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[00:00]
A
I want to tell you about another podcast I've been relying on to help guide my charitable giving decisions. Giving Done Right is all about how to make an impact with your giving and tackles the question every donor is asking, how can I make the biggest difference right now? With shifts in federal policy and funding in flux, nonprofits and civic institutions are struggling and your giving? It matters more than ever. On Giving Done Right, you'll hear from philanthropic experts and major donors who reveal how to maximize impact on issues from protecting democracy to supporting immigrants in crisis. Whether you give hundreds or millions, this show delivers knowledge that turns good intentions into real results. Stay tuned to the end of this episode for an exclusive listen of Giving Done Right and find more episodes wherever you get your podcasts.
[01:02]
B
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[01:29]
A
Hey everyone. Welcome back to Her Money and to another episode of our series, A Week in Her Wallet where we spend seven days tracking one woman's real life spending and see how it reflects her values, priorities and plans for the future. This week we're with Jennifer. She lives with her long term partner of 12 years, works full time in a high powered position and owns beach property in Delaware. She's been through divorce, has built a life that she loves and has chosen a practical, independent approach to her finances. Her week takes us from thoughtful gift giving to meticulous property management, from a pricey haircut that she happily budgets for to a leisurely Saturday morning at the farmer's market. We're going to take a very quick break. Hey everyone, Jean Chatsky with some very exciting news. The Hermoney Patreon is now live for the very first time. You'll be able to unlock bonus episodes, ad free listening and even deeper dives into your questions all in one place. Here's the best part. We're giving you a seven day free trial so you can check it out risk free. That means you can be there for our very first Patreon bonus episode dropping on the 15th and see exactly what we've been working on behind the scenes. So if you've ever thought I wish I could get more Hermoney, well you can just head to patreon.com hermoney Start your free trial and become one of our first subscribers. We can't wait to see you there. You know what's scarier than a burnt apple crisp? The fact that the average adult unknowingly consumes over 150,000 plastic bodies particles a year, mostly from cookware. I wish I was kidding, but I am not. This fall, I've been baking a lot. It's apple season after all, and my caraway set hasn't left my stovetop. It's beautiful, non toxic, and honestly has saved me from more than a few hosting fails. Caraway's cookware set is a favorite for a reason. It can save you up to $190 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit carawayhome.community you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. This deal is exclusively for our listeners, so visit carawayhome.com hermoney or use code hermoney at checkout Caraway Non Toxic Cookware Made Modern. And we are back talking to Jennifer. Jennifer, welcome. Thanks so much for being here.
[04:13]
B
Thanks for having me. This is really exciting, Jean. I listen to your podcast all the time.
[04:17]
A
Aw. Well, we're excited to dig into your life, so let's start with some basics. Tell me about what you do, your salary, and your partner's salary. Let's just start there.
[04:30]
B
Okay, sure. So I work for an engineering firm. I lead their strategic communications team. So we are a group of public relations consultants and we typically serve public sector clients, helping them communicate with the communities they serve about big infrastructure projects. I make $210,000 a year roughly. And my partner is a high school teacher and also a voiceover artist. So he makes about, gosh, all in probably about $110,000 a year then.
[05:07]
A
Do you rent or do you own?
[05:09]
B
We own.
[05:11]
A
You own. Okay. Are there any big financial goals right now that you all are working toward?
[05:19]
B
So I think we need to start thinking about retirement as a unit. We're not married, but we've been together for 12 plus years and we have separate accounts and we've both been working toward retirement independently. He has a pension with his job. I do not. I have a 401k, I have an HSA. So we have very different arrangements and we have our own personal goals, but we've really never sat down with anybody and talked about our joint goals. And it's probably time to do that.
[05:54]
A
How old are you?
[05:55]
B
Late 40s for me, early 50s for him.
[05:58]
A
Yeah, I think that's I think that's exactly the right time. I mean, this is why we do pre retirement checkups as part of finance fix at her money. Right at 10 years, ish, maybe 15 out from retirement. Because that's when people need to look at what do we want to do, when do we want to do it, how much is it going to cost, where are we going to live? All of those questions that many of us don't get around to talking about until it's too late or later than it should be. Right? Yeah. Okay, so let's start with the big picture. Have you ever tracked your spending before?
