Could you lock down your wallet for an entire year? Sherry told the story of a woman who did just that: why she committed to the challenge, the practical exceptions she allowed to make it manageable, and how her experience is inspiring us to rethink our spending — maybe even try a spending ban of our own. We also discuss how much to involve your kids when designing their rooms, offering tips to keep everyone happy so the finished space feels like theirs but is still enjoyable to spend time in with them. Plus: paint colors that can boost your home’s sale price (a few of the winners were surprising) and a DNA test that led to a humbling personal discovery.
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn Radio, and Spotify — or listen to it below. Use this page to find the links, notes, and photos we mentioned. Note: if you’re reading in a feed reader you may need to click through to the full post to see the player.
What’s New
- The book Sherry loved is The Year of Less by Cait Flanders, published earlier this year — a great read if you’re curious about trying a spending challenge of your own.
- Cait maintains resources on her website for people who want to follow a similar path.
- We mentioned AncestryDNA tests during the episode; they’re often on sale and take roughly eight weeks for results, so plan for some patience if you test.
- You can also research family history through document databases like those offered by major genealogy sites if you prefer not to test DNA right away.
Paint Color Quiz
We referenced Zillow’s paint color analyses for insight into which hues helped homes sell for more and which ones didn’t. Those reports are a useful starting point if you’re choosing neutral, sale-friendly shades.
Sherry also shared some of our favorite paint colors that tend to perform well when selling a home. A few of the examples we used around our house:
- Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore (paired with Simply White trim)
- White Heron by Sherwin-Williams (with Pure White trim)
- Irish Mist by Behr (trim in Simply White)
- Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams (with Pure White trim)
Listener Question
If you want to see how our daughter’s room has changed over time, we documented its evolution in a multi-post series. The earlier post shows the progression and the more recent post covers the latest updates. Below are photos that highlight the neutral-wall approach we used, adding pops of color through bedding, accessories, and painted surfaces like ceilings or closet doors.
We also shared a story about involving our then-3-year-old in a design choice — she helped pick an element of her room, and we documented that process with photos and video. When she requested a desk in her closet, she helped assemble it and later asked for small changes like adding a pink chair and a rug to warm the corner. We covered that back wall in fabric, which made an easy and impactful change.
We’re Digging
We highlighted Leann & Steve from the show Restored By The Fords as an example of the kind of eclectic, surprising design Sherry described. Their work blends vintage finds and bold choices — sometimes with unexpected accents — and their show’s season is available on demand.
If you’re trying to recall something we’ve covered in a past episode, we have a master list of all the things we’ve been digging across past shows to make it easier to track down episode notes and links.
Finally, thanks to the sponsor for this episode: You Need A Budget (YNAB). They offered a trial for new users at the time of the episode.
Thanks for listening!
*This post contains affiliate links*