Three Years Debt Free

In July 2020, we made the last payment on my graduate school student loan (from 2003), the final step towards debt freedom. We spent the next couple of years building up our emergency fund, cash flowing car and home repairs, increasing our giving, and saving for special family adventures and home renovations we had dreamed about for more than a decade, but never thought possible.

Three years later, we are amazed and thankful to still be on this journey towards our longer term goals of building for retirement and exceeding generosity. Being good stewards of our money takes ongoing discipline and focus, but the reward motivates us to keep going. We have had some wonderful opportunities to bring our kids into the discussion as we consider purchases, talk about saving and investing (compound interest!!) and (hopefully) build stronger financial literacy for them.

How does this have anything to do with simplifying and organizing? It truly is a manifestation of pulling the reins of our consumption in order to minimize the mental (stress!) and physical (clutter!) load that debt and stuff create. Around the time we were about to pay off my car in 2018, I also really dug into the idea of minimalism. We sold furniture, toys, art, and clothing and threw the cash directly at our debt. Just as our debt started feeling lighter, so did our home and so we prioritized simplifying even more. I also happened to being helping clients organize and decorate their homes, but wasn’t yet as focused on the decluttering aspect. Eventually the whole idea of the cost + weight of our stuff became clear as clients shared their frustration at the tasks they struggled to keep up with while raising a family and working.

It is all connected - things, money, relationships, mental health….

If you are overwhelmed or stressed about money or the chaos that stuff can bring at home, consider a journey towards simplifying that just may reorient you and provide the peace of mind you have been longing for.

You don't have time to organize

If I’ve learned anything in my years of decluttering and organizing for individuals, growing families, empty nesters, small business owners, parents working full-time without family support in town, those experiencing grief and loss, there is one thing that has become clear.

You don’t have time to organize, friends.

Sure, we can all take a Saturday morning every now and then to reset a space or create a new systems as our needs evolve. And obviously growing kids require that we tackle their clothing lest we have baby clothing in our teens closet. But who really wants to KEEP organizing over and over? I love organizing and even I don’t want to spend my PLAY time tackling piles all the time.

having a plan > Organizing Endlessly.

The goal is to be thoughtful about where each item in our home lives if we let it through the door in the first place.

Before you press BUY on that cart, have you thought through the time, space, maintenance required to bring that item in? What will you move out to make room for it? When you receive gifts or tiny treasures come through the door with tiny humans, what’s the plan?

Having answers to these questions on the front end makes the maintenance of your home part of the weekly rhythm.

When we decide that cluttered surfaces stress us out, we decide to have fewer surfaces.

When the paper becomes overwhelming, we unsubscribe and automate.

The systems we set up run themselves without having to remember over and over, oh I need to deal with THAT thing AGAIN.

So, in an effort to not waste MORE time on the THINGS you don’t have time for, in favor of the PEOPLE you want to focus on, what is ONE thing you can make a plan for rather than organize? And don’t hesitate to ask for help if these decisions are just too overwhelming!

Summer Ready

Kiddos are almost out of school for summer and hopefully some fun travel plans are your in your future, too.

While I don’t consider the month of May the ideal time for decluttering (I’m looking at you end of school year field trips, talent shows, awards, recitals, concerts, spring sports wrap-up), it IS helpful to check a few things off the list before you jump into full-on summer mode.

CALENDAR

Get dates on the calendar now and future you will be so grateful. I did NOT want to do this task, but with swim team starting this week, I’m already so glad I did. As we inevitably add more adventures to the summer schedule, knowing what’s locked in helps so much (vacations, camps, swim team). Schedule an hour on your calendar to tackle this.

Also, talk with your family about what’s on their summer wish list. Seeing a particular movie or going on a specific day trip, maybe? Perhaps making some spending money? Having a summer list will help you be intentional with days that are open. Personally, I keep a “Summer” note in the notes app on my phone.

FOOD

Take a look through your pantry + fridge and make sure you are ready for kids being home more (along with their friends!).

• Stock the freezer with popsicles, ice cream and easy dinners (burritos, nuggets)

• Incorporate a grab-n-go snack basket for the pool, park, and picnics. Granola bars, chips/pretzels, dried fruit, crackers, trail mix, and nuts!

• I also like to have plenty of baking ingredients and toppings on hand for the kids to enjoy a screen-free activity alone or with friends + Lemonade mix for your tiny entrepreneurs neighborhood lemonade stands too.

• Don’t forget S’Mores fixins’ for night time fire pits.

• We are a swim team family, so I purchase a case of gatorade + variety of candy at the start of the season for them to make “Swim Fast” goodie bags for their swim buddies all season. Shop once and done.

LUGGAGE + sUMMER NEEDS

• If you’re traveling, check that your travel bags are ready to roll. Suitcases, carry-ons, overnight bags, beach bags, and toiletries cases.

• Don’t forget about your toiletries too. I like to keep mine pre-packed so I just have to reset my case before a trip.

• Are you stocked on bug spray and sunscreen?

• Everyone have hats + sunglasses available?

• Create a packing checklist so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time.

• Want to attempt packing light? You can read some of my recs here.

FOR THE BORED KIDDOS

When my kids were little and I was a full-time stay at home mom, a Summer Bucket List helped us get out of the house and be intentional. Now that my kids are older, they have more flexibility and connect more with friends in the neighborhood on their own. BUT, having some ideas for them when the inevitable “I’m bored” comes out gives them ample opportunities to reset.

• Simple daily rhythm - chores, exercise, reading before screens

• Summer Reading - have the kids set a goal and come up with a list of titles to check out at the library. Start them off with one new book for the summer.

• Chores - in addition to daily chores, adding to those life skills is a great way to spend summer days. Teach them to do their own laundry or mow the lawn. (both of these are on my list this summer). Having a “folding clothes” workshop (great even for young kiddos), or give them a decluttering challenge that ends with a Yard Sale.

• Create a kids cooking or baking calendar - ideas for recipes for the kids to test out, or even have a little friendly competition.

• Movie Night Dinner - The pandemic kicked off this tradition. Each kid is in charge of coming up with a themed dinner and dessert alongside the movie of their choice. They can have help, but once we get a date on the calendar, they come up with a menu + grocery list and then execute their vision.