The Year of Less
How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
Ratings59
Average rating3.3
15
How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store
Ratings59
Average rating3.3
New in paperback: Millennial blogger recounts her yearlong shopping ban in a memoir that inspires readers to radically simplify their own lives and redefine what it means to have, and be, "enough." In her late twenties, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumerism cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even after she worked her way out of nearly $30,000 of consumer debt, her old habits took hold again. When she realized that nothing she was doing or buying was making her happy--only keeping her from meeting her goals--she decided to set herself a challenge: she would not shop for an entire year. Now available for the first time in paperback, The Year of Less documents Cait's life for twelve months during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car. Along the way, she challenged herself to consume less of many other things besides shopping. She decluttered her apartment and got rid of 70 percent of her belongings; learned how to fix things rather than throw them away; researched the zero waste movement; and completed a television ban. At every stage, she learned that the less she consumed, the more fulfilled she felt. The challenge became a lifeline when, in the course of the year, Cait found herself in situations that turned her life upside down. In the face of hardship, she realized why she had always turned to shopping, alcohol, and food--and what it had cost her. Unable to reach for any of her usual vices, she changed habits she'd spent years perfecting and discovered what truly mattered to her. Blending Cait's compelling story with inspiring insight and practical guidance, The Year of Less will leave you questioning what you're holding on to in your own life--and, quite possibly, lead you to find your own path of less.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book ended up being pretty different than I thought it would be, but interesting and eye-opening. From Flanders' own story you can extrapolate bits about your own habits and tendencies, good and bad. I was surprised at how different the book felt from the blog in terms of subject matter, even as it touched upon things mentioned briefly in posts, and I thought that was great – nothing is worse than picking up a blogger's memoir, only to realize the person cannot write prose and is regurgitating blog content.
I'd recommend listening to this on audio.
I've been reading Caits blog for longer than I can remember. Before the finance community was something I knew about, Cait's approach to heartfelt stories about minimalism and consumption was what drew me to read more. This book dives deeper with a narrative that winds through a difficult year.
Going much deeper into personal stories than I expected, the common thread is a story of growth – both towards having less stuff, but also for better understanding what leads to happiness. Editing down a life to focus on what matters is no small undertaking, and many of these stories have inspired me to look at areas of my life that could use a little editing.
This book changed my life, and the way I think about shopping. As a person who never identified as a shopaholic, this book has showed me the ways I am definitely a shopaholic, and that I need to pay more attention to how and why I spend money. I recommend this book to ANYONE. It is absolutely wonderfully written.
I echo the other reviews - I wanted to read a book on how the no-buying year impacted her life. I wasn't quite prepared to read about her family & relationship problems. I totally get that it's her memoir and her experience - however I didn't get a clear impression how minimalism impacted her life for the better or worst. Still, I applaud her for sharing such a personal story with the rest of the world.
