Doug Marshall hesitated to start tidying his closet, but immediately noticed profound changes taking place in his life as he moved through his KonMari tidying event. Our guest, Doug Marshall, is an entertainment and lifestyle writer, on-camera host, and social media content strategist. He recently had an article published in Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine on how to KonMari your closet and participated in a follow-on TV segment with Fox9 in the Twin Cities. Doug is a Spark Joy fan who KonMari’d his closet over 10 days in preparation for a big move from New York to Minneapolis. The impact the process had on his life still shines through his spirit and he sparks joy by continuing to share his story via media outlets, blogs and social media. In this episode, we discuss KonMari from the male perspective, how Doug KonMari'd his closet over ten days and the impact the process had on his life. We talk about ways to get over the initial hurdle of getting started, and some physical and emotional challenges to anticipate. We also discuss how Doug has attracted opportunities to continue to share his closet transformation, which has inspired others to let go. To connect with Doug, you can find him on Instagram @theworldofdoug or visit him at www.theworldofdoug.com. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Doug went from saying "I will never do that [KonMari]" to writing a blog article about the impact the tidying process and appearing on Fox 9's The Jason Show How the KonMari Method helped Doug move from New York to Minneapolis The highs and lows of executing KonMari in the span of 10 days How Doug's body reacted to anxiety related to preparing for the decluttering process How Doug related to Marie Kondo's use of organization to feel safe in a world she had no control over How by examining his relationship to what stayed made room for Doug's style to be revealed to him How Doug's shopping habits are way more deliberate post-KonMari How Doug's husband reacted to his tidying quest How Doug attracted opportunities that helped him establish his voice How KonMari serves as a gateway to new beginnings and creative projects What sparks joy for Doug: "Opportunities like this!" Gems: "I'm a big believer that if you put something out into the universe, the universe shows up for you." "I trust her [Marie Kondo], I can do this." "There was so much stuff in my closet that wasn't sparking joy, that I couldn't see the stuff that did." "By the time I got rid of what didn't spark joy, my style revealed itself to me." "I don't buy anything in a store now if it doesn't spark joy." "I want to feel clean, free, grounded, and on time." "Whatever you get rid of will come back to you in a different form." "My mind is more clear and I'm open and available for more opportunities." "There is literally nothing in my life right now that does not spark joy." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Doug Marshall.

Christine O'Brien's mission is to help mom's create calm and joyful lives. A Certified Simplicity Parenting Coach and KonMari enthusiast with over a decade of experience, Christine coaches women to create home environments that support harmony and connection. Christine coaches from the heart, using joy as a guide and her clients find so much peace in having less, doing less, and editing their lives and their homes with intention. In this episode, Christine will share her unique approach in helping moms find their own path in creating an intention-filled life. Christine transformed her space with the support of her husband and their young, spirited daughter. You can follow Christine on her website, Creating Calm Coach, on Facebook at Christine O'Brien Coach or on Instagram @creatingcalmcoach. Download her Free Creating Calm Checklist. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Christine’s private Facebook group community, KonMari Method: Life-changing Magic for anyone working through the KonMari tidying process Christine’s virtual consulting program, From Chaos to Calm, which consists of group and individual support for making joyful transitions How Christine combines two powerful schools of thought to inform the way she supports moms to relax into full presence with their children: Simplicity Parenting and the KonMari Method Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne Re-occurring KonMari related pain points that may sound familiar: 1) feeling too overwhelmed to start, 2) getting stuck at some point in the middle of the process, and 3) uncertainty regarding doing KonMari with a family How to guide a family through the process and how to find the joy click-point when you have growing kids How speaking to your items can “soften” and facilitate letting them go How focusing on the positive and the joy can apply to your vision for fitness and diet Learning about Brene Brown , who says that gratitude creates Joy Christine’s favorite tidying tip: “Tune in to your intuition and trust your joy checks.” What sparks joy for Christine: Her family and the transformation she has witnessed as a result of this process. She’s joyful about sharing this way of living! Gems: “The toys she’s interested in change all the time.” “As you get more in tune with what brings you joy, more space develops for experiencing joy.” “Put your oxygen mask on first and make sure you complete your tidying first before you move on to your children.” “Different personalities come out for display when you do KonMari with a family.” “What? Talk to my clothes? Say thank you and goodbye?!” “The process is about connection and not perfection.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Christine O'Brien.

