Five Ways to Save Money During the “cheap Shopping” Period
If you like to use the start of a new year to set goals or form habits, you might be thinking about changing the way you approach your personal finances—whether that means trying to stick to a budget (again) or ruthlessly cutting back on all non-essential expenses. for the whole year. Unfortunately, none of these options are easy (or even realistic) because your relationship with money is emotional and complex, and you often have to dig much deeper to make changes .
However, if you have financial goals for 2025 and want to spend more deliberately to achieve them, it’s worth considering introducing a ‘low buying period’. Here’s where to start, and why buying low may be better than trying to quit.
What is the “cheap shopping” period?
A period of low purchasing (or low spending) typically involves reducing discretionary spending in certain areas without eliminating it entirely. After taking care of all the essentials—housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, etc.—you look for ways to reprioritize and cut spending on fun (or extra or unnecessary) things based on what’s most important to you. This is different from “no buy/no spend” goals , which typically restrict all discretionary purchases: no restaurant or takeout purchases, no new clothes or personal items, no concert tickets, etc.
There is no one or hard set of rules for shopping cheaply because what matters to you is personal. For example, if you enjoy dining out with friends, perhaps you could reduce the frequency of those outings from once a week to twice a month and replace the remaining meals with a cheaper alternative (such as eating out at someone’s home). Or, if you’re renovating your home, perhaps you set a limit on the number of items you buy each month, or try to buy used or pre-owned items first.
The larger goal of the low shopping period is to spend more intentionally, which can also help you spend less on unnecessary items and work toward other financial goals, such as paying off debt or saving for a major purchase.
How to Try the Low Cost Approach
If you want to try the low-cost approach, start by identifying the reason you’re doing it . If you start cutting back on the things you love (or spending habits you want to change) without a clear intention, you’ll likely quickly become distracted or lose interest. Your “why” could be anything from reducing credit card debt or increasing the amount you can save or invest, to changing your attitude towards impulse buying or reducing your overall consumption. You can also set a specific goal to redirect your money, such as saving X amount and putting it in an emergency fund or retirement account.
Next, set realistic deadlines. Start small – a week or a month, especially if you’ve never analyzed your spending habits before. You can always extend the low buying period for a longer period. Set milestones (like opportunities for tiny wins!) along the way to check in and evaluate how you’re doing.
Finally, determine what is important to you and how your money helps you live up to those things. If you value experiences, don’t give up on event tickets entirely—focus on the select few you’re most interested in, or buy cheaper seats. If you like to give gifts, make them meaningful and for special occasions (such as birthdays) rather than frequent and expensive gifts. Focus on spending that is valuable and truly enjoyable, rather than restricting for the sake of restricting.
Five strategies for successful periods of low purchases
There are also a few common strategies for a successful low buying period:
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Create a “order of operations” for your purchases. If you must shop, exhaust all available free or low-cost options before purchasing new. Kara Perez of Bravely Go suggests buying your own home first, then trying buy-nothing groups, borrowing, trading, renovating, and saving.
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Make one-to-one replacements. Instead of adding toiletries or cleaning products to your collection, replace exactly what you have only when you run out. This can cut down on spending on disposable items that end up being half used (or unused).
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Keep track of your expenses. If you get to the end of a low buying period and don’t have any data, you really won’t know how it went. Use a spreadsheet to record expenses (including date and amount), or sign up for a budgeting app .
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Unsubscribe. As minimalist YouTuber Christina Michas says, ignorance is bliss. Unsubscribe from email lists and reduce the time you spend browsing influencers to avoid being bombarded with mindless spending opportunities.
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Seek support. Tell the people you live, work and spend time with about what you do and how they can help you. You can also find communities ( like r/nobuy ) where you can learn more.