Could you lock your wallet away for an entire year? Sherry tells the story of one woman who did exactly that: why she tried the challenge, the limited exceptions she allowed to make it manageable, and how her experience is inspiring us to rethink our own spending habits. We also discuss how much to involve children in designing their rooms and offer practical tips to keep both kids and parents happy so the result is a space they love—and one you don’t mind sharing with them. Plus, we highlight paint colors that can increase a home’s sale value (some choices are surprising) and share a personal discovery prompted by a DNA test.
You can download this episode from major podcast platforms or listen to it on the show page. Use this post to find the links, notes, and photos referenced in the episode. Note: if you’re reading this in a feed reader you may need to click through to the original post to see embedded audio players.
What’s New
- Sherry recommended The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, a practical, readable account of one person’s year-long spending ban.
- Cait maintains a website with resources for anyone interested in trying a similar challenge.
- We also discuss home DNA tests and the patience required for results—expect about eight weeks for processing.
- For family-history research, online archives and document databases can help you build a family tree without testing DNA first.
Paint Color Quiz
Paint color can impact how quickly—and for how much—a home sells. Zillow’s paint color analyses reveal trends and surprising winners and losers. Below are some of our favorite sale-friendly neutrals we’ve used frequently in our own homes, along with photos showing how they look in real rooms.
- Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (paired with Simply White trim).
- White Heron by Sherwin-Williams (with Pure White trim).
- Irish Mist by Behr (paired with Simply White trim).
- Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams (with Pure White trim).
Each of these shades photographs well and provides a neutral backdrop that lets furniture, textiles, and architectural details stand out. In our experience, neutral walls combined with colorful accents—pillows, rugs, or a painted ceiling—create rooms that feel polished and inviting to buyers.
Listener Question
We often get asked how much we involve our kids in decorating. For practical, lasting choices, we lean toward neutral walls and let the children personalize with furniture, bedding, art, and small paint accents. That approach gives them ownership while keeping the room flexible and cohesive as their tastes evolve.
For example, our daughter’s room has evolved in stages. We kept a neutral wall color and added playful touches like a painted ceiling and closet doors, a fabric-covered accent wall, and a small desk area she requested and helped assemble. These changes let her express her personality without requiring frequent full-room overhauls.
Our son’s room followed a similar path: neutral walls paired with colorful bedding and accessories he chose. That balance keeps the rooms kid-friendly and visually appealing to adults.
We’re Digging
We recently enjoyed the work of Leann & Steve Ford, whose restoration style balances whimsy with thoughtful design. Their projects offer good examples of how mixing unexpected elements—like a bold accent or an unusual accessory—can create memorable spaces.
We also mentioned a small clothing-subscription service that offers affordable tees in various styles and sizes; it’s a convenient option if you want a steady supply of comfortable basics without repeated shopping trips.
For anyone who wants a single place to browse items we’ve previously highlighted, we maintain a master list of past recommendations and favorites from earlier episodes.
Finally, we want to thank You Need A Budget (YNAB) for sponsoring this episode. Budgeting tools like YNAB can be helpful if you’re trying to take control of spending, whether you’re attempting a strict challenge or simply aiming to save more effectively.
Thanks for listening and reading.
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