Karin and Kristyn discuss the fundamental KonMari question: Does it spark joy? In this episode, we discuss what "spark joy" truly means and how to apply it to your tidying event. We share practical tips on how to build your own personal awareness of joy and how to apply this concept to your decision-making. The term will start to become part of your vocabulary and you’ll see joy everywhere. But first, we begin by sharing what's sparking joy for us today. We also answer a great question from a Spark Joy listener about how to determine what sparks joy when it comes to seasonal items, in this case, Halloween costumes. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at  www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at  contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, or on Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learning the Japanese language origins of the phrase, "spark joy." The Japanese translation is Tokimeku ときめく, which means "to flutter with a little thrill" in the same way that we describe how our hearts can flutter with joyful emotion when something makes us happy or excited How Marie Kondo demonstrates what sparking joy looks like while interacting with possessions. See videos below: -- Marie Kondo: Organize the World: Design Your Life to Spark Joy - SXSW 2017 -- Marie Kondo explains Spark Joy How to avoid getting caught up in how many things you're keeping or discarding instead of focusing on the joy Being reminded of the importance of vision, as discussed in Episode 5, to keep your thoughts future-focused and in tune with the quality of life you envision for yourself How to set a high joy bar by developing a criteria for what stays and what goes How considering the passage of time and your evolution as a person can help you understand whether something is part of your future or just hanging out from the past Marie Kondo states, “When we really delve into the reasons for why we can't let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.” The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up "If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says." Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up Gems: “The practice is to pay attention to how your body reacts when you’re holding your possessions.” “You want to be able to live in harmony with your things.” “Does this item spark joy AND fit into of my vision for the quality of life I’ve envisioned for myself in the future?” “This is an area I really do want to invest in instead of buying the cheapest things to just make do.” ”Keep your joy bar high!” “Objects like having a job to do.” "If it makes you happy, then the right choice is to keep it confidently, regardless of what anyone else says." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Diane Arias, wife and mom of three, strides through the highs and lows of her summertime KonMari tidying event, and shares the life-changing impact it had on her family. Our guest, Diane Arias is a true KonMari mom and one of Kristyn's former clients. After a decade of raising her three girls (one age 14 and two twin thirteen-year-olds), Diane found that her belongings, along with her home, looked run down and unloved...and so her KonMari Summer began. She tidied for up to 2-3 hours at a time across her 3,000 square foot home. The results? A space filled with love and joy that will take her family of five into the next phase of their life. In this episode, we will show you it is possible for busy moms to get tidy too! Follow Diane through every phase of the KonMari process, as she applies the method in the presence of her growing family. Look forward to tips on how to plan, pace, and reward yourself during your tidying event to avoid hitting a wall. You can follow the final stages of Diane’s tidying journey by connecting with her on Instagram (@diane_arias_2017). Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: The article that inspired Diane to pick her tidying back up after reading the The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up after working through clothing three years ago How Diane course corrected her original plan after confronting the sheer number of things in her home How Diane's vision reflected the part of her that she wanted to reconnect with to be the best model for her daughters How Diane leaned on her experience training for marathons to push through moments of overwhelm to get to a point where her surroundings were supporting her How an intentional reward system helped trigger Diane back into gear during moments when she needed extra motivation to finish Komono (miscellaneous items) The "warning" Diane thinks should come with Marie Kondo's books How each member of Diane's family reacted to her decluttering and how they supported her in their own way Diane's advice to busy moms that are ready to dive in How tidying has helped Diane be more in tune with her husband's values and motivations How Diane's children taught her the KonMari signature fold after watching YouTube videos! How Diane's family adjusted to the big changes taking place in the shared spaces and pushed through a few uncomfortable moments What sparks joy for Diane: "Having headspace...and a true, full presence for my daughters." Gems: "This is definitely something I want to do. I just need to have the timing show up for it." "I had no idea how much stuff I actually owned." "My own joy for my own life is what was missing." "I truly feel my home is a reflection of me." "A home that is full, and vibrant and joyful and truly supporting me and my family." "I would not be able to put into words what I was wanting for my children...but I've found it through this method." "You truly have to detangle yourself from someone else's belongings." "I've plugged myself into every single person's belongings in the house, meanwhile, not really taking care of my own." "These t-shirts look like someone cares." "I can be the kind of mom I wanted to be." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Diane Arias.

