I’ve been toying with the idea of setting myself a challenge for the new year for weeks, but nothing felt quite right. My minimalist mindset and low-waste lifestyle mean I’m not a big spender, so a no-buy challenge wouldn’t exactly push me. A spending ban? Not much of a challenge when frugality is practically my default setting.
Inspiration struck when my partner came home with vase he bought from a charity shop, and it just clicked. I’ve always loved thrifting—clothes, books, homewares. We even furnished our first apartment almost entirely with second-hand finds, most of which we still have.
But what if I took it a step further? What if, for an entire year, I only bought other people’s unwanted things? Could I find everything I needed? Would it even be possible? There was only one way to find out.
We’ve become passive consumers, buying on impulse because everything is so accessible and affordable. Instant gratification is just a click away, with next-day delivery making it to buy what we want, when we want.
But with that ease, we’ve lost our connection to the things we buy. Who made them? Where did they come from? What did it take—materials, labour, environmental impact—to create them?
The truth is, we don’t need more new stuff when perfectly good, often unused items are already out there, waiting to be found.
I’ll admit, I’ve lost patience when it comes to waiting for second-hand finds. If I need something, I’ll Google it, find the best option, and buy it new. I justify it by telling myself I don’t shop much anyway. But that’s a habit I want to break.
So, I’m challenging myself to a year of buying nothing new. If I need something, I have to find it second-hand or go without. The goal? To shift my spending habits so that I always check for a pre-loved option first and to see just how possible it is to meet every need (and want) without buying new.
A Year Of Second-Hand Challenge: The Rules
- Only non-essential items count—clothes, homewares, etc.
- Essentials like food, toiletries, and cleaning products are excluded.
- I can thrift, borrow, and swap for items.
- If I can't find it pre-owned, I can't buy it—unless it's an essential or emergency and second-hand costs more than retail.
- Gifts are exempt, but I’ll prioritise second-hand where possible.
There’s a perception that buying second-hand means settling for less. That pre-owned equals poor quality, or that you won’t find what you’re looking for. But second-hand doesn’t mean second-rate, and I’m determined to prove that.
The challenge officially kicks off on January 1st (though unofficially, I started back in November). I’ll be tracking everything I search for and buy, and each month, I’ll check in on the blog to share my successes, struggles, and inevitable missteps. Let’s see how this goes!