[06:38]
B
I have not tracked my spending on a week to week or month to month basis, but I do have a budget and that is a joint budget in that it takes into account all of our household expenses, all of our recurring expenses, and then I have a pot of money that I've identified for dinners out, vacations, et cetera. And so it's a pretty detailed budget, but it's also a little loose. I don't track it to the penny like I did during the week for this segment.
[07:10]
A
And how did you find this exercise? Was it fun? Was it tedious? Was it illuminating? Did it make you want to pull your hair out?
[07:18]
B
No, it was fun. There were really no big surprises. All of the expenditures were things that I was generally anticipating. But it was sort of interesting how wildly different each day was because I think there was one or two days where I spent absolutely nothing because I work from home. And so I didn't have any recurring expenses come through on those days. I ate all my meals in with groceries that were left over from the prior week. And I was like, wow, I'm really not spending very much. And then toward the end of the week we went on vacation. And then things really ramped up from there. But it, yeah, no surprises. It was an interesting exercise and I felt like it did sort of illuminate how much we spend when we do go out to eat. That's probably our biggest like, waste money thing.
[08:10]
A
Do you think it was a waste? I mean, I know sometimes, often when people dig into where money is sort of leaking quote unquote from their budget or from their bank account, it's often food, right? It's all those coffees, all that takeout, those restaurant meals that have gotten more expensive. But I. Especially when it's a meal in a restaurant with people that you want to talk to. Waste isn't the word that would come to mind for me.
[08:43]
B
Yeah, you're right. I actually have no Problem spending money on meals out or even. I bought a latte over the weekend. It cost $7.50 and I couldn't believe it. Yeah, but it is what it is. I enjoyed it. So I guess I say waste because I think that's how like society perceives it, but I don't perceive it that way. And when we go out to eat, we really don't think too much about the cost of the items on the menu. I'll get the lobster roll, I'll get the upgraded item and we go out to eat quite a bit. And then the rest of the time I cook. I would say that during the week we eat in at least four nights and then typically go out three nights. And you know, we're not going to inexpensive or fast casual places necessarily. So we are spending a lot. And I guess when I say it's a waste of money, I think that other people may perceive it that way, but it is a big part of our lives and we enjoy it very much. So I don't mind going out for a nice meal.
[09:50]
A
One thing that stood out to me was on day two, your $224 cable bill. Hi.
[09:59]
B
This is day two of Week in her wallet, Jen Keller. And today I had an automatic bill payment to comcast cable for $224.28. This is for TV and high speed Internet. This includes Netflix and Apple TV streaming services. And each month I am aggravated by this bill. I just recently renegotiated it to get a better package deal. And even though I think this is really high and it's one of the highest bills in our household, I think it's a better solution than cobbling together Internet from a different provider and then streaming services. Because even though people act like cutting the cord is a better deal, I'm not convinced. I think it would probably add up to roughly the same amount. And while I'm not thrilled with this provider, I do like having a one stop shop for tv, Internet and streaming.
[10:56]
A
You mentioned that you recently renegotiated a better package deal. Tell me what happened. How much was your bill? How much did you bring it down by? Did you have to give up anything in order to get that better deal?
[11:11]
B
Sure. So I feel like this is such a hot topic in our friend group. It's always like a little internal competition. I feel like that's going on between the people that we socialize with about, you know, how you're getting your entertainment and your wi fi and what you're paying for it. And we have so many friends that are big proponents of cutting the cord. And I've never wanted to do that because I feel like it's a lot of legwork to figure all of that out. And I like the idea of either going with Xfinity, Comcast or Verizon and just having a one stop shop. So we've been with Comcast forever and every year or two, it depends on what kind of package we're in, I call and see if I can get a better package deal. And we had been paying, I think $260, but that did not include Netflix. We were paying for Netflix separately. And so when I called to see what we could do, because, you know, as I told them, it's like our highest recurring bill in the house, it's even higher than our energy bill. And that feels ridiculous, I asked if we could do something to bring it down and then roll in the Netflix. So ultimately it is a savings. We were able to get the overall cost down and then bring in the separate Netflix fee. And then we added Apple tv. They were able to give us that, which we didn't even know we wanted, but now we're enjoying.
