This 30 day guide to buying nothing new is broken down into a daily task to focus on. It gives step by step instructions for how to slowly change your lifestyle. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

As a former avid shopper, I love reading books about money management and spending habits . I thought this book brought some good advice and well written!

"No New Things" is as timely and refreshing read on how to consume less. I think many people want to stop over-consuming and do better for the environment but don't know where to start. I love that Ashlee Piper provides a 30 day challenge which provides strategy and helps with motivation. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub date: Jun 14th, 2025.

#NoNewThings

Ashlee Piper has written a book we need now, more than ever. As someone with ADHD I saw so many life-changing tools and bits of knowledge that would help the overconsumption that often accompanies being neurospicy. It gave some initial details about the perils of buying brand new, not just for bank accounts but the planet. It isn't a book that will encourage you to overturn and change everything, but it will challenge you to seriously consider your relationship to stuff. The most basic advice could read something along the lines of: just don't buy stuff, but as a testament to Piper's dedication to long-lasting behavioural change, she encourages buying in a more sustainable and ethical way, even borrowing before buying (if at all, given that we sometimes make big ticket item purchases for uses that total once every few years). Breaking this down into a 30 day challenge format makes it digestible and given the science about building long term habits requiring at least 30 days to anchor in our lives, means that it's likelier to "stick".

It isn't just about not buying new things, but repairing what we have instead of tossing something for a perceived and fixable issue. For example, I remember needing to replace a Keurig this summer, and lamenting the fact that it was almost impossible to open up and see the parts to replace them if needed. While I bought a new one regardless, I was torn by the fact that the machinery inside would be easy to replace but wasn't purpose built to be fixable, particularly where it was sealed shut. I'm grateful for the inspiration this book gave me to look up a way to repair the small hole forming in the toe of my workout/running shoes, rather than spend another $120 on new ones. In other words, it was immediately inspiring and helpful.

I didn't do the challenge in 30 day increments, but what I can say is that it encompasses a lot of the behavioural changes, and tracking that I've done over the years to establish the habits that Piper has found a way to distill into a concise challenge. This is to say that what took years to figure out (and still do wildly imperfectly), was put together in this brilliant format such that it sticks (wildly so, but less imperfectly). I wish I read this book several years ago! No New Things would be ideal for someone who is looking at home organization overhauls, families going through big age changes among kiddos (i.e., changing or upgrading rooms, getting new clothes, etc.), empty nesters looking to freshen up their space, graduates with their first "adult job" who are in the process of moving into their own space. The author's style is approachable, and the anecdotes she shares make the contents of the book applicable the day you read it. I know the title says "No New Things" but if you buy one thing new I recommend it be this book. Or you could source it from the original sharing economy of your local public library.

Thank you to Celadon books for the advance reader copy on NetGalley! I really enjoyed reading No New Things.

An insanely useful guide to how to cut down on the rampant consumerism that corporations try to force on us. Especially in a political climate in which things are about to come a lot more expensive, there are a ton of tips on how to cut back without feeling deprived.

I was most interested in the challenge explained in No New Things because I'm awful at saving money. Piper explores this topic along with other tips and tricks to help yourself out of buying so many things and wasting much of them. I found this super helpful and plan to implement most. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A great read about consumerism that comes with a 30 day challenge to kickstart a change of habit. While I already started downsizing and reorganizing before picking this up, I really enjoyed this. Each chapter was insightful and packed with information that was delivered in a delicate and humorous, but still informative way. One thing that was a personal annoyance for me is when slang is spelled out like "wanna" instead of "want to" and things like that, but I do get it was probably done in a way to make the information in the book more approachable and to make it seem more like a conversation between the reader and Piper. That's really my only complaint. I think some could get a little bogged down by some of the information, but the way it's set up is that you CAN skip some of that if you want to and just do the challenge. I personally found the information and research presented was informative and important.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Open your eyes we have been tricked into spending.
This book will help you move away from over spending and take control of your finances. And regain control of your life.

3 stars for the parts I read.

In a surprise to no one, most of us have too much stuff and we buy too much more. Piper goes through some of the reasons for both of these truths then offers a 30 day plan where the reader isn’t supposed to buy anything but necessities (groceries, medicines, car repairs, gas, etc.) for thirty days.

I stopped reading here because, although I’m kind of interested in the plan I wasn’t especially interested in starting right now and the rest of the book was a day by day institution of the plan with a section to read each day. This might be something I would do at some point, though, and if I do I’ll buy a copy of the book and my rating may change. For now, it’s mostly basic stuff we all already know.