Joni Smith

Joni Smith

Joni is a 40-year-old wife and mother in Kansas City, MO. She started budgeting in 2013 and was able to quit her job as a computer programmer in 2017. Her family now has financial freedom, living comfortably on only her husband's teaching salary. (This includes 3 humans and 3 cats living under one roof.) These days, Joni enjoys finding simple ways to live the good life while saving money and the planet at the same time. Her hobbies include DIY projects, gardening, quilting, making self-improvement goals, and brainstorming ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Fixing paint chips on walls to look like new again

It happens to every beautiful wall in a lived-in household. A few paint chips here and there, scuff marks, and even crayon or pen marks start accumulating and need a little touch up. Well, all it takes is a little bit of spackle, sanding, and paint to make it like new again. Here’s some touch ups I did in the master bedroom in less than an hour (not counting drying time). I prefer the pink spackle that turns white when…

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How to use seven overripe bananas in one day

In keeping with the plan to spend as close to zero as possible this month, I knew I needed to find a use for our last bunch of bananas-and fast! They were too ripe already for most fresh uses. So, breakfast was banana pancakes: This is a recipe my daughter loves. It only takes one egg and half a banana, blended in my magic bullet, and cooked on the griddle at 275 degrees. Makes 7-8 pancakes per batch. That only…

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Organizing the pantry #LWSZ

The first “real” task (i.e. requiring that I get off the couch) recommended during Ruth’s LWSZ month is to organize the pantry. Voila! And now I know what’s in there and where everything is. So worth it. ? < also love Ruth’s theory of treating the pantry like a store where we’ll be going shopping this month.

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Closet/Hidden Office Space

Today’s project is a hidden office in the closet space in our guest bedroom. The desk had been set up next to my dresser in the master bedroom, and it did not look good at all. I’d been eyeing this closet as an alternative setup for awhile, and when I measured, it was just barely big enough to fit the desk. Score! And there’s still room to hang clothing when guests stay the night. I plan on decorating the walls…

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Reusing empty wallflower from Bath & Body Works

I found this idea on Pinterest and finally got around to trying it today! It was quite simple, truly-and I just used supplies I already had at the house (body spray). I used pliers to pop the wick off the top, filled it half with body spray and half with water, and then snapped the wick back in. That’s it! I’ll be checking to see if the scent smells good in our basement later this morning. EDIT: The scent was…

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31 days of Living Well and Spending Zero #LWSZ

Earlier this month, I decided that September was going to be the month that I finally tried Ruth Soukup’s LWSZ program. Since I won’t be getting a paycheck, it seemed like a logical step to me. It’s an opportunity to show my family that we are going to be alright financially, and see what we can save with a month like this every once in awhile. I’ve signed the commitment form: And my husband and I have talked through the…

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Hypothyroidism Diagnosis

Because I am leaving my job at the end of this month (only two days away, aaah!), I decided to get my yearly doctor visit in while I still had my current insurance. They called me with my blood test results and told me that my thyroid levels were usually on the low side of normal, but this time they were especially low (.05), and it’s supposed to be between ~.4 and .5… They wanted to re-test it so I…

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How to prevent pet water bowl spills

My cats are experts at spilling water from their water bowls. Even after I got a fancy supposed no-spill bowl setup thingy. So this is what I did that finally seems to prevent puddles on our floor: I placed one of those cheap (read: ugly) grippy bottom pet bowl mats on the floor and then covered it with a less offensive looking bathroom mat. Then I placed the no-spill bowls on top. Voila! Even if some water still spills, the…

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Road Less Traveled

In making the decision to quit a full-time job, I thought of the famous poem by Robert Frost about two roads diverging in a wood. This is definitely a crossroads in my life, and I want to make the most of it. I want to make a difference and I want this decision to make all the difference. The Road Not Taken BY ROBERT FROST Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And…

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