[12:30]
A
Wait, okay, so I'm on Comcast and I am learning a big lesson here because we pay for all of these things separately. And I don't want to cut the cord either. My husband and I have actually had this discussion because the kind of people that will just go through the channels and realize that the replacements is on for the 50th time. And yes, we want to watch that movie again, but only because it's on. Right. I was not going to go and look for it on one of my services, but the fact that they're, you know, a half an hour in, I already know what happened. I know what's coming. But it's, it's a way to chill.
[13:04]
B
Right.
[13:05]
A
I like that. I like that experience.
[13:08]
B
Yeah.
[13:09]
A
So we don't cut the cord because of that. But I can roll my Netflix and my Apple TV into my Comcast bill.
[13:17]
B
Yeah. And I believe there are a few others you can do. Max and Paramount plus and Showtime, they have packages that include the streaming services. So I was happy to roll that back in. And Netflix had been part of our Comcast years ago, and then it was more cost effective to kick it out. I don't mind doing this up to once a year. It takes like an hour of the day to carve out time to call them, be on hold, get to the right person, and then work through all of this. So, yeah, I mean, I'm same as you. I like to flip channels. I like Bravo. That's important. I don't want to be delayed on getting my, my Bravo fixed. So I was happy to be able to keep cable and then bring in the streaming services. So now I don't have to like monitor how those subscriptions are going up.
[14:04]
A
Oh, I have a project for this afternoon. Here we go. You have also started ordering ahead for pickup at Target. Instead of walking the aisles, I visited Target headquarters once to give a speech to some of their employees. And at the Target store, at Target headquarters, which has Target swag, I bought a T shirt for my husband that says I only bought the items on my list at Target. Said nobody ever. Right. Because that's so true. What inspired you to make that move?
[14:42]
B
Really, it was the pandemic. I was a big time curbside pickup girl during the pandemic. I was doing it with groceries and Target for me felt like the most user friendly application. So it's just so easy. And now at our Target, they'll bring you a Starbucks with your drive up order as well. So you can add that on if you are so inclined. And the Target's very close to the house, but. And they also don't have a minimum, whereas our grocery store, you have to spend a certain threshold in order to get free pickup. So you could get like just a pack of razors and shampoo and conditioner and drive up and get it. So I always do Target pickup. In fact, I had to go in not too long ago and I was shocked because they had like revamped the whole store's layout. And I was like, I haven't been in here in a really long time. But I always do that pickup. But I did. I missed going to the grocery store because I would much prefer to pick out my own avocados and bananas than to have somebody else do it. So I'm back to that. But I kept the Target pickup.
[15:43]
A
Does it save you money doing pickup instead of shopping at Target?
[15:47]
B
I don't know that it necessarily does because I have gone on there and ordered an immersion blender. Like all kinds. Like, I still think of things and it's super easy to get them, but I'm not grabbing a novel at checkout or any of those like pickup items that you see like when you go in and it's like that dollar spot. So I'm not picking up any of those kinds of little odds and ends. So yeah, probably it is saving me a few bucks. And it's definitely Saving time.
[16:16]
A
Your week also showed how you and your partner split things after being together for more than a decade.
[16:23]
B
I purchased concert tickets for $113.50. That was for two tickets. That's for a concert that we'll go see in July down in Dewey Beach, Delaware, and my boyfriend will reimburse me for his ticket, which will be 5,675. We live together and have for probably about 12 years now, both previously divorced. We chosen not to get remarried, but we've been together for a long time. We handle most of our expenses. Kind of a roommate setup where we each pay for our own expenses. And on something like this, he'll pay for his ticket, I'll pay for my ticket. For meals and groceries, we kind of just contribute and buy and go back and forth on that. We're not like real prescriptive about splitting those amounts, but bills and other purchases we generally split.
[17:15]
A
You said you bought two concert tickets at $57 each, knowing that he would reimburse you for his half. Do you think that the fact that you've decided to keep your finances separate is a result of the fact that you're both divorced in the past, or is it something else?
[17:34]
B
