Low Buy Year: April 2025

^ this old image amuses me as I only still own four of the pieces shown and three are in storage :/

April 2025. I'm doing okay ^_^

> What I Bought:

I bought some sparkly pants from Valleygirl ($13.99)*. I hate buying fast fashion, but I want them for a couple of upcoming events, and I just loved them so much. They were 30% off too so difficult to resist.

I also made a third payment on the second artwork I previously mentioned (TBA). I'm glad I only have one more payment to go. It goes on show May-October when I can then collect it (a November birthday gift to myself). The first artwork stops being on show at the end of April so I shall have that soon once I pay for it.

Ironically, remember how last month I was talking about being tempted by a Bed Threads fitted sheet and concluded that I didn't need another one? Well... I was changing my bedding, and I found a rip in my sage fitted sheet. I'm unsure how it happened to be honest. The fabric was thinning in one place so I'm not sure if it's a fault, the cat put a hole in it etc. But I spoke to customer service and they sent out a free replacement.

Total: $0

I went to the theatre for Into The Woods ($40 ticket/$15 programme), and finally printed the programmes for Fresno, Evil Dead the Musical and One Day In September. I went to the cinema for Sinners ($10*).

*I've spoken before about how sometimes I get given visa gift cards for doing taste tests. Well, I happened to get $160 worth this month. I used part of it on Sinners and the pants. I'll share if I buy anything interesting with them. But it'll most likely be used on other movies or just everyday essentials like moisturiser, vitamins etc.

> Temptations:

Since the launch of her online store at the end of March, I've really been wanting a second George the Slug slug. I bought one last year at the Finders Keepers Market and I've been wanting to get him a friend ever since, especially one with teeth (there's something about the ones with teeth that I love so much!) But at the beginning of the year, one of the things I was trying not to buy was knickknacks, and this falls under that category. I also can't justify the postage costs when I can just go to the Rose Street Market and buy one in person. I just don't go there that often, so maybe one day upcoming that'll happen but for now, I won't purchase another.  

I was also very tempted by some Lee Sangsoo, Brad Gunn, David Shrigley, Jean Jullien and Noel Fielding art, and I've been wanting some vinyl records - like I spoke about last year - but I still don't have a record player, but I like supporting artists I like, like Jenny Mitchell, Kaarija and Travis Collins. Perhaps one day...

I went to the store to try on the Fringle Cognac Ankle Boots by I Love Billy. I didn't love them on as much as I thought I would, but I do like them. I'm letting myself think about it for a little while before deciding. I actually ended up liking a different pair of boots better, but I couldn't decide on a colour and they are more expensive - and I also don't know if I can actually justify another pair of boots right now, sadly.

But let me take you back to March for a second, because I wanted the Minecraft pink sheep popcorn bucket from Village Cinemas the moment they announced it. I've never played Minecraft and when I saw the bucket in person, I thought it was goofy looking. But when I saw Sinners this month, I decided that I wanted it (for storage more than a display piece) but they're all sold out and resale prices are insane on eBay! I then thought about getting a Minecraft pink sheep toy from Big W instead - but I really don't need it. I figured both would be for the future anyway and again, I don't know what I'll like in the future, so I didn't get either.

I'm also really low on money this month as my dad's birthday and car rego payment fell around the same time, and I also need to have enough to make the last payment on the second artwork on May 1st. The struggle is real. This is the first time in a long time that I haven't had an emergency fund and it's making me very anxious. I won't have any spare money to start filling the pot again until July at the earliest. It definitely worries me!

> What I Learnt:

It has dawned on me that I will have spent over $12000 on art this year once I make all payments :/ That's a LOT of money for me, and most people honestly. Again, I'm not proud of it. While I don't think you should ever buy art just to make a profit (and I don't), hopefully one day it'll prove to be a good financial decision.

As a whole, apart from art, I haven't really spent much at all. It goes as follows:

January - $32.12 (Christmas ornament and phone holder)
February - $370 (vase)
March - $6500+ (Christmas ornament and artwork)
April - $0

^ not including items I bought using vouchers or gift cards

In terms of items, I have stuck to the low buy idea. Maybe not in money terms but per item, yes. Apart from the artwork (which I've spoken about previously), I am so far proud of my efforts to spend low. The bigger question is if I spent wisely... the Christmas ornaments I suppose yes, even though I have yet to have a chance to use them. The phone holder I haven't used as much as I thought I would - I still like the idea behind it and hopefully I will use it more in the future. The vase, no regrets, I stare at it every day and it makes me happy to have it in my collection. The artwork, again, conflicted. I do love it, but I'm reminded of the cost every time I look at it and that somewhat dampens my enjoyment of it. 

It is funny to me though, as I was looking at the wrap up for last year's No Buy Year (that I failed horribly). I said at the beginning of this year that I wanted to do a Low Buy Year because it takes pressure off me (meaning I can spend if I want to and not feel bad about it or myself). And yet, I've bought less in these first four months than I did in all of January 2024. I'm so incredibly proud! It hasn't been easy at all, but I feel like I've done well.

Until next month x