Hobby Buying Banned
👾 How I survived the 3 months self-banned.
First of all, there are NO specific rules to this.
This is my self-imposed mission & I want to share why it started & how I’ve hack-and-slashed my way through this adventure until I reached the final checkpoint to collect the rewards!
You would probably going to need extra potions, some snack bars & a few skill points in willpower & persuasion while reading this.
1) Introduction to the Banned.
Before we dive into the deets, you’re probably wondering, “What the heck is this about?”
It’s a simple mission, really…
You BANNED yourself from buying!
That’s it! Easy, right? The truth is… it’s very, VERY HARD. I’m not gonna lie, the temptation is real. So, welcome to the dark side, folks—we have cookies! 🍪
A few years ago (back when IG was still cool, no ads & no crappy algorithm), there were two lovely hosts in the #bookstagram community who started a book-buying ban event that lasted about 3-6 months. The objectives were simple: clear out TBR piles, save some money, & best of all, we suffered through this madness together.
Many of us from all over the world participated. We did weekly challenges, regular check-ins & even a friendly competition to reach the finish line.
Guess what? I won one of the prizes! It was my first time participating & I had an absolute blast! That’s how it all started!
2) Banning Preparation Maps.
So, you’re here reading this because:
(I forced you to)
You’re curious & want to take control of your over-spending habits,
Or you just want to clear *coughs* some of your dusty backlogs.
No matter the reason, I’ve come up with this simple 5 maps to guide you on this adventure & I’ll be demo-ing my own examples:
Why I started this ban.
What I’m banning.
How long the banning lasts.
Who I’m doing the banning with.
What happens after the banning.
2.1) Why I Started This Ban.
Time for a reality check guys, because this is the MOST important & scariest part of all.
We live in an era of social media & heavy consumerism, where anything you see can trigger something with just a few taps of your fingers. Yes, digital life makes things easier, but chances are, you might not even realize the hidden dangers lurking within.
This happened to me. I couldn’t find my map of #selfcontrol. I went deeper into the expedition & got lost along the way.
Coming from someone who has a hobby page on her Instagram, I want to be realistic & share my experience here. I can acknowledge that I’m ALWAYS a hoarder & never a minimalist. But sometimes, when I reach the level of obsessive-hoarder, it swallows me whole—straight into that sarlacc pit.
This time around, I’ve got my jetpack, my maps & my mission. I want to settle some debts from last year due to unexpected things happened & I didn’t even have emergency savings! I hope this doesn’t happen to anyone, so this is why I’m here to help you through my experience.
For a start, here’s the mini tips:
I wrote down every single debt in my journal (everything!), broke down the totals & set deadlines to clear them off!
I set a range for rewards later (e.g. I can get anything as long as it’s within a certain amount). This helps keep me from spiraling into losing control again. Plus, I still win something in the end.
Okay, now we have THE Masterplan. Next!
2.2) What I’m Banning.
So what should you ban exactly? That depends on your mission & your why(s).
If you’re just starting out, I’d suggest keeping it simple—start small, go step by step & build your momentum.
As for me? I’ve done this before. So this time, I went full-on extreme cold, no mercy, no BS—it had to be all-out. No matter what, I will settle this mess!
So, I did a complete hobby-buying ban, which includes:
❌ No buying new books, games, or hobby stuff—even if there’s a sale or juicy discount (ouch, I know).
🎮 I transferred all my Guild Master/Leader roles to someone else for the time being—no gaming subs, nada.
📺 No subscriptions to streaming platforms (HBO, Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, etc).
🛑 Any in-progress project that requires additional purchases? Postponed. They’ll have to wait!
2.3) How Long the Banning Lasts.
Again, there’s no fixed rule on how long your ban should be. In my opinion, a month is a solid place to start.
For this round, I went full force with a 3.5 months stretch—from mid-Dec 2023 to end of Mar 2024. Yes, that includes holiday season & New Year sales. You can imagine the temptation. 😮💨
Another mini-tips that might help:
📋 I planned out my old backlog in advance. Knowing what I wanted to focus on really helped curb the cravings.
📝 If something new caught my eye, I dumped it straight into a wishlist. 9 out of 10 times? It wasn’t urgent. The buying could totally wait. Trust me.
2.4) Who I’m Doing the Banning With.
I’m not gonna lie—you NEED a support system. Some kind of accountability buddy to keep you sane. Seriously!
Even though I went solo for this round, I declared my mission publicly on my Instagram. That way, people knew I was doing this madness. Some even checked in to see how I was holding up & every month, I shared updates to keep myself accountable.
Honestly? It works!
You can also tell your family, friends, or even do it together with someone. (Or hey, if someone buys you something as a gift, that’s a partial cheat… but technically not breaking the ban, right? 😏🎁)
What happens if you fail?
So be it. Declare it loud: you’ve reached a point where you broke the ban. No one’s gonna judge you. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
I’ve failed a few times before too. You can start over—or just continue from where you left off. Remember: this is still YOUR mission.
What’s the point of lying when your quest is to help yourself… amirite? 🧙♀️💫
2.5) What Happens After the Banning.
CONGRATULATIONS!! You’ve reached the final checkpoint! 🥳🎁🎈
You made it through all the chaos, temptations & side quests—now, you’ve earned those sweet achievement points for completing your mission! It’s time to collect your REWARDS!
If you’re feeling brave enough to extend the ban, I still recommend rewarding yourself at this checkpoint. Celebrate your progress! Then, you can either keep the mission going or come back for another round next time!
Final Note:
If you’ve been following my banning-journey from the beginning—thank you! You’ve played an important part in this too, & I truly appreciate you being my cheerleader. 💖
If you’re planning to embark on this adventure yourself, don’t forget to bring along the 5 map bundles I put together & pack a flashlight too. You never know when you might get lost in the dark (side)! 😆🗺️
P/s: If you do try this banning, let me know—I’d love to cheer you on. May your inventory be clean & your willpower rolls! Till next time! —xoxo, figu.