The Abundance of Less: A Social Experiment of Not Buying Anything New for One Year

by Marcy Pusey

Finding the Wholeness, Community, and Meaning that Money Couldn’t Buy Have you ever looked around your house and wondered, How did I get so much stuff? That stuff gets LOUD. Studies have shown that excessive amounts of clutter rob us of joy, peace, and rest, giving us instead, stress and anxiety, less sleep, lowered productivity, and diminished overall wellness. And yet, we keep consuming more and more of the many things we still apparently need to be happy and whole. In 2010, Marcy looked around her house, surrounded by all the clutter, and felt ill. She realized that they’d been stuck in a cycle of consumerism—swept into a culture of convenience without any awareness of it, and knew that something had to change. They decided as a family, that they wanted no more— more . At first, this journey was not easy, but over time they discovered many benefits, including an increased level of well-being, more meaning in life, and a deeper appreciation for what they already had. What they hadn’t counted on was their movement becoming a tidal wave that spread into their community and beyond. They found others who wanted to follow this newfound freedom too. They also wanted to do their part to end mass-production, and ultimately, find happiness and peace because of it. The Abundance of Less has the answer to break away from this cycle of more . In this book, Marcy bares all about their journey, outlining not only the successes, but the failures too. This book will leave you questioning whether what you’re holding on to in life is really that important, and in turn, will lead you to find your own path to happiness. *Includes a Free Action Guide to help you get started on your own journey to less!

Genres: Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2020

About the author

Marcy Pusey is an award-winning author of many bestselling books for adults and children, an international two-time TEDx speaker, and the Founder of Miramare Ponte Press. With her passion for storytelling and commitment to uplifting others, Marcy loves inspiring her readers with powerful tales that touch the heart and stir the soul. She also enjoys helping fellow authors pursue their writing dreams by providing them with coaching, consultation, and publishing services.

Marcy has spent her whole life helping others. Through her work as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and Certified Trauma and Resilience Practitioner, she helps people discover the emotional tools and support they need to grow beyond trauma and embrace their lives to the fullest. Her two TEDx talks, “How Story Empowers Kids to Shape our World” & “You Are More Than Your Traumatic Experiences”, have garnered international attention.

Marcy is proud to lead a life of adventure. She’s tossed pizzas for a pizzeria, sang in a musical, advocated for families with special needs, made appearances in a few movies, and mimed with balloon animals at the Halifax Busker Festival. She’s also the mother of four humans and two pups. For more information about Marcy and her work, visit her website at www.marcypusey.com or www.miramarepontepress.com

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 1 out of 5]

First, let me admit that I found this book while searching for another one with the same title but by Andy Couturier. Couturier’s book—"The Abundance of Less: Lessons in Simple Living from Rural Japan"—is a fantastic work and an inspiration (to say the least). This book by Pusey has a different subtitle—"A Social Experiment of Not Buying Anything New For One Year." If this sounds interesting to you like it did to me, let me tell you why this might not be the book you would expect.

1:
This is a Christian book.

For a moment, I wondered if I somehow ended up in a Christian bookstore, for where else would this book have come from? It is evident on every page that the author is Christian. You’ll read mention of "God," "Jesus," Bible quotes, and several Christian colloquialisms ("Lord willing") everywhere. Here's a taste:

The author mentions her "beloved gift from God" (an immersion blender) and how great it is that "God cares about these small things in our life... concerning all the tragedies in the world, He shouldn't. But what a blessing to know that in His omnipresence and omnipotence, He can care about the silliest things that my heart ponders."

If your response to that is: 🙏 #AMEN #Preachit #Blessed
then this book is undoubtedly for you.

If, like me, your response is bewilderment and a bit of bile in the throat, then I don't think you'll make it through this book.

2:
The author is privileged.

At one point, the author explains how she had almost nothing, then an apartment with her husband and all his possessions, then they inherited her in-laws "house with a house" and all of their possessions. She says that "the sheer amount of stuff that we inherited was beyond my ability to cope with."

3:
Refers to America as “the land of freedom.”
...maybe this should just be under point 2...

Anyways, all this to say, this was not what I was expecting. Even the things in the book that actually had to do with the subtitle felt simplistic as all the author does is input quotes and study results from other people. Perhaps the fact that on Goodreads, this book has no Description and its only Quote from this book is actually a quote from Gandhi should have given me pause.

Needless to say, I could not finish this book; it was not meant for me.

