document my Low Buy journey here on my blog, too.

Wearing See by Chloe chunky wrap cardigan (old but this is cute!); Everlane 90s cheeky straight jeans; Vaneli two tone pumps; Celine trio; Linjer earrings & necklaces

It was quite exciting to see that I’m not alone in this approach for 2022; many of you told me you felt inspired to do the same, or had the same intentions to reflect your own personal goals for the year. So, in this post, I’ll be running through a few salient points;

• Why am I doing a low buy?
• What are my rules?
• What categories (if any) will contain exceptions to my low buy
• And finally, what my monthly check-ins will entail

Why a Low Buy for 2022?

So, why am I doing a low buy? Well, it’s a bit of a two-pronged answer. The first and most obvious is because we’re undertaking a rather extensive home renovation this year. I’ve shared a little about this in vlogs on my YT channel, and plan to document the whole process once our DA approval comes through and work commences. Our home is essentially going to be doubling in size, with work primarily including a first floor addition and some pretty heavy structural work downstairs (plus a new kitchen, yay!). We’ve been saving up for this for years, so you can imagine how exciting it is to be on the cusp of finally seeing our vision come to fruition. As such, I really want to be using any spare income to add value to our home, along with any new furniture purchases we might need to make.

The second reason is that my closet is abundant as it is. I’m really content with the items that I have, and can’t say I’ve found myself particularly wanting for much. At least where “basics” are concerned. For the most part, my desires have been louder and more vibrant than my usual style; a direction I’m excited to explore, but something I want to do an in intentional way. Limiting how much I can buy (and spend) is definitely one way to do that. And, I think it’ll be interesting to see what items I find myself prioritising.

My Low Buy 2022 Rules

Being realistic is an aspect that I think is key to changing any type of behaviour. So naturally, that was the approach I took when building out my rules. I knew a strict “no buy” wouldn’t be for me. I talk about style daily and I wanted some room to remain for self-expression in that regard. This really hinged on me wanting to develop achievable boundaries, that would still call for a high proportion of savings.

So, my core rules are pretty simple. A six month low buy, focused primarily on beauty and fashion. I can purchase up to two items per month, within a pre-determined budget. The budget will roll over, but the number of items I’m allowed to purchase in any given month will remain static. The point here being quality over quantity.

While I can purchase new fashion items, I’m putting a pause on buying any new beauty products. An exception being if I completely run out of face wash or moisturiser – the two core staples in my skincare routine. Oh, and mascara. These are the only beauty items which I’ll be allowing replacements for. If I run out of eye cream. Too bad. No more lactic acid treatment? I can wait a few months. I keep a pretty scaled back skincare routine, and my makeup stash is pretty healthy at this point, that I don’t see a need for more.

A couple of other things I’d like to keep in mind over the next six months? Prioritising natural fibres when shopping, shopping more Australian and Kiwi-owned brands, and buying pre-loved.

Low Buy Exceptions

I do have a few exceptions to my low buy. The first being that I’ll allow myself replacements for knickers/undergarments (but not socks). This is a category I loathe shopping for, so tend to put it off. A dreadful attitude to have, I know, especially given how transformative a great bra can be.

We have a number of family members celebrating birthdays over the next six months, so again this is another area where I’ll be making an exception. This has always been my attitude, regardless of my savings goals, so felt like it didn’t make sense to create a framework around presents.

Something a little more specific, is a replacement for my Vaneli two tone pumps; the very ones I’m wearing above. I adore these shoes, but mine are looking so tired and worn out. To the point that I’ve almost worn a hole through the sole. I actually tried on the original Chanel pumps in November, as I thought I might upgrade to the “real” thing, and ultimately decided I preferred my more affordable version from Vaneli. Better suited for wide feet, a lower block heel, and the colour works better with my skin tone. This is one of those replacement items I could have and perhaps should have purchased already, but I keep putting it off.

I also have my own birthday coming up at the start of February. While I no longer make a point of purchasing myself a birthday present, I am going to allow myself some leniency if something special pops up that I feel an indescribable urge to add to my closet. At this point, I’m not 100% sure I see that happening as I’m feeling very committed to this project. But, I thought it better to have the option there, rather than make a purchase and associate it with feelings of shame and/or guilt.

The final exception is around homewares. My husband and I rarely purchase homewares. They’re always very considered and thought out, generally taking years before we’ll eventually add an item to cart. In part this is probably why our home has never felt “done”, but I really appreciate that we have this slow approach. You’re less likely to make expensive (and bulky) purchases that you’ll later regret. But as I mentioned earlier, we do have our sights set on making some new furniture purchases as part of this home renovation. It’s half the “why” for my low buy; only makes sense that some budget may go towards home decor purchases.

Before we move on, I did also want to briefly touch on gifting. If you’re not aware, I do occasionally receive gifted product from brands. However, as part of my low buy, I’m also putting a cap on gifting for the next six months. This goes for both fashion items and beauty. I have a handful of brand commitments which do have gifting attached. So, a small number of additional clothing items may come into my closet each month. I’ll be sure to share this information monthly. Note that for beauty I do occasionally receive items unsolicited in the mail, so there may be the odd unexpected parcel.

Monthly check-ins

At the end of each month, I’ll share a check-in on my low buy. This will include items I bought (or chose not to buy); how I felt about my low buy that month; any notable achievements or struggles; slip ups; and I’ll also touch on whether I received any gifted items, too. I’m hoping that with those of you also participating in a low buy (or no buy), that we can be each others’ cheerleaders. Creating a sense of community as we love and cherish what we have, while building up and aiming for certain financial goals (whatever they may be!).

On that note, if you are doing a low buy or no buy, let me know in the comments below. Wishing you best of luck on your own journey this year!