HerMoney with Jean Chatzky A Week In Her Wallet: How One Couple Manages $200K in Income, a Toddler, and Four Pets
Nov 7, 2025
Kaitlyn shares her journey of managing a bustling household with a toddler and four pets on a $200K income. She discusses the benefits of a monthly cleaning service to prioritize family time over chores. Budgeting strategies like 'funding pots' help allocate funds for travel, gifts, and daycare. Kaitlyn's thrift store adventures lead to an emotional vinyl record player find. She highlights the importance of spending on experiences, like swim classes, over material items, creating intentional family memories.
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Run Regular Budget Nights
- Do hold regular budget nights to review goals, allocate funds, and keep both partners aligned.
- Use shared accounts plus labeled savings "pots" to automate funding for bills and priorities.
Use Joint Account Plus Labeled Pots
- Do funnel all income into a joint account, then split it into dedicated high-yield savings pots for goals like travel and bills.
- Automate transfers so you see labeled balances and resist impulse spending.
Budgeting For Monthly Cleaning
- Kaitlyn budgets $150 monthly for a cleaning crew to reclaim time with her toddler and reduce housework stress.
- She sees the cleaning service as an intentional tradeoff: money for more family time.