I think it's that, yeah, we're both divorced. He has children. I don't. I kind of run the show financially because we moved into my house and I have all the bills in my name. And so he reimburses me for half of everything. And if we do something like that, where we're buying concert tickets, if he buys them, then I send him money. We're not one of those Venmo couples that like, sends each other money for coffee and that kind of thing. It's not like to that extreme. Like we pick up the tab for each other for little stuff here and there. Those concert tickets were rather inexpensive. But if we're going to like a $300, like all day concert package kind of thing, like, we'll each pay our own way. And that's just always the way we've done it and it works for us and haven't seen a reason to change that. But I do think about, like, what the future holds and. And maybe like ways that we could merge our money more moving forward. We don't have plans to get married, but I see us retiring together, aging together and all of that. So we're going to have to start thinking through some of that stuff.
[18:39]
A
Does the fact that you make significantly more money than he does have any impact on your relationship?
[18:48]
B
It really doesn't I have not had any issues with him about that. I feel like my job is a good gig. I'm lucky to have it. And I am a big time saver because I also feel like when you're in consulting, the bottom could fall out at any time. And I always have kind of hoarded my money for a rainy day and the whole have six months of your expenses covered. I probably have like three years of my expenses covered. So I'm like a little bit extreme in that way. He is a saver also. So I think we're like financially compatible and I don't think there would be any issues if we were to combine. But both of our divorces were like an absolute nightmare as far as separating real estate and all that kind of stuff. So it's just worked for us. Like, we both bought vehicles in 2024. And like, I went to the Volvo dealership and like bought the car by myself. And like, he went to the Toyota dealership and bought his 4Runner on his own. And like, we both paid off our cars really fast. I think that other couples may be like, that's bizarre. But for us it's just the way we've rolled now for a long time. And so we stick with it.
[20:02]
A
Day three for you was a mix of bills, clothes and gifts.
[20:08]
B
Hi, it's Jen Keller week in her wallet. Day 3. Today I paid a credit card balance for a MasterCard that I only use for a couple of recurring bills, and that statement amount was just $50.82. I also placed an order for a cardigan from L.L. bean, a summer weight cardigan that I had been eyeing. And I had some Bean bucks to use, so I ordered that. It was 39.92 after the discount. And then I wrote checks for two graduation gifts. $50 for my best friend's only child's 8th grade graduation. I'll drop that in the mail. And then I wrote a check for $100 for my childhood friend's high school graduation. And I'll take that to a party for her on Saturday. And as I was doing this, it occurred to me that these kids would probably rather receive this money via Venmo or something like that. But I'm writing checks like an old person. So that was it for my expenditures for today. Thanks.
[21:16]
A
You joked on your voice memo, these kids would probably rather get it via Venmo. But I'm writing checks like an old person. I do that too. I kind of like, I like sending something even if it's a check is gift Giving a big part of your budget and how do you plan for it?
[21:36]
B
So it's not a huge part of my budget because I don't have that many people to buy for. I'm an only child. I don't have brothers and sisters. And so I don't have nieces and nephews. Certainly for my boyfriend's kids. We're very generous with them. And I think for that reason, when things do come up, like a friend's kid's eighth grade graduation, like, I don't mind sending them a check. Like, I'm happy to do that. And just for the record, it took two months for that check to get cashed. So I had to reach out to my friend, oh, my God, should I have venmoed this? Where is this check? So anyway, she did finally cash it right after that. But yeah, I would say that gifts are something that I just have, like a pot of money for that I dole out on an as needed basis. And so these two graduations weren't something I was, like, planning ahead for. But you know, when a wedding pops up for a cousin or a friend's child's graduation, like, I have no qualms about writing a check for that. And to be honest, like, I don't know what kids are into really. And so I'm happy to give money because then I don't have to think it through.
[22:50]
A
Jennifer, we're going to take a very quick break. When we come back, I want to get into what it's like owning a second home, why you want to pay off that house early, and how you budget for your vacations.
[23:01]
B
Sounds good.
[23:03]
A
