Welcome to Litsy!

More of a memoir than a how to guide. But it was quite encouraging to hear her story and her triggers and reactions to them.
I am trying to become a more mindful consumer in general as I find that I am a bit of a compulsive shopper. 😂😂 hopefully this book is the jumping off point for me. Noting this as #somethingyoupick
#nonfiction2019

Listened to this on audio. Actually had started it last week as part of #NFNov

I liked it. Didn‘t wow me exactly but it does make me want to declutter my apartment so I count that as a win

This book is queued up for my next audiobook. Hoping that I can get some tips from it to help me reduce my hoarding tendencies. 😂
#NFNov
@rsteve388
@Clwojick

Most of this was content I was expecting and felt like I‘d heard before. (That was actually partly what I was looking for. I grabbed this on Libby on a whim this morning looking for something easy to distract me from a migraine.) But the writing and narration were excellent, and there were a few things she said that stood out and really peaked my interest, which seems pretty good for this self-help/memoir combo genre.

If you are planning on reading this you should know that it is more of a memoir than the title makes it seem. I enjoyed it, even though it wasn't what I expected. It felt like an honest account of someone just trying to get their life in order.

#TIL Struggling with budgets and organization is a part of life for most people, and if you just focus and make small steps towards your goal you'll get there.

#NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick

So I did enjoy this book, although it's a whole lot of memoir and not as much hands on examples of how to live a whole year on a shopping ban. The audiobook was good though, and I canceled 3 box subscriptions within listening to the first 20 minutes (look at the comments to see which ones I axed!)

#24B4Monday #Readathon #LitsyPartyofOne #MrBook1inaMillion #NFNov
@mrbook @Andrew65 @TheReadingMermaid @Clwojick

I listened to this on audio and it encouraged me to de clutter and pitch stuff, so that‘s a win. 😆 The lesson that resonated with me the most was to buy things you need, and not for the person you want to be. I find myself buying things to fit a persona that I want to emulate, so that has been in the back of my mind. Since the author deals with addiction to alcohol and shopping, I‘m counting this for #booked2019 #bookaboutaddiction

I thought that this was a great read as millennial who is dealing with many similar problems (worry about student debt, probably spending way too much on things I don't need, etc). I empathized with the author often, especially when she recounted struggling with her mental health and addiction while trying to figure out what she loved and who she was. I especially found the list at the end helpful as I move toward spending less. Recommend!

Quote: "One of the greatest lessons I learned during these years is that whenever you're thinking of binging, it's usually because some part of you or your life feels like it's lacking- and nothing you eat, drink, or but can fix it."

As I‘m looking to start a massive declutter and/or a shopping ban for a few months. I really enjoyed hearing Cait‘s experiences doing the same. She makes the idea sound daunting but doable. #audiobook

If you are looking for inspiration to create a new mindset about spending less, shopping less, adopting a healthier lifestyle with family, friends and relationships- then check this out for a quick summer read. You can also follow this young woman's blog🙂

this is what I want for SUMMER

Whilst this book was not what I was expecting - less full of tips and more of a general memoir of the year of less - I still found it enjoyable to read, on the whole. Picked up a few new thoughts too about the necessity of stuff and making the most of what you already have!

My next read surrounding themes of low impact living, sustainability and finding contentment 🌿

my weekend read

I love books like this. It's good to see how much more you can do with less. It's not my favorite exercise while I practice it, but there are definite benefits.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. A lot of lightbulbs went off as I noticed similarities between the author and my thought processes and behaviors. The book is making me reconsider the way i live and think!

I really like the idea of downsizing, the older I get the less stuff I need. The author spent a year not buying new things other than groceries and toiletries. It was interesting to follow her journey.

⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is a good, pretty quick read. I liked hearing more about her why than her how. Giving up shopping is something I know I should do and maybe I‘ll try to implement some of these things in my own life. Almost more of a memoir than a how-to though.

This is one of my new favorite non-fiction reads! (And I don‘t normally choose non-fiction!) Cait decided to put a shopping ban in place for one year. There were certain rules in place like she was able to buy groceries/replace items she used up, but she wasn‘t allowed to impulse buy clothes, candles, etc. She sorted through her belongings and got rid of things she didn‘t use or love. It inspired me to want to do an early “spring cleaning” soon!

I like this ❤️

This really speaks to me. Eventually I will get to all of them though!!! 😬

I don‘t read a lot of non-fiction, but this one caught my eye. And of course it is from the library, not bought from a store 😋 Starting now!

I really enjoyed this audio book. As I have mentioned before, I read books about minimalism often and therefore find some of them to be repetitive. This was not. Flanders combines decluttering with reducing consumerism in a brilliant way that made me reconsider why I buy and keep so much stuff.

This was everything I needed right now

This book about a yearlong shopping is surprisingly readable. Of course, Cait goes way beyond the shopping ban, she lets you into the good, bad, & ugly of her life. As I am getting ready to start my own version of a ban to become a more mindful consumer, I really appreciate how she shares her struggles, the ups & downs, & why it was so important for her & how it helped her. It reinforces many of my own thoughts & gives me hope for my own success.

Well. This is a new personal record. Ironically, book 100 was The Year of Less.

