No Buy / Limited Buy thread

[julian-wolf]

Not to be an enabler in this thread of all places, but ¥10k plus tariffs and fees now still costs less in USD than a clean ¥10k did a few years ago ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

[CSL]

Right^ And a 10% add-on wouldn't discourage me from getting something I really wanted.

But 25% from some countries (Germany comes to mind) is ridiculous, especially when brokerage fees from the shipping co. goes on top.
 

[ATWM]

I’ve done just okay so far this year - not as well as I’d have liked. I haven’t gotten any new denim - top or bottom - which has been the primary goal - though there have been a few I’ve kept eyeing.

I have gotten a few other things - Sufu adjacent at best anyways - as I just can’t wear jeans all the time in my life, and so I’ve upgraded in those areas a bit more - where for years I had cheap Nordstrom rack chinos etc. My wardrobe is definitely a little more versatile now which is nice, and less stressful to be honest, because it sucks wearing cheap crap you don’t like when you’ve got to pull it together beyond denim sometimes. It’s still in the vein of workwear, but just a little nicer. 

I’ve also sold off a few more things here and there but on balance, I think I need to sell off 2-3 more items to hit my goal or break even, so to speak. The tariffs are a deterrent for me, and I’ve gotten smacked a few times on purchases from Europe - but a lot of retailers factor it in and pay them up front. Which at least lets you see the true cost. 

[reallypeacedoff]

On 3/6/2026 at 2:59 PM, reallypeacedoff said:

I have bought one thing since the start of the WOMJ comp. 5 months to go. Have a couple of things I "want" to get when my abstinence ends. Makes looking forward to getting them a bit more of an occasion.

Made it to the end without purchasing anything (since that thread). Now it's on! JK. Went through my wardrobe and found some newfound love on things I haven't worn in ages.

[PBTony]

8 hours ago, ATWM said:

I’ve done just okay so far this year - not as well as I’d have liked. I haven’t gotten any new denim - top or bottom - which has been the primary goal - though there have been a few I’ve kept eyeing.

I have gotten a few other things - Sufu adjacent at best anyways - as I just can’t wear jeans all the time in my life, and so I’ve upgraded in those areas a bit more - where for years I had cheap Nordstrom rack chinos etc. My wardrobe is definitely a little more versatile now which is nice, and less stressful to be honest, because it sucks wearing cheap crap you don’t like when you’ve got to pull it together beyond denim sometimes. It’s still in the vein of workwear, but just a little nicer. 

I’ve also sold off a few more things here and there but on balance, I think I need to sell off 2-3 more items to hit my goal or break even, so to speak. The tariffs are a deterrent for me, and I’ve gotten smacked a few times on purchases from Europe - but a lot of retailers factor it in and pay them up front. Which at least lets you see the true cost. 

I think I'm kind of at this stage now as well where denim all the time is not always possible and also it's nice to have a break too. Now I look at other clothes in my wardrobe and just don't get excited to wear them like my denim which has made me want to replace my non denim pants, shirts some outwear. It's nice to branch out but need to remind myself to curb the spending. I've gave a lot of my older stuff to charity which is at least something

[conqueror]

approaching 40 next year, parenting a three-year-old, and working from home for most of the week have completely shifted my view on all of this. buying clothes and building some misguided concept of a "wardrobe" was a massive focus to me for well over a decade. these days, i just don't care about it and would rather save the money or put it towards something else. while my interest in garment design and some of the associated history and culture remains, any desire to actually drop $250 on a work shirt or learn about what engineered garments or whoever is releasing next F/W is entirely gone. aside from hunting down a cool (and cheap/used) ralph lauren hunting flannel on ebay or depop once in a blue moon, i rarely buy anything that would warrant discussion on sufu at all anymore. i actually think the SC type 2 i bought a few months ago was my first brand-new clothing purchase since early 2024, which isn't long really, but refreshing nonetheless. my struggle to sell or give away stuff (which either no longer fits due to weight loss/gain or are items i just don't like anymore) has probably contributed to this shift, too.

Edited August 26 by conqueror

[reallypeacedoff]

I just turned 40 and about to have a little one in the next few weeks and echo your sentiment @conqueror!

I see on this forum a fair bit—since it's the only one I'm on, and I'm not pointing any fingers—where people want a garment for a [very] specific event/style. The next week after they have bought it, they want (not need) a new garment to fit another niche part of their wardrobe. Fast forward a year and boom, wardrobe sale of all those items at pennies on the dollar. And that's all good, their money and they are free to do what they want. I noticed the more I research clothes, the more I want various things. The last year and a half, I have largely dismissed most launches/sales/emails so I have saved a lot of time (and money) not going down the rabbit hole. It only strengthens my resolve to wear what I have and enjoy my past purchases as opposed to wanting something new all the time. In many cases, we are here to somewhat "fade" our jeans, or at least get enough wears to see how they hold up. In the end, the endorphins fade fast, and jeans are just another designer/brands interpretation of something that basically looks the same. A generalized view for sure but they are just 5-pocket blue jeans in the end.

