Things I'm not buying in 2026

If an item only makes sense in one season, in one trend cycle, or in one Instagram post (guilty as charged): it's a no.

Fast fashion trends move at a speed that makes it impossible to keep up without constantly buying and discarding. And honestly, I'm tired of clothes that look exciting for two weeks and then suddenly feel dated, awkward or just… uncomfortable. Think: that oddly shaped top that only works if you stand perfectly still, that pair of trousers that looked amazing online but somehow never on a normal Tuesday, or that colour everyone suddenly wore last spring and collectively abandoned by summer. If I already know an item requires a very specific mood, weather, hairstyle and level of confidence to function, it's not coming home with me.

In 2026 I'm choosing clothes that:

• Feel good on my body
• Can be styled in multiple ways
• Survive more than five washes
• Don't rely on a trend to be interesting

Style over trends. Always.

This one is tricky, because green marketing is very convincing. Reusable versions of things I already own? Eco upgrades for perfectly fine items? Sustainable solutions to problems I didn't know I had? Not entering our household in 2026.

I don't need a third reusable water bottle because this one has a nicer shade of green. I don't need a compostable version of something I already own and use daily. And I definitely don't need to replace working items just to feel like I'm doing sustainability 'better'. In 2026, sustainability means using what I already have for as long as possible. Because the most eco-friendly choice is often not buying anything at all.

No more objects that are just… there. If something doesn't get used, supports daily life or brings genuine joy it doesn't need to live in our home. I'm done with decorative bowls that stay empty, vases that never see flowers, and candles that are 'too pretty to burn'. My home doesn't need to look finished, it needs to feel lived in.

I'm not sure what happened, but at some point skincare became a full-time job. Fewer products, better ingredients and consistency over experimentation. My skin doesn't need to be constantly improved. It just needs to be cared for.

I'm officially done with low-quality items that break quickly, can't be repaired and need replacing again and again. In 2026 I'd rather wait, save, buy secondhand, or buy nothing at all than deal with another short-lived object. My new motto: buy once, use forever.

This category has taken up an alarming amount of space in my life. Things bought because maybe I'll need them someday, they were on sale or future me will figure it out. Space is not something I want to fill 'just in case'. In 2026 I trust that if I truly need something later, I can get it later.

New doesn't automatically mean better. If my phone, laptop or headphones still work, I'm not replacing them just because a newer version exists. Using tech until it truly reaches the end of its life is one of the simplest, most impactful sustainable choices we can make.

This is the most important one. I'm not buying anything that adds stress to my space, guilt to my mind, or pressure to keep up. Sustainability isn't only about materials and emissions but also about mental load. Calm is not something I want to schedule or buy later. It starts with fewer decisions now.

Less, but better. Secondhand stories. Things that age well. Experiences over objects. Time. Rest. And confidence in enough.