Jonathan Pritchard, professional mind reader and author, opens his psychological toolkit to help us apply the predictive art of mind reading to reach personal goals across all areas of our life. Our guest, Jonathan Pritchard is a mentalist who appeared on America’s Got Talent, entertained US troops stationed overseas, performed on Vegas main stages, cruise ships, and more. He also helps people discover the magic of connecting. He helps companies connect with their employees during networking events and sharpen their marketing skills to be able to grab prospective clients. And now, he's the author of a new book, Think Like a Mind Reader: Improve your business, strengthen your relationships, and solve your problems. In this episode, we explore applied psychology-based strategies, approaches, and techniques you can use to change your life. Jonathan teaches us how push the limits of our understanding to realize we can do a lot more than we think we can. To connect with or hire Jonathan, you can visit www.likeamindreader.com. His book Think Like a Mind Reader is available on Amazon (http://amzn.to/2yb9WwC). Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How Jonathan made a living on stage by making others think he could read minds How a shy kid used magic to relate to people and make them think he was naturally outgoing How people are wired to make magic possible and universally accepted How Jonathan uses the skill of professional people meeting to help businesses highlight their products and connect employees with their teams and customers A tip that will help you be unforgettable during your next networking event How post-live show conversations inspired Jonathan's new book: Think Like a Mind Reader: Improve your business, strengthen your relationships, and solve your problems Why Think Like a Mind Reader is only offered as a printed/hardcopy rather than an e-book How the book itself can be used as a mind reading trick Why you should hand write notes instead of type them Why everybody needs a coach How the story you're telling yourself about a problem may actually be the problem How to install new mental models to change your behavior The one statement Jonathan loves to hear his coaching clients make What sparks joy for Jonathan: "A quiet night home with my sweetie." Words of Wisdom "Fail faster." Gems: "How would your business be better if you could actually read minds?" "When the whole world is zigging, I like to zag." "What action are you going to take that really makes or breaks your success?" "Most people fail to solve their problems because they don't understand what the actual problem is." "Even the highest performers still need coaches." "My life goal is to trade up to more and more interesting problems every year." "Our environments influence and affect us just as much as we influence and affect our environments." "Your brain runs on as much energy as the light bulb in your fridge." "Magic shows walk you up to the limit of your understanding, and then point out into the distance and go 'that's where I live.'" "Fail fast. The only time you learn is when you're uncomfortable and learning something new." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Jonathan Pritchard.

Lanecia Rouse Tinsley of LAR Art Studio shares her passion for expressive and transformative art forms within the art of Wabi Sabi. Our guest today is Lanecia Rouse Tinsley. She is an abstract expressionistic artist whose work includes photography, painting, teaching, writing, and speaking. She is the owner and creator of LARArt Studio and works out of Studio D at Hardy & Nance Streets Studios. In addition to her own work as an artist, Lanecia partners with the Holy Family Church in Houston, TX, serving as their Artist-In-Residence, as a Spiritual Director and Consultant for the Arts for Project Curate. Lanecia has been exploring the Japanese philosophy of Wabi Sabi and the related art forms within her own work and the work of her workshop participants. Lanecia hosts workshops exploring the related art form of Kintsugi and has written about that experience on her blog. Wabi Sabi is an ancient Japanese philosophy that honors the imperfect, the humble, the hand-made and the impermanent. It seeks to embrace the beauty found in the changing of seasons, things, nature and in our own lives. To connect with Lanecia, you can visit www.larartphotography.com and follow her on Instagram, and Twitter @larartstudio. You can also purchase her work online by visiting www.society6.com/larart We want to hear from you. Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. You can also join the discussion on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learning about the Holy Family Church HTX in Houston, TX Hearing how Lanecia asked for love to show up while she grieved a painful loss How the LAR Art Studio was envisioned and grew over the years How Lanecia discovered the art of Kintsugi: Essential Information on Kintsugi How Lanecia teaches the Wabi-Sabi expressive art form during her workshop: The LAR Art Studio Mended Wabi Sabi Pottery Art Experience How Lanecia's work with her students has surprised her and informed her work How Mark Nepo uses poetry to express feelings of being broken open How the process of breaking pottery into pieces and putting it back together as a new object is a powerful exercise How the workshop process enabled some participants to make significant life changes The parallels between the ancient philosophy of Wabi Sabi and the newer KonMari philosophy What sparks joy for Lanecia: All the precious moments she spends with her husband, Cleve! Working with her camera and exploring photography as well as listening to music. Her Parting Words of Wisdom: We all have the capacity to create beauty. Gems: “Art was big enough hold my tears and also to hold my vision and hopes for what could be.” “I’m just throwing out into the universe the dreams that I have.” “In living, life is going to break our hearts.” “We are all more powerful and capable than we believe.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Lanecia Rouse Tinsley.

