What Pajamas Can Teach You About Your Finances
My pajamas made me do it.
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—Angela, Katie, and Gen
On to our story.
“I own 14 pairs of pajama bottoms and wear the same two on rotation. The math isn’t mathing.”
I figure I’ll start small. Pajamas feel safe. No big decisions, right? Just a few old pairs, maybe some mismatched tops. Easy.
Wrong.
I have a pajama shelf, and it is packed. Overflowing, to be exact.
Pajamas I haven’t worn in years.
UT Pajamas, my brother and sister-in-law gave me for Christmas that I keep because, well, they are UT pajamas. I think I’ll keep those.
Pajama bottoms that Beau (my giant yellow lab puppy) tore a hole in. I think I’ll keep those because they have pockets. Doesn’t everyone want pockets in their pajamas?
Pajamas I don’t even like, but I still keep them, just in case. Maybe I can donate those.
This all started with an online decluttering course (because, let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for a good course. I’ll sign up for anything with a login and a workbook).
This one’s about decluttering your home, but it’s really about your brain and your life.
I thought it would help me organize my house, and it is, but it’s also making me look at my stuff in a whole new way.
Like, why am I holding on to so many pajama pants that don’t even have elastic anymore?
The truth is, those pajamas aren’t just clothes.
They are memories.
They are comfort.
And sometimes I need soft pants and no judgment.
But now, I want to look at that shelf and feel calm. Not stressed. I want to reach for something and know it fits, and I chose it on purpose, not just because it was there.
So, one by one, I started letting them go.
Some got donated.
Some got tossed.
And yes, the UT and pocket pajama pants stayed because they’re mine and I love them. Don’t judge me.
The shelf looks organized now. And honestly, that tiny little victory? It feels like something.
I know it’s just pajamas. But it’s also not.
It’s one small step in making space for better routines and maybe even better pajamas.
It turns out that sometimes peace starts on the pajama shelf.
Now, if I can just find that same peace when I look at my desk full of receipts and paperwork.
— Angela
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Enter Gen:
Genevieve Nicholas is joining our new division, Rancho Encino-The Business Tea.
Gen is helping me with this week’s challenge of sorting through my bookkeeping pile, which we started talking about last week. Sometimes you just need someone to hold your hand and say, “let it go.”
“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor. It’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”
— Peter Walsh
Last week, we talked about that overwhelming “where do I even start?” feeling.
And hey, if your paperwork pile is still sitting in the exact same spot, untouched, you’re not behind. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just human. Seriously, no shame here.
The truth is, getting a handle on your finances doesn’t require locking yourself in an office with spreadsheets and highlighters for hours.
It really just starts with one small system. Something repeatable and doable even on your busiest days.
My best friend always says:
“It’s hard to SOAR like an eagle when you’re surrounded by turkeys.”
And honestly? She’s right.
In this case, the “turkeys” are the chaos, those piles of paperwork, the scattered receipts, the stuff you keep saying you’ll deal with later.
That’s where the SOAR Method comes in.
It’s the simple, four-step system I use (and teach) to help equine business owners and small farm folks stop feeling behind in their bookkeeping.
And no, you don’t need to be a numbers person to make it work.
Today, we’re starting with Step 1:
S is for Sort.
Sorting is just what it sounds like: separating what matters from what doesn’t.
Think of it like grooming your horse. You wouldn’t throw on a saddle over a coat full of dirt and burrs.
Same idea here. We’re not organizing yet, just clearing off the mess so we can actually see what we’re working with.
Here’s how to SORT (and yes, it’s easy):
1. Grab your “bookkeeping pile.”
You know the one. That folder, box, or drawer full of receipts, invoices, feed store notes, and bank statements. That’s your starting point.
2. Set a 15–30 minute timer.
That’s it. Not a full afternoon. Just give it a little focused time. Play some music if it helps, but don’t overthink it.
3. Make 3 piles (or folders):
KEEP – Things you’ll need later: receipts, statements, invoices, anything tied to income or expenses.
TOSS – Old junk, expired coupons, envelopes with no purpose, things that are just clutter.
NOT SURE – This one’s important! If you’re on the fence about something, don’t get stuck, drop it in the “Maybe” pile and move on.
That’s it. You’ve sorted. No fancy folders or decisions about categories yet. You’ve just made breathing room.
—Gen