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The Year without a Purchase: One Family's Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting

Scott Dannemiller

3.73 · Rating details · 466 ratings · 121 reviews

The Year without a Purchase is the story of one family's quest to stop shopping and start connecting. Scott Dannemiller and his wife, Gabby, are former missionaries who served in Guatemala. Ten years removed from their vow of simple living, they found themselves on a never-ending treadmill of consumption where each purchase created a desire for more and never led to true s ...more

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Paperback, first, 200 pages

Published August 4th 2015 by Westminister John Knox Press (first published July 21st 2015)

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· 466 ratings · 121 reviews

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Jul 01, 2016 Lynn rated it it was ok

This is a story of a family that vows not to make any purchases for a year. Food, gas, and toothpaste are OK BUT clothes, new appliances, and gifts are Not OK. The beginning of the book is quite interesting but it then gets repetitive. I also found the book blurb to be misleading. The book has a very Christian focus and each chapter begins with a bible passage. I personally found this a bit off-putting. All that being said the book did make this reader think about how she spends money and why we ...more

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Dec 20, 2015 Roseanne rated it did not like it

I was intrigued by the concept of making no purchases for a year. This book is misleading in that they find loopholes and don't seem to be people who truly would benefit from the experiment. They seem...cheap...to begin with and given their prior mission work, they already know firsthand how the other half lives. I personally find it ironic that the author is basing all of it on Scripture yet nothing seems done with a humble heart. And funnier that they are profiting from this. While I see the v ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Kathy rated it liked it

Shelves: did-not-finish-or-not-for-me

Enjoyed the beginning but then I lost interest and skimmed. Made me think about where and why I spend my money.

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Nov 25, 2015 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

First: This book is funny.

Second: It has a Christian slant.

Even though I'm not a Christian, I appreciate (and feel I share) Scott's core values: love, compassion, and service. He and his family used the year of not buying stuff to dive more deeply into these values. And that Scott does it with such a fun sense of humor made this book a good read.

I also learned some important things. Did you know the U.S. throws away 30-40 percent of its food supply? And that Americans throw away roughly 400,000 ...more

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Feb 05, 2017 Lisa rated it liked it

Shelves: wwjr, simplify

This was a witty little book about a guy and his wife and their one-year-deal to not spend any money on anything but groceries and other absolute essentials for staying alive. Some chapters were pretty good, some were less good. It's a book that I read in drips and drabs. Nothing explosive here, but I like books about simplifying your life and cutting out the excess. The author seems like a fun guy to sit next to at a party. A strong 3 stars. ...more

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Dec 30, 2018 Maddie Spilde rated it it was amazing

LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!! It did make me feel guilty for all of the things I currently have and also would like to have, but also left me with the realization that we live with SO much. This book helped me to want to take action in 2019 to become less held down by “things” and more motivated to connect and build my relationships!!

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Sep 01, 2015 Jessica rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of the book for review purposes.

I enjoyed this book. It contains timely and important issues facing most of us in industrialized (not third-world) nations. The author's self-deprecating, humorous tone throughout made this a very readable book, but I could have stood a little less self-deprecating humor and perhaps a few less TMI topics (really didn't need to know about their reproductive decisions) and a little more pl Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of the book for review purposes.

I enjoyed this book. It contains timely and important issues facing most of us in industrialized (not third-world) nations. The author's self-deprecating, humorous tone throughout made this a very readable book, but I could have stood a little less self-deprecating humor and perhaps a few less TMI topics (really didn't need to know about their reproductive decisions) and a little more plain speak about the day-to-day challenges associated with changing one's lifestyle and purchasing decisions.

Also, at times I wasn't sure whether the author was writing to me, a member of a general audience, or writing a journal entry he expected to be read by his wife. I don't know of any husband that self-effacing about his own acumen vs. that of his wife unless his wife or someone who will shortly be talking with his wife is in the same room with him.

