If you set New Year’s resolutions, you might have saving money as a priority. A fresh trend on social media is urging individuals to be disciplined with their spending habits.

The “no-buy” challenge has quickly gained popularity, with various content creators—ranging from stay-at-home mothers to environmental advocates—discussing what items they plan to avoid purchasing in 2025. This initiative promotes refraining from buying non-essential goods throughout the year, such as clothing, home decor, gadgets, and takeout food.

Elysia Berman, 35, participated in the no-buy challenge in 2024 and shared with YSL News that it enabled her to eliminate $34,000 of credit card debt over the year. Berman aims to continue the challenge this year, expecting to fully pay off her remaining debt by June and begin saving money.

On her no-buy list this year, Berman has included new clothing, cosmetics, perfume, jewelry, electronics, books, and home accessories. She also plans to limit her takeout orders to once a month and stick to her scheduled Pilates classes.

For Berman, being consistent is crucial when it comes to saving and addressing debt. At the start of 2024, she would pay off around $1,000 at a time, which felt insignificant. However, now that a debt-free future feels achievable, she finds her payments more rewarding and manageable.

Creating a no-buy list doesn’t have to be about saving massive amounts of money. Here’s how others are getting involved with the challenge.

Eliminating Food Delivery

Rachel Holdsworth, also known as “Budget Bestie” on TikTok, revealed that her no-buy list includes hair treatments, manicures, Starbucks drinks, new mugs and water bottles, cosmetics, haircare products, home decor, and food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Holdsworth, 28, mentioned that she and her partner were already looking to tighten their budget for 2025, making the no-buy list a fitting challenge. Upon reflecting on her non-essential spending in 2024, she was shocked by how much she had spent.

Analyzing her expenses in no-buy categories from the previous year, Holdsworth estimates that she could save around $5,000 in 2025 by eliminating these expenditures.

Giving up haircuts and nail appointments? No problem for Holdsworth. However, she believes that forgoing food delivery options will be the biggest challenge.

“It’s just so easy to press ‘order,'” she said. “If I want to go out to eat, that’s perfectly fine, but I have to pick up the food myself. We were spending hundreds each month on these services, and as convenient as they are, they can really add up.”

Entering Year Three

Christine Ashby, known as Frugal Fit Mom on YouTube, is embarking on the no-buy challenge for the third consecutive year.

Looking back at her younger years, the 43-year-old shared that she used to be an “extreme couponer,” stockpiling items at low prices. However, over time, she realized she had accumulated more than necessary, leading to overconsumption.

In 2023, Ashby created her inaugural no-buy video on YouTube, detailing 100 items she wanted to avoid that year, from everyday toiletries to pre-packaged foods. This year, she has streamlined her approach, limiting her no-buy list to 25 items.

Her list now includes home organization supplies, sweatshirts, workout shoes, hair tools (like curlers and dryers), kitchen appliances, jewelry, water bottles, home decor, cooking pots and pans, mattresses, books, food delivery, manicure and pedicure services, candles, dryer sheets, and various food items, as she outlined in a YouTube video.

Some items from her 2024 no-buy list carried over, where she experienced both victories and setbacks. Last year, Ashby successfully abstained from purchasing running shoes, gifts, beanies, throw pillows, and pajamas, but encountered challenges with items like streaming services and jewelry.

Ashby expressed that one of her highlights from last year was skipping physical gifts for her family. Instead, they opted for “experience gifts,” such as concert tickets and outings, which created cherished memories for all.

“I’m starting to realize that relationships and experiences matter more than material possessions,” Ashby noted. “At this point in my life, I’m actually quite disenchanted with stuff. I want to focus on spending quality time with my loved ones and creating lasting memories.”

What Do Financial Experts Advise?

Experts emphasize moderation when trying out financial trends. Jeffrey Jones, associate dean of the College of Business at Missouri State University, advises newcomers to be cautious about eliminating too many unnecessary expenses, as it might lead to splurging elsewhere.

For instance, Jones pointed out that if someone decides to stop buying morning coffee, they might end up opting for a pricier energy drink instead. In this case, cutting one expense could simply shift spending to another area.

Kara Pérez, a self-professed “sustainable money expert,” stated that beginners should first identify their lifestyle values to understand their saving priorities better.

“I enjoy activities like hiking, biking, camping, and kayaking. Acknowledging these passions allows me to guide my financial decisions effectively,” Pérez explained in a TikTok video.

Lastly, Pérez encouraged individuals to tailor their financial goals to their personal lifestyle rather than following what others on social media are doing.

“Letting go of the idea that others should dictate what’s important to you will significantly aid in saving money in 2025 and lead to a more fulfilling life,” she advised.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross.