Approaching is Buy Nothing Day as house sales escalate rapidly
In an unexpected turn of events, a recent study by Bentham and Reeves, a London-based lettings and estate agent, has revealed a significant increase in property sales on Buy Nothing Day, a day traditionally associated with detoxing from consumerism and considering the environmental impact of shopping.
Buy Nothing Day was established by Canadian artist Ted Dave in 1992 as a day to encourage conscious consumption and discourage overconsumption. Given the purpose of the day, one would expect fewer transactions related to purchases, including property sales. However, the data presented by Bentham and Reeves suggests otherwise.
According to the research, Buy Nothing Day saw a 342% increase in property sales compared to the average daily completion total in November. This is particularly intriguing, considering that the majority of property sales in November are completed on days other than Buy Nothing Day.
This unusual trend has left many questioning potential explanations. Some speculate that some buyers or sellers might be timing closings for symbolic reasons, despite the consumer boycott theme. Another possibility is reporting or processing anomalies due to calendar-based administrative patterns. It's also plausible that regional or niche market behaviours unrelated to Buy Nothing Day's national or global consumer movement could be at play.
However, it's important to note that without specific data, these explanations remain speculative. If you have data or reports indicating higher property sales on Buy Nothing Day, they would be invaluable for a more detailed analysis.
In the meantime, it's worth mentioning that the housing market context from various sources suggests that overall home sales in 2025 have been subdued due to high prices, elevated mortgage rates, and inventory challenges, without any mention of spikes on Buy Nothing Day or related unusual sales patterns.
As we approach Buy Nothing Day on 29 November, which coincides with Black Friday, it will be interesting to see if this unusual trend continues. The property purchasing process, as Marc von Grundherr, director of Bentham and Reeves, notes, can be unpredictable and lengthy. Homebuyers may experience a delay in completing their purchases, with some facing the possibility of a fall through.
On average, 2,470 property sales are completed per day throughout the month of November. Yet, Buy Nothing Day sees a considerably higher number of homebuyers making purchases, which is indeed a puzzling trend.
In the realm of biodiversity net gain, discussions are ongoing, with both triumphs and tribulations associated with it. Meanwhile, Oxfam research shows that more than two tonnes of clothing are bought every minute in the UK, producing nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions. The London council has expressed concern over rental bidding wars, deeming them exploitative.
As we navigate these complexities, it's essential to remember the aim of Buy Nothing Day: to stop people from indulging in overconsumption, including property purchases. The question remains, why are homebuyers choosing to make their biggest life purchases on a day intended to avoid consumerism? The answer, for now, remains elusive.
[1] Source for subdued housing market: [link to source] [2] Source for average property sales: [link to source] [3] Source for Bentham and Reeves research: [link to source] [4] Source for Buy Nothing Day background: [link to source]
In the housing market, property sales on Buy Nothing Day, traditionally associated with minimal consumption and environmental sustainability, experienced a surge of 342% compared to the daily average in November. Additionally, despite the overall subdued housing market in 2025 due to high prices, elevated mortgage rates, and inventory challenges, Buy Nothing Day still saw a significantly higher number of homebuyers making purchases.
The seemingly contradictory trend of property sales on Buy Nothing Day raises questions about potential symbolic timings, administrative patterns, regional market behaviors, or other unrelated factors that could be influencing the unusual spike in transactions.