So you all know I don't rave about things unless I really mean it. And I have to say, I finally tried the Fits Everyone collection from Skims. My daughter has been telling me about it for such a long time, but now I totally get the hype. I've always had issues with underwear. It's too tight, it's too bulky. It leaves lines under everything. I can't stand the lines. This is a game changer. The fabric is soft. I can't believe how comfortable it is. This is the kind of feel good upgrade that is small but seriously meaningful. We all deserve a few small upgrades in our lives. So if you haven't tried skims yet, take this as your sign. The Fits Everybody collection lives up to the name. It really does fit and flatter Everybody. Shop Skims Fits everybody collection@skims.com and after you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show in the drop down menu that follows. Many people can't tell you exactly how many financial accounts they have or even what they're worth. 401s from old jobs, scattered savings accounts, investments they haven't checked in years. And when you don't have the full picture, you will leave money on the table. That's where Monarch Money comes in. It's an all in one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together cleanly, clearly all in one place. My producer Hailey uses it every single day and she's been loving one feature in particular. Monarch automatically separates your monthly spending into fixed and flexible categories. Her mortgage and gym membership are fixed, but groceries, dining out, everything else is flexible and that gives her some wiggle room. Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks in your Life. Use code hermoneyonarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off@monimalmoney.com with code HERMONEY and we are back talking to Jennifer. On day five, you made an $850 mortgage payment on a beach property that you own in Delaware.
[25:28]
B
Hi. This is week in her wallet. Day five Friday. This is Jen Keller. Today I paid the mortgage on my property in Delaware at the beach. I pay that 26 times a year on the accelerated payment plan and it's in line with payday. So on days that I get paid from work, I pay $850 toward that mortgage. I also paid an insurance payment today for the homeowner's policy on that same property. It was $122. I pay my insurance in full every May, but this was for increased water backup coverage that I got at the advice of my insurance agent. So again, that was $122 and I put it on my Marriott Visa credit card so that I get hotel points. I got my hair cut and colored today. That was $135 plus a $20 tip. I do this about every eight weeks and then once or twice a year I'll also get highlights. I do not get my nails done or eyebrows or lashes or any of that other stuff. I figure I can do manicures and pedicures and facials myself. So haircut and color is really my only beauty maintenance item. And then I also belong to Massage Envy. So I get a massage once a month. But I did that earlier in the month. We went out to dinner tonight. It was $76.72. I picked up the Tab. My boyfriend's a high school teacher. Today was the last day of school, so that was a little treat for him. And then we went to Target and I picked up$54.5 worth of odds and ends, some things in advance of vacation. We leave on Sunday. That's it. Thank you.
[27:16]
A
Tell us about this second home. What made you buy it? What do you like about owning it and why? Get out of the mortgage.
[27:23]
B
Sure. So the second home in Delaware was initially a rental property, and now my retired parents are actually living in it. We made that arrangement during the pandemic because they had a separate beach property and I really wasn't interested in trying to navigate rentals during that time.
[27:43]
A
And.
[27:43]
B
And so they ended up selling their place. The market was good and it was a good time for them to shift into my place at the beach. And now we've got all our eggs in one beach basket, which is probably good in the long run because of flood insurance and all of the other risks associated with owning a beach property. So that is the nature of that property. It's a former rental property, second home. We go there frequently and are happy to share the space with my parents. I view it as a family beach house. And I had it on accelerated payments initially and then took that off because I thought, well, you know, why, why am I in a hurry to pay off this mortgage? Because I think the rate is like 2.5%.
[28:29]
A
Oh, wow.
[28:30]
B
Yeah, I got really lucky with that. So super low rate. But I've maxed out my 401k, I have maxed out my HSA. I'm saving in high yield savings accounts, and I really just wasn't sure where else would be a good use of the money. And I thought, well, I should do the accelerated payments again. And so I'm doing that. And I have attended a couple of your investing fixed classes, and I got to get back to that after the summer because I. I would like to open a brokerage account and like go down that path with some of the extra funds that I have available, but I haven't really done much of that right now. I just have my 401k and then a Roth IRA that's lingering from old, you know, that is invested and then the HSA money. But I feel like I could get some of the money that's in savings accounts into better use. But in the meantime, I just thought, well, I'll throw a little bit of extra at the mortgage.
[29:32]
A
Got it. The same day that you paid the mortgage, you also had a $122 homeowner's insurance. Add on cut in color at the salon for $155 with tip. A celebratory dinner for your partner's last day of school. You mentioned he was a teacher. How do you decide what's a splurge and what's not?
