My Top 5 Takeaways from the #NoNewThings Challenge

A few slip ups and a bunch of big wins

This is the fourth and final installment in a series of posts centered around the #NoNewThings challenge, founded by sustainability expert and author, Ashlee Piper.

As we enter the fourth and final week of this year’s #NoNewThings challenge, I thought I would wrap things up by sharing my honest slip-ups as well as top learnings and takeaways (I’d love to hear yours as well - please share in the comments, below).

First, My #NNT Challenge Slip-Ups

I had two slip-ups over the course of the challenge where I did, in fact, buy new things (oops).

• I impulsively bought earmuffs from a street vendor in NYC last week because I don’t own any and my ears were freezing, and buying used earmuffs felt unrealistic. Truth be told I bought four pairs of earmuffs - one for myself, one for my daughter, and another set for my friend Amanda and her daughter, who also had cold ears. The total for all four pairs was $40, and we spent the rest of our trip feeling cozy and adorable. I’ll add them to my winter capsule wardrobe and file it away as a net positive.

• My second slip-up occurred when I saw that the bath towels I’ve been eyeing for months had gone on major sale. Our existing towels (we own only four) were due for a replacement, and it seemed silly to wait another week to order them for the sake of the challenge and risk missing the sale. I plan to keep the old towels to send with the girls to sleepaway camp this summer which feels like a win.

• For full transparency, I also bought a few pre-loved items (per the challenge guidelines!) including a set of vintage candlesticks, a sweatshirt, and, in a hilarious twist of fate, I unknowingly tried to buy a pair of my old jeans back while visiting my local consignment shop. They returned them to me for free, and we all had a good laugh.

Takeaway #1: Shopping is Morally Neutral

I was feeling bad about buying the earmuffs after three weeks of successful purchase-pausing when I saw these wise words from challenge founder, Ashlee Piper:

If you look at buying stuff as morally neutral, and a data collection effort that helps you make better decisions in the future, you won’t feel so bad about supposed ‘mess ups.’

A great reminder that the point of this challenge is not to curb spending all together, but rather, to increase awareness of our shopping habits and triggers so we can shop more intentionally and sustainably in the future.

Takeaway #2: Kids Will Always Want to Buy More Stuff

Over the past month, my kids asked me to buy literally dozens of things including hair masks, sheet masks, new jackets, cozy blankets, gifts for friends, and teeth whitening strips (!?). They were fully aware I was doing the #NoNewThings challenge, but also (and I cannot emphasize this enough)THEY DID NOT CARE.

Since I believe that as a parent my role is to set clear boundaries (but not expect my kids to share my exact values), I told the girls that I would only be buying them items that were absolutely essential and they could use their savings, or allowance, for anything else they wanted. When Chloe lost her hairbrush I replaced it with a new one, but when she asked me for more skincare it was a firm no. When I took 12-year old Emilie on a special mother-daughter trip on to NYC I reminded her that I wasn’t going to shop, but she could if she wanted to. She decided to buy herself a single lip gloss with her own money, and it warmed my heart to see how carefully she considered the purchase.

Takeaway #3: List Making Can Save the Day

Of all the techniques I tried over the past month, by far the most successful was simply making a list of items I wanted to buy (It was alarming how many things my brain told me I urgently needed). Keeping a wish list helped my brain chill out (it’s ok! It’s been noted!), and delaying purchases made me realize that I really didn’t need a single item on my list (A flowy caftan? A new olive oil dispenser? Another white blouse? WHY).

Takeaway #4: It Feels Good to Give

During the challenge, I found myself using and enjoying things I already owned. I actually gave the host gifts I had bought and stored, read books that I had neglected, shopped my own closet for new outfits, and used up most of my remaining product samples.

Since shopping was off the table I also leaned into decluttering (I can always find more to declutter). The girls indulged me (victory) and we edited all their clothes, school stuff, books, games, and toiletries, donating three large garbage bags. Dopamine hit, check.

I also gave away some of my own items that I rarely use to friends who were thrilled to receive them. A challenge highlight was gifting one of my gently-used handbags to my friend, and challenge founder, Ashlee Piper, who had complimented it on Instagram. It feels really good to give things away to people who appreciate them, and generosity also helps cultivate a more abundant mindset. Score.

Takeaway #5 It’s Crucial to Clarify the Why Behind the Buy

I primarily shop (or think about shopping) when I'm bored or restless. Many of my clients shop when they feel sad, lonely, or inadequate. It’s super useful to identify your emotional shopping triggers, as well as healthy alternatives, if you’d like to shop less. Get started with the following prompts:

• I shop when I feel __________

• An alternative to shopping could be __________

I’ve found that calling a friend, digging into a great book, or taking a brisk walk or a fitness class, can provide a great alternative to shopping.

To reiterate, the challenge isn’t about vilifying shopping or creating guilt around it. It’s about increasing awareness of your habits so you can shift them if you want to consume less, or more intentionally, in the future. Pay attention to when you feel the urge to shop. Are you trying to distract yourself or fill an emotional hole or do you just need a new pair of socks?

Thank you to all of you who participated in the #NoNewThings challenge with me. It was so much fun to do this experiment as a community, and I’d love to hear your own insights and takeaways in the comments.

A reminder that you can start the #NoNewThings challenge, or try your own version of a purchase pause or spending sabbatical, any time you like - this is your adventure.

🎧 New Podcast: Loved sitting down with Lexi B, host of the You Can Sit With Us podcast, to talk about how to use minimalism to maximize your life. Listen Here.

I’m wrapping up my third book (more soon!) and coming out of hibernation to take on a few new clients and projects. Wahoo!

Entrepreneurs: Looking to start or scale your business? Click here to check out my 1:1 mentorship intensive. I am opening (2) spots for spring / summer or you can book a single strategy session right here.

Coming Soon: A workshop series with some of my favorite colleagues and friends. Stay tuned!