[Chelsea Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read several books in this arena and this one is my least favorite. I felt the bulk of the book was a collection of her blog posts (which were poorly written) and repeating the same thing/story multiple times within the chapter and blog post. She used way too many quotes, to the point I felt she as trying to fill space. Overall, while I know this was a book outlining her journey, it lacked very little substance

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcy’s account of her family challenge – not to purchase anything new (besides the obvious food and toiletries) - for an entire year was both entertaining and inspirational. I agree with what Marcy says, that we have too much stuff. My husband is one who needs to save whatever “just in case” and things just get out of hand. After reading The Abundance of Less, I am motivated to cut down on my own consumerism and sort through my belongings, and see what I can bless others with. I also enjoyed the hometown references, since I’m also in the area she mentions. I appreciated reading of the failures, it made the challenge seem more approachable.

Marcy, you have inspired me – I’m going to start with cleaning out my daughter’s old room. She only moved away eleven years ago. But you get the message when you need to hear it, right?

[Amy Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical & Inspirational: In 2004 my husband and I sold our three-bedroom home, nearly all of its contents, and one of our cars, retaining only five-boxes of stuff, a truck, our dog, and ourselves. We started over completely. We bought an unfinished house in the mountains and create a new fresh life. It was a joy to read Marcy Pusey's new book because it was a refreshing reminder of those days. But what I value most about this book is the humanity she brings to the process, the sense of community that arose for her and her family, and the dedication it took to follow the path they set for themselves for an entire year. If you're interested in reducing your consumption or refreshing your life, this book is a practical, heart-warming, and functional tool to help you navigate your decision-making processes. Also, it helps you realize you're not alone on those days when you seriously wonder why in the world you've made a decision to live a life with less.

[Kate Rouillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been trying to declutter and remove the excess in my life for a while now. It's a slow but rewarding journey.

Marcy's journey is inspiring. She shows us what's possible when we commit to a goal, truly consider the long-term effects of each purchase and engage delayed gratification.

Through The Abundance of Less, Marcy has given me the encouragement I need to persevere - and many examples of how I can achieve my goal.

So grateful to have read Marcy's story!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book!!! Marcy expertly combined the story of her experiment with wit, humor, and a grateful acknowledgement of God. I am so inspired to reduce, to declutter, to clear out. I believe that she is right, there is more stress with more stuff. Experiences and relationships are the true rewards!

[Kylie Shoemake · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible. The book was unorganized. Very religious too. I wasn’t expecting that.

[Coralie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. This definitely feels like it was a bait and switch. Or had an incomplete description.

It looks like a way to approach too much stuff and how to dig your way out from under it and learn to appreciate less, spend less and shift your relationship to stuff. At no point did this book's description mention Christianity, God, religion or anything that would indicate that a strong dose of Faith-saves-the-day was waiting in the pages.

[The book didn't say that in so many words, but that really was the gist of it, given that God was credited for personally providing everything from coats to luau trappings and a superhero skyline...or maybe it was just God's timing...either way...the Deus ex Machina completely undermined the actual efforts and contributions of real, helpful people].

To back up:
No one wants to read a book with a Deus ex Machina swoops in at the last minute to resolve everything. It robs the people in the story of agency and is just so....boring. And useless, especially for a book that claims to give all readers the benefit of a roadmap to try this at home. And this book - a non-fiction one - really seemed to have Deus (God) saving the day with everything from a winter coat on a sale rack, to a superhero background for a party, to luau supplies, and so on. It was just - exhausting.

In all fairness, the first third was really good: interesting, relevant and motivational. I'm fine with the odd biblical quote, though I get nothing from them, and there were maybe one or two. It's fine.

Then, around the one third mark it suddenly became more self-congratulatory and "God personally made each little serendipitous moment possible." And she lost me. I know it's Marcy's book, and she can put in it what she wants, but I had no idea that her experience was so reliant on God's intervention, versus her own efforts. I would now only recommend it to very Christian people. And while I finished it, I really got nothing more useful out of it.

After all the "going to thrift stores is so much better for the environment" (true), she then purposefully takes the kids to a dollar store to buy some cheap crap specifically because it will break and be in the trash in a week - which it was - thereby not contributing to the "stuff" in the house. BIG FAIL for the environmental angle, so I questioned her environmental motivation as being just talking points.

For those on the fence, let me clarify the religious angle, so you can make your own decision:

I'm fine if someone feels inspired by God to make a change, or that they feel that God gives them hope, or strength, or the fortitude to try something life-changing, and even succeed in it.

But it's against my religion for God to be given all the credit for every trivial intervention (like every time a gadget shows up for free just when the author needs it), especially in light of giving Him no responsibility for all the real suffering in the world (where the people who struggle to survive are just being "tested" or "it's according to God's Plan.").
If God is worried about providing the winter coat for a middle class woman in America, why is He not worried about providing food to a hungry family in Haiti? (This is why my religion avoids crediting God with personal interventions - it gets tricky).

So, needless to say, I struggled with this focus, and it's heavy-handed attribution to the swooping in God to save the day, whether for a decor item or kitchen device.

