Living Simply

5 Helpful Ways to Simplify Your Jewelry Collection

July 20, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 4 Comments

Since becoming a minimalist, I wear the same jewelry 95% of the time. This necklace and earrings match everything. Once a week or so, I change it up to wear jewelry that uniquely complements my outfit. But most often, it's about getting ready easily and without much thought. Decision fatigue is real. Decision fatigue is when you tire from the need to make so many decisions on a given day. On average, we make 35,000 decisions a day from what earrings to wear to which road to take. It especially affects people when a large project is present in their life, such as a home remodel, moving, or job change. But when we reduce or eliminate simple decisions then we're better equipped to handle the big ones. Many successful people wear a "uniform" to make head-space for the most important decisions which improved the quality of their work. My jewelry is nearing uniform-level. But simplifying my collection is an ongoing process because many pieces are laced with sentimental value. …

Not Enough Hangers Or Too Many Clothes

June 28, 2021 by Amy Slenker-Smith 14 Comments

You have enough hangers. However, I'm guessing they do not match and this alone can make a closet look disorganized. But by now you know I am not an organizer who encourages you to buy stuff. I will always suggest that you declutter first to figure out what you really need. It's always less than you think. But when it’s time to replace broken hangers, I like these. In the meantime, try these decluttering and organizing tips for your closet. How to Reduce Hangers and Clothing Remove Empty Hangers - Return metal ones to the dry cleaner. Recycle plastic store hangers. Sort Clothes by Season - If possible, move current season clothing to the front. Or utilize a spare closet to store offseason clothing while you downsize. Sort Clothes by Color - Create a visually appealing space by grouping colors. Shoes - Use the 1-In/1-Out Rule. Or 1-In/5-Out Rule. :) Turn Hangers - To face the back of the closet. When you re-hang clean clothes, turn them in the …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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