Living Simply

5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Unwanted Gifts

December 17, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

I return, regift, and donate unwanted Christmas gifts. Go ahead. Call me Scrooge. It’s ok. Because even with my well-documented desire to own less, I receive many things I cannot use. But I express gratitude for all the gifts. Once received, I use, return, or donate. Because the nature of a gift should be offered without strings. Receiving a gift means you now own it and can decide what is best for you when it comes to keeping it or not. Every year, shoppers buy $9B in unwanted gifts. So chances are good you received unwanted gifts this holiday season. And if getting organized is your New Year's resolution, I recommend starting with gifts. The average American home contains 300,000 things. We are drowning in clutter. And the holidays compound this problem as we figure out what to do with clothing, gadgets, and tchotchke. Typically, these are items we do not need, did not ask for, and will not use. Here are five ways to ensure that unwanted items don't turn into …

Unlock Your Home’s Potential with the Magic of Margin

November 18, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 1 Comment

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? …

What Do Minimalists Want for their Birthday?

October 28, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith Leave a Comment

It's my birthday month! And it frustrates my family every year. Surprise...I do not want gifts. Not stuff at least. I appreciate consumable presents so my best friend shops all year for the perfect item. She goes to a lot of effort to choose such thoughtful, consumable gifts. I am grateful. Another friend texted an emoji card. I love it because it's free and there's no clutter! My husband gave up buying cards years ago but still makes an effort to celebrate the day. Last year, he decided to sing Happy Birthday every time a card arrived. And he drove 25 miles to get me my favorite coffee and donut at the beach. All that said, my son and husband, celebrate their birthdays very differently. They do not need to adopt my version of minimalism. As a family, we live simply but minimalism is unique to each person. It will look different for your family as well. Hubby loves funny cards and ice cream cake. My son typically asks for an experience or a party with friends. When …

5 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Books and Read More

October 14, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 5 Comments

Over the years, getting rid of books generates the most passionate discussions. I wonder if people fear they might lose the knowledge gained from a book if they give it away? There is a strong sentimental attachment to books, especially the ones we get lost in. I have no idea what happened during the days I read Water for Elephants. I felt this way about The Great Alone, Small Great Things, The Nightingale, Half-Broke Horses, Educated, Refugee, The Harry Potter Series and so many more! Reading is good. Owning is the problem. There was a time when I read less and bought more. But I renewed my interest in reading when I purged nearly all of them. I felt a weight lifted. And was free to read new titles. I even joined a book club and set an annual reading goal in Goodreads. At any given time, I am reading 4 books. One with my son, one non-fiction, one devotional and one for book club. The best part...I take them everywhere on my Kindle and Kindle App. …

A Minimalist Guide to Dorm Room Essentials

August 5, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 2 Comments

Recently, we went to Target to buy items for my son's 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 our list of dorm room essentials and were intentional about every single purchase. We ask questions like: Do 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 course of the last few months, we have 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 loves to send me sales alerts about things to buy. And we've had some fun conversations about what …

How to Host Simple Kids Birthday Parties

July 25, 2024 by Amy Slenker-Smith 8 Comments

The House Party Years ago, I met a friend for coffee. We chatted about our kid's upcoming birthdays. She shared how her daughter was made fun of for her birthday party. The school friends asked, "What kind of 'house party' will you have this year?" Implying it was less of a celebration. Mom and daughter were already excited about their plans, so thankfully the comments had little effect. The New Norm for Birthday Parties But we were shocked by the response and discussed the new norm for children's birthday parties. Party expectations start with 10-15 kids, food, cake, goodie bags, entertainment and more. She mentioned attending an indoor skydiving party at iFly. Over $600 for 12 people. Yikes! And that's just the flying part! To be fair, I'm all for experiences. In fact, I'm a huge fan of experiences, not stuff especially travel. But I fear we're setting unrealistic expectations for our kids with extravagant parties and gifts. I was once very guilty of this. When …

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