And the author's family success is attributed heavily to these Divine handouts. (Which is sad, because it looked to me that actually, their hard work, sacrifice, ingenuity, creativity, effort and goal-setting were the real reasons, along with a little bit of luck in timing).

[James L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very valuable book! Everyone should read it!

One of the most important things to consider when making a purchase is the reason for doing so. People purchase items on the basis of needs or wants. Some needs arise as the situation presents. Appliances like refrigerators and similar items like computers fall under the need category if they break down and cannot be fixed. After all, how much food can one store in the summer if the refrigerator stops working and cannot be repaired? Good refrigerators are not always available second hand. The same holds true for computers. How can one attend an online class or take an online test if the computer is broken and cannot be fixed? What one wants is another issue. For example, clothes and accessories can be budgeted as wants and purchased at a later time, especially if one has clothes and accessories that are clean, still fit and wearable. Hence, as with all things, use wisdom in purchasing. Aside from T.H.I.N.K., one may want to ask the following when purchasing something: (1) Is it really essential? Can I do without it?; (2) Do I need it and when?; and (3) Do I have a substitute that will work?

The challenge not to buy anything new for one year is attainable for adults who understand the reasons for doing so. However, it is now more difficult to buy used items during the coronavirus pandemic. As for hoarding, it is relatable. If one does not have much money to buy things, then one has to keep almost everything to recycle, re-purpose and re-use. And yes, “God hears and answers prayers. Sometimes, He answers yes, no or not right now, but He always answers” - Anon.

The book “Abundance for Less” is easy to read as it is commonsensical. It has some funny and entertaining portions, too. Moreover, we agree with the many virtuous concepts presented such as: (1) Living simply increases one’s level of well-being, adds more meaning to one’s life, and makes one have a deeper appreciation of what he/ she has; (2) Having less saves time, increases efficiency and productivity; (3) Health and happiness come from interdependence; and (4) Per Graham Hill, “Relationships, experiences and meaningful work are the staples of a happy life.”

We commend the author for writing an indispensable book, especially needed during this time! Everyone should read it! We certainly learned a lot from it!

James L. Jordan, PhD, PhD and Deovina Jordan, PhD, MD

[Joy RS · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s incredible how much stuff we hoard, and yet we continue to buy. I hate clutter, but the commitments of having young children and starting my own business have found me giving up on it, letting it happen.

Interestingly, before my business started paying, we pretty-much lived with less because there was barely money for school fees, second-hand uniforms and books, and essential groceries. Now that things are more comfortable, we’re falling into the trap. It’s easier to buy a new something than to take the time to fix or find the old one. Tired after a long day’s work? Easier to have supper delivered. Something small that's on special? Why not - it's not expensive. And, as the book points out, we ‘comfort buy’ as well. Sometimes, for me, there’s also the danger of celebration buying: at last, we can afford it, so let’s get it.

I needed to read this book, and I enjoyed reading it. Although there’s a serious message, it’s written with humour and very compelling honesty. It is full of practical ideas, things to act on. For me, the abundance of less is about feeling secure with what we have, about giving away our excess waste to be someone else’s treasure, about having more money to put into mortgage repayments or savings, more money to help those in great need.

It will not be easy, but if you can read with an open mind, tackle things one at a time, you will feel as light as your expenditure. But even more, and irreplaceable, you will open yourself up to being blessed by God's provision.

[Febe Wilken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something incredible happened to me within 30 minutes of opening this rare gem. Marcy started with her light-hearted style and drew me in till I was there, with her, in the middle of this incredible and slightly insane adventure.

Then I HAD to tear myself away from the book to do some work and you know what - within the next day, I found that I had a paradigm shift. I was already on board with decluttering and all that entails, but the beauty of this lifestyle suddenly shone out bright and clear. Suddenly, I looked at our "wishlist" and realized that most of the stuff on there could be gotten second-hand. And things that were impossible before became entirely doable. Not just that, but I started letting go of things that could bless other people.

Yet the book has done more for me. It feels like it has brought a sense of freedom that I'm not able to grasp yet. Though I don't understand it, I thank God for this, and Marcy for writing this book.

Not only was this a highly entertaining read, but it was life-changing.

[John Hornbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first things I look at in a book like this is whether it delivers on it's promise. And it does. The author provides practical ideas on how to reverse our tendency for mindless acquisition. (A trait I was reminded of when I came face-to-face with a Christmas tree in a store -- two weeks ago in early September.) She provides real life examples of what worked for her family, and was honest enough to talk about what was hard.

However, the book is so much more than that. It is a book of God and family, and a reminder that God does care about us. It is a book about community connecting in unexpected ways. The book is full of stories of people helping each other. Not through huge dramatic actions. But by small soul stirring actions we can do everyday.

