Amy Slenker-Smith

A Minimalist’s Guide to Dorm Room Essentials

April 14, 2026 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

A few years ago, my son and I went to Target to buy items for his dorm room. Ironically, my minimalist epiphany occurred in the Target parking lot when he was a baby. But this trip was very different. We had a list of dorm room essentials and were intentional about every single purchase. We ask questions like: Are we sure we need something new? Can we repurpose an item we already own? Is this purchase absolutely essential on Day 1, or could you experiment without it for a few weeks? Will this item add value, and do you have space for it in a small dorm room? Can you live without this item and thus make it easier to keep your room clutter-free and neat? Over the summer, we talked about what items to buy and, more importantly, what NOT to buy. I have seen obscenely long lists of alleged dorm room essentials. And I challenge many of these items. My dear friend sent me sales alerts about things to buy. And we've had some fun conversations about what each of us was …

5 Minimalist Habits To Achieve Financial Freedom

March 31, 2026 by Amy Slenker-Smith 7 Comments

According to WalletHub, the average credit card balance per household is $11,507. When it comes to decluttering and organizing, it’s impossible to ignore the financial benefits. For my family, financial freedom was the single greatest gift we experienced when we chose to own less. Our path to minimalism began when our son was young. Over time, we’ve sought to set an example by teaching the importance of debt-free living, owning less, and being intentional with our resources, especially money. These are character traits he embodies as a young adult from our example. Debt-Free Living The process began with a personal finance class that my husband and I took together. I was motivated to declutter anything that wasn’t nailed down in our house and never buy anything ever again. Meanwhile, he was motivated to accelerate our retirement savings and reduce our spending. We realized that step one was to eliminate every penny of consumer debt we had. We cut up our credit cards, …

Unlock Your Home’s Potential with the Magic of Margin

March 15, 2026 by Amy Slenker-Smith 3 Comments

Did you know that being organized isn’t really about stuff? It’s about the empty space between the stuff called margin. The magic of margin comes from the white space, breathing room, and buffer. No matter the name, margin allows our possessions to move in and out of a space freely and stay organized too. When I design organizational systems in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will be stored in the space. But I also consider how often they are used. I strive to create margin every time. No matter what space you’re working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. It’s the margin in these spaces that has the most impact, especially when it comes to staying organized. Because when you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes it more attractive. Did you know the margin on a piece of written work is approximately 37% of the page? …

5 Minimalist Gift Ideas for a Clutter-Free Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2026 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Did you know that the Valentine’s Day tradition of giving candy started in the 1840s by Richard Cadbury, a descendant of a British chocolate manufacturing family? With a new chocolate-making technique, Cadbury seized the opportunity to sell chocolates as part of the beloved holiday. And so began the love holiday celebrated with chocolates, flowers, and oversized teddy bears. But I must remind you that $16 billion is wasted on unwanted gifts every year. So, before you click add to cart or order over-priced flowers, let's consider some clutter-free and inexpensive options that won't ruin your budget. Make Dinner At Home During college, I waited tables at a local restaurant, as did my future husband. That's where we met, and we could tell you a tale or two! As a result, we do NOT recommend eating out on Valentine's Day. Service is not at its best, food quality suffers, and restaurants are overcrowded to get you in and out fast. Don't do it. Also, Valentine's Day is …

How to Romjul – Guide to the Week between Christmas and New Years

December 26, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

Every year, we look forward to winter break, especially the week after Christmas (a.k.a. Romjul). We often spend it at the beach with friends. After nearly 20 years, they are the kind of people who feel like family. And together, we have raised our kids. On one of those trips, we stumbled over the term, Romjul. Romjul accurately describes our experience between Christmas and New Year's Day. And now, we have a word for it. Romjul is a Norwegian holiday that refers to the week as a tranquil time to spend at home with friends and family undisturbed by the outside world. And a great time to rest, recharge and reset for the new year. The British equivalent is Boxing Week and I love the Danish term, "Yule Vacation." According to several articles, Romjul is more than a week on the calendar, it’s a mindset, a time to cozy up with loved ones, take long restorative walks, slow down and reflect on the past year. It gives us a reason to snuggle up on the couch and watch Hallmark. Awesome! …

Not yet…Not Christmas Day

December 18, 2025 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

The week before Christmas is my favorite week of the holiday season. The kids are out of school, work projects wind down, school activities are over, and everyone is in the holiday spirit. In my corporate days, there was an unwritten rule that after a certain date, work literally stopped. Any long-term or difficult assignments were met with the phrase, "let's circle back after the holidays." Email out-of-office replies started popping up, indicating no response until January. It's the time of year when you turn off the alarm and maybe even skip the gym. Shhh! Don’t tell Santa. You ease into the day with a Hallmark movie, coffee, and a blanket. I love to turn on the tree lights first thing in the morning. It’s always evident we’re ready for a break. Time to rest and recharge. As a kid, I remember how much I looked forward to winter break. On the last day of school, my mom let me open a special present. By the time I came home for Christmas break, our house …

Amy Slenker-Smith

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