Billshark wants to save you money on everything you buy — and one of the best ways to save is to buy nothing at all. Here’s how to spend more mindfully and watch the dollars add up.
BILLSHARK not only wants to save you money on your bills, but on everything you buy. And one of the best ways to save money is to buy nothing at all.
Right away, people think if you tell them to stop buying things, you’re suggesting they dress their kids in rags, live in a shack, and feed their family on dandelions and berries from the backyard.
That’s not the case, of course. We don’t mean never buy anything again, although some brave individuals have tried six months or a year of not shopping at all.
1 Want vs. Need
We mean, consider the difference between “I want” and “I need.”
You need food, shelter, clothing, a car if you don’t have access to public transportation, medicine, and toilet paper, for example.
But do you need what the latest social media influencer is pushing, or would it just give you a temporary high to buy it? Does your sense of self depend on showing up in the most on-trend fashion? Is your identity tied to flashing around the latest tech gadget?
And let’s be honest, for some of us, shopping is a form of entertainment. There’s even a word for it: shopaholic.
2 Unexpected Savings
When the pandemic hit last year and everything shut down, some people saw their savings soar when they were forced to stay home and curtail their entertainment expenses. According to one estimate, Americans accumulated $1.8 trillion in excess savings during the first 11 months of the pandemic.
For those not directly impacted by the coronavirus, last year opened many more of us to the rewards of a minimalist lifestyle.
If you look at it as a challenge, it can quickly become a hobby, even a game the whole family can play.
3 The Benefits of Not Shopping
And the advantages quickly add up:
You save money when you’re not shopping.
You’re helping the planet by reducing the use of resources needed to produce and transport goods. You’re also reducing your contribution to the waste stream
You can build relationships with friends and neighbors if you’re in one of the many neighborhood swap groups.
Your home will be far less cluttered and your life will be simpler.
You can feel good about having resisted the constant spend-spend-spend messages that bombard us from the moment we wake up till we go to sleep at night.
That last may be your biggest accomplishment, because ours is a consumer economy, built on convincing us to buy more. But there are ways to resist.
4 How to Stop Buying Stuff
If we’ve convinced you to try more mindful consumption, here are some ways to get on board.
1. Check your motivation
If you’ve decided to slow or even stop buying, ask yourself why. What will you do with the money you save? What will you do with the extra time you’re not spending shopping for, trying on, and returning items you didn’t want after all? If you have longer-term goals to replace the instant lift you get from buying, the challenge will be easier.
2. Survey your stuff
Marie Kondo might take the minimalist lifestyle a bit too far for some people, but she’s not wrong about the amount of things most of us own, never use, and never will. It’s easier to resist buying something if we know we have five more of them stashed in the back of the closet.
3. Resist temptation
Stay off shopping websites, don’t go window-shopping at stores. If you don’t see it, “they” can’t lure you to buy it. This also means unsubscribing from all the notifications about sales you receive. Forty percent off something you don’t need is still sixty percent more than you need to spend.
4. Procrastinate
If you find something you think you really want, put it into your cart and log off the site, or walk out of the store. Wait 24 hours. Chances are, you’ll find it was only a whim, not a must-have.
5. Check out alternate sources
If you really need something, can you rent it? Can you borrow it from a friend or neighbor? Can you find it on Freecycle, Nextdoor, or Craigslist? Or you could try joining one of the Facebook-based Buy Nothing groups near you.
The purpose of this exercise is not to stop buying entirely, but to realize how much we buy that we don’t really need, or even want when we get it home. And once you’ve started to pare back your shopping habit, you’ll be surprised at how the dollars begin to mount up. You might also begin to feel a bit lighter, free of a habit you didn’t realize you had.
If you’re looking for more ways to save money, look no further than the professional negotiators at BILLSHARK. We’ll review your bills for free, and find you hidden ways to save money.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the “buy nothing” approach to saving money actually mean?
It doesn’t mean never buying anything again or living on dandelions and berries. It means buying more mindfully by weighing the difference between “I want” and “I need.” The goal is to realize how much we buy that we don’t really need, or even want once we get it home, and to pare back the habit so the dollars begin to mount up.
How do I tell the difference between a want and a need?
Needs are essentials like food, shelter, clothing, a car if you lack public transportation, medicine, and toilet paper. Wants are things like what the latest social media influencer is pushing or on-trend fashion that gives you only a temporary high. Ask whether the purchase fills a real need or just feeds a habit, since for some of us shopping is simply a form of entertainment.
What are the benefits of not shopping?
You save money, help the planet by reducing the resources needed to produce and transport goods and your contribution to the waste stream, and can build relationships through neighborhood swap groups. Your home becomes far less cluttered and your life simpler, and you feel good about resisting the constant spend-spend-spend messages that bombard us all day.
How can I actually stop buying stuff I don’t need?
Check your motivation and set longer-term goals for the money and time you save. Survey what you already own, since you may have five more stashed in the closet. Resist temptation by staying off shopping sites and unsubscribing from sales alerts. Procrastinate by waiting 24 hours before buying, and check alternate sources like renting, borrowing, or swap groups.
