More Than Decluttering — A Deep Look at Our Relationship With Stuff
I recently finished The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, and I’ll be honest — I didn’t fully know what I was getting into. I thought this book would simply support my decluttering journey. What I didn’t expect was how deeply it would challenge my relationship with shopping, consumption, and emotional spending.
Cait Flanders, a blogger at the time, committed to a year-long shopping ban. She didn’t just declutter her home — she examined why she shopped, what she was avoiding emotionally, and how consumerism had quietly shaped her life. By the end of the book, I realized this wasn’t just about owning less — it was about living with intention.
When Shopping Becomes an Addiction
One of the most impactful moments in the book for me was when Cait compared her shopping habits to her earlier struggles with alcohol and drug addiction. That comparison stopped me in my tracks.
I had never thought of shopping as an addiction — but suddenly it clicked.
Hi, my name is Amber… and I’m a shopaholic.
I love finding things. I love gifting. I love the thrill of a good deal. But I also accumulate things I don’t use, forget to give away, or don’t even remember buying. This book made me realize that shopping can be emotional, soothing, distracting — and just as habit-forming as anything else.
Cait’s Rules for Her Year of Less
Cait’s approach was extreme — and intentionally so. For an entire year (and then another), she eliminated nearly all discretionary shopping.
She did not allow herself to buy:
- Takeout coffee
- Clothes, shoes, accessories
- Books, magazines, notebooks
- Household items (candles, décor, furniture, electronics)
She did allow:
- Groceries and basic kitchen supplies
- Cosmetics and toiletries
- Cleaning products
- Gifts for others
- Items from a pre-approved shopping list
If something needed to be replaced, the original item had to be donated or discarded first.
Over time, minimalism became less of a challenge and more of a habit — not because she forced it, but because her values shifted.
How I’m Applying The Year of Less to My Own Life
I’ll be honest — I’m not ready for a full year-long shopping ban like Cait. But I am ready to make meaningful changes.
Here’s how I’m choosing to apply her principles in a way that feels realistic for my family and my season of life:
☕ Takeout Coffee
I’m allowing myself two takeout coffees a month, timed around my paydays. Eventually, I may reduce to one — and then none — but I’m choosing to wean instead of quit cold turkey.
🕯️ Candles & Skincare
I’m not buying any new candles or skincare products — I have more than enough. My one exception is a FabFitFun subscription already paid for in 2025 for 2026. If those items arrive in the box, I’ll use them.
📚 Books
I love physical books and taking notes, so I’m allowing one book per month — but only after I finish what I’m currently reading.
📝 Stationery & Planners
No stationery purchases this year. I will only buy new planners toward the end of the year (home, budget, work planners). All current paper, pens, and notebooks must be fully used first.
👕 Clothing
I need new clothes — but with boundaries. I’m aiming for a one-in, one-out rule, limited to roughly one clothing item per month.
📺 Subscriptions & Bills
I’ve started reviewing subscriptions and slowly eliminating unnecessary spending.
🛒 Groceries & Eating Out
- Meal planning around weekly ads
- Cooking more at home
- Absolutely allowing myself my ridiculously expensive, yet tasty yogurt
- Freezer meal prep for hard nights
- Eating out once per month, if possible (this will be a challenge)
Student loans are expensive, and while I won’t save at Cait’s level, being intentional still matters.
🚗 Trigger Purchases
Gas station treats (hello, Mountain Dew Zero) are a trigger. I’m limiting myself to once per week instead of multiple times.
🧻 Household Essentials
I am striving for having one back up and to not purchase until the backup is in use on household essentials like cleaning supplies. Toilet paper is the exception — we’ll still stock up at BJ’s or Costco, but likely reduce trips to once a month instead of weekly.
🎓 Special Events
My son’s high school graduation is a non-negotiable. Décor, food, and celebration are allowed — without guilt. Holidays and birthdays are exceptions too. I truly believe birthdays should be celebrated and gift giving is my passion…… also could be why I am where I am financially.
What This Book Really Taught Me
The Year of Less made me aware of how much emotion is tied to shopping — comfort, reward, distraction, identity.
Living with less isn’t about deprivation. It’s about clarity.
This journey won’t be easy for me — and I know that. But I’m choosing to consume less, declutter more, and live with greater intention this year.
If you’re thinking about reducing consumerism, decluttering your home, or examining your spending habits, I highly recommend this book.
Sometimes, less really is more.