I gave up Shopping for Lent
I gave up shopping for Lent. Since then, I’ve started following a lot of influencers who are doing year-long no-buys or low-buys—concepts that were completely foreign to me until recently.
Side note: I don’t think I have a shopping problem. Maybe I’m just terrified of becoming one, but what’s really starting to get to me is the constant thinking about what to buy next.
Lately, I’ve been hearing the term food noise from people on Ozempic who say it’s helped them stop obsessing over food. I think shopping noise is a real problem too. With social media, we’re constantly bombarded with messages about what to buy, how to look like a “cool girl,” how to be a “fashion girly”—as if we need a new outfit for every occasion. Somehow, the clothes we already own (and have spent money on) are suddenly deemed not enough.
It reminds me of my first post of the year, where I mentioned how Lizzie McGuire made us believe that repeating outfits was a fashion crime. But in reality, it’s completely normal—and smart—to wear your clothes. That’s why I unfollowed a lot of influencers and started following stylists who promote no-buy challenges instead.
During this period of not shopping, I’ve learned a few things that have helped quiet the shopping noise:
Don’t follow trends—hone in on your personal style. This sounds simple, but when the internet keeps serving you trends, it’s easy to get caught up. I recently discovered
and her Three-Word Method, and it’s been a game-changer. The idea is to define your personal style using three words and use them as a guide when shopping. To get the three words, you choose three adjectives—one practical, one aspirational, one emotional—that encapsulate the way you want to show up in the world. My three words are Modern, Laidback, and Playful. I even tested them in ChatGPT, and the mood board it generated felt so aligned with my style—I knew I had done the exercise right. Preview the mood board below.
*I wouldn’t buy exactly everything above, but I feel like it fits the vibe.
These fashion hauls are not normal. It is not normal to buy 20 pieces of clothing every week. I get that these influencers get paid to do this and this is how they generate money but like…. we can’t normalize these hauls. Number one, you would be broke and number two if you always feel the need to buy new clothes you are very much not buying the right clothes. Also, I’m sorry but what is up with this like make noise with your packaging (ASMR?) and unbox these super intricate things. Can we also talk about how influencers are also making these mood boards with their favorite things and sending us shoppable links but haven’t tried them all out? I see you Revolve favorites…. You cannot tell me you’ve purchased all of this.
Big purchases should be saved for milestones, trips, and birthdays. And no, this doesn’t mean buying an entirely new wardrobe for every vacation. Shopping while traveling can be fun, and if you're going on a big trip, of course, you want to pack efficiently and maybe pick up a few things you actually need. But doing an entire Zara haul just because you’re heading to Spain next month? Unnecessary. You already have things to wear. And let’s be honest—half the time, you end up re-wearing the same pieces anyway and buying souvenirs while you're there. I’m also a big fan of getting what’s local in each country.
Avoid impulse shopping. I started following @thestyleaudit on Tiktok. She created the most incredible tracker that I actually purchased for $5. (You can buy it here.) She’s a recovering shopaholic and one of my favorite people to follow. Her advice? Wait before making a purchase to ensure you truly need it. Some suggest waiting at least 30 days. Of course, there are exceptions—if your work shoes are literally falling apart, go ahead and replace them. But for everything else? Pause, reflect, and make sure it aligns with your style and needs. Also, part of the tracker is that you have to collage the stuff you want to buy and honestly, it’s another way to check that everything is aligned with your three words.
Also, I don’t need any of the above right away. Some of it seems fun to elevate some basics or to add some color. I have to shy away from my routine black and white uniforms and add some color as my “Playful” word would suggest.
I also haven’t mentioned that this has been hard. There was one day when three of my favorite brands—Ganni, Quince, and Dagne Dover—were having flash sales, and I really thought I would break. But I didn’t! It ended up being a really good day, and I felt so accomplished.
I think the key is spending less time online so you are less tempted by all of the shopping noise. Also, seems hard too. I miss the days when my Instagram feed was just people I knew with no ADs. We used to have to make an outing to the mall to shop, and now, with everything just a click away, it’s overwhelming.
Anyways, Let’s see how I get through the next 18 days—only halfway there!