Amy Slenker-Smith

The Ripple Effect One Starbucks Can Have on Your Life

August 18, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

One morning, I left early to get my car inspected. With laptop in hand, I prepared for the long wait time. The garage is conveniently located next to Starbucks. And this presented an opportunity to sit on their patio on a pleasant morning. Debt-Free Living When I use a table at Starbucks, I believe in supporting the business, but I also spend my money carefully. And thus had already made my coffee at home. I gave up my daily Starbucks run over 12 years ago thanks to a personal finance class. I debated over what to order. A muffin would be less expensive but full of sugar so I settled on Bacon Gruyere Egg Bites. $4.99 was the price of using their table, shady umbrella, and WIFI for two hours; good value for my situation. But the price tag got my wheels turning…$5 multiplied by 5 days a week? Add on a grande drip coffee, at $2.95/day and now it's $8/day or $40/week. Change the drip coffee to a latte and it’s $50/week or $200/month. Pick up a pre-packaged …

How to Prepare for Online Learning in the Fall

August 3, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 6 Comments

If you’re a parent with school-aged children, the question of the hour is about school in the fall. How will online learning be taught? When will it start? Should I homeschool? Our family weathered the storm of distance learning this spring, but I recognize that’s easier to do with an only child and a flexible work schedule. For many families, the spring was a nightmare. And now we're trying to start the year off right. I get it. But before you rush out and spend a bunch of money on new desks, homeschooling curriculum, and rearrange your house, I recommend taking a step back to “pause and plan.” You have time, I promise. Take a deep breath and read on. Step 1 - Enjoy Summer The school year will be here before you know it. For the sake of our children and their childhood that was turned upside down in March, let’s try to enjoy the last few weeks summer. Be present, in this moment, which we’ll never get back. Since I have 4 summers left before my one-and-only heads …

5 Easy Ways to Live More Sustainably

July 24, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 8 Comments

During the past 15 years, I have realized many benefits from living simply. This lifestyle delivers financial freedom, less waste and a desire to shop sustainably, just to name a few. [bctt tweet="“The most sustainable purchase is left on the shelf.” —Joshua Fields Millburn" username="simplyenoughamy"] Over time, I found that living simply and sustainable practices go hand-in-hand. It opened my eyes to how owning less means living more. To start, our family eliminated excess shopping and created a strong financial plan. We paid off $30K of debt, followed a budget, and saved aggressively. It was a turning point that prioritized experiences over stuff. In the years to come, travel brought us to peaceful ocean waves, still quiet of the mountains, and the majesty of our national parks. Having witnessed these treasures first hand, I turned my focus yet again, to preserving them and living more sustainably. Now, we take great care to purchase without plastic and consider an …

How to Organize and Eliminate Digital Clutter

April 11, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

Hundreds of unread emails, lost contact information, and a desktop full of icons. If this describes your digital life then read on, please! I won’t address photos but you can read about digital photo organization, here. Digital clutter may not have the same impact on our physical space but we are still aware of the disorganization and burden. It weighs on us every time we try to complete a project or simply search for a phone number. The key to organizing this information is to know yourself and establish new habits. And adopting tools and technology that work for you. Consider these questions: Do you use a computer? MAC or PC? Pick one. I'm a MAC girl. Where do you work online? Through which device? Phone, tablet or computer? Is it feasible for all family members to have their own device or do you share? Sharing is great but you must consider the needs of all users. What email client do you prefer? Create a "spam" email address for account registrations and …

9 Easy Ways to Organize Your Home

April 9, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

I love to declutter and organize spaces but it doesn't happen overnight. Over the years, I've established practical habits to control clutter and organize our home. Here are nine easy ways to get started! Stop Shopping I really mean stop shopping. I know, it's easier said than done. But question your purchases before you make them or wait 24 hours to click order. Avoid stores that result in impulse buys and extra purchases. The bullseye store comes to mind. :) Before you buy, identify storage for new items. Where will it live? Do you have space to store it? Borrow, Repurpose, Reuse or Do Without Save time, build relationships and borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor. Or maybe a weed whacker, power washer or crockpot. I love building community through borrowing. Several of my friends join me in saying "We own 8 folding chairs." and "We own a piano." If you cannot borrow an item, try waiting a few days to see if the need …

Decluttering Duplicates and the Top Third

April 6, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

Years ago, I heard an organizer talk about how we only use the "Top Third". What he meant was, we own a stack of t-shirts, but rarely wear items beyond the top third of the pile. You can apply this every category in your closet, blouses, shorts, t-shirts, jeans, and sweaters. But what about other belongings? Do you have a favorite pair of sunglasses or gloves? Maybe you prefer one umbrella. So, why keep the rest? Here's the case for owning one or at very least, for owning a lot less. WHY JUST ONE My items are of high quality and fair trade. Are they more expensive? Yes. Are they high quality and made to last? Yes! And they are made with labor that pays a living wage. The average person loses 9 items per day. Have you ever re-purchased something because you could not find it? Minimalism spares this cost because it’s easier to locate items with less. Consider setting up a landing spot to corral your keys, phone, and wallet. Practices like this mean fewer …

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