"One lesson I‘ve learned countless times over the years is that whenever you let go of something negative in your life, you make room for something positive."

A memoir rather than a self-help book. I admit I‘m not a fan of author narrated books, and this is no exception. She‘s privileged (most of us are) and seems young to me (I‘m middle aged) but despite the generation gap and some differences on values she has an iron will and her constant efforts for excellence made this a really good read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#memoir #nonfiction

#shoptilyoudrop #fallintoreading @vkois88 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks This is where my mind is hovering now for reasons spiritual, economic, practical, and simple. A lifetime of accumulation in its many forms has overwhelmed me. If we remain grateful for what we have now, contentment and serenity are accessible and to me, preferable. To each his own. Enjoy your shopping today if that's where you'll be 💖❤️😊💙💛

I‘ve read a lot of self help, memoir, minimalist, etc. books but for some reason this one really stuck with me. I hate admitting it but I have an unhealthy relationship with shopping, much like the author of this book. I‘ve recently realized that I have to drastically change my spending habits before it‘s too late and this book helped me think about some of the “why” that goes into my spending. I also loved hearing her narrate it!

Inspiring. Insightful. Real.

For clarity, I have to say that this was a MEMOIR and not a guide on how to live this way. There‘s a section at the end on that topic, but this is mostly life stories and personal accounts.

It was interesting listening to someone with a very addictive personality deconstruct and redirect those habits.

#nonfiction #memoir

I got to meet my niece today!!! She‘s nearly 20 hours old and super tiny in my arms.

While driving to the hospital I listened to this and nearly finished it. I have a lot of mixed feelings about minimalists but it‘s a lot more inspiring than I thought it would be and has even got me thinking about a shopping ban.

#babies #nonfiction #audiobook #simpleliving

Listened to this as I started the process of unpacking our new house. It made the time fly and also left me wanting to chuck the majority of things we just moved.

I decided to try a Memoir Challenge so my first memoir is The Year of Less by Cait Flanders. I‘m enjoying Labor Day Weekend at the lake with some friends and some good books. I‘m about halfway through the book. So far, I‘m quite inspired by it.

#Space #AugustIsATrip
Lately I‘ve been borrowing books from the library about minimalism, decluttering, spending less & making space in your life for things other than things. This is my reading for this weekend. Earlier in the week I read ‘The gentle art of Swedish death cleaning‘ & went through old letters, etc. to see what I still really wanted to keep

Quick, Enjoyable read. “Advertisements and marketing campaigns had conditioned me to believe everything was now or never. It never occurred to me to wait until I actually needed something. The truth, I was learning, was that we couldn‘t actually discover what we needed until we lived without it.”

Could you ban yourself from shopping for a year, and get rid of seventy percent of your belongings? Would you do it if you knew it would make you happy and save you money? https://www.bluestockingreviews.com/blog/the-year-of-less

After finishing this book I'm completely hooked on this concept and I believe I'm going to attempt my own year of less.

I'll keep you updated on how it goes. The no buying books or take out coffee alone should save me about a gazillion dollars.

I have to say that I don‘t think I‘ve read a more tedious snooze in a long time. I thought this would be inspiring and fun. I‘m interested being more frugal and consuming less. I‘m not a “shopper”, but could stand to pare down purchases to save $. The author basically gave a monthly synopsis of her year, and mentions that she is still on a “shopping ban”. She does an explanation of how to do it at the end, but it was too late. No ⭐️s from me.

This book reads more like an autobiography than a how-to, so I wasn‘t expecting the format. But, it was a nice surprise. Cait is a wonderful writer and has unique way of showing how to help us —through her experiences— in our future lives of less ... without having to bullet point it all. I was a bit depressed though with her baggage — and yet aren‘t we all going through stuff? This “baggage” makes her relatable. I get it. I recommend reading it.

This is another book that just seemed to leap from the shelf into my hands one morning. It‘s a quick read, well told by an author who had more going on in her life than she expected to, but never wallows in self-pity. It‘s also inspirational without being heavy-handed or ridden with guilt trips.

Really enjoyed this!

This is one of those books I needed and read at just the right time. It has a lot of negative reviews from people expecting a step-by-step self-help book like Marie Kondo‘s; I wish it was marketed as a memoir so it was more transparent to readers. This is an unflinchingly honest memoir about a woman discovering herself and her values after deciding to stop shopping for a year. But it‘s truly about addiction, grief, self-doubt, and mindfulness.

"Advertising had conditioned me to believe everything was 'now or never'. It never occurred to me to wait until I actually needed something. The truth, I was learning, was that we couldn't actually discover what we needed until we lived without it."

Of acknowledging own weaknesses, overcoming it and live with mindfulness

Found this one on sale today. She bought only consumables for a year. What about things like haircuts and root canals? Did she cancel her cell phone service, internet, and cable? I guess I‘ll find out when I read it!

More memoir than guide. While the highlighted text is an anti-shopping tool, I'll apply it to the book. If you bought it for the person you want to be (organized and frugal), you might be disappointed.

Best tip: online purchases can be canceled before shipping so cancel them!

I've been on a shopping diet lately. Library ebook loans are a blessing. #currentread