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

by Cait Flanders

The rules for the shopping ban seemed simple enough: For the next year, I wouldn’t be allowed to buy new clothes, shoes, accessories, books, magazines, electronics, or anything for around the house. I could buy consumables—things like groceries, toiletries, and gas for my car. I could purchase anything I outlined on my “approved shopping list,” which was a handful of items I could look into the immediate future and know I would need soon. I could also replace something that broke or wore out if I absolutely had to, but only if I got rid of the original item. And I would still be allowed to go to restaurants on occasion, but I was not allowed to get takeout coffee

Rules for the Yearlong Shopping Ban What I’m allowed to shop for: Groceries and basic kitchen supplies Cosmetics and toiletries (only when I run out) Cleaning products Gifts for others Items on the approved shopping list What I’m NOT allowed to shop for: Take-out coffee Clothes, shoes, accessories Books, magazines, notebooks Household items (candles, décor, furniture, etc.) Electronics

We could only ask for things we truly needed and each person could have no more than $100 spent on them.

The stuff I wanted the ideal version of myself to use was everything I had once bought in hopes that it would somehow make my life or myself better. There were books I thought smart Cait should read, clothes I thought professional Cait would wear, projects I thought creative Cait could tackle. Classic novels, little black dresses, scrapbook materials, and more. At one point, I’d put thousands of dollars on my credit cards for this stuff—stuff I purchased with every intention of using, but only because I told myself it would somehow help. I wasn’t good enough, but this stuff would make me better. I wanted to read, wear, and do everything so I could become the person I thought I should be. Having these items in my home proved it was possible. I would do it all one day, and become a better person one day. This time, one day never came.

I had to let go of the stuff I wanted the ideal version of myself to use, and accept myself for who I really was.

What I couldn’t live with was losing hours, days, and weeks of my life to things that didn’t matter.

Up to this point, some of the things I learned to love most about myself had only become evident when I was changing my life. Digging myself out of debt showed me how much determination I had. Living on a tight budget proved I could be more resourceful. Taking control of my health confirmed I was, in fact, in control of my body and my mind-set. Not drinking alcohol continued to teach me I didn’t need to be under any influence to have—or be—fun. And giving up shopping for a year demonstrated I had more willpower than I thought, and I was happier when my attention wasn’t focused on what I could acquire. Each of those challenges forced me to adjust my habits and push myself outside of my comfort zone. I had different concerns and fears during each one, but many of those stemmed from the same thing: change, and the uncertainty that comes with it. Quitting my job and working for myself would be no different, but I was ready for it.

also didn’t want to work at a job where all I cared about was getting a promotion and a raise every year, and when you live in a big city, it can feel like that’s all there is to work toward. More work, more money, more stuff. I didn’t want any of it. And now, I didn’t need any of it. All I needed was to make enough money to live, save, and occasionally travel, and the shopping ban showed me exactly how much that would cost. The other reason I was so drawn to the idea of moving back was because smaller cities naturally come with slower lifestyles, and are filled with communities of people who are grateful for all the little things life has to offer. I wanted to be surrounded by those who valued living over working, spending time outdoors over spending time online, and doing things for themselves over paying for every possible convenience.

I had moved to Toronto and then Greater Vancouver because I thought I needed to be in a big city to build a name and career for myself, but I had never stopped to consider if that was what I actually wanted. It wasn’t. I knew what my values were now, and I wanted to live in a city with people who shared them.

The ban uncovered the truth, which was that when you decide to want less, you can buy less and, ultimately, need less money.

Decluttering and purging 70 percent of my belongings came with different lessons. I realized I had spent the first 29 years of my life doing and buying whatever I could to be someone I thought I should be. I kept so many things, and consumed the wrong things, all because I never felt like I was good enough. I wasn’t smart enough or professional enough or talented enough or creative enough. I didn’t trust that who I was or what I brought to the table in any situation was already unique, so I bought things that could make me better.

If I had simply stopped shopping for a year, I might have learned a lot about myself as a consumer. And if I had simply decluttered my home, I might have learned a lot about my interests. But doing both challenges at the same time was important, because it forced me to stop living on autopilot and start questioning my decisions. Who was I? What was I already good at? What did I care about? What did I really want in this life?

It was only after chasing all the things I thought I should have that I realized what I actually wanted. When I started this challenge, it was about the spending; the money. That’s where this story began, and where many of my stories had begun.

After everything else had been bagged up and donated, all that remained was the real me. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. It was enough. I had enough. I was enough.

The Essentials List:* This is a list of things you’re allowed to buy whenever you run out of them. The easiest way to create this list is to walk around your home and look at what you use in each room every day. For me, this included things like groceries and toiletries. I also included gifts for others. The Nonessentials List:* This is a list of things you’re not allowed to buy during your shopping ban. For me, that included things I thought I would enjoy but didn’t use on a daily basis, like books, magazines, and candles. If you took inventory of any of these items, add the number you have beside it for reference. The Approved Shopping List: This is a list of specific things you’re allowed to buy during your shopping ban. As you declutter and take stock of what you own, think about what’s coming up during the time span of your shopping ban and figure out what you might need to add to this list.

No matter what your ultimate goal is, you are going to save money by not shopping. What you do with that money is up to you, but I suggest opening a new savings account (or renaming an existing one you don’t use) and making it your dedicated Shopping Ban Savings Account. How much money you decide to put in it each month is up to you. I started by depositing $100 per month, because I knew I was saving that by not buying take-out coffee anymore. Another idea is to transfer over any money you stop yourself from spending by not giving in to an impulse purchase. Finally, you could also deposit any money you make by selling things you decluttered.

TEDx Talks “All It Takes Is 10 Mindful Minutes” with Andy Puddicombe: ted.com/talks/andy_puddicombe_all_it_takes_is_10_mindful_minutes “Listening to Shame” with Brené Brown: ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame

Other Apps Cladwell (track how much of your clothing you wear): cladwell.com Sortly (take inventory of your belongings): sortlyapp.com