The author did a good job of relating personal experiences and insights to published research studies, giving both more weight and validity. Overall, I would recommend this book, although the title is slightly inaccurate. The challenge was to cut nonessential spending, not to stop shopping entirely. Furthermore, it was the parents alone who made the effort to stop the shopping and connect more. It would be interesting to see what insights, stumbling blocks, and challenges would face a family who completed this challenge where both the parents and children were cognizant, active participants (especially a family with teenage or preteen children).

One final, minor complaint: my impression is the author and his wife considered this a purely one year challenge to be endured, like their one-year missionary work. Then life goes back to normal, although the new normal won't be quite like the old normal. Much like a strict diet, I don't anticipate a similar one-year experience to have a great deal of impact on future purchase decisions for most people. If one wants to truly change a consumerist mindset, a more relaxed set of guidelines and no fixed end-date might yield more long-term benefits. ...more

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Aug 09, 2015 Laura Cheifetz rated it it was amazing

Read this book!

This is a really fun book to read. The author is hilariously self-deprecating, and his references to faith are gentle and genuine instead of tossing the Bible at your face. I grew up with experience gifts, which I sometimes still give to kids, so it was fun to read about this family's experiences of avoiding things in favor of experiences.

I did get bent out of shape regarding a baptism done outside of church with no church accountability or authorization, which is about me, becau ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Tony rated it did not like it

What cool idea. The preface explains why most people will not like this book. The reason, Dannemiller explains, is that most people think the book will be boring. The book was not boring but it was unreadable. Each chapter starts out with a verse from the bible. Not my thing, but I get what is going on there. Dannnemiller and his wife Gabby, were missionaries for a year. They are very religious. Great. Fine. Good. Moving on. The problem is, Dannemiller paints himself as a Fred Flintsone type. Hi ...more

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Apr 07, 2015 Gabby rated it it was amazing

I loved this book but I lived it so I'm not an unbiased reviewer. I think people should read the book because it's funny and truth-telling and interesting. I've always thought Scott had such a way with words and am so proud of him for writing about our family's yearlong challenge. ...more

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Jun 01, 2015 Jennie rated it liked it

This book has some great insights into our culture of consumerism. I especially enjoyed reading about how they handled Christmas and the service work they did with their children. His sense of humor is not my thing so it was distracting sometimes, but overall a good read.

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Sep 05, 2015 Vikki rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways

Didn't think I would like this, but it has been interesting and funny. Gives you some things think about in relation to all the "stuff" we feel we need to buy. A quick read. Enjoyed it. ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Sean Goh rated it really liked it

Shelves: faith, pers-dev, relating

A joy to read, written in the author's jocular tone. He doesn't take himself too seriously, even as he and his wife do their utmost to take their quest seriously. Found the multiple euphemisms for a vasectomy rather childish, but that's a minor detraction.

___
Why would anyone want to write a book about not buying stuff? anyone who actually buys the book would probably feel like a failure from the word 'go'. [Good thing I picked it up at the library XD]

It's one of those wonderful reflective conver A joy to read, written in the author's jocular tone. He doesn't take himself too seriously, even as he and his wife do their utmost to take their quest seriously. Found the multiple euphemisms for a vasectomy rather childish, but that's a minor detraction.

___
Why would anyone want to write a book about not buying stuff? anyone who actually buys the book would probably feel like a failure from the word 'go'. [Good thing I picked it up at the library XD]

It's one of those wonderful reflective conversations where you feel that you are really accomplishing something by examining the trajectory of your life, with the added satisfaction of making no real commitment to change anything for the better.

In this moment I realise that the products in the catalog and those advertised in our avalanche of emails aren't actually intended to make my life more easier, they are intended to make my life more enviable.

Your brain gets a dopamine hit from the anticipation of a pleasurable event, not just the reward itself. And if the reward isn't guaranteed, the hit is a lot stronger.

That's how it is with kids. They are blissfully blind to the social land mines in their midst, while the parents are the ones who make mountains out of molehills.

