noun
first shopping of the year; first purchase of the year
Refers to the first shopping trip or the first item bought in the new year, often associated with New Year's customs.
元旦に買い初めに行くのが我が家の恒例です。
It's a family tradition to go for the first shopping of the year on New Year's Day.
今年の買い初めは福袋でした。
My first purchase of the year was a lucky bag.
Compound of 買い (kai, 'buying', the continuative form of 買う) and 初め (zome, 'first', rendaku form of 初め). Follows the pattern of other New Year's 'first' activities like 書き初め.