Six months Amazon-free

A mid-year reflection on my 2026 resolution

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Each New Year I set myself a light-hearted, low-stakes resolution. In 2024 I got my nails done every month. In 2025 (and beyond) I only bought my books secondhand. 2026’s goal is to not purchase a single physical product from Amazon, and it’s going well so far.

I say “physical” because I do still have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, though I will cancel that as soon as I’ve got through the list of books I’ve saved on there.

There were several reasons behind the decision to essentially shun Jeff Bezos’ billions-of-dollars corporation. More political ones like how I hate the company’s founder, dislike its values, think it’s terrible for the environment, would prefer to support local/independent businesses and so on… then also my more personal reasons, such as wanting to save money, add friction to my life, and cut down on my own consumption.

Just six months on, the concept of going on Amazon and clicking ‘buy now’, knowing the product will arrive within 24 hours, feels strange compared to the experience of shopping. Since I set my resolution, I have given much more thoughtful gifts (magazine subscriptions, handmade items found at markets, books bought from my local high street) and have chatted away to dozens of people at tills. In stores I’ve stood behind first-time grandparents buying gifts for little ones, have overheard a couple intensely deliberate over the purchase of a Jellycat, and laughed with a clerk after patiently waiting in a queue of Pokemon card collectors.

Objectively, a lot of money has been saved. I’m no longer spending just under £10 a month on an Amazon Prime subscription, and impulse online purchases are a thing of the past. If I want something, there is time for me to think whether I actually do want it or whether it’s going to be bought on a whim. If it turns out it’s a purchase I want to make, I still have to put some thought into getting whatever that item is. Is there somewhere I can get my hands on it locally? Can I find it on Vinted? Or, is it possible to buy it directly from the brand? I’ve been intentionally adding friction and making it an effort to purchase things as a way to ensure I really do want them, and to make getting them a mini reward.

Oddly enough, it didn’t take me long to forget about Amazon altogether. When people mention it now, it feels like an old memory rather than something that still exists. Though it wasn’t a goal for him, I’ve noticed even my partner hasn’t bought anything from there in months. It just goes to show that we adapt far quicker and easier than we give ourselves credit for, and I certainly can’t see myself lining Bezos’ pockets with an Amazon Prime purchase in H2 of this year.