A ten year study by UCLA anthropologists of 32 middle-class families found that three quarters of them were unable to use their garages for parking cars because.. there was too much stuff in them.

Dan Gilbert (of Stumbling On Happiness fame) shares that the biggest indicator of happiness is our human relationships and how much time we spend with the special people in our lives.
"We favour objects because we think that experiences can be fun but leave us with nothing to show for the,. But that turns out to be a good thing. Experiences have the nice property of going away. Cars need repairs, they rust in our driveway, and they ultimately disappoint us enough that we sell them and get new ones. Experiences are like good relatives that stay for a while and then leave. Objects are like relatives that move in and stay past their welcome."

A text search of 1.5 million books dating back to 1800 shows that the use of the word give decreased significantly between 1800 and 2000, while the word get became more common in the same period.

Routine only becomes discipline when you add intentionality.

When it comes to truly honouring another person, there is so much we miss when we demonstrate our gratitude with gifts alone. For one of the deepest human desires is to be truly known - known to the marrow. Known as God knows us. The one who formed us, shaped us, and accepts us for who we are. While the choice of gift can demonstrate how much we know a person, it falls short of acceptance. Because this genuine connection requires more than face time. It requires openness.

There is nothing inherently wrong with material gifts. They become a problem only when we give them far more meaning than they deserve. ...more

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Feb 07, 2019 Kimberly rated it it was amazing

The Year without a Purchase: One Family's Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by [Dannemiller, Scott]This book caught my attention with t he title. I opened it with doubt that the title could be true. Then the author, Scott Dannemiller offered and "Introduction to the Worst Book Ever". I like the way he approached the concept of this book with humor and insight.

To begin he decided to stop any reckless spending for a year. So he and his wife, Gabby, came up with specific rules, so they w ...more

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Aug 19, 2015 Arlena Dean rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-good-book, christian, biography, my-reviews

Title: A Year Without A Purchase
Author: Scott Dannemiller
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"A Year Without A Purchase: One Family's Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting" by Scott Dannemiller

What I enjoyed from this read.....

I found this novel very interesting...something to really think on long after the read. There were several ideas presented that did give me reasons to think upon from this author. With all of the consumerism that goes on just Title: A Year Without A Purchase
Author: Scott Dannemiller
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:

"A Year Without A Purchase: One Family's Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting" by Scott Dannemiller

What I enjoyed from this read.....

I found this novel very interesting...something to really think on long after the read. There were several ideas presented that did give me reasons to think upon from this author. With all of the consumerism that goes on just in the United States one will be able to look on quite a bit of it as something to definitely be concerned about. It was a interesting read of how this author shared his feeling 'surrounding the sacrifices made by he and his wife to connect more with others about what was essential to living.' Now, that was a read! I found Mr. Dannemiller was some what humorous as he delivered some of his experiences with the reader. I will say by the time I reach the end of the novel I did find myself saying..do I really need some of the items I have? So, maybe after reading this book... I was now seeing this read in a different light...exploring the relationship that I have with all of my stuff...saying...is this stuff really making me happy or preventing me from achieving my ultimate goal?

Along with the humor the reader will receive 'Biblical passages, personal anecdotes, research, tools for individuals/couples/families to evaluate their own relationship to their material things.'

In the end this read of these short chapters...will gives the reader a great challenge and that is knowing what is important to you ...evaluation your wants/needs. Which is important? Learning to make everyday count and not worry about all that stuff you want but may not need was one thing I got out of this read. I thought this novel was a very important that can help anyone who wants change in their spending and consuming in their everyday life. This was definitely a inspiriting read.

Would I recommend? YES!

