welcome to WORN OUT
I'm so happy you're here!
In June 2021, I spent $770.80 on clothing.
I didn’t spend that amount on rent, utilities, student loans, or literally anything I needed.
Just clothing.
In case you don’t know — my name is Abby, and I’ve been practicing a low-buy lifestyle for approximately a year. Or at least attempting to. I’ve been documenting my relationship with shopping and clothes on TikTok (in case you’re interested in watching 🤠).
I wish I could say that I stopped spending frivolously after June 2021. But I didn’t! I kept spending and spending and spending until I literally couldn’t anymore. I spent until my credit cards were maxed out and my savings were non-existent.
During February 2022, I did a no buy challenge, and — not to be dramatic, but — it changed my entire mindset. During that month, I didn’t buy any new clothing, makeup, accessories, books, or home decor. After years of impulsive shopping habits, it’s shocking that I had the restraint to stop shopping for a month.
But I did it. One month, no excessive shopping (!).
In the months following, I found that my no buy month had a huge effect on my shopping habits.
This sounds so dumb, but I realized I had the self control to stop myself from shopping. I could scroll past the targeted Instagram ad. I could ignore the marketing emails filling my inbox. I didn’t have to give in to the overconsumption saturating my For You Page. Revolutionary!
Today, I continue to practice this restraint. So far, in 2023, I have bought one (1) clothing item. To quote Jeb Bush, “please clap.”
In rejecting my urge to shop, I’ve become obsessed with wearing what I already own. So much so, that I keep track of what I wear on a daily basis and calculate the cost per wear of my favorite items. You could say I’ve traded one obsession for another, but I’m OK with that.
It’s not always easy to resist this compulsion to shop. In fact, I believe that it’s a radical act to choose to be content with what you have, and to accept that you have enough.
Capitalism thrives off of convincing us that we do not have enough, that we need more.
I am here to tell you that you do not need more. (In fact, you probably have more than enough if you’re anything like me.)
Practicing this restraint is a choice I make every day. I have to consciously choose not to buy the things I desire. It takes discipline. And it’s not always fun. In fact, most of the time, it’s very not fun. At this moment, everyone on my For You Page is showing off their purchases from Baggu’s spring line and I am very jealous. (The Nylon Shoulder Bag is so cute and I want it so bad.)
But ultimately, that jealously is not going to kill me. I do not need Baggu’s Nylon Shoulder Bag to continue living. I can live without it, and I will.
I will continue to tell myself that I have enough, whether or not I believe it, because it is ultimately the truth.
Over the next few months, I plan to use this newsletter to document my low-buy lifestyle, comment on influencer culture, and share how I offset the urge to buy, buy, buy. Choosing to buy less in a world that demands you buy more can be lonely. I hope this newsletter builds community with folks who also want to choose contentedness over overconsumption.