[29:57]
B
Well, my friends sort of tease me for being frugal because I am a saver. And I do look for ways to cut corners. Like, I never go get my nails done. I just do my own. And I could afford to go get a manicure and pedicure, but I just don't. And I look for ways to save money, but I also don't mind splurging. You know, when we went to Cape May later in the week, we stayed at the Star, which is part of Congress Hall. And every cocktail at Congress hall is like over $20 a piece. And like that, that didn't bother me at all. But there are lots of things that do day to day bother me to spend on. And I try to cut that way. And I feel like the hair salon is one of those places that I know that friends of mine are spending well over $300 per visit. But I've found someone who does a nice job on my hair. I spread it out so I go every eight weeks, not more frequently, and I only do highlights every other time or quarterly. So I do look for ways to save a buck on stuff like that. I don't mind spending on that kind of maintenance, but I definitely don't go crazy with it.
[31:14]
A
As you mentioned, your week wrapped up in Cape May, New Jersey, where you stayed at that beautiful hotel. And your total small spending for the week came to $2,122.10, which, let me just point out one more time, included a big mortgage payment. When you look at that number, what's your overall reaction? Does it feel normal? Did it have more big ticket items than usual?
[31:40]
B
I mean, I hadn't totaled that up, so that's interesting to hear back. I suppose that's not a super high total, considering there was that. That half mortgage payment in there and some other recurring bills were in there, and then the first day of vacation. That's probably a pretty normal and an average week for me, I suppose. I mean, we do go out to eat a lot and we go on a lot of little weekend getaways, so that probably is about right. And even with the two gifts, which would be out of the ordinary, I didn't feel like it was a super spendy week. For me, it sounds about normal.
[32:17]
A
I want to just wrap talking about our money type quiz, which you took. You found you were 95% producer and 64% connoisseur. For anybody who's listening who wants to learn more about your own money personality, you can go to hermoney.com, find your way to our money type quiz and you'll get a diagnostic telling you how your personality breaks down. But I was struck by, by the connoisseur part of your personality because it does feel like although you are self described as frugal, you do like spending on things that make you happy. Is that your philosophy of money?
[33:01]
B
Yeah, that is. And I took that money type quiz a while back actually, and I felt like the results were exactly what I expected. So it felt just right to me. You know, it's kind of like when you take the Myers Briggs and there are no surprises, you're like, yep, that's exactly who I am. But yeah, I am happy to be frugal and live rather simply most of the time so that I can splurge when the opportunity presents itself. And I love a long weekend at a fancy hotel and charging everything to the room. And you know, I don't mind an expensive meal, but I don't spend a lot of money on clothes and that hot girl hamster wheel that you talk about. Right. Like I don't do Botox and nail salons and that sort of thing, but I get a massage every month, so it's like a trade off. Like I, I spend money freely on the things that really do make me happy, are important, important to me. But I also love saving.
[34:02]
A
I, I think the producer connoisseur combo, which is, by the way, exactly what I am. I, I sort of describe it as right, we work hard, but we know what resonates with us and our values and fund those things as well. Jennifer, thanks so much for being here. This was fun.
[34:21]
B
Yeah, thank you. I loved it.
[34:23]
A
I'm so glad and I hope that we'll cross paths again.
[34:27]
B
That would be great. Great to meet you.
[34:29]
A
You as well. If you love today's episode, please take a moment to leave us a five star review on Apple podcast. Your favorite feedback means the world to me. And if you're ready to keep the money conversation going, HerMoney has three amazing programs designed to help you feel more confident and in control of your money. There's Finance Fix. It's our four week coaching program that helps you rethink your spending, find hidden savings and make smarter choices. For the future. Our pre retirement program runs for six weeks and walks you through building a retirement strategy that's personalized for your next chapter. Finally, there's Investing Fix, our investing club for women. It meets every other week on Zoom. It is a supportive space to learn, ask questions, grow your investing confidence, and build your portfolio. Portfolio and your first month is absolutely free. These programs are truly helping level the playing field for women financially. I'd love for you to join us. Her Money is produced by Haley Pascalides and our music is provided by Video Helper. Thanks so much for listening and we'll talk soon.

