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

Even if I couldn’t buy something, going to New York City and not visiting the Strand was, for me, like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. I had to go. I had to see it.

Most importantly, I had put myself first. I gave up the feeling that I owed anyone anything, or that I could be someone to everyone. I did what I wanted when I wanted to do it. I put my happiness first. And I was okay.

I didn’t need to bring souvenirs back with me. I would be able to taste the food and see the sights and remember how the sun felt on my skin in each one forever.

I should have known by now that anything was possible if I made it a priority.

I didn’t know if I would move back forever, but I also knew nothing lasted forever. If I was going to continue living one day at a time, that was where I wanted to do it.

I had always been stuck in the cycle of wanting more, buying more, and then needing more money. The ban uncovered the truth, which was that when you decide to want less, you can buy less and, ultimately, need less money.

It turned out I had never been someone who valued material objects. I valued the people in my life and the experiences we shared together. None of that could be found in the belongings in my home. It had always been in my heart.

and drink water to survive. That was a fact of life. But I was privileged enough to be in a position where I could choose what to spend money on and what to put into my body.

What could life have looked like if I hadn’t fallen into those traps? But then I remember I had to make those mistakes and learn those lessons in order to become the person I am today.

But looking back, it was never really about the money. The best gift the ban had given me was the tools to take control of my life and get a fresh start as my real self. It challenged me. It turned my life upside down. It helped me save $17,000 in a single year. And then it saved me.

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.

Remember that all you’re committing to is slowing down and asking yourself what you really want, rather than acting on impulse.

One of the greatest lessons I learned during these years is that whenever you’re thinking of binging, it’s usually because some part of you or your life feels like it’s lacking—and nothing you drink, eat, or buy can fix it. I know, because I’ve tried it all and none of it worked. Instead, you have to simplify, strip things away, and figure out what’s really going on. Falling into the cycle of wanting more, consuming more, and needing even more won’t help. More was never the answer. The answer, it turned out, was always less.

When everything is working together, it’s a lot easier to find inner peace, appreciation, and gratitude for all you have.