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  • 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
  • Narrated by: Cait Flanders
  • Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (432 ratings)
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The Year of Less cover art

The Year of Less

By: Cait Flanders
Narrated by: Cait Flanders
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Summary

In her late 20s, 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 12 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.

©2018 Cait Flanders (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"If you've ever felt there must be more to life than consumerism and its vicious cycle, you'll find inspiration to break free in The Year of Less. Cait's highly readable and personal story is encouraging, challenging, and unbelievably helpful." (Joshua Becker, author of The More of Less)

What listeners say about The Year of Less

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    1 out of 5 stars

Not what it says on the cover

I have listened to over an hour and a half of this and have decided to return it. It’s not about the Author’s year of not spending, it’s more an exploration of the troubles in her life and her various addictions. I’m really not interested in reading about failed relationships and battles with alcoholism, I just wanted to know about the year of not spending much money.
The book is definitely not what the title leads you to believe.

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97 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Quite a lot of moaning

If you fancy listening to someone moan about their life then this is the book for you! It kind of sucks the energy out of you but it has made me think a little bit about a few changes I’d like to make. I wouldn’t waste your time with this audiobook.

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95 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Deciving title

This is more autobiography and definity not a book about spending less or anything about living and spending only on necessities.
Do not get me wrong her story is inspirational. But book talks about her life not about year of no spend. She barely talks about it at all. I expected a book about how she came to decision to do it; how she started; what she found the hardest; how she coped; what would be her advice for other people who are thinking of doing the same; etc.
I was disappointed and had hard time getting to the end of the book.
Narrator was speaking clearly and enunciated well but I found her monotone and a bit boring. It just made it harder to listen to.

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45 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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big disappointment-am returning

I thought this was a book about what it says-which is a self-help manual about living with less and cutting down the shopping habit. I was quickly disappointed. Instead it turned out to be a memoir about someone who had an alcohol and eating problem. I then read other reviews which said similar, that it was dull and that it dealt with a relationship break-up etc. If I had wanted to read about someone I had never heard of and their life disasters I wold have made that choice. Yes it says memoir in the small print apparently but I found it in the self-help section of Audible. I was not impressed and stopped it after a couple of chapters. Am returning

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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waste of time

it was a completely waste of my time I thought it was a book about minimalism but it was about her life eating, drinking and taking drugs.
don't buy it

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20 people found this helpful

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Very disappointed with this, utterly dull .

Not as described, more like an auto biography of a normal person, with very occasional passing reference to the actual topic!!

skip straight to the last chapter when she finally sums it all up, for what it's worth.

Also I found the narrators voice really irritating.

Did not like this at all - complete waste of money!! So maybe I did learn a lesson.... 🤔 Don't believe publishers hype!!! IT was certainly not true in this case!! Awful book!!!!

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18 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I had expected this to have more substance. Whilst the author does cover what changes she made, she also goes into her own personal life a lot which at times seems irrelevant and space fillers to pad out the book.

It could be done in half the time imo.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Life changing

I was so excited to hear that Cait was releasing a booking after being an avid follower of the podcast she creates with Carrie for the past 12 months. Last year I started my own shopping ban thanks to Caits story. I too was a blackout spender, I was in thousands of pounds of debt and was facing the very real possibility that I was about to lose my business. I decided to take control of my finances, listening to much of the advice given on the podcast. I gave myself to March 18 to get out of debt and I am so pleased to say thanks to all Caits (& Carries) advice, Jan 18 was the month I officially can say I got out of debt. Not only that, my home has been completely decluttered, my business is thriving and my mental and physical well being is so much healthier. The book was the icing on the cake to finish off such a successful year and I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I'm sure it will have the ability to change many more lives.

Thanks Cait!

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brave, inspiring & motivating.

Far greater than a stuffy 'self help' book, this reads more like a diary of someone desperately trying to better themselves. We feel all the motivation & each set back, forcing us to take a look at our own spending habits as Cait struggles through her self-set challenge to find greater meaning & appreciation of what she already has. Loved this book & will be taking on the life lessons as soon as I finish this review!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Totally self indulgent, like a teenagers diary

The pros- it made me think a little bit about how I spend money.
Cons- not spending money was a side- theme of the book, and instead the book was a self indulgent memoir of a girl I’ve never heard of. This element of it was a total drag to listen to, and not inspiring or motivational.
The narration sounded drab and insincere to me, considering this was meant to be her passion.

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4 people found this helpful