I'm almost done with my first 'no-buy year.' It's lifted a weight off my shoulders and allowed me to save.

Mia Westrap

• Mia Westrap decided to partake in a "no buy year" after years of struggling with her finances.
• Westrap has tried to abstain from buying anything unnecessary — and it's taken a weight off her shoulders.
• Her "no buy year" has led to more meaningful relationships, less laziness, and independence.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 26-year-old Mia Westrap,...