#caitflanders

After reading Cait Flanders’ A Year of Less, I wanted to try my own budget plan. I have always heard about decluttering (断舍离) and I’ve always wanted to live a more minimalist lifestyle. However, it never felt like the right time.

Because of my career, I often shopped to cope with emotional bad days. I thought buying and owning things would make me feel better. But in reality, it didn’t help at all. I still felt like a wreck inside. My room became full and messy, but emotionally I was never satisfied with what I had because I was too empty and unsettled within myself.

I think now is finally the time to start a new lifestyle. I have already begun cleaning my room after deciding to quit my job. I’ve thrown out countless things I don’t need or haven’t used in a long time. Through this process, I’ve realized how much money I’ve spent and wasted. Money that could have been used more intentionally, or spent on meaningful experiences like travel and growth.

So this is how I want to start my budget plan.

I hope that by living more minimally, I will begin to live a more meaningful life. I believe this lifestyle will help me understand the difference between wanting and needing, so I can make more conscious decisions instead of emotional ones. 

Most importantly, I hope it will give me a sense of control, clarity, and peace — something I’ve been missing for a long time. And ultimately, it will also help me save more money, so I can use it more intentionally for things that truly matter in my life, rather than spending it unconsciously.Here's my plan:

180-Day No-Spending Challenge

🚫 Not Allowed List

❌ Clothing / shoes / accessories / bags (unless broken)

❌ Makeup / skincare (unless fully used up)

❌ Small non-functional items (e.g. blind boxes, decorative items)

❌ Craft materials & tools

❌ Emotional spending (buying when feeling bad)

❌ Unnecessary upgrades (replacing things that still work)

❌ Extra subscriptions (movies, music, etc. — keep only 1–2 essential ones)

✅ Allowed List

✅ Basic living expenses (food, transportation)

✅ Daily necessities (only replace when used up)

✅ Necessary work / health-related spending

✅ Controlled entertainment (books/games only after completion rules)

✅ Necessary social expenses (e.g. gifts)

✅ Travel & day trips (focus on experience only, no souvenirs or non-essential purchases)

📝 Notes

Daily meals: can eat out or order delivery, but try to cook at home. Eating out/delivery limited to 1–2 times per week.

Books: prioritize using WeChat Reading 微信读书 & other online resource to access existing books. Do not buy physical books; only use digital versions when available.

All current items must be fully used before buying replacements.

📌 Execution Rules

1) Priority Rule

When rules conflict, “reducing consumption” is the highest priority.

Examples:

Unsure whether to buy → don’t buy

“I might need it” → don’t buy

Slight hesitation → default to no purchase

2) Delay Mechanism

All non-essential purchases must be delayed for at least 24 hours.

Small items: 24 hours

Expensive items: 7–14 days

3) Tracking Mechanism

Every non-essential purchase must be recorded.

Record:

Why I want to buy it

My emotional state

Whether I still want it after 3 days

4) Emotional Spending Rule

No spending during emotional states (stress, boredom, excitement, reward).

Do not use shopping to manage emotions. Use hobbies instead to process feelings.

Good mood → don’t “reward” with shopping

Bad mood → don’t “comfort” with shopping

5) Replacement Behavior Rule

When I feel like spending, I must do one alternative action first:

Clean or organize my room

Write down what I want to buy

Check what I already own

Go for a 10-minute walk

6) Financial Safety Rule

Always maintain a minimum savings goal. Spending must not affect it.

For example:

Fixed monthly savings: RM ___

Save first, spend later (not the other way around)

7) Exception Rule (to prevent burnout)

One intentional exception purchase per month is allowed, but must be recorded and reviewed.

Conditions:

Must be planned in advance

Cannot be impulsive

Must not cause regret after use

I resonate with Cait’s constant struggle to find the most convenient solution, because it is quicker than something that may be more rewarding overall but would take more time. I like to think of myself as pretty cost efficient (save for the occasional impulsive takeout purchase) as I like to buy things that are gently used rather than brand new. I don’t think it is important, in this stage in my life especially, to have things that are brand new and cost more because they “match”, like how Cait explains the Pinterest generation. I think this way because I know anything that I own now will most likely be moved from apartment to apartment and experience a good amount of wear and tear as I navigate through my early twenties. I don’t know what my living situation will be like in a year, so I would rather buy things cheaply now, so I won’t care as much if they get damaged. That being said, I still try to take care of the things that I own as I like to think of myself as a relatively clean person. I mend my clothes when they have simple rips (I am by no means a seamstress) and try my best to keep my living space reasonably tidy and organized. I believe that it will be easier to buy more expensive, higher quality goods (nicer clothes, newer furniture, matching décor rather than old art projects) in the future when I have a more concrete living situation, and a more reliable form of income than just one part time job.

Book Review: The Year of Less

I’ve given up burning the candle at both ends, I just threw myself into the fire. Given that state of extreme stress and constant over work, The Year of Less by Cait Flanders was extremely appealing.

Basic Summary (Courtesy of Goodreads):

In her late twenties, Cait Flanders found herself stuck in the consumerism cycle that grips so many of us: earn more, buy more, want more, rinse, repeat. Even…