How much did Americans save during the pandemic?
According to one estimate, Americans accumulated $1.8 trillion in excess savings during the first 11 months of the pandemic, as people were forced to stay home and curtail their entertainment expenses. For those not directly impacted by the coronavirus, the period opened many more of us to the rewards of a minimalist lifestyle.
One Great Way to Save Money? Buy Nothing page context
One Great Way to Save Money? Buy Nothing is a Billshark page. It can help you with your bills and your choices, and it can show you how to save.
One of the best ways to save money is to buy nothing at all. Learn to weigh want vs need, cut clutter, resist temptation, and watch your savings grow.
Use this page to learn about Billshark. Then go to the part of the site that fits what you need. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
We share this page to help you make sense of your monthly bills, your choices, and what to do next. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
This page links you to more help from Billshark. Use it when you want more detail or a clear next step. You can save a lot over time.
Got a question about a bill you pay each month? This page can help you find the best answer. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up.
Read each part of this page at your own pace. If you need more help, go on to a guide on your topic. It is free to read. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We put facts and tips in one place. This makes it easy to learn about the bills you pay at home. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
This page can help with real questions. You can learn about your plan, your account, and what you pay each month. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Use the menu and the links to go from a big question to the facts that fit your own needs. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We keep things short and clear so you can choose well. You can then read more if you want to. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
The links on this page help you weigh your choices. They also help you see what you pay and what to do next. You can save a lot over time.
Our goal is to help you spot the bills you pay each month. We also share smart ways to keep them low. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
Come back to this page when you have a new question. It will still be here to help with bills and savings. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
We link the small choices you make each day to the big picture. That means your budget and what you spend at home. We make it easy for you.
Each part of this page helps you see what you need. It may be help with a plan, your account, or a good read. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up.
Use what you learn here to plan your questions. Look at your choices, then take the next step when you are ready. It is free to read. Keep this page handy.
Our pages link to each other. That way, you can find more help and still keep track of what you came for. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
This page makes it easy to find the key facts first. Then you can pick a plan or make a change with less stress. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Good facts help you see why a bill went up. They also show you what to check before you call or reply. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
This page puts the key facts in one place. It can help you talk with a company about your bills and how to save. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
Our other pages explain the words you see on a bill. They also help you weigh the pros and cons of each plan. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
Our tips focus on real choices you can make. Start with the basics, then read a more detailed guide if you need one. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
This page is one of many that we share. Together they cover home costs, the firms you pay, and how to get help. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
Take your time and read this page first. It helps you see your choices and find out what to read next. We make it easy for you. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
We set this page up so you can compare and keep reading. You will not need to hunt for what you want. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
Monthly bills come with rules, terms, and fine print. This page helps you find the parts that count for you. It is free to read. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
Our pages give you a clear view of what you pay each month. You can then pick the plan or guide you want. We are here to help. It only takes a few minutes.
Some of our guides cover the basics. Others go into detail on one company or one type of bill. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
It pays to read first and act later. This page links you to the next guide if you want to learn more. Keep this page handy. Ask us if you get stuck.
We share guides that help you make sense of your bills. They show your choices and the best next step. It only takes a few minutes. You are in the right place.
Want more detail on a bill, a plan, or your account? Check this page against the links we share here. You can save a lot over time. We make it easy for you.
We group our pages by topic to keep things simple. This helps you stay on track as you read about your costs. Ask us if you get stuck. Read on to learn more.
A bit of background goes a long way. It helps you spot what counts before you check a bill, change a plan, or call us. You are in the right place. It is free to read.
This page is part of our help library. It gives you clear facts and links so you can keep on reading. We make it easy for you. We are here to help.
Your needs can change, so come back any time. Our other pages can help you look into a new cost or plan. Read on to learn more. Small steps add up. You can save a lot over time.
We laid out this page to help you get the facts and compare them. You can then choose your next step with ease. It is free to read. Keep this page handy.
Billshark wants to save you money on everything you buy — and one of the best ways to save is to buy nothing at all.
BILLSHARK not only wants to save you money on your bills , but on everything you buy.
Right away.
That’s not the case, of course.
We mean, consider the difference between “I want” and “I need.”.
You need food, shelter, clothing, a car if you don’t have access to public transportation, medicine, and toilet paper, for example.
But do you need what the latest social media influencer is pushing, or would it just give you a temporary high to buy it?.
And let’s be honest, for some of us, shopping is a form of entertainment.
When the pandemic hit last year and everything shut down, some people saw their savings soar when they were forced to stay home and curtail their entertainment expenses.
For those not directly impacted by the coronavirus, last year opened many more of us to the rewards of a minimalist lifestyle.
If you look at it as a challenge, it can quickly become a hobby, even a game the whole family can play.
And the advantages quickly add up.
That last may be your biggest accomplishment, because ours is a consumer economy, built on convincing us to buy more.
If we’ve convinced you to try more mindful consumption, here are some ways to get on board.
If you’ve decided to slow or even stop buying, ask yourself why.
Marie Kondo might take the minimalist lifestyle a bit too far for some people, but she’s not wrong about the amount of things most of us own, never use, and never will.