[ATWM]

To complicate it a bit - being slightly older - I do think there are good reasons to have some niche items in your wardrobe, but it really depends on the life that you lead!

In my case I can (and do) wear denim day to day - but every so often - and I mean really about once a month at minimum - I’ve got to pull something else together. I’ve got a big, messy sort of extended family that gathers in different venues, often I can’t wear denim - and sometimes for work I need to take a slightly more formal tack - and for a decade plus I’ve been wearing cheaper non denim stuff, and it’s never felt great. It’s been fine, but I do feel better liking what I wear and there are decent options that both meet the need of these environments and fall within my realm of interests and appreciation, so I’ve used this year to try and sort that out and honestly I wish I had done that sooner instead of focusing on denim so much for so long.

I’ll never fade these garments but if the duration of how long I’ve owned their cheaper predecessors is anything to go (avg of 7-10 years) by they will be money - if not well spent - then at least not wasted. But - most of that stuff even has been purchased lightly used or last season 50% off kind of thing - not that it justifies it more - I don’t chase cheap, I identify a need and then see what the options are to meet it. Usually there are good options that aren’t the newest thing. 

[scooby]

I condemned my Cushman jacket to my work for days when I need a layer. I was going to buy a jacket specifically for this, but decided in the spirit of no buy I’d make do and save money

 

 

The flaps are a hindrance for work so I removed them. This jacket won’t get a ton of wear, but it’s now a cool tool instead of collecting dust while I waste money on another jacket

[Hopethisoneisnttaken]

Happy to see folks have done well here and are making the best out of their current items. Personally I had no slip ups thus far, but summer is too easy. When not in the office I generally wear shorts, sandals and a light t shirt/ aloha/madras. I suspect the harder months are yet to come. Though I did kind of splurge on other (mostly bicycle) things. 
 

as for mentioned above parenthood perspective i agree that there is a need for some niche items, but i also agree about priorities. It seems to me that this is somewhat of a trade off. I also think these fresh perspectives and opinions come and go as we grow together with our kids, and different stages call for different priorities. 

[mlwdp]

Hard to be on no buy (and injured, in a sling at the moment) when you see things like this.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rugby done by a Japanese brand before other than Real Mccoys.  Great googly moogly!

 

 

 

 

Edited October 10 by mlwdp

[Hopethisoneisnttaken]

On 10/10/2026 at 5:22 PM, mlwdp said:

Hard to be on no buy (and injured, in a sling at the moment) when you see things like this.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rugby done by a Japanese brand before other than Real Mccoys.  Great googly moogly!

I there are a few Japanese brands that do rugby but from a trad/ivy perspective, so it didn’t really cross into our neck of the Japanese-brands-woods. 
 

this is indeed really cool, but if I may add a casual advise - it’s much easier not to buy when you don’t look to see what you’re missing 🙃

Edited October 12 by Hopethisoneisnttaken

[mlwdp]

Truth be told, Barbarian probably does a better and cheaper rugby.

I’ve been thinking about muting certain /brands/stores on instagram so I won’t keep being bombarded by new updates in clothes

Edited October 12 by mlwdp

[ATWM]

Better yet - delete IG and all Meta stuff entirely. One of the easiest hacks towards a nicer life. 

If I did it (as a photographer who actually used to get work from my account even), I think it’s doable for most! 

[Double 0 Soul]

Or just never get them in the first place

[Cold Summer]

I still have Facebook and Instagram and check them a couple times a day, but I don't use them (or any social media apps) on my phone. This really helps me to keep frivolous usage to a minimum.

[Well27]

Currently The clothing that peeks my interest is Tender and brands in that price range….

So because I also want to just wear the stuff I have.
I’ve set up at no buy challenge for myself.

If I can go until October next year without purchasing something new. Then I will fill okay being a piece of Tender or similar +500€ piece of clothing.

I can already feel that I enjoy the restraint and that the exploration into what I should get will be fun.

let see how it works out 

[Hopethisoneisnttaken]

Good luck! Let us know how it works out for you. And if you need help with restraint - we try to be the non enabling part of the forum 😅

[ATWM]

9 hours ago, Well27 said:

Currently The clothing that peeks my interest is Tender and brands in that price range….

So because I also want to just wear the stuff I have.
I’ve set up at no buy challenge for myself.

If I can go until October next year without purchasing something new. Then I will fill okay being a piece of Tender or similar +500€ piece of clothing.

I can already feel that I enjoy the restraint and that the exploration into what I should get will be fun.

let see how it works out 

A Tender purchase definitely is a chunk out of the bank account. I allowed myself a pair for the contest - my only jeans this year. Almost slipped a few times on denims but so far so good. I don’t feel bad about excepting for a Tender comp, I’ve wanted that for years. 

Non jeans stuff I haven’t done quite as well, but at least I haven’t been as redundant and have cleared out a similar amount of space.