5 Tips For A Successful No-Buy! Lolita Fashion

I feel like people who post these are always like minimalist types who aren’t nerds with hobbies like jfashion or collecting figures. So I’m always super happy to see people like me doing no buys because I’m failing😭

i got laid off last month, so im in a no buy period until i can get a new job. this video really encouraged me that im on the right track :)

Thank you so much!! I don’t have the Lolita Fashion hobby, but this popped up in my feed and, since I'm an impulsive spender, it seemed very useful. And it was! It honestly can be applied to any hobby. Definitely will try a no buy for at least next month. Thank you so much!!!

I went on an extreme low buy last year. I only bought two things for lolita, one of which was a mook (otome no sewing), and one of which was a pair of shoes. I wasn't a shopping addict before but I had my reasons to instate the low~no buy.
1: cost of living prices were very unpredictable due to skyrocketing energy prices and increasing grocery prices, so it didn't feel responsible to spend money on lolita I might need in the future for necessities.
2; There were many items that had been in my wardrobe for literally over a decade that I had never worn before. it felt irresponsible to continue buying more. Going on a no buy felt like a good opportunity to focus more attention on those items.
3: I wanted to save up for a new serger. Within a few months in 2022 serger prices also skyrocketed and the one I wanted ended up being 25% more expensive. I ended up spending around 1100eu on a serger.
4: because I didn't allow myself to buy anything (except for those two things) I forced myself to become more creative with what I already had, and by finishing sewing projects. I didn't have to think "do I buy it or do I make it?".

I did not visit sales websites much. At the end I found that I was visiting lacemarket just to feel validated that nothing I wanted was on there, if you know what I mean😅
I only kept a mental wish list and it wasn't that long.

I ended up buying the serger this year and energy prices have been capped by the government so at least this year the financial situation is fairly stable and therefore more predictable. I made a new monthly budget including a budget for lolita and then ended my no buy with some money saved up for lolita.
Within the first week after I ended my nobuy I ordered some things of the long term wishlist, I started visiting more second hand websites and did some research on the average current resale value of things I wanted to have. Within the first month I found a good deal for an item I had been wanting for years. I ended up spending a lot of money within a relatively short time. But now at least my highest priority wishlist items have all been bought.
Now I feel I can relax again now I don't feel like I need to check the second hand websites every day to "hunt" for a good deal on wishlist items.
I think I will proceed by setting additional rules for myself like "only buy an item if it's on your wishlist, and only if it's below (insert price here), and only if you have budget for it left". That will slow me down a little, allow me to relax more, and make sure I only buy good deals.

I’ve been putting off cataloguing my wardrobe so this was a great reminder to just take a pause and not buy for now.

Thank you for the great no buy content! I’ve been staying within my budget pretty well, but haven’t been able to save up for anything that’s a little more expensive. Lolita often feels so tied to buying things so the reminder to remember our reason for the no-buy is really helpful

I really love how much more people seem to talk about budgeting and no buys. This is a really good video!

one thing i made into a habit is putting items onto my wishlist instead of instantly buying them
not just for loltia but in general
at some point i look at my wishlist and delete a lot of things
(i can't even remember what i have added sometimes or why 😅)

Love this no buy/low buy content!!

I am currently in a no buy for moving expenses and planning how to store and display my lolita in the new home helps a lot. I also still have four dresses I have to alter and my no buy will last until I have altered all of those

This advice is so helpful. When I feel like I have to scratch the lolita itch, I make plans for when my no-buy period ends like you suggested and come up with meetup ideas (for when I have more time- law school is time consuming lol). It’s actually kinda cool because instead of thinking of what I need to buy next, I try to figure out new ways to work with what I have.

I am new to lolita and have made SO MANY impulse purchases in a short amount of time trying to figure out my substyle. Having a particular main piece to save for and look forward to is a definite goal to stick to right now. Keeping an eye out for a specific item or category of items helped me with overspending at cons in the past, so I am reusing that method at an upcoming event.

Honestly there needs to be more content encouraging “no-buys”. I finally did a serious Lolita no-buy for the first part of this year as I was saving for my Japan trip. When I got to Japan I already had a list of the things I really wanted to get. Even though my no-buy was technically over I was really strategic about the items I purchased and I am so much happier that I didn’t just buy any Dresses that I came across. I’ve learnt now that I would happily go on an extended no buy just to be able to save up for another trip to shop in person, because the experience itself was really special.
These are all great tips and as I go into a no buy for the next several months I will keep these in mind!

Im currently in a no buy and ive realized that my wardrobe is completly mix matched with dresses of all sorts of styles with not enough accesories to make a coord in any style. I know in the begining i wanted to be an old school/ott sweet lolita but since i also like other styles i ended up buying whatever was cheap because it was fun to get a deal. Of course that back fired lmao.
Guys focus on one style when youre first starting out. Ik the sweet style is super expensive right now but if thats the style u like dont spend on other styles just because theyre cheap and focus on the style you truly want because itll be a waste if you dont use the cheap item even if u didint spend much on it in the first place