Cry Little Sister: Low/No Buy Year: January 2026

I'm kind of torn between doing another low buy or no buy this year, so I've decided to call it a low/no buy just in case things go off the rails (hopefully not, as I'm trying to avoid that!) Obviously, I failed my 2024 No Buy and I could have done better during my 2025 Low Buy, so I want to do better in 2026.

I really want to focus on spending my money on events and activities rather than material possessions. I feel like I achieved that this month, and hopefully that momentum will continue... here's to 2026!

> Plans for 2026:

Apart from personal goals, I've made a few money-related resolutions:
1. Use cash. Studies show you spend less when using cash as you're physically having to give something away. There's the added bonus of not paying card fees and also cash is dying. (Obviously some places are card only and card is easier to top up on public transport, for example, but I aim to use cash as much as possible).
2. Shop instore. Retail is dying so I want to support them, local businesses and small artists. This includes click and collect. If you factor in flights, fuel, packaging etc., online shopping is environmentally worse. (Obviously some items you can only get online - like drmtlgy - but again, I aim to shop instore as much as possible).
But I basically want to spend as little as possible across the year, focusing on second hand if I have to.

> What I Bought:

As I explained last month, I had put sooooooooooooooooo much onto my zip pay (a Buy Now Pay Later platform) that needed paying off. It was at $1007 owed at its highest (although $255 of it wasn't mine but owed to me by someone else). I paid it all off without issue as I knew I would, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt.

I ended up spending $0.10 on a ten pack of discount Christmas baubles at Kmart.

My sister sent me the Big W link to the Keanu Reeves: A Little Golden Book Biography ($3.50) -- I bought the Steven Spielberg one last year if you remember -- I wish she hadn't sent it because I put a click and collect order through right away. And it's not that I won't appreciate it, but I really didn't need it...

I also did a click and collect order for some earrings at Lovisa ($5). In all fairness, when I went to the opening night of Cats last month, I needed earrings like these, so I had been looking for some. I basically wear the same outfit to every opening night now because it's glam and it's one of the few outfits that currently fit me :/

Total: $8.60

I went to the theatre for Shrek ($75 ticket/programme was sold out), Pirates of Penzance ($63.20 ticket/free programme), Cats ($49 ticket/free programme) and The Wizard of Oz ($60 ticket/$10 programme). I went to the cinema for The Housemaid (gifted), SIX the Musical ($11.50), Rental Family ($10) and Song Sung Blue ($31).

> Temptations:

I didn't really do much shopping in January. I tried to stay away from the shops as much as possible to avoid temptation, even though the majority of past spending has been at art galleries.

I was tempted by one piece of art which retails for $295, but I found a website where it sells for $240. It wasn't easy to not go ahead and purchase it then and there, but I'm slowly convincing myself that I don't need it. I tried to spend my money on experiences more than purchases, and that seems to be going well, I think. Using cash has also proved successful, as having that visual aid helps me know what I spend and what I have left to spend.

Also, because there's free travel on weekends in Victoria this month, I've been doing many day trips. I went to an art show at the Market Building in Castlemaine and almost bought something for $250. I asked them about it, but it was too big to carry. I did and still like it. There won't be any long-term monetary value in it, but as I've said before, you shouldn't buy art just for it to go up in value, and I stand by that. Straight after I went to the Castlemaine Art Gallery and wanted some ceramics in the giftshop. I guess I know what I like haha.

I also liked some bits and pieces at The Mill but my goal with all of these trips is to not spend money :)

I'm proud of how I did this month for sure!

> So Far:

I wanted to start a new section called 'so far' to list all the items I've purchased in the year, ongoing, so I don't end up with as many items as I did last year. So, here's my list so far: