My "No-Spend" Year and "Project 333" So Far: Progress Updates
My 33 Item Wardrobe, Decluttering Tips, Living Minimal, Tips for Staying on Budget
Welcome back to this week’s post :) Today I want to share some updates about my commitment to the no-spend year, a minimalist closet, the 33 items goal, and the tips I have for staying on budget, and committed to my goals.
I hope you enjoy reading this one, and I hope this gives you both a moment to relax, reflect and slow down, and some inspiration for whatever it is you may want to apply yourself. :)
Realizing I Was Unhappy - Why I Made The Commitment
We are surrounded by shops, brands, and people always trying to sell us something. When everything is geared around getting you to spend - making you feel like buying and buying is completely normal - it feels very freeing to maintain your energy and refuse to give in.
It actually feels pretty empowering to walk around knowing you have made a commitment to yourself and you won’t be convinced of anything. You won’t be persuaded into buying anything you don’t need.
When you have a clear goal - and most importantly - a clear, legitimate reason for why you have made your goal/commitment - it’s far easier to stay on track.
I started my no-spend commitment in late May. I wanted to challenge myself to something new, to be better and to really control what I was doing. I had spent a long time being more unhappy than I realized - or admitted - and I recognized during November/December last year that I had developed spending habits that were very unlike me and very unhealthy.
I was using purchases to escape from unhappiness. One day I finally admitted that I was very unhappy, out loud. It might sound lame but it was really helpful to do this. I also admitted out loud that I knew my spending habits were trying to cover up all the unhappiness. From there, it was all healing and uphill.
Reflecting on Past Patterns and Refusing to Repeat Them
So when I decided to start this commitment, I knew I wanted to stop my unhealthy spending behavior. I had also just done a very large home clear-out and this gave me a further opportunity to reflect.
I have lived in many places around the world, and with me, usually came most of my stuff. Before leaving, I would do a wardrobe and general clear-out, then pack up and go. (In fact, taking off and leaving to another country is that second-nature that it can at times show its face as an unhealthy behavior trait).
This last time coming down from London to Cornwall was different. I got rid of a lot of things, including sentimental things for the first time ever, and I knew I wanted to start fresh. Nonetheless, there still ended up being a considerable amount to get rid of a couple years after I finally settled into my new house. I accumulated a lot of clothes again, CD’s, books…
So earlier this year did a clear-out like I hadn’t really done before. I let go of sentimental items, and I wanted everything gone. I wanted to have an extraordinarily minimal amount of “possessions” to the point where I can list everything I own. I’m pretty much there now.
I was just tired of the same old pattern. Purchase, regret, get rid of, have to do a clear-out and reorganize. During this last large clear-out, I really reflected on this pattern and decided: I am no longer buying any clothes unless I need them; I am no longer buying anything unless I truly need it. I made a commitment to myself that I never again wanted to feel like I had too much “stuff” and I had to spend time going through and getting rid of it all. I was tired of this pattern.
Your home is a living space - not a storage space
That quote really hit home for me as I did my last declutter, and it has really changed my approach to how I keep my home. Even to the point where my goal is to get rid of my wardrobe completely, if possible and makes sense.
Where I would really want my home to be perfect, now I force myself to live with things a bit more. It’s all a part of my letting go process and acceptance. Personally - whether I am OCD or what I’m not sure! - I do need my home to be tidy, and organized, otherwise I feel like I am living in very chaotic energy - but I have benefited hugely from placing practicality and comfort over perfection.
I don’t need everything to look perfect; I just want it tidy, organized and functional.
How My Low-Buy Year Turned into the No-Spend Year
To start a no-spend year, you start by going through your spending and finances.
What are you spending on?
Where does the bulk of your money go?
Large payments? Small constant purchases?
How often?
Why?
Are you happy with all your spending?
You then set rules for yourself:
What you’ll spend on
What you won’t
If you want to give yourself a budget (monthly or yearly) for anything
I wrote down my list of things I would accept to spend on, and as the weeks went on, somehow my “low buy year” turned into a no-spend year. When I went to log my first month’s progress, I titled it “no-spend year” - but when I looked back to my first journal entry, I had called it “low-buy year”! So without trying, my commitment had morphed into a really serious one to cut out any unnecessary spending.
Starting my Third Month of the No-Spend Commitment
I have to be honest, at two months in, I can already see that I will probably just be adopting this way of spending going forward. Sure, once the “no-spend” is up I may allow for more treats like takeouts and a larger grocery budget, but I can’t see myself ever going back to being frivolous with money.
