Not Buying Anything’s 21 Slogans for Simplicity

Slogans are the way to go. That’s a slogan.

We all know advertising and political slogans, which are like abrasive mind worms. But what about simplicity slogans? Not as widespread as they used to be, but my guess is they will be making a comeback.

If the history and spirit of the Not Buying Anything blog were distilled into a set of slogans from the perspective of radical simplicity, voluntary non-consumption, anti-consumerism, frugality, and living free from the industrial growth society’s traps, this is what they would look like.

I’ve created 21 simplicity slogans directly from our recurring core messaging since 2008/9:

• the rejection of debt-driven consumerism,
• embracing less as liberation,
• non-participation as resistance,
• slowing down to de-stress,
• keeping things local,
• finding joy in everyday moments, and
• shifting from high tech stuff-oriented society to a life-oriented existence based in nature and natural rhythms.

Here are our 21 slogans that best encapsulate our model of simple living, and this blog. They are potentially blunt enough to jolt one out of autopilot consumer mode, and oriented toward seeing through the illusion that happiness = acquisition of stuff we don’t need.

Anti-Debt Slavery (Reject the Chains)

1. See the slavery in every purchase.
2. The urge to acquire is a trap.
3. Shopping is an advertising-induced mental illness.
4. Whatever you think you need, train to need less.

Non-Participation Revolution (Opt Out Daily)

1. Celebrate permanent non-participation—make every day Buy Nothing Day.
2. Consumerism is the chain that binds; non-consumption is the chain breaker.
3. Escape the trap of progress— refuse to "upgrade.”
4. Whatever arises (sale, trend, FOMO), be uninterested.

Less as Liberation (Own Less, Live More)

1. The more you own, the more it owns you.
2. Imagine fewer possessions; it’s better than you think.
3. Turn boredom into bliss—do less joyfully.
4. Emancipate yourself from mental (and financial) slavery—simplicity will set you free.

Slow & Local Joy (Nature’s Rhythm)

1. Slow down and let simplicity reveal itself in the moment.
2. Shift from hi-tech thing-oriented to life-oriented natural rhythms.
3. Joy lives in the boring, the slow, the local, and the small.

Stewardship & Refusal (Anti-Waste Edge)

1. Waste is wicked.
2. Don’t be tempted by shiny new things— death comes for clutter too.
3. Train always to leave something for other living things.
4. Advertisements are fear in disguise—laugh at them and dance away.
5. Never use a lot when a little will do.
6. Convenience is slow poison.

The overall message of our blog and our slogans is that we can transform consumer desires into opportunities to awaken to freedom through less.

We strive to do this in a gentle yet uncompromising way. Hopefully it is carrot over stick, and hope over despair.

We believe that the real revolution won’t be dramatic protests—it’s more likely to be a voluntary mass adoption of small, quiet, daily refusals to participate in activities that lead to our downfall, personally and culturally.

We hope you find our foundational slogans useful in your own simple living/minimalist practice.

Do you have any simplicity slogans of your own that you like?

Something like “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” is an old standard that is just as snappy and true today as it ever was.

Share any oldies-but-goodies you can think of, or tell us about your own, in a comment below.