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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.
Ann Woo
June 23, 2025
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.
💸 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
How much are you planning to spend on vacation(s) this summer (travel, lodging, food, fun included)? |