Karin and Kristyn discuss how organizing by category can help you keep your home organized and prevent a return to clutter. In this episode, we begin by sharing what is sparking joy for us today. We discuss the work of Mel Robbins, of The Five Second Rule fame, along with some aspirational travel goals! We take a look Marie Kondo’s famous quote, “Tidying by location is a fatal mistake.” What it means and how it guides the practice of KonMari. We talk about the concept in practical terms, with some real life experiences sprinkled throughout, so that you can apply the concept to your own Tidying Festival. We also answer a great question from a Spark Joy listener about how to apply KonMari principles to the ongoing struggle of paper management in a busy family. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at  www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at  contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook or on Twitter at @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: • Learning about the Mel Robbin’s course that Kristyn is enrolled in and it’s ground breaking, action focused plan for success: The Power of You Mel Robbins first came on the scene with this TED talk on the Five Second Rule: The Five Second Rule • Hear about Karin’s holiday wish for a yoga retreat in Thailand. Here is one of the retreats she is considering: Absolute Sanctuary And here is a good resource for doing yoga retreat research: Yoga Journal • We review the KonMari categories we described in Spark Joy Podcast, Episode 1 | KonMari 101 • Why processing each clutter category, completely and in order, is critical to long-term success • As a review, here are the categories: Clothing Books Paper Komono (miscellaneous items) Sentimental • Hear more about why the Clothing Category is the first category and how it builds your ability to determine what sparks joy • Learning how coming to terms with the amount of things you own will help you hone your decision making process • Why revisiting your vision statement is a helpful next step when you are struggling with a particular category. We discussed this in Spark Joy Podcast, Episode 4 | The KonMari Lifestyle • Discover tips on how to deal with paper clutter: Stop paper at the source Use available tools to keep it from coming into your home in the first place Use flat surfaces for activities and not for storage Rethink your self-talk about time: manage your priorities and expectations Gems: “When items are dispersed throughout the home, you can never fully grasp the overall volume and get discouraged before finishing.” “What does my clutter say about me?” “Buying more organizational tools such as file folders is not always the best solution.” “Flat surfaces are for activity not for storage.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy

Holly Southerland, traveling professional organizer talks taking risks and making bold moves. Our guest, Holly Southerland is a professional organizer who has been traveling nationwide since 2008 helping families and entrepreneurs get unstuck and find peace in their homes. Her team, Waco Home Organizers, based in Waco Texas, helps individuals and businesses with decluttering and creating organizational systems that fit their personal style. She is passionate about helping people move forward by cutting out the clutter that stands in the way. In this episode, Holly discusses the life of a travelling organizer, what it’s like to pursue an entrepreneurial dream, and some of her best insights into organizing using practical and obtainable systems and methods. Holly also shares her thoughts on being an introverted entrepreneur, the differences in American homes state-to-state, and her thoughts on the connection between clutter and depression. Holly is offering Spark Joy listeners a Two-Day Declutter Blitz an investment in yourself, your home, your peace, your productivity, and your sanity. https://goo.gl/sLkXNp To connect with Holly Southerland, visit Waco Home Organizers (www.wacohomeorganizers.com) or email info@wacohomeorganizers.com. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram at @holly_southerland Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: How personality type can influence your comfort level in communicated both at work and socially. You can take your own Myers Briggs Personality Test Holly's experience working with a variety of homes and the challenges of order regardless of the size How clutter and depression are related as she discusses in her blog post The great method of managing all the accumulated paper in your home that she teaches in the Sunday Basket Workshop How having a mentor and coach made such a huge difference in planning for her new business. Holly's coach: Lisa Woodruff, Organize 365 Helpful hints for dealing with spam mail by visiting DMAchoice.org The adventures of travelling around the country, organizing homes for all sorts of families The benefits of organizing in a concentrated blitz Holly’s favorite tidying tip: “Do it right now!” What sparks joy for Holly: Her baby nephew Gems: "My test for buying a new piece of clothing is: Do I want to wear this everyday?” “Space is a vacuum. You don’t get organized by getting a bigger space.” “It’s easy to get overwhelmed by big plans and big ideas, but take action on something small that’s right in front of you.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Holly Southerland.

