In this chat with Ashlee Piper, a political strategist turned sustainable living expert and author, listeners learn the art of mindful consumption. Ashlee discusses her book, emphasizing the journey of embracing the 'No New Things' challenge to combat consumerism. She shares the importance of creating a 'Love List' to curb impulse spending and highlights community involvement as a way to foster resourcefulness. The conversation touches on balancing financial stability while pursuing sustainability, making it a refreshing guide to living with intention.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Ashlee Piper's Thoughtful Splurges
Ashlee splurges on concerts and getting her nails done with gel or dip overlay for durability.
These treats balance her frugality while supporting her lifestyle without frequent new purchases.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ashlee's Stress Shopping Phase
Ashlee was a political strategist working high-stress hours, leading to stress shopping.
The stress and debt pushed her to question her job and spending habits deeply.
insights INSIGHT
Consumerism as an Addiction
Shopping mimics addiction with dopamine and adrenaline rushes, creating habitual emotional buying.
Society normalizes this compulsive buying, shifting the bar on what is considered "too much."
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Ashlee Piper challenges herself to buy nothing new for nearly two years. In the process, she got out of debt, cut clutter, crushed her goals, and became healthier and happier than ever. After a decade of fine-tuning, No New Things guides readers through the same revolutionarily simple challenge. The book follows the rise of what Piper calls “conditioned consumerism” and how it sneakily hijacks our time, money, and mental bandwidth, as well as harms the planet. From there, readers follow customizable daily action items that bring about the ease and richness of a life less bogged down by spending and stuff, without compromising on style, convenience, or fun.
I’m pretty sure everyone listening will want to either get out of debt, reduce the amount of clutter in their life, crush other financial goals, become healthier and happier… OR, why even choose? Why not select: d - all of the above?! That’s because that was the outcome of our guest today, Ashlee Piper, who documented her journey in her new book No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. Ashlee is a political strategist turned sustainable living expert who has shared her message as a professor in Chicago, on Good Morning America, to her TED Talk, & everywhere between. We discuss the data and how much time we spend shopping or the time taking care of the items we’ve purchased, why she recommends making a “Love List” and how that curbs spending, the vital role our community plays in avoiding new things, utilitarian reasons vs emotional stimuli to purchase, and plenty more in this episode!
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