Amy Slenker-Smith

Here’s Why We Absolutely Need Meaningful Connections in Our Lives

February 13, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

I'm convinced we are made for meaningful connections. Two things recently inspired me about the importance of community and friendship. First, one of my dearest friends of 26 years called me. She lives in Belgium. We hadn't talked in years because she misplaced my phone number, but having a website and an online presence made me easy to find. I was over the moon excited when her name popped up on the caller ID. I clearly wasn't as intentional as I could have been about reaching out. Can I just tell you that I'm still smiling ear to ear as I think about that conversation? Sincerely, it was like no time had passed. She apologized for misusing words, but as always, I understood. I never correct her because to me, her English is perfect. The Paris Years We lived together in Paris for 4 months during my college study abroad. After that, I visited Europe several times. And what I remember is that every single visit, we reconnected with ease. I can vividly picture our rooms on …

Experiences Not Stuff

November 5, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

The trip can be the gift Experiences, not stuff, that’s my motto. Winter break offers an ideal time to travel and often allows trips to be our primary Christmas gift. This year we plan to ski because it's an outside sport and one we love. Traveling is a treat for all of us. And while we plan to drive this year, my son navigates airports like a pro as he's been flying since age 3. I’m smiling as I look back on the whirlwind of travel in late 2016, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Each memory equally strong and precious because the experiences will stand the test of time and outlast any Christmas present. No tangible item compares to the time I had with husband, son, and parents. Little Things and the Starbucks Effect Through daily life, we intentionally sacrifice stuff for experiences…prioritizing game night, family dinners, and movie night. But we also budget travel in lieu of weekly trips to Target or expensive Christmas gifts. The "Starbucks …

How Uncluttered Will Change Your Life

September 17, 2020 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

I am passionate about living simply and owning less. My journey began when stress was high and I burned the candle at both ends. I'm here to tell you there is a better way. Uncluttered Course One key component of my journey was Joshua Becker's Uncluttered course. He's a husband and dad with great advice for families. He gets it. Joshua's story started on a beautiful spring Saturday with a garage full of stuff and his son playing in the backyard alone. He was too busy to play with him. Joshua's family felt burdened by all the stuff in their house. It was stealing their time, energy, and money. That was the moment when he knew something had to change. And he certainly followed through. My Moment My moment came in the hospital with an out-of-control, two-week-long migraine. The pain had escalated to where I could not open my eyes. When I tried to lay down, the pressure was unbearable. I sat curled up in a ball on the floor. My husband …

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 …

« Previous Page

Amy Slenker-Smith

Footer

Not ready to talk yet? Start here.