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Easy Dinners, Chill Kid Movies & How One NC Mom Makes $400K Go Further

For moms who manage money, meals, and the messy middle.

Author

Ann Woo
June 16, 2025

In partnership with

Happy Monday!
I’m so glad you’re here. 🥰 

This week's dinner recipe recommendations are all solid winners—I hope you love them as much as I do. I really enjoy curating a variety each week so you always have something wholesome and reliable to come back to.

Also: summer chaos is real. My son had soccer camp last week, and the shifting drop-offs and pickups totally threw the whole family off. For what that camp cost, a chauffeur would’ve been nice!

Quick shoutout to last week’s Father’s Day poll—38% of you spend $51–$100 on your spouse, which tracks with my own habits. Though I’m still recovering from gifting Rolling Stones tickets last year- it set the bar pretty high. This year, I took a more practical route and got him some health supplements. Not quite Mick Jagger, but here’s hoping!

Anyways, we’re a squad of 495 strong now! Thanks so much for your love on the first issue. 😘 

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner
❤️ What I’m Recommending

This section contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you (thanks for supporting the newsletter!).

  • Kid Content: Summer’s here—which means a little screen time is inevitable. If you're craving calm, not chaos, I’ve rounded up a list of wholesome, slower-paced kids' movies and shows (organized by streaming service!) that won’t overstimulate or drive you nuts. Grab the download below!

  • Travel Tip: We just got back from a long weekend at Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC (highly recommend!), and I rented a beach wagon and umbrella through BabyQuip. I use them whenever we travel—they make it super easy with delivery, and most of the gear is rented out by local moms for extra cash. From strollers and toys to humidifiers and beach essentials, they have just about everything. Definitely worth checking for your next trip!

  • Kid Product: My 3.5-year-old has been using this pedal-less balance bike for about a year, and he’s finally cruising confidently! It’s an awesome first bike for teaching balance—and can even help skip the whole training wheels phase.

Young boy riding a balance bike on a paved path
Kids Movies Summer 2025.pdf1.35 MB • PDF File

Splurge on your trip, not your travel wardrobe

Quince believes that quality should never be a luxury, with premium apparel, accessories, and luggage all priced at 50-80% less than similar brands. Think European linen looks, organic cotton dresses, and top-grain Italian leather accessories at affordable prices. Quince cuts out the cost of the middleman with a factory-direct model that passes the savings onto you. And they only work with top-rated factories that use safe, ethical, and responsible manufacturing practices.

Ready to upgrade your vacation style? Check out the 2025 Resort Collection.

💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

How a North Carolina Mom of One Makes Her $400K Work Harder

In This Economy? is a weekly series showcasing the costs of motherhood from real moms. Want to share your story anonymously? Submit here — no names, no judgment.

  • Age: mid-30s

  • Kids: 1 under 1

  • Job: Software industry

  • Household Income: $350-400K

  • Own or rent: Own- $4,500/month

  • Childcare or daycare expense: $2,500/month

  • Recent purchase you regret: Bumbo seat? Feels like a weird design and not worth it IMO (about $60)

  • Splurge and don’t regret: Slumber pod! So great for travel (about $200)

  • Best “mom sanity” splurge: Pedicure and massage

  • Weekly spend on groceries: $200

  • Savings for your kids college tuitions: $200 a month into 529

  • Money lesson you wish your parents taught you: If you max out your 401k, you can continue to invest through your HSA! You don’t have to just use HSA as savings for health stuff, it can be an investment account.

  • Managing family budget: I sure don’t and wish I did

  • Ways to save money on kid-related expenses: Always search for promo codes and shop around to different sites

  • Money advice for other moms: Sleep on it! Or better yet, wait a week and see if you still think you need it

  • Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow ____.” Max out my 401k and HSA

Thanks again for being here. If you love it, forward this to a mom friend—more voices make this better. And if you ever want to share, vent, or suggest something, just hit reply. I’m reading every email!

Woo you next week,
Ann

✅ This Week’s Mom Poll

How much are you spending on summer camp per child this year?

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