THE NARRATIVE ARC

I Took The ‘Year of Less’ Challenge

What happened when I decluttered and stopped spending

Photo of woman saying no to shopping, by nicoletaionescu on Adobe Stock Images

Underconsumption Core is trending on Tiktok, but as I don’t use Tiktok I had no idea I was being trendy. I was just bored and needed something to listen to while I cooked dinner. The audiobook version of “The Year of Less” by Cait Flanders seemed interesting enough. Midway through the book, I found myself wondering…could I do it? Could I live with what I already have and resist buying anything more?

I started my spending ban and declutter in April, unsure how long it would last. Half a year later, I’ve reached my goals and, unexpectedly, gained a sharper picture of my financial habits and what I need to change.

Here’s how my Underconsumption Core challenge went.

Flander’s book, The Year of Less, is a memoir about addiction, but it centers on her year of quitting shopping — something she felt had become problematic for her. For a year, she paired decluttering with a spending ban to shake off her compulsive shopping habit, live with less, and reach some savings goals.

I’ve watched Confessions of a Shopaholic many times and I’m no Becky, but I’ve certainly had conversations with myself like the one she imagines with the shop mannequin over a…