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Feb 23, 2016 Vicki - I Love Reading rated it liked it

Shelves: read-2016

A very interesting read. I give this book 3.5 stars.
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but the title had me intrigued.
A year without a purchase, is that even possible. I'm really not sure I could manage it.
I did it for a week once, but that was because I was laid up in bed after surgery and my internet was down, so I couldn't shop online.
But yeah once I got started with this, it did turn out to be very interesting. I liked when they were not sure if a purchase was allowed and di ...more

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Jul 20, 2015 Tiz rated it it was amazing

I read this book faster than it took to write this review. How can I express what I think without sounding sappy and too "adjective-y"?

Scott is one of the funniest writers I have had the joy of reading. He's super silly and creative and makes you think, "Yes! I was thinking that, but didn't know how to express it like that!". He also has this uncanny ability to start with a topic that may be hilarious and superficial and slowly change the subject into something deep and meaningful.

This is this ...more

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Dec 20, 2016 Ashley rated it really liked it

A really excellent, challenging, funny book showing one family's journey to "own what they have" for a year. Sometimes these books can just feel like a giant guilt trip in the sense that someone else both thought of and executed such a selfless act, but it felt like they shared the whole story (guts and gore and all) and knew that it wasn't a holier-than-all thing to do. It felt like an invitation to participate in their challenge with them. Highly recommended.
*Full disclosure, I got an advanced ...more

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Oct 05, 2015 Farrell rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! I thought it was a really interesting concept and I loved the style of writing. In no way was the author holier than thou; he was a normal married guy trying to raise his two kids the best that he can in our American age of consumerism, while wanting to do something different to 'get back to basics' and live out his Christian values. He freely admits where he failed and where he struggled....well worth the read. ...more

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Feb 22, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, small-group

read with a small group at church for Lent. funny, not at all preachy (which, considering the topic is surprising), plenty to ponder and lots to talk about!

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Dec 18, 2017 Kristal rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian, simple-living

I was looking up books about anti-consumerism when I stumbled upon this title. I used an itunes gift card I got from my brother for my birthday 4 days prior to purchase it as an ebook. I ended up blasting through it in less than 2 days.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this is a christian book; Christ and his teachings are a big motivator in my decision to live a more minimalist life. However, at first I didn't like the author's humour (it made me roll my eyes in more than one place), I was looking up books about anti-consumerism when I stumbled upon this title. I used an itunes gift card I got from my brother for my birthday 4 days prior to purchase it as an ebook. I ended up blasting through it in less than 2 days.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this is a christian book; Christ and his teachings are a big motivator in my decision to live a more minimalist life. However, at first I didn't like the author's humour (it made me roll my eyes in more than one place), but I'm ultimately glad I continued forth because there were a lot of good lessons to be gleaned.

Scott starts each chapter with an appropriate bible verse which helps keeps things in perspective. He started his challenge at the beginning of a New Year, while laying out some ground rules: he can buy consumables, "experience gifts", and if something breaks they are allowed to fix it (only replace if it would cost more to fix than to replace). Some people wouldn't call this "no spending", and they would be somewhat right, but I've read other blogs about "no spend months/years" and Scott is largely following how others have done no spend periods. It's still quite the challenge.

Some of the most impactful chapters were when Scott discussed his various roadblocks, like how he recognized he was replacing buying things with eating sweets, how gift buying fits in with not spending, and especially with his children's attitudes. This is where the rubber hit the road and the real "test" started for him. This is ultimately where he, and myself as the reader, really learned lessons. Sure, it would be easy to buy a less flamboyant suitcase and to not have people stare at you, but isn't that just buying into the consumerist model of peer pressure? Food for thought.

Scott's successes were also quite impactful. These include helping less fortunate people on the street, donating twice the amount as the previous year without realizing it, and especially when he took his kids to help out at the food bank. His kids became jealous after packing up bags of chocolate milk., cereal, and other goodies while not being able to eat them. Scott and his wife asked their kids how they would hypothetically divide up the bag of food throughout the weekend (like the kids receiving them would have to). They started with Friday's dinner until they got to Sunday breakfast, and realized all of their theoretical food was gone. It drove home the point that there are kids who would have to stretch their food bag for the whole weekend, or otherwise not eat for a full day. When I read about how much that stuck with the kids this became the chapter that stuck with me as well.

