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

Written by Cait Flanders

Narrated by Cait Flanders

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 for twelve months during which 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 rid 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.



Blending Cait's compelling story with inspiring insight and practical guidance, The Year of Less will leave you questioning what you're holding on to in your own life—and, quite possibly, lead you to find your own path of less.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jan 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781541487697

Reviews for The Year of Less

[Adina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Honest and warm book about challenges of how to become better.
When more did not help, author tried less. This decision then shaken up more than shopping patterns.
This book documents the journey. It is very openly written, practical and also a pleasant listen. I like it very much.

[Josie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very raw, eye opening book. Especially being read by the author it makes it even more personal and achievable. I love that she’s open about her struggles and triumphs and gives you a clear cut way of achieving what she set out to do herself. Excellent book!

[Mike · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I cried one too many times at how much I related to this book. Down to the author’s age when she started her shopping ban. I am incredibly inspired by her journey and am challenging myself to get on board with a shopping ban as well - to discover who I am, what I really want, and learn to live with less and yet gain so much more.

[Anne Reaver · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good but slow. I liked the concept of no shopping for a year. Also enjoyed reading about her sobriety. Added bonus

[nelema7 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I liked the bit about discussing the steps to take for decluttering and managing finance but felt like it was more about complaining about her life, skipped quite a bit only for there to be more of that so stopped listening.

[meialiang · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Gave up after 3 chapters. Ego document of a white girl with a complicated childhood, with the accompanying fatphobia, blindness to privilege and honestly kind of dodgy takes on domestic abuse? The premise is nice, but clearly wasn't enough to actually fill a book

[sarah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is short and simple, but interesting and inspiring. I highly recommend it.

[Corralyn Lucero · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Such a great audiobook. Excited to apply this years challenge!

[Teenie Richardson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Her honesty in what she was going through and when she struggled. I love that I could identify with planning on quitting and how many times until she stuck with it! Inspired to begin my own year of less !

[Sully Alvarez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed this book. It has encouraged me to spend less as well. Looking forward to creating a budget for myself and seeing how I can declutter my home.

[Crystal Janota · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful. This is one of my favorite books. Highly recommend.

[Amanda Cagle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was such a inspiring book. I always love books that challenge my way of thinking and this was just that. Ready to try a shopping ban!

[Andreea Muresan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think it is a great book to start your economic growth with. I have no idea how to save and am guilty of many things that are mentioned in the book, especially “retail therapy”. It doesn’t use any big words, it was not a stressful read and it was encouraging. If you want something easy to digest and are not ready for charts and what not, I highly recommend it.

[mo fadaly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. Very relatable and useful for navigating a new course around personal finances

[Helen A · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book! I always stopped reading a book about decluttering because they're too focus on how to. But in this book, the writer also share about the reasons behind every steps that she made, and I feel so related. Now I'm going to do my own shopping banned challenge too!

[Connect Film-Festival · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 stars. Well, 6 for fascinating topic with a potentially transformative impact on your life. Another 6 for awesome and inspiring protagonist, the author Cait. Bit of a drop to 4.5 for writing style and getting used to the fact it’s read by the writer not a professional voice actor (Cait’s lovely and candid about the fact she’s not a snazzy word smith which is in its own way endearing, but it is not the most verbally gripping story you’ll hear. At the same time as another reviewer said, it does make it refreshingly authentic!). A 20s/30s book that is accessible to all. A heartfelt and unflinchingly honest description of pushing through addiction (alcohol tv food) and overcoming personal problems (parents, boyfriends) to succeed at streamlining Cait’s possessions, body, and way she values and respects her time. One of the main things she does on this journey is a “shopping ban” where she buys almost nothing but food and essentials for a year. It’s an inspiring fight against consumerism. She also talks about her individual path to sobriety. The book explores a number of themes but consistently circles back to personal finance. Personal finance was great but I wish there was more on the weight loss! I hope she writes another book, she is a voice of reason and understated compassion.

[Ryme Med · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Its not what I expected, I stopped after two hours of hope that it'll get better, but still there's no instructions or stuff so I guess I'll just save the 3 hours left to read something else !

[Arely Ivonne Lopez Soto · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Something I didn’t realize it was so easy but at the same time difficult to do!

[howifeelaboutbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book because I could relate to a lot of it. Changing your overall mindset can really help change certain habits, and that’s what Flanders was doing over this year. She had already stopped drinking, but still wanted to stop spending so much and re-prioritize her life. She decluttered her house and stopped being such a consumer. I really liked her somewhat-casual memoir tone. A lot of reviews I read complained that it wasn’t really about minimalism, but I disagree. It really follows her journey and change in mindset, and shows that it’s important to take stock of things you have, reassess what you really need, and change your life accordingly, in a way that makes you happy.

[Joshua George · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very nicely written book, there is so much to learn thank you.

[Vinay Chand · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing journey. Thankyou for sharing. Insightful and inspiring. Must listen.

[Linda Pierce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well thought out, informative story and narration by the author. I didn't realize buying less was just what I was searching for until this book. She does a great job of sharing her background story, bringing us to present day and watching her grow throughout the whole experience.

[Aleksandra Jakimovska · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really love the book and the narrator. This is super inspiring and very open storytelling to motivate people to get out of their consumerist habits. Kudos to the author!

[Leilani Jones · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really liked it, would recommend the book and Cait's story.

[Sloane Weber · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Simple read and gives you some thoughts to really chew on.

[Ijeoma Akachukwu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A bit slower than i usually prefer, but very informative.

[Anna Dominguez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This books talks about the struggle, the process of finding ways to deal in a healthy way with everything that makes you react out of impulse, and honestly I saw myself in that book. I devoured this book, not to find answers but to finally realize, I've improved so much. I love how she talks about guilt and shame, and how those are the emotions behind every impulse. Yet, I love how she came into the conclusion that all of this was a product of the self- hatred within her. I loved it. There are no other words.

[Joanna Oana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing and honest. I can’t wait to start my own journey.

[blckrose books · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Es una historia entretenida y real, es vulnerable y al mismo tiempo te comparte cómo puedes lograr o proponerte lograr un cambio en tu vida si así lo quieres.

[Farzana Eff · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Nothing revolutionary in terms of content, narration was quite monotonous. Overall, wouldn’t recommend.