New Year, Less Crap: Planning a Low Consumption Year

Rolling out of the holiday season, most of us are a little shocked at how much we managed to spend. Between gifts and food and travel, it all adds up. If you’re a fan of the new year, new me philosophy (or even if you’re not) then now is the time to start figuring out how you’re going to do it all differently in 2026.

No need for a personality transplant, just a good hard look at your life and planning a year where you consume less money, stuff, and mental noise. All while still enjoying your life.

Do a Post-Mortem on 2025

Trust me, this is necessary, even if it’s literally the last thing anyone wants to do. Sit down with a piece of paper or a blank Google Doc and look at where you over-consumed in 2025. Try focusing on:

Money: Did you get many treats? Last minute Starbucks runs, falling for the Temu ads, or adding two more things to your Amazon cart to get free shipping. Make a list.

Time: Saying yes to too many people or spending way too much time doomscrolling is a waste of time. Time is also valuable.

Mental space: Where did you give up mental space last year? Family drama, comparing yourself to the neighbors, or participating in online arguments with strangers all fall into this section.

This will give you a better idea of where you want to focus your energy in the new year.

What Does Less Mean to You?

We can say we consume less all we want, but everyone has their own definition. So think about it for a moment . . . what does “less” really mean for you? Is it bringing less stuff into the house or spending less money? Is it saying no to some obligations that will take up valuable time and mental space? Does it mean getting rid of some things to eliminate clutter?

Look at what you consume and then choose two things to reduce in the coming months. Be specific and write it down. You’re more likely to accomplish your goals if you write them down. Things like “no more buying Pokemon cards” or “maximum two dinners out a month,” should be the focus.

Set Your “Enough” Numbers

Do you have a budget or do you just spend what you need when you need it? Setting a specific “enough” number for each area of your life will help you stick to a budget, saving money and reducing overall consumption. Start by writing down everything you spend random amounts of money on (bills don’t count!). For example, you might have eating out, subscriptions, clothing, or impulse buys and fun money on your list. These are pretty variable spends, so take the time to figure out what you can reasonably spend and assign each area an “enough” number.
This isn’t a punishment, it’s just helping you live within your means!

Do Regular Self-Checks

This works best if you have a friend or partner to check in with and who will hold you accountable. You can also just set up weekly or monthly points where you look at your finances and determine where you did well and where you messed up. Everyone makes mistakes, but a slip-up can remind you where you need to make adjustments to your budget.

Don’t worry about being perfect. Aim for improvement and work on improving each month. You’ll see a big change throughout the year.

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