Summary7 min read

Podcast Summary: HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Episode: A Week In Her Wallet: A Divorced 47-Year-Old Bringing In $10K A Month
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Jean Chatzky
Guest: Jennifer (“Jen Keller”)

Overview

This episode continues the “A Week in Her Wallet” series, offering a real-life peek into the spending habits, values, and financial strategies of Jennifer, a divorced 47-year-old earning approximately $10,000 per month. Jennifer lives with her partner of 12+ years, enjoys a high-powered career, manages a beach property in Delaware, and takes a pragmatic, independent approach to her personal finances. The conversation delves into her weekly expenses, how partnership shapes money decisions (especially after divorce), her attitudes toward “splurging” vs. saving, and her long-term planning as she approaches retirement age.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introductions & Financial Snapshot

[04:13]

Jennifer works as the lead of strategic communications at an engineering firm, earning ~$210,000/year.
Her partner, a high school teacher and part-time voiceover artist, earns ~$110,000/year.
They co-own their home and manage finances separately, maintaining a "roommate" style approach.

Retirement Planning as a Couple

[05:18]

Both have pursued independent retirement savings (401k for Jennifer, pension for her partner).
No formalized “unit-based” retirement plan—recognizes the need to coordinate their goals as a couple despite not being married.

“We have our own personal goals, but we’ve really never sat down with anybody and talked about our joint goals. And it’s probably time to do that.” — Jennifer [05:18]

Budgeting & Weekly Spend Tracking

[06:37]

Jennifer keeps a joint budget for recurring and household expenses, with separate “pots” for discretionary spending.
Describes the experience of tracking each day as "fun" and eye-opening, especially to see how some days are “zero spend” while others spike due to eating out or travel.
Biggest “leakage” in budget is dining out, but she reframes it as a source of joy, not waste.

“I say waste because I think that's how society perceives it, but I don't perceive it that way… It is a big part of our lives and we enjoy it very much.” — Jennifer [08:43]

The High Cost of Cable and Internet

[09:49]

Jennifer’s $224/month Comcast bill is her largest recurring expense after housing.
She explains her strategy: regularly renegotiate for package deals that include Netflix and Apple TV, dismisses the “cut the cord” trend as not necessarily cheaper.

“Even though people act like cutting the cord is a better deal, I’m not convinced. I think it would probably add up to roughly the same.” — Jennifer [09:58]

“It takes like an hour… to call them, be on hold, get to the right person, and then work through all of this. But… I like to flip channels. I like Bravo. That’s important.” — Jennifer [13:16]

Shopping Habits: Target Pickup & Grocery Philosophy

[14:41]

Pandemic made Jennifer a “curbside pickup girl” and an avid user of Target’s drive-up service.
Likes the efficiency but realizes it might not save significant money—avoids impulse aisle buys but still easily orders what she wants online.
Prefers shopping in-person for groceries, citing the need to select quality produce.

Relationship & Money: Splitting Costs After Divorce

[16:15/16:23]

Jennifer and her partner maintain separate finances, splitting big bills but not nitpicking over small purchases.
Past divorces, children (from his prior marriage), and property complexities inform their decision not to merge finances.

“We handle most of our expenses kind of a roommate setup… We've been together for a long time... but we've been working toward retirement independently.” — Jennifer [16:23]

“Both of our divorces were like an absolute nightmare… so it’s just worked for us.” — Jennifer [18:48]

Philosophy on Gift Giving

[20:01 – 21:35]

Budget for gifts is modest due to a small family; uses a “pot” of money for gifts when events arise.
Finds writing checks old-fashioned but continues this tradition.
Prefers giving cash over buying gifts, to simplify and ensure usefulness.

“It took two months for that check [graduation gift] to get cashed. So I had to reach out to my friend—oh my God, should I have Venmoed this?” — Jennifer [21:35]

Second Home: Beach Property in Delaware

[25:28 – 27:43]

Property was initially a rental, now occupied by Jennifer’s retired parents after a pandemic-driven family reorganization.
Currently prioritizes accelerated mortgage payments, even with a low 2.5% interest rate, feeling it’s a reasonable place to send “extra” savings after maxing out her 401k and HSA.
Views the beach house as a long-term family asset; recognizes need to diversify investments beyond real estate and basic retirement accounts.

Balancing Frugality & Enjoyment: What’s a Splurge?

[29:56]

Friends tease Jennifer for being frugal, but she’s unafraid to splurge on experiences—vacations, nice meals, massages.
DIYs certain aspects (manicures, facials) to save, but doesn’t scrimp on what brings her genuine happiness.

