Thrifty Manitobans buy into subdued shopping trend as 2025 looms

Some Manitobans hope to keep their finances in check in 2025 as part of an online trend that encourages people to think twice before buying something they might not actually need.

Followers of the "No Buy/Low Buy" philosophy on social media hope to change their spending habits in the new year, challenging themselves to either buy a product on a budget, or not purchase it at all.

Tedi Gilmartin is an avid thrifter who's made it her mission to visit every single thrift store in Manitoba. She's visited over 50 stores in Manitoba this year and documents her findings on TikTok.

Gilmartin said that while most people would think that would have helped her save money, she actually spent more. She plans to stick with the "No Buy/Low Buy" trend in the new year.

"Looking around my place, I'm kind of done my overspending shopping era.… I think it's time to dial it back and enjoy what I already have."

"Instead of considering how much you can buy at such a low price, how about how little you can buy at the right price to ensure that the items you have [are] going to last you?"

Gilmartin said that, for her, "No Buy/Low Buy" is about being more intentional with her purchases, the total opposite of what online trends revolving around shopping sprees and hauls encourage.

'Plan for the best'

For Alyssa Altomare, who was out thrifting with her toddler on Monday, spending less in 2025 also means less waste.

"I would love to be a little more environmentally conscious and not buy brand-new clothes all the time," she said.

"I just need to maximize my wardrobe and not just like buy things for the sake of buying something new."

Shiu-Yik Au, associate professor of finance at the University of Manitoba, said that just like many other New Year resolutions, "No Buy/Low Buy" could be unrealistic for people and hard to follow through.

"It's not about just hoping for the best, it's about making sure you actually plan for the best," the professor said, encouraging people to start first with a budget.

"There's a lot of great software you can use," he said. "If you really want to, you can do the old cash-stuffing method where you take … money you have and stuff into different envelopes that are labelled."

The professor said that even the smallest transactions counts, and even rethinking that online subscription or the daily cup of coffee helps in the long run.

"You don't have to be too hard on yourself," he said. "Going cold turkey isn't necessarily the goal, but rather just to reduce your footprint and save some money."