Summary of "No New Things w/ Ashlee Piper #992" on How to Money

Podcast Information:

• Title: How to Money
• Host: Joel and Matt (iHeartPodcasts)
• Episode: No New Things w/ Ashlee Piper #992
• Release Date: June 4, 2025
• Guest: Ashlee Piper, Political Strategist Turned Sustainable Living Expert

Introduction

In episode #992 of How to Money, hosts Joel and Matt engage in an enlightening conversation with Ashlee Piper, a political strategist turned sustainable living advocate. Ashlee shares her insights from her journey documented in her new book, No New Things. The discussion delves into the psychological underpinnings of consumerism, the concept of shopping addiction, and practical strategies to reduce unnecessary consumption.

Ashlee Piper's Background and Motivation

Ashlee Piper begins by dispelling misconceptions about her book, emphasizing that No New Things is not solely for those in severe financial distress or extreme hoarders. Instead, it addresses what she terms "conditioned consumerism," affecting everyday individuals across various lifestyles.

Ashlee Piper [03:14]: "I think most of us fall victim to what I'd call conditioned consumerism. So it's kind of an everyman's book, if you will."

Transitioning from a high-stress career in political strategy to sustainable living, Ashlee highlights how her professional life led to chronic stress and compulsive shopping as a coping mechanism. This realization spurred her to redefine her relationship with consumption.

Understanding Consumerism and Shopping Addiction

The conversation explores how consumerism has become deeply ingrained in Western culture, often serving as a misguided source of emotional relief. Ashlee draws parallels between shopping and other addictions, noting the similar physiological responses they elicit, such as dopamine rushes.

Ashlee Piper [13:06]: "Shopping is absolutely an addiction. Clinically, it's difficult to say how many people actually have a shopping addiction because society also moves the goalposts on what is a normal amount of shopping."

Ashlee explains that societal norms around consumption have shifted dramatically over the decades, making it challenging to recognize when shopping crosses into addictive behavior.

The "No New Things" Challenge

Ashlee introduces her personal experiment, the "No New Things" challenge, which began as a personal test in 2013. Initially intended as a one-month endeavor to curb her shopping habits and save money, the challenge extended into nearly two years as she discovered unexpected benefits beyond financial savings.

Ashlee Piper [21:03]: "I started almost be like, okay, there might be something to this that I wasn't even foreseeing. So I ended up doing no new things that time around for almost two years straight."

This prolonged commitment helped Ashlee reclaim time previously spent on shopping activities, fostering deeper community connections and enhancing her overall well-being.

Strategies to Avoid Buying New Things

Ashlee outlines several practical strategies to minimize unnecessary purchases:

1. Secondhand Acquisition: Leveraging platforms like Freecycle or local buy-nothing groups to obtain items.
2. Upcycling and Repurposing: Transforming existing possessions to meet new needs.
3. Paying Nothing: Acquiring items for free through community exchanges.
4. Experiences Over Products: Investing in experiences rather than physical goods.
5. Renting: Utilizing rental services for items needed temporarily.

She introduces the "STUPER System" to categorize needs and find alternatives to purchasing new items.

Ashlee Piper [42:42]: "The STUPER system stands for S Secondhand, U is upcycling, P is paying nothing, E is experiences, and R is to rent."

Building Community and Resource Sharing

A significant component of the No New Things movement is fostering community support and resource sharing. Ashlee shares examples of how individuals within the community creatively share resources, such as loaning out cameras for photography projects at local centers or sharing school supplies among parents.

Ashlee Piper [35:08]: "People find all sorts of kind of resource sharing that also happened to do some good things."

This communal approach not only reduces the need for individual purchases but also strengthens social bonds and supports collective sustainability efforts.

Overcoming Common Excuses

Joel and Matt explore the common excuses people use to avoid participating in the No New Things challenge, such as lack of time, fear of missing out, or perceived necessity of certain purchases. Ashlee systematically addresses these objections by highlighting the long-term benefits and providing actionable solutions to navigate initial hurdles.

Joel [58:44]: "I feel like you preempted all those excuses with what you just said and I feel like all those excuses sound like they would fall flat."

Ashlee emphasizes the importance of creativity and planning in overcoming these barriers, encouraging listeners to think outside the box and prepare for challenges in advance.

Impact of Economic Factors on Consumer Habits

The discussion touches upon how economic downturns, such as inflation and potential tariffs, might inadvertently promote sustainable consumption habits. Ashlee suggests that these challenging times could lead more individuals to reassess their spending behaviors and adopt frugal practices out of necessity.

Ashlee Piper [56:25]: "No new things might be my approach to this that other people have done, but at the heart of it, it very much is around examining and understanding both consumerism in the west and how we became these people..."

She argues that by reducing dependence on consumerism, individuals can achieve greater financial and personal resilience in the face of economic uncertainties.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Ashlee Piper's insights into the No New Things challenge offer a comprehensive framework for combating conditioned consumerism. By emphasizing community support, creative resourcefulness, and mindful consumption, the podcast episode provides listeners with actionable strategies to reclaim time, reduce debt, and lead more fulfilling lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize Shopping as an Addiction: Understanding the emotional drivers behind purchases is crucial.
• Adopt Strategic Alternatives: Utilize secondhand markets, upcycling, experiences, and renting to meet needs without buying new.
• Build Community Networks: Strengthen social connections to support resource sharing and mutual assistance.
• Plan and Prepare: Anticipate challenges and develop creative solutions to overcome urges to buy.
• Embrace Economic Adversity: Use financial constraints as an opportunity to adopt sustainable and resilient consumption habits.

Ashlee Piper [49:13]: "A good financial and just general life survival skill is how can I live richly and a joyful life without having my richness and my joy entirely dependent upon the things that populate my life."

Overall, the episode underscores the importance of intentional living and offers practical guidance for listeners aspiring to embrace a more sustainable and financially secure lifestyle.

Notable Quotes:

• Ashlee Piper [03:14]: "I think most of us fall victim to what I'd call conditioned consumerism. So it's kind of an everyman's book, if you will."
• Ashlee Piper [13:06]: "Shopping is absolutely an addiction. Clinically, it's difficult to say how many people actually have a shopping addiction because society also moves the goalposts on what is a normal amount of shopping."
• Ashlee Piper [21:03]: "I started almost be like, okay, there might be something to this that I wasn't even foreseeing. So I ended up doing no new things that time around for almost two years straight."
• Ashlee Piper [42:42]: "The STUPER system stands for S Secondhand, U is upcycling, P is paying nothing, E is experiences, and R is to rent."
• Ashlee Piper [49:13]: "A good financial and just general life survival skill is how can I live richly and a joyful life without having my richness and my joy entirely dependent upon the things that populate my life."

Resources Mentioned:

• Ashlee Piper's Book: No New Things (Available in audiobook, ebook, and physical formats)
• Instagram: @AshleyPiper
• Website: AshleyPiper.com
• Substack: The Ethical Edit