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

Cait Flanders, 1985-

Sound recording - 2018

"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. The Year of Less documents Cait's life from July 2014 to June 2015, during which time 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 r...id 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. What started as a simple challenge quickly became a lifeline, however, as Cait found herself in a number of 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, for so many years. By not being able to reach for any of her usual vices, Cait changed habits she'd spent years perfecting and discovered what truly mattered to her"--

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COMPACT DISC/153.8/Flanders
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Subjects
Genres
Autobiographies
Published
Old Saybrook, CT : Tantor Audio [2018]
Language
English
Main Author
Cait Flanders, 1985- (author)
Edition
Unabridged
Physical Description
5 audio discs (approximately 5 hr., 30 min.) : CD audio, digital ; 4 3/4 in
ISBN
9781541417694
Contents unavailable.
Review by Library Journal Review

Blogger and personal finance writer Flanders's "self-help memoir" isn't an instruction manual on how to eliminate spending but rather a personal account of the author's yearlong shopping ban. She explains the rules she established for herself and offers some advice but mostly focuses on the life events that led her to choose to live with less and the challenges she faced in adapting. Her story actually begins well before the shopping ban as she also shares past experiences eschewing alcohol, changing her unhealthy eating habits, and eliminating substantial consumer debt. Although eliminating shopping for a year may seem extreme, Flanders is relatable in a way that will make listeners feel that they, too, can reduce their own unnecessary spending. She doesn't advise listeners to replicate her ban but rather to create their own rules and stick to them. VERDICT Followers of Flanders's blog will enjoy getting to hear the author narrate her own story and will appreciate her honesty as she shares her journey to self-improvement and being a more mindful consumer. However, those needing more practical advice will want to look elsewhere.-Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.