The New Asceticism

(Washington Post graphic)

Asceticism is not new, dating back at least to the ancient Greeks. Asian religions have practiced it for centuries, and many Christians and Jews in the Bible led ascetic lives.

A less extreme version with no religious overtones, "no buy 2025," has sprung up this year.

The “no buy 2025” trend encourages people to purchase as little new stuff as possible. Some people make lists of specific items they won’t purchase, while others vow not to buy any nonessentials.

While it’s occurring on social media, it has very real-life reasons for catching fire. There have been two years of higher prices and rising levels of debt for households. There was also a shorter holiday season that felt rushed, where many Americans on the lower income end cut back aggressively.

Instead of needing to have the latest and greatest viral products, people are finding it’s better to focus on what they already own...

An idea like no-buy has trended before on TikTok (last year, 20% of Americans tried the “no-spend” challenge, says fintech company Chime). Google searches for “no buy challenge” are up 40% year-over-year, while “no spend challenge” searches have hit an all-time high, Google says...

People also are adhering to “project pan,” a similar trend to no-buy that spurs people to finish all their skin care, makeup or body-care products before buying replacements. Some are even combining no-buy with project pan.

Elysia Berman, a 35-year-old who works in the beauty industry in New York, had a credit-card and loan balance of almost $49,000 from feeling pressure to dress a certain way for work. Last year, she decided to focus on lowering her debt.

Berman has used up almost 100 makeup products she’d purchased and received over the years. Now she plans to do the same with skin care products. Her no-buy list includes clothes, beauty products, perfume, jewelry, home decor and books, and she plans to cut down on takeout orders and make it to her Pilates classes to avoid cancellation fees.

“It really forced me to re-evaluate my habits,” Berman says. Since she started last year, she’s paid off $35,000 of her debt and will be done paying it off by April.

Although macroeconomists believe that high consumer spending is a sign of a strong economy, your humble blogger applauds the effort of many individuals to keep their credit cards in their wallets.

There are few actions that are better for one's well-being than paying down debt and/or adding to savings. It's a slow path to happiness but, speaking from personal experience, is one well worth taking,