So far, I can’t say I have had many shortfalls. I’m most tempted when I would like to get a treat such as a takeout Chinese, or some cookies at the supermarket (instead of always having to my own dessert at home); currently, I am not at all tempted by clothing, books, CDs, or any type of purchase.
The more I practiced hitting pause rather than hitting spend, the more I loved and preferred living with what I have. When you only have 5 options instead of 15, you really appreciate those options, and indeed - for me - life is far, far easier. If there is only message you take from today’s post, let it be this.
My tips for staying on-budget and committed to the no-spend.
Place any potential things I think I want onto a wishlist, or add to cart
After 3 weeks - 1-3 months, look at the cart/wishlist and see how you feel
Do those things really still interest you?
Have you found yourself needing them? Thinking about it?
Are they useful, practical, helpful or beneficial to you in some important way?
Are you comfortable with the amount you’d spend on the purchase? Is it value for money?
A month ago I added some books to my amazon shopping cart - I wasn’t going to buy them from amazon but it was a neat place to see them all and their cost at a glance. Yesterday I signed on to amazon and looked at my cart. I didn’t think any of those items were at all worth me parting with money for or making an exception during my no-spend commitment. I deleted them all.
When I saw the wishlist items again after over a month of forgetting about them, they simply held no interest. You will find that if you practice placing items into your wishlist, this will start to happen. It is the best way to make purchases. If you still want that item after two or three months of waiting to buy it (or you have some need of it etc) then you can really consider spending on it.
I know - in today’s fast paced instant world, waiting up to three months to make one purchase sounds insane. But you need to take control of where your energy goes - the world is geared around convincing you that you need this, and you need that, and you need it right now. So there will be a process to disengage with that behavior.
Progress Updates on My Minimalist Wardrobe
I shared on instagram earlier in the year that I had decided to start “project 333”. Now - disclaimer - I want to make it clear that I did not do this to be trendy or try to fit into a “minimalist” box. It simply looked like a great and practical idea, with a set number of items, and a clear goal - so it felt like a well-structured challenge to try.
So, as I shared in my instagram video where I showed all the items I kept in my closet - and I will be sharing a new one shortly - I only have 33 items which I have allowed myself to use. You place everything else you have out of the way - I have my out of season clothes (i.e. thick winter jackets, clothes etc) stored or in my second wardrobe. My main, everyday wardrobe, only has the items that form part of my list.
Currently, the items in my wardrobe amount to about 23 and are:
My activewear; because this is my job, it does not count toward my total. This consists of tennis dresses, skirts, tops, and adidas matching sets.
Loungewear: 2 tops, 1 dress, 2 sweaters, and 4 lounge pants.
5 dresses
2 midi skirts
2 shoes - one flip flops, one a more structured platform sandal that I use everyday
1 leather jacket (as a pre-empt to the coming season change)
3-4 sweaters
2 cardigans
I have one necklace, and I don’t use a purse - I use a cotton canvas bag or simply put my wallet and phone in my pockets. My phone is turned off when it is in my pocket.
I will detail everything in my update video but that truly is it. As is part of the “333” challenge, as the weeks went on I realized I left things out to use that I was not using, so instead I put them away (with an idea to maybe need to get rid of them), and took out other items in their place.
The "structure” / rules behind project 333 are:
33 items for 3 months (hence the name)
You don’t count each individual underwear or sock
If there is something - like my activewear - that forms part of your job and it is not sustainable to reduce the amount, then you can have this as your “no-count” items. Do not have anything under the no-count other than underwear and socks if you can avoid it.
The 33 items include jewellery and accessories such as bags etc
You can add in whatever rules work for your life if you need to
You can swap out items if you find that you are not using them at all, or need other layers (i.e. warmth etc). Do not use the swap-out rule as a way to get more items into your rotation - that’s a trap. If you can avoid swapping out, avoid it.
How I Have Found the 33 Items Challenge So Far
I have actually found that even this limited amount of items was still “too many”. I see myself always reaching for the same few things. One of the biggest purchases I regret are my organic cotton yoga sets. Where I thought these would be a daily staple, and the tops would be by go-to bras, I actually hardly use any of it.
