Living expenses (rent, mortgage) Transportation (car insurance/maintenance, gas, bus fare) Food (groceries every week/month) Utilities (electricity, heating) Cellphone, internet Going out (drinks after work, with friends, or special meals) Be as detailed as possible. Focus on how many times a week you go out for lunch or dinner, or buy a coffee. Add up a rough amount for each category. Are you overspending on your food expenses? The average household spends $500 a month on groceries. Are you overspending on going out for drinks or on extra activities (like the gym membership you never use)?
Think about your eating habits. Is there a way to reduce your food costs so you’re only buying essential foods or using pantry foods you already own? Consider your transportation costs. Can you reduce or remove your car expenses by using your car less or using a bike or walking? Though it may be difficult to imagine life without a car, think about how much you spend every month on this expense, especially on gas.
There are several Buy Nothing groups online that do group events and provide tips on how to buy nothing for an extended period of time. [5] X Research source Many Buy Nothing success stories are also done by roommates or a family who all decide to commit to a purchase free lifestyle. [6] X Research source
There is a theory that it take 30 days to change a habit or adopt a new habit. After a month of lower to no spending on certain items or activities, you should start to notice you perceive items in a store or socialize at a restaurant or bar differently. You may start asking yourself, “Do I really need this?” before you buy something. More often than not, the answer will be “No”. [8] X Research source
Moving into an unoccupied home. Some cities or areas have vacant dwellings that need some attention and care. A landlord may be willing to allow you to live rent free in a vacant home in exchange for fixing and upkeeping the home. You should inspect the home to determine how extensive the damage is to the foundation and structure. Look for a home you can maintain with a few basic tools and some hard work. Once it’s in living order, you can now occupy it, rent free. [9] X Research source House sitting. When homeowners go away for extended periods of time, they look for trusted individuals to occupy and maintain their homes. In addition to house duties, and sometimes pet duties, you will be paid an hourly wage to take care of the property, ranging from $15/hr to a fixed monthly rate for longer jobs. Look for house sitting opportunities online[10] X Research source , and always sign a contract before taking on a house sitting job. [11] X Research source Apartment management. You could also become a landlord yourself, where you get free rent in exchange for maintaining the building and responding to the needs of the building’s tenants. However, this could be a big responsibility in terms of time and energy. [12] X Research source Moving in with your parents. Though you may not want to end up staying with your parents past high school, many graduates and young adults move back in with their parents to save money on rent and food. A zero rent, home cooked meal situation may not be so bad, and will bring you one step closer to buying nothing. [13] X Research source
Moving into an unoccupied home. Some cities or areas have vacant dwellings that need some attention and care. A landlord may be willing to allow you to live rent free in a vacant home in exchange for fixing and upkeeping the home. You should inspect the home to determine how extensive the damage is to the foundation and structure. Look for a home you can maintain with a few basic tools and some hard work. Once it’s in living order, you can now occupy it, rent free. [9] X Research source House sitting. When homeowners go away for extended periods of time, they look for trusted individuals to occupy and maintain their homes. In addition to house duties, and sometimes pet duties, you will be paid an hourly wage to take care of the property, ranging from $15/hr to a fixed monthly rate for longer jobs. Look for house sitting opportunities online[10] X Research source , and always sign a contract before taking on a house sitting job. [11] X Research source Apartment management. You could also become a landlord yourself, where you get free rent in exchange for maintaining the building and responding to the needs of the building’s tenants. However, this could be a big responsibility in terms of time and energy. [12] X Research source Moving in with your parents. Though you may not want to end up staying with your parents past high school, many graduates and young adults move back in with their parents to save money on rent and food. A zero rent, home cooked meal situation may not be so bad, and will bring you one step closer to buying nothing. [13] X Research source
Trade or borrow items by having a clothing swap or item swap with friends. Search for items online on sites like Freecycle. [14] X Research source . These sites list items people are giving away for free or for trade.
Many people who commit to a buy nothing lifestyle invest in an aquaponics system, where fish help to fertilize a garden that can grow enough produce for one person. Aquaponic systems are self-sufficient and require minimal upkeep. They can also produce a variety of produce, from herbs to tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and other greens. Over time, this system will provide you with a free food source. [17] X Research source There are several budget friendly food blogs and books with recipes that cost less than $10 to prepare and use pantry items you may already own. [18] X Research source
Dumpster diving is when you look in dumpsters and trash bins for items that may be edible, useful, or recyclable. Dumpster diving can also be profitable, as you can sell any valuable items you find in the garbage. However, you must always wear full body protection when dumpster diving and have a strong stomach for potentially gross discoveries, such as dead animals, hazardous weapons, and biohazardous items like used needles. [19] X Research source Food bartering is when you trade one food item for another food item. For example, you may have a surplus of tomatoes in your garden, or too many loaves of homemade bread in your kitchen. You would then network with other people in your area to barter for other food. There are several food bartering groups on Facebook and online. Search for food bartering networks in your area. [20] X Research source
There are many websites devoted to do it yourself projects that require a minimal skill level, with a variety of projects you can try on your own. [22] X Research source
Activities like hiking or walking in a local park or on local trails, as well as biking to remote destinations or areas, are all great ways to get out, have fun, and buy nothing.
Search on the Buy Nothing Project website[24] X Research source to connect with others who are also involved in the movement to buy nothing.
