The “No Buy 2025” movement is gaining traction as people aim to curb their shopping habits. This comes when online sales in the U.S. have reached record highs, rising by 8.1% in 2024. Kevin Ketels, an associate professor at Wayne State University, said, “Online sales of retail products have doubled in the last 10 years.
COVID exacerbated people’s desire to make online purchases. Since then, companies have become very sophisticated at marketing to folks online.”
Participants in the “No Buy 2025” movement hope to counter increasing consumerism. John Schwarz, a leader of Friday’s economic blackout, expressed his frustration, saying, “For our entire lives, they have told us we have no choice, that this is just how things are, that we have to accept these insane prices, the corporate greed, the billionaire tax breaks, all while we struggle just to get by.
For one day, we are going to finally turn the tables.”
The no-buy trend has been motivated by various reasons over the years. In 2019, Kim Butler, the founder of a no-buy campaign, declared it a no-buy year for clothing and skincare products. She and her husband realized the convenience of online shopping was leading to unhealthy purchasing habits.
Curbing online shopping addiction
Due to advanced digital marketing techniques, online shopping has become more pervasive. Ketels explained, “If you search anywhere, you will see ads for those products almost instantaneously in your social media feeds and other places.”
The constant bombardment of advertisements, amplified by algorithms, can lead to what some call “online shopping addiction.” Melissa Welch, who helps individuals manage their finances, pointed out that social media is a significant driver of impulse buying.
Social media also provides a platform for sharing strategies to succeed in no-buy challenges. Tracy Bassett, a real estate agent in Texas, began a No Buy 2025 challenge to save for retirement and her son’s college education. She has canceled her Amazon Prime membership and will not add new apps to her phone.
Rebecca Sowden, a social media content creator in California, joined the no-buy movement over financial security concerns. She plans to avoid buying new clothing and shoes unless essential and documents her journey on Instagram. Welch advises clients to engage in activities like watching movies, reading, or playing games instead of spending time on a cell phone to reduce online consumerism.
Ketels appreciates the objectives of no-buy challenges but remains skeptical about their long-term impact. He said, “Anyone who does it and is disciplined, that’s great, but I’m skeptical that there will be large-scale changes in society and our addiction to instant gratification from online purchases.”
As the No Buy 2025 movement progresses, its supporters hope to spark a broader reflection on consumer habits and encourage a shift toward more mindful spending.
Image Credits: Photo by Bench Accounting on Unsplash
