Boycott Guide: Vote With Your Dollars and Without Burnout
What You Need to Know
Boycotting isn’t all or nothing – Even small shifts in spending can create meaningful pressure on businesses.
Your ability to boycott is shaped by privilege – Access, affordability, and transportation all impact whether someone can fully avoid a company.
Avoiding burnout is key – Sustainable activism means managing expectations, practicing self-compassion, and staying connected to a supportive community.
Identify one area where you can adjust your spending in alignment with your values—whether that’s switching brands, buying secondhand, or supporting ethical businesses.
The Power of Boycotts
When corporations take stances–or backpedal on them–the call to action is often clear: boycott. But if you’ve ever tried to participate in a business boycott, you might have felt frustration, fatigue, or even guilt about whether you’re doing it “right.”
The truth? Boycotting isn’t all or nothing. Just like financial wellness, participating in a boycott movement should align with your values and capacity—without pushing you into financial burnout. Let’s break it down.
Boycotts aren’t new. One of the earliest recorded consumer-led boycotts was in 1791, when over 300,000 people in England stopped buying sugar produced using slave labor. It worked—sugar sales dropped by half, and the demand for ethically produced sugar increased tenfold.
Fast forward to today, and we see similar strategies. In early 2025, major corporations have faced backlash for rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. A Harris Poll found that 24% of U.S. shoppers stopped patronizing their favorite stores due to these types of decisions.
When we spend money, we vote with our wallets—signaling which companies align with our values. When we withhold our spending as consumers and are clear about why we aren’t spending, we demand change.
How Boycott Movements Drive Change
Boycotts work by creating financial pressure that forces businesses to reassess their policies. When enough people participate in a business boycott, a drop in sales can push executives to make public statements, change leadership, or reverse controversial decisions.
Common Myths About Boycotts
There are a few misconceptions about how boycotts work:
“One person’s actions don’t matter.” Every dollar spent–or withheld–signals demand. Companies track sales and consumer sentiment closely.
“Boycotts need to last forever.” Temporary boycotts can create immediate financial strain, even if they don’t last indefinitely.
“Only complete avoidance counts.” Even shifting part of your spending makes an impact—there’s no such thing as a “perfect” boycott.
So yes, you can and should vote with your wallet.
How to Boycott Within Your Means
Boycotting is a privilege not everyone can afford. If you’ve ever felt guilt for shopping at a store you’d rather boycott, remember: your ability to boycott is shaped by access, privilege, and circumstances.
Barriers to Boycotting
Limited options: If the business you want to avoid is the only affordable or accessible option, boycotting may not be feasible.
Lack of transportation: If the alternative store isn’t within walking distance or on a bus line, it’s not realistic.
Social pressure: If your community doesn’t share your values, going against the grain can feel isolating and maintaining a boycott can become challenging.
Supporting small businesses within big chains: Many minority-owned brands rely on big box stores for distribution. Some ask that you continue purchasing their products through those retailers to show demand.
My Experience Boycotting Walmart
I haven’t shopped at Walmart since 2009, and that decision comes from a place of privilege. The last time I did, I bought a car battery—not because I wanted to, but because it was one of the only places open late that had what I needed. At that moment, my options were limited, and I had to make a purchase based on necessity, not values.
Today, I have the financial flexibility and local access to avoid shopping there. I live in a community with multiple grocery stores, transportation isn’t an issue for me, and my social circle largely shares my values around supporting ethical businesses. Not everyone has that luxury, and I recognize that.
Alternatives to a Full Boycott
Business boycotts shouldn’t be about guilt or perfection—they should be about making the most impact within your own means. Even small shifts in spending can collectively create meaningful pressure on businesses. If avoiding a company entirely isn't feasible, there are still ways to participate in ethical consumerism and align your spending with your values.
Shift some of your spending: Even a partial shift in your purchases can make an impact. Maybe you can’t stop all of your Amazon spending, but you can shift some of it to local shops or more ethical brands.
Use Tech: Apps such as Too Good to Go and Flash Food connect consumers with surplus food from grocers, restaurants, and bakeries at a discount.
Use Buy Nothing groups: These hyper-local communities offer a great way to source what you need while reducing financial support to boycotted businesses.
Grocery Options: Consider companies like Hungry Harvest, MisFits Market, or Imperfect Foods, which delivers discounted groceries to your door.
Seek ethical alternatives: Review Good Good Good’s list of alternatives to Amazon for online shopping.
Advocate beyond dollars: Sign petitions, contact corporate leadership, or support local initiatives promoting ethical practices.
Support ethical companies: Redirect your spending to businesses that actively support your values, such as those with strong DEI initiatives or sustainable practices.
Avoiding Boycott Burnout: Protecting Your Mental and Financial Well-Being
Boycotts don’t create change overnight, and sustaining momentum for a boycott movement requires emotional resilience. Financial burnout is a type of burnout that’s specifically related to your money situation. We can experience a type of financial burnout if we don’t create a sustainability plan for participating in a boycott or practicing our version of ethical consumerism. Here’s how to keep going without burning out:
1. Manage Your Expectations: Boycotts are a long game. Some last days, others last years. If you expect immediate results, you might feel frustrated. Instead, focus on what’s within your control: making intentional financial choices while recognizing that systemic change takes time.
2. Stay Connected to Community: Feeling isolated? Find like-minded groups—whether online or locally—to share support and ideas. A buddy system can help sustain action.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: It’s easy to judge ourselves or others when it comes to boycotting, but financial activism isn’t a competition. If you need to make a purchase out of necessity, it doesn’t negate the impact of your other choices.
4. Incorporate Joy & Gratitude: Resilience comes from balancing activism with self-care. Savor the good: appreciate small wins, engage in hobbies, and surround yourself with supportive people. My gratitude practice is small but consistent. Each day, I write down three things I’m grateful for.
5. Move Your Body: Physical movement helps regulate stress by processing cortisol and closing the stress cycle.. Whether it’s a walk, dancing, or even gardening, find ways to release tension and recharge.
6. Diversify Your Activism: If a financial boycott feels overwhelming, consider other ways to engage in activism. This could include volunteering, spreading awareness, or advocating for policy changes within your workplace or local government.
7. Recognize Small Wins: Not every boycott leads to an immediate change, but each effort contributes to the larger movement. Celebrating small victories, such as a business improving labor conditions or implementing sustainability initiatives, can keep you motivated.
It’s a Relay, Not a Marathon
Activist Maurice Mitchell says it best: social change isn’t a marathon; it’s a relay. Take action when you can. Pass the baton when you need a break. And know that your contribution—big or small—matters.
If this boycott guide helped you rethink how you approach boycotting, share it with a friend!