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How One SAHM of Four Runs a $100K Household + Easy Summer Family Meals

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

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

We’re back, baby, and this one’s full of summer favorites: quick, family-friendly recipes, a mom-tested product and content rec, and a peek into how one stay-at-home mom of four is managing her household on $100K a year.

On the home front, we celebrated my 11-month-old’s baptism yesterday—a truly perfect day! For the luncheon, I put together a summer brunch spread that’s easy to love (and totally worth copying): seven-layer salad, mini ham biscuits, quiche, a fresh fruit platter, and a delicious gluten-free lemon blueberry cake. I outsourced everything (mom hack) except the seven-layer salad—click here for the recipe I made.

Shoutout to everyone who scrolled all the way to the end for last week’s summer camp poll! Over half of you—53%—are skipping camp this year (score one for the budget). Meanwhile, 28% are shelling out $1,000+ per kid. That’s serious dedication—maybe I should start my own summer camp business.

Huge thanks to the 531 of you tuning in this week—I’m so grateful to build this community with you. 💛

Let’s get into it:

🍽️ What’s for Dinner
  • Watermelon Peach Salad - Made this for a neighborhood summer cookout and everyone was obsessed. Such an easy side and pairs well with simple grilled chicken thighs.

  • Lamb Burger With Harissa Mayo and Pickled Red Cabbage - My husband and I love lamb burgers and they're a great way to introduce the kids to a different kind of protein. We usually make mini patties for them and serve them up with sweet potato fries on the side!

  • Salmon Bowls - Edamame, mango, and avocado are some of my toddler's favorite foods so this is something I always make when my salmon-hating husband goes out of town.

  • Skillet Chicken Piccata - This is such a classic go-to recipe that’s easy for just the fam or large groups and my kids love when I serve with angel hair pasta.

  • Freezer Friendly Green Chile Chicken Burritos - Batch make these to keep in the freezer to pop in the oven or air fryer after a weeknight spent at the pool!

❤️ 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!).

  • Mom Product: I got this bag at the beach last weekend, and it’s quickly become my go-to for the beach, pool, and lake days. It comes in three sizes, tons of fun colors, and you can personalize it with all kinds of cute accessories. Highly recommend!

  • Mom Content: If you’re tired of rewatching Gossip Girl for the 87th time, I just binged Sirens on Netflix this weekend—and honestly, it was such a fun surprise. It’s quirky without being too intense, making it the perfect background show for folding laundry or unwinding after the kids are asleep.

  • Kid Product: Planning your next family summer vacation? Make it easy on yourself with these must-have road trip and flight essentials. Oh, and one more thing—don’t forget the snacks. Seriously, don’t skip the snacks.

Toddlers boy holding tablet and smiling while watching show
💸 In This Economy? (Mom’s Version)

Balancing Four Kids and a $100K Household in Florida

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: 42

  • Kids: 4- ages 10, 8, 4 & 3

  • Job: I am a stay at home mom. Our main income is my husband’s business.

  • Side hustle: None

  • Household Income: $100-110K

  • Own or rent: Own- $2,300/month

  • Childcare or daycare expense: $0

  • Recent purchase you regret: I have no regrets. Therein, lies the problem!

  • Splurge and don’t regret: All the toys for a vacation in an effort to avoid screen time.

  • Best “mom sanity” splurge: Manicure, pedicure, and hairdresser

  • Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $50-70

  • Weekly spend on groceries: $250-500

  • Managing family budget: It’s a dumpster fire, truly. No system.

  • Money advice for other moms: Make a budget! For sanity and not overspending.

  • Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow ____.” Dress my kids with what I like!

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
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