No Buy 2026 and more: The money trends to try this year

If you’ve been following along with money trends over the past year, then you probably know about things like Project Pan and the no-buy challenge. They skyrocketed in popularity in 2025 and are still sticking around.

As we move into 2026, the trends you need to know about this year are similar in their goal — underconsumption — but different in their approach.

Let’s talk about the 2026 money trends to try this year: No Buy 2026, 30-day lists, and decluttering.

No Buy 2026

After rising to fame last year, the no-buy challenge is now a go-to for those wanting to improve their spending habits.

This year’s No Buy 2026 trend is less about cutting out all spending and more about cutting down on specific types of spending, such as on DoorDash or the new “it” water bottle.

Those who are implementing the trend started their year by making no-buy lists. As we all know, writing down your goals will make you more likely to stick to them.

Two teenage girls writing in notebooks while sitting in a coffee shop.

Whether you’re continuing last year’s no-buy challenge or trying it for the first time, here are a few tips to implement No Buy 2026:

Look at last year’s spending to determine which categories you’ll add to your no-buy list. Maybe you spent too much on fast food or new clothes that you didn’t need.
Consider adding specific stores that you know you impulse buy or overspend at. Not pointing any fingers, but common examples include TJ Maxx, Bath and Body Works, and even TikTok Shop.
Set attainable goals for yourself. This challenge is hard, which is why some people are doing shorter timeframes such as a quarter- or month-long no-buy rather than the whole year.
The most important thing to know about No Buy 2026 is that everything is up to you. If it’s important to you to still visit your favorite coffee shop regularly, then don’t put it on your no-buy list — even if it’s on someone else’s.

30-day lists

The goal of a 30-day list is to reduce impulse spending. Just like No Buy 2026, this trend is highly customizable (the 30 days are simply a suggestion).

Basically, when there’s something non-essential that you want to buy, add it to your 30-day list. Then, you can come back in 30 days and decide if you still want it as badly as before.

Two teenage girls writing in notebooks while sitting in a coffee shop.

If the no-buy challenge feels overwhelming to you, this might be a better alternative. Here are few tips for using a 30-day list in 2026:

Keep the list somewhere accessible, whether in the Notes app on your phone or a handwritten list on your fridge. That makes it easier to both add items and revisit them.
We recommend adding dates so you can keep track of when an item reaches 30 days on the list.
For online shopping, you can also use the shopping bag feature to keep track of items you’re eyeing.
If you really like to be organized, consider creating a spreadsheet that includes the price and product type of items on your list. That way, you can easily prioritize your purchases and make informed decisions when an item reaches its 30 days.

Decluttering

You might be wondering what this trend has to do with money, so just hear us out.

Some people are simply decluttering 26 items in 2026. Others are doing month-long decluttering challenges where for each day of the month they get rid of that many items (10 items on the 10^th, 26 items on the 26^th, etc.).

Decluttering is great, but it only goes so far if you’re still bringing in more than you’re getting rid of.

Instead, try adopting a “one in, one out” mindset: for every new thing you bring into your home, you have to get rid of something else.

By tying your decluttering to your spending, you can set yourself up to both save money and reduce your consumption.