Lloyd Alter, architect and design editor of Tree Hugger magazine, helps us understand our changing relationship with our possessions and how the upcoming generation will view design and functionality. Lloyd Alter is design editor of TreeHugger, a prominent media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability to the mainstream. Living in Toronto, Canada; He has been an architect, developer, inventor and prefab promoter. He contributes to Mother Nature Network at MNN.com, The Guardian, and Azure magazines, and is Adjunct Professor teaching sustainable design at Ryerson University School of Interior Design. In the course of his work developing small residential units and prefabs, Lloyd became convinced that we just use too much of everything- too much space, too much land, too much food, too much fuel, too much money, and that the key to sustainability is to simply use less. And, the key to happily using less is to design things better. Recently, Lloyd has been writing on family heirlooms and the changing culture. I found his work while researching solutions for clients who are confronted with managing the possessions of generations while downsizing. His direct approach to working with our elder parents along with his prolific writing on a lifestyle focused on less stuff and better design, was a great fit for us! To connect with Lloyd, you can visit Treehugger, https://www.treehugger.com, Mother Nature Network, https://www.mnn.com, or follow him Twitter @lloydalter and Lloyd Alter on  Facebook.   Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: Learning about the relationship between medicine, science and minimalism. How the fear of germs led to the minimalist movement. Hearing about how Lloyd confronted the generational shift in thinking about “things” within his own family. Discussing how our mobile lifestyles have changed the quantity and quality of things we acquire. Looking at the reality of emotional value vs. financial value. Suggestions on how to decide “who gets what” when a previous generation downsizes. How Lloyd used Marie Kondo’s concept of Spark Joy when deciding what to keep when downsizing. How Lloyd and his family held an Open House, allowing young adults to come in and take things they needed to start their own households as a means of thoughtfully discarding things. Discussing how to find the “right new home” for things that you are letting go. Learning how Lloyd defines a minimalist lifestyle. Read Lloyd's article, "On Decluttering, Downsizing and Surviving a Green Renovation", Tree Hugger Magazine, here: https://goo.gl/cnbFvr What sparks joy for Lloyd: Lloyd shares his joy at looking out over the lake in his Canadian cabin, sitting at his amazing dining room table and the significant back story the table holds. Gems: "Big Brown furniture: Nobody has room anymore!” "That furniture had absorbed the memories of our entire family." "You don’t know if you are an architect or a marriage counsellor." "Start talking to your older family when they are willing to share the history of things." "Do not keep anything that you don’t know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”-William Morris. "We are moving to multi-family and walkable communities and less stuff.” "You just have what you need.” You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Lloyd Atler.

Tess Wicks, personal finance coach and educator, breaks down the journey to financial independence into key actions and makes the connection between our priorities, the things we acquire, and our life vision. Our guest, Tess Wicks, is a personal finance coach and educator. She is the founder of Wander Wealthy, an online community for women in their 20s and 30s to get inspired and achieve their personal development, money, and travel goals. Tess creates video content on her Wander Wealthy Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and is the host of the Words and Money Podcast. Tess wants to empower women to get smart about their money while still being able to spend it on the things that bring them joy. In this episode, Tess discusses her personal finance philosophy and practical tips you can use to achieve financial success one small step at a time. We also explore why talking about money (and clutter at home) is so taboo and how having those uncomfortable conversations upfront with yourself of your partner is the only way to achieve lasting change. Tess is offering Spark Joy listeners Free Anti-Budget Training. It's a budgeting method for people who hate budgeting. It simplifies financial management down to one simple number to use every day and is available at: www.wanderwealthy.com/AntiBudget To connect with Tess Wicks visit www.wanderwealthy.com and join the Wander Wealthy community on Facebook and YouTube. Also, check out Tess’ podcast Words and Money. Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com, email us at contact@sparkjoypodcast.com to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast. In this episode, you’ll enjoy: What improv, kettle bell and playing the violin have to do with personal finances How having financially responsible parents led Tess to be a cautious spender who avoided debt How to live outside of your comfort zone while taking calculated risks How Tess desires to be a minimalist and frugalist in most areas, but leans most towards Essentialism How prioritizing what is essential to you and deeming the rest "clutter" helps build awareness around spending How important it is to exercise your "saying no" muscle The lesson your sunk costs teach you Feeling financially overwhelmed? Tess suggests: 1) Commit time to sit down and look at your finances 2) Calculate your net worth (everything you own - everything you owe) 3) Set realistic short-term goals you can accomplish in three months How having multiple bank accounts actually helps you avoid being caught off guard by financial surprises Why talking about money is so taboo How to initiate tough conversations about finances How wealthy women put their money to work for them How Tess pre-saves for splurges and treats herself, including the five things she won't give up What sparks joy for Tess: She's finally living and breathing what her brand (Wander Wealthy) is by finding her freedom, taking adventures and enjoying her life while living within her financial means. Gems: "I identify places where I need to grow or challenge myself and I dive into it." "If it brings you joy, make room in your budget to spend on that thing." "Separating the essential few from the trivial many." "Net worth = everything you own - everything you owe" "You don't want to be with someone who can't accept you for your flaws." "Anyone can achieve financial independence. The hardest part is taking action." "Commit and take action for one hour to decide to declutter your financial life." You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of TidySpecial Guest: Tess Wicks.