Philly-Area Residents Embrace 'No-Buy 2025' as Economic Worries Grow

No-buy and low-buy challenges are gaining popularity as consumer pessimism grows, and a number of Philadelphia-area residents have signed on to what some call No-Buy 2025. Their goals vary: reducing waste, being more thoughtful about which businesses they support, or simply saving money. For several participants, the approach is already paying off, sometimes in unexpected ways.

People taking part have given up a range of habits, including streaming services, online shopping, fast food and date nights. One person who stopped buying clothing estimates she has saved more than $1,000 so far, while another no-buyer puts the figure at $5,000. Some participants also report having more free time and spending less time on screens as their spending habits shift.

Economic uncertainty is a recurring theme. A Voorhees resident told The Inquirer the challenge is about being "more intentional about how I spend my money and recognizing I need to save more of it." The resident added: "Who knows what's going to happen with the economy?"

Spending concerns also surfaced at South Philadelphia's 92nd annual Easter Promenade. Egg prices have dropped somewhat in time for Easter, but some people told the newspaper they still left eggs out of their Sunday celebrations.

Elsewhere in the city, the North Philadelphia neighborhood of Nicetown has endured what one longtime resident called "disaster after disaster" over the past few decades. The controversial Roosevelt Boulevard Extension cut through the area, the manufacturing job base of a former industrial hub collapsed, and drug trafficking rose during the crack cocaine epidemic. Today there are signs of restoration, including community- and transit-oriented development projects. Residents remain wary, however, after years of living with the effects of plans devised by outsiders.

Police reported several incidents over the weekend. Four people, including a 3-year-old child, were injured Saturday night when a 68-year-old man struck them with his car near a South Philadelphia carnival. In North Philadelphia, a 5-year-old boy hurt his hand after accidentally firing a gun. Officials also said two Temple University students were assaulted and several arrests were made when a gathering of as many as 1,000 juveniles caused chaos near campus Saturday night.

In national politics, Fox News host and Philadelphia native Mark Levin, once a "Never Trumper," is joining President Donald Trump's new Homeland Security Advisory Council. At St. Joseph's University, a hearing on higher education in Pennsylvania heard ideas that included attracting more out-of-state students and working with high schools to build a "college-going culture."

Community news included the opening of an East Camden hub by the nonprofit St. Joseph's Carpenter Society, which will teach construction skills, home repair and other job skills. In Delaware County, a mill is rebuilding a waterwheel like those used by the ancient Romans, with volunteers using traditional tools to preserve the history of the 300-year-old site.