Many Americans tried, and failed, to cut spending for 'No Buy January'. How to cut back without depriving yourself

A lot of people kick off the year by going on a diet. In 2026, one of the trendiest diets involves shopping — or more accurately, not shopping. It’s ‘No Buy January.’ Instead of cutting back on carbs, people cut back on consumerism. According to a NerdWallet survey conducted by The Harris Poll, more than one in 10 Americans joined the challenge this year (1). Popular on social media, no-buy or low-buy challenges encourage people to stop buying nonessentials for a set period of time. Must Read For som ...