These are all lessons that rise to the top in their importance in the dramatic times in which we live now. So, to reverse my tendency to talk too much, and in the interests of following her lead and moving instead to an "abundance of less" --

Buy this book. Read this book. Just do it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This family's experiment brought lessons we can learn from. An entire year of intentionally not buying new things other than necessities was quite a journey. I agree that without backing away from our compulsive buying nature most people will never learn the lesson. With this book we can at least get a front row seat!!! And.....the author invites us to at least step back a little by asking ourselves some questions about our behavior. We are all victims of looking to buy as a means to feel happy. Often readers can experience insight into themselves through a book. The most important lesson for me to acknowledge my worth outside of what I own. It is easy to get caught up in brand name things. This seems so obvious but I needed the reminder. We indeed have a consumption disorder or consumption addiction as a whole. Let's heal!!

[Julie Schooler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of book - part memoir, part self-help. It was interesting to read about the challenges and also the causes for celebration of a one-year experiment of not buying anything new. Did they succeed? No spoilers here. Did they learn something - heck yes! As the author says: 'Why did I buy what I didn't need? ... To prove my value and my status...'. As you can see, this isn't just some tips on buying less, this book dives deep on consumer culture. I really enjoyed it but would warn people that 1) it is faith based so if that is not your thing, you may not like it and 2) it is not a decluttering book per se. Overall, highly recommended and It is making think twice about buying the next new 'must-have' thing.

[Moira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the start with the word ‘contentment.’ In our North American culture this is indeed counter cultural. The Abundance of less is packed with so many wonderful ideas, stories, and encouragements it will be a reference book for me.
Marcy’s journey is so relatable. Find out the many things she learned and how it changed her, and her family. Why do we live pay cheque to pay cheque? How can you start a FB group to share free stuff in your local community? … and much more.
And you will love Marcy’s sense of humor as she inspires us and gives us a game plan to make a difference. ALL of us can, if we so chose, become part of the solution.

[nan arkwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Marcy’s book with some trepidation feeling like I would feel guilty if I didn’t decide to do something similar. After reading it, however, I now understand the significance of the title.

By reading about beliefs, ethical issues, values, impacts of our choices, influence on others, cognitive benefits, gratitude, lessons shared, relevant verses in the Bible, and much more, I have to admit it made me start thinking about my own behaviors and habits. I definitely will have her thoughts in mind next time I am faced with a decision whether to buy or not. Marcy sends a powerful and provocative message with an invitation to do something meaningful without any “shoulds”.

[Elizabeth Sanguedolce]

How Less is More and Why

By sharing her personal and family journey, author Marcy Pusey steps right into my heart and mind. She relates to my life and challenges me to examine my choices, then explains in well-researched terms what it all means. Uncomfortable? Yes. Gripping? YES. Will it make a difference in my choices from now on? Definitely. What about now? OK! I'm in, because I want to make the world a better place. Starting with my world. You can't ask for a better motivator. A must read!

[Emily Bernier · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I usually really enjoy books in the minimalism world and less consumerism themes, I ended up skimming the last quarter of this book.

I felt there were too many quotes used where they weren't needed, I personally didn't enjoy the very God-focused tone and references to the Bible, and I did feel the author seemed to try selling herself too much.

That said, I appreciate the overall intention of the book to build community and reduce excess.

[Pat Backley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book drew me in immediately, I loved the chatty, easy style of the writing and thoroughly enjoyed reading about how the author and her family managed to learn to live with less.
At times I laughed out loud at some of her descriptions..."Who doesn't need ten Statue of Liberty keychains"
A really great book that will resonate with so many people, it certainly helped me realise i am not alone in accumulating too much stuff!

[Tarra Gundrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I am going to read it again. In the year 2021, I am going to give it a try myself.
I am slowly learning that I am much happier with less, as I enjoy the depth and beauty of the things that are around me. It's less about the things ... the author has done a great job articulating this fact.

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Better Memoirs about Living with Less

Marcy is Christian, as I am, so I enjoyed her reflections on what she learned by her family’s year of not buying anything new. I have read MANY books on minimialism and simplicity. I have downsized quite a bit and buy used when I can, especially for clothes. This book gives lots of “food for thought”.

[Kim Mowatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an incredible fresh and inspiring insight on this topic! What I really related to is the connection with the psychological effects of clutter, and how this impacts health and well-being. As a Registered Psychiatric Nurse and Counsellor, I will be recommending this book to my clients!

[Nanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gave up 10 pages in. I can't endure all the references to God (with a capital G). It's beyond boring. It's preachy, and I'd rather steer clear of that.

[Amanda Germaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has some good tips on living a year of less! You’ll love it if you are Christian, lots of bible verses in it. I wasn’t a fan of that, but it didn’t take way from the message.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average. The focus is more on buying used than not buying at all. Plus a lot of repetition with the inclusion of related blog posts. An okay read though.