In the end, some would say Scott ultimately failed his challenge because there were about 4 times where he definitely broke his rules. But I would have to disagree; he very successfully loosened the grip consumerism has on him and became closer to God and his family through many changes. Perhaps we should all do our own spending fasts in areas that have a grip on us. ...more

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Jul 18, 2018 Linda Layne rated it liked it

I found Scott Dannemiller's book entertaining as well as thought provoking. It was an enjoyable read which I managed to finish in a few days. Curiosity led me to pull it off the shelves at the public library and once I began reading it, I found it difficult to put it down.

If someone is interested in simplifying their life, reading this book might give them some ideas of where or how to start. It has good suggestions for anyone looking for inventive ways to save money and learn to appreciate wha ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Danessa rated it really liked it

"The Year Without a Purchase" is a funny yet practical read on how to deal with stuff. It is one thing to be able to afford basic necessities, but it's also a challenge when you can afford more than that. Where do we draw the line of 'enough is enough'. The book also shares tips on how to let go and not be imprisoned by the crap that we buy which we don't really need but they create lots of stress in our lives. Not for the faint-hearted! ...more

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May 27, 2018 Jenny rated it liked it

Entertaining and enjoyable with just the right amount of serious reflection thrown in. A non-Christian reader might be turned off by all the scriptural references, but I didn't think it was excessive and what do you expect? The guy is a Christian blogger and a worship leader in the Presbyterian church.

I took away a few stars because of his writing style. I'm all for humor in writing but the jokiness was so excessive it felt clunky and kind of got in the way of the story. ...more

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Oct 16, 2018 GF rated it really liked it

Thoughtful non-fiction book about a set of parents who take on the challenge of living one full year without purchasing items other than the essentials for living (food, household items). Each chapter has a description of their experiences along with their reactions and how they cope with issues such as birthday parties, special outings, and the feelings that going along with customary giving. I found that each chapter had me thinking as well about what it means to give of oneself.

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May 26, 2020 Luke Plant rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this story of one family’s challenge to not buy anything - easy to read and short chapters which I appreciated. I’m grateful it didn’t try to be a motivational self-help book and wasn’t preachy (mostly), but rather it just told the stories of the ups and downs the family experienced that year and some of their lessons and observations. I did start losing interest in the second half of the book and thought it good have been a couple of chapters shorter, but overall enjoyed it.

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Aug 29, 2020 Laronda Blessing rated it liked it

3.5 stars. I'd read the book a few years and decided to re-skim it before giving it away. It's a relatively quick read, and while not the deepest reflection on consumerism and breaking the habit of purchasing our way to everything, I found it a worthwhile read. The writing is a bit uneven, some chapters are filled with corny humor, some are a tad self-satisfied, but overall, it's got informative statistics, relatable family experiences, and some lessons to share. ...more

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Sep 13, 2020 Sheila Thornton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A year of intentional living

I enjoyed this book. It was a conversation about one family's choice to live with what they owned. To find answers to questions they had about HOW they lived. I loved their choice to grow towards people rather than things. To live with more experiences rather than " objects." Sounds like a good answer for a lot of us. Takes a huge commitment and a lot of courage to carry it through a full year. Good for thought and action.......

...more

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Jan 29, 2018 Marci Dodds rated it really liked it

This book was not what I was expecting. It is not a "how-to" book on how to go a year without spending, but it is a fun journey with one family on the things they learned along the way about consumerism, connecting with family and friends and just how to serve others with the love of Christ. A very easy and enjoyable read. ...more

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Jan 18, 2021 Debra Oehlberg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It Made Me Think!

I thought I was a generous Christian, but this book made me reconsider the definition of generous! It was serious, funny, and each chapter explained a verse of the Bible quite well. It also proves that the average American really has few needs, only wants! Very well-written, and is increasingly heart felt as the story progresses.

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