As a 20-something trying to launch her adult life and her writing career, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumer cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even after she worked her way out of nearly GBP20,000 in credit-card 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 a year of Cait's life during which she bought only consumables: gas, toothpaste, soap. Along the way, Cait 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 experimented with restricting television, e-mail and social media. At every stage, she learned that the less she consumed, the more fulfilled she felt. If you ever thought that buying what you desire, or eating or drinking what you crave could solve a problem - read this book.
