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May 20, 20204 min read

Ep.39: Living With Less with Cait Flanders

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In December of 2019, Bran and I both read a book called The Year Of Less by Canadian Best-Selling Author, Cait Flanders. I binged this book within two days and immediately decided I wanted to do my own "no shopping or drinking challenge" in 2020. Bran and I chatted about it excitedly, knowing full well how challenging the no drinking alcohol would be, especially in the summer months. I was hesitant to go all on this, since the "no shopping" for an entire year already seemed like a big enough challenge. But after some back and forth, we decided it was only 12 months after all, and doing the challenge together would be rewarding and valuable In more ways than one.


It's now May 2020, and we are officially heading into month FIVE of no booze or shopping. And honestly?? I FEEL FREAKING GREAT!!


Here are some of the WINS I've chalked up these last 5 months while ditching all booze and extra shopping (I have a blog post all about this, outlining it here if you're curious on how we structured our challenge!)


- Paid off $10,000 worth of credit card debt. Yes, I'm serious.

- Sleeping better than I have in years, through the night.

- Seeing improved muscle definition and enhanced fitness

- Skin is clear most of the time (hormone fluxes still impact this)

- Mood is steady most of the time (still am a human and get upset)

- Am making more money than ever before (my money mindset has shifted)

- Feel more confident and self-accepting than ever before.

- Feel confident going to a party and having a great time without booze

- Feel less concerned with what people think overall

- ENJOYING MY YEAR SO MUCH (if you've been following along, you know ENJOY is my 2020 word!)


I mean, any one of those items alone is an awesome win in my books! But overall?! No shopping and drinking has contributed to a greater sense of PEACE within and ABUNDANCE in my life. Seems counterintuitive, right? Like adding more restriction would lead to less joy and freedom? But because we HAPPILY CHOSE this challenge from a place of self-awareness and curiosity, it's made all the difference! Stay tuned for the remaining 6 months! I can imagine they will be full of more challenges and wins as well!


So after a couple months of this challenge, I decided to reach out to Cait Flanders and see if she'd be game for a podcast interview. She agreed (I fist-pumped around my office) and we scheduled a zoom chat for our session.


I can HONESTLY say, this was one of my favourite episodes I've recorded TO DATE!! Live on Purpose is almost ONE (holy heck!) and what better way to ring in its almost-birthday than to have an important conversion on how to ACTUALLY LIVE ON PURPOSE when it comes to money, shopping, drinking, social media and more?!







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Cait Flanders is an author, podcaster, and traveller from a beautiful island in British Columbia, Canada. For the past nine years, she’s been on a journey of less. Less debt. Less clutter. Less consumerism. Less alcohol (ok, no alcohol). Less time online/on her phone. Less consumption overall. She wrote a self-help memoir that documents some of what she’s experienced and discovered along the way. The Year of Less came out in January 2018 and became a Wall Street Journal bestseller. I binged her book in two days this past winter and it inspired both MYSELF AND BRAN to participate in our own year of less. We are officially onto month 5 of no shopping and no drinking and I feel FANTASTIC. When I reached out to Cait and she agreed to have a chat about living with less, I was ecstatic! This call IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES, and I know you’re going to love it too! Get ready to take notes, my friend. This is going to rock your socks!



In this episode, we talked about:

  • What it means to "live with less"

  • Cait's decision to stray from the "normal path" of what we "should do" in life

  • The most common comment you get when you decide to stop drinking alcohol

  • What it feels like to actually stop drinking in a world obsessed with drinking

  • What being intentional about your life looks and feels like

  • Finding your values by discovering what doesn't feel right or in alignment with what you want

  • Coping mechanisms like TV, shopping, drinking and Instagram and what it feels like when you no longer turn to those things when you're upset

  • Shame, guilt and fear

  • "shoulding all over yourself" and the obligations we learn from our childhoods

  • Cait's new book (coming Sept.2020) called "Adventures in Opting Out"

  • How preparing yourself to even start a challenge (or "get to the base") often takes more time and effort than people think

  • How to begin living more intentionally with a little less

  • How to do your own "use up" challenge

  • What "live on purpose" means to Cait



Some of the resources we mentioned in this episode were:



I had SUCH a blast chatting with Cait, and I cannot wait to bring on more, wonderful guests in the future for you to learn from!!


Do me a solid?? If this episode helped you in any way, would you mind sharing it with a friend? Take a screenshot, send a text, whatever you need to do to help ONE person hear this message today.


I’m on a mission to empower as many women as possible in their health, wealth and wellness through this free educational platform and spreading the word about the podcast is the best way I know how to get these important topics into more womens’ headphones and lives!


We can do better together.


Until next time,


Xo Marie


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