I’m disappointed with the money I spent on the items (£200) but I am also disappointed with the quality. One of the inner seams broke on one of the leggings, and the tops have no padding. While I don’t mind personally using a top that is see-through, it is not appropriate for workwear. With no padding, it means I can’t use these cotton bra-tops under my tennis clothes - nor could I use them to teach yoga - this greatly limits their use as both bras and workwear.
I can’t understand why an optional cotton pad couldn’t have been inserted into the design, to prevent your body from showing. I will mend the tops so they are fit for purpose, but I still regret buying the leggings.
Further - because the items are of course cotton, they are not fit for the purpose of exercise where you sweat. You can’t sweat in cotton - it just gets soaked. Since I can’t work-out in them, they can only be used as clothing to walk around in, or slow yoga. But when I’m home, I will likely reach for a loose pant to do yoga in, rather than an ultra-tight legging. I also made the mistake of buying them just a bit too small - I could have sized up.
All in all, this means that £200 worth of clothing is just been sitting in my closet. I reach for it, put it on, and then usually take it back off because it is too tight, or impractical.
Minding Our Lifestyle to Make the Right Choices
As my lifestyle changed, so did my clothing choices and routine. I bought the items because I loved their material, and I thought they would be useful for certain purposes. In the end, they’re not. Whilst this is a big let-down in and of itself, there is also a lifestyle change that impacts their wearability.
Because my work is now exercise, I no longer have a morning yoga routine. I now do yoga sparingly when I feel like it. And I do it in loose clothing - not in leggings trying to be someone I’m not.
Before changing jobs to being a tennis coach, I had to force myself to do yoga even when I did not want to because it was my only form of movement - my job was sitting at a desk for 9 hours. So making that purchase was a way to inspire and convince myself to keep moving and keep practicing. However, my lifestyle change means I made a purchase for items that, very regretfully, I do not use now - and have no real need for.
I also noticed that other items in my wardrobe were barely used, and I removed those, and got rid of what I could too. Really limiting your closet to 30 items shows you just how little you really use, and how little you really need. I am still learning, and still adjusting; but one thing is for sure - I know I still have more than I really need.
Your Recap and Summary
I am really enjoying remaining committed to the no-spend year, and my minimalist closet. These things all go hand-in-hand with my ethos and approach to life. I tried to keep one foot in society because I thought I had to, and I ended up developing habits that were unlike me. I don’t regret anything, it all forms part of our learning.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned so far is how important it is to stay true to yourself and who you are - and don’t let yourself get sidetracked. As I decluttered and changed how I approached purchasing, things became clearer. I realized I bought things trying to be someone I wasn’t - they didn’t fit me or -crucially - my lifestyle.
I never want to buy anything again because I think I need it
I never want to buy anything because I like someone else’s style. It should only be purchased if it fits who I am and how I live
Any clothing purchases I make must stick with my ethos of clean clothing, and have to fit who I am as a person, and my lifestyle
Considering your character and lifestyle when you shop is paramount - it stops you making silly purchases
Maintain that wishlist and refer back to it - really examine if you need those things or really want them. You’ve gone three months without it now - did you miss it? Think about it? Would it have been nice / useful to have it? Does it make your life and lifestyle more functional? (i.e. maybe you have a quality rainproof coat for dog walking in your wishlist…)
Declutter your world: consider getting rid of Spotify and going back to CDs
Consider a closet challenge - or a tools challenge, whatever! Is there anything you have too much of? Do you need all of it?
Reduce your options - the more options, the more overwhelmed. We were not designed for the world to be at our fingertips and to have endless options
Think of ways to slow down
Consider your own spending and see if there are areas you can improve on. Maybe you love gardening - you might think you need that new rake, but sometimes just slowing down helps you realize how much you simply don’t! We convince ourselves that we need things we don’t really need, and we can realize this if we stop and really think about it.
Being on the no-spend year forces you to really look at what you are holding before you spend money on it. Yes, you may over scrutinize - but for me, it’s helping to bring authenticity to my choices so I could simply be true to my values without feeling guilty or ashamed.
The less options, the slower the pace, the clearer your mind and environment.
The less options, the more highlighted what you do own is; the more special it becomes.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my progress on the no-spend year commitment, and my updates on the “Project 333” wardrobe challenge that I embarked on a few months back. My updated closet video - to account for the change in seasons - will be up on my instagram showing the pieces I now have selected for the next couple months. If the chilly weather sets in and I need some thicker sweaters, I will simply accommodate by swapping things out.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and I hope you find value in it and inspiration if needed too. :) <3