“I’m happy to be frugal and live rather simply most of the time so that I can splurge when the opportunity presents itself… I spend money freely on the things that really do make me happy or are important to me.” — Jennifer [33:01]

Money Personality Types

[32:16 – 34:02]

Jennifer took the HerMoney “Money Type” quiz; identified as 95% producer, 64% connoisseur—mirroring Jean Chatzky.
She describes this as being motivated to work hard, but also to direct spending at things she truly values.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Eating Out:
“We eat in at least four nights and then typically go out three nights. We’re not going to inexpensive or fast casual places necessarily… It is a big part of our lives and we enjoy it very much.” — Jennifer [08:43]
On Splitting Expenses with Her Partner:
“We handle most of our expenses kind of a roommate setup… bills and other purchases we generally split.” — Jennifer [16:23]
“We’re not one of those Venmo couples that sends each other money for coffee and that kind of thing. It’s not like to that extreme… but for us it's just the way we've rolled now for a long time.” — Jennifer [18:48]
On Cable/Streaming Bills:
“Every year or two… I call and see if I can get a better package deal. We had been paying, I think, $260… When I called to see what we could do… I asked if we could do something to bring it down and then roll in the Netflix.” — Jennifer [11:10]
On Financial Independence:
“I always have kind of hoarded my money for a rainy day…the whole have six months of your expenses covered. I probably have like three years of my expenses covered. So I'm like a little bit extreme in that way.” — Jennifer [18:48]
On Giving Cash for Gifts:
“I don’t know what kids are into, really. And so I’m happy to give money because then I don’t have to think it through.” — Jennifer [21:35]

Important Segments & Timestamps

[04:13] – Jennifer introduces herself, career, income, and partner’s work.
[05:18] – Discussing joint vs. separate retirement plans.
[06:37] – How she budgets and the experience of tracking spending for a week.
[09:49] – [14:04] – Debate over the true cost of cable/streaming; strategies to minimize the bill.
[14:41] – [15:42] – Target curbside pickup: benefits, habits, and impact on spending.
[16:15] – [18:48] – How finances are split in her relationship and why, given both are divorced.
[20:01] – [21:35] – Approach to gift giving, checks vs. Venmo, planning or not planning for gifts.
[25:28] – [27:43] – Ownership and financial management of the Delaware beach property.
[29:56] – Weighing frugality vs. “splurging”; where she intentionally invests her money for happiness.
[32:16] – [34:02] – Jennifer’s money personality: Producer-Connoisseur; philosophy on working hard and spending with intention.

Overall Tone and Takeaways

Jean Chatzky’s conversation with Jennifer is candid, warm, and practical—combining humor with relatable insights. Jennifer’s approach is emblematic of post-divorce financial independence: pragmatic, a little cautious, yet empowering and value-driven. She balances careful saving (sometimes bordering on “extreme,” her word) with unapologetic spending on experiences and comforts that enhance her life. The episode is resonant for anyone navigating finances with a long-term partner, after divorce, or simply striving for a guilt-free, intentional relationship with money.

For Further Exploration:

Take the Money Type quiz at HerMoney.com to identify your financial personality.
Consider semi-annual reviews of recurring bills (like cable/internet).
Use joint budgeting discussions as an opportunity to assess long-term goals, even if accounts remain separate.

Loading summary

Transcript63 lines

[00:00]
A
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[01:02]
B
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[01:29]
A
Hey everyone. Welcome back to Her Money and to another episode of our series, A Week in Her Wallet where we spend seven days tracking one woman's real life spending and see how it reflects her values, priorities and plans for the future. This week we're with Jennifer. She lives with her long term partner of 12 years, works full time in a high powered position and owns beach property in Delaware. She's been through divorce, has built a life that she loves and has chosen a practical, independent approach to her finances. Her week takes us from thoughtful gift giving to meticulous property management, from a pricey haircut that she happily budgets for to a leisurely Saturday morning at the farmer's market. We're going to take a very quick break. Hey everyone, Jean Chatsky with some very exciting news. The Hermoney Patreon is now live for the very first time. You'll be able to unlock bonus episodes, ad free listening and even deeper dives into your questions all in one place. Here's the best part. We're giving you a seven day free trial so you can check it out risk free. That means you can be there for our very first Patreon bonus episode dropping on the 15th and see exactly what we've been working on behind the scenes. So if you've ever thought I wish I could get more Hermoney, well you can just head to patreon.com hermoney Start your free trial and become one of our first subscribers. We can't wait to see you there. You know what's scarier than a burnt apple crisp? The fact that the average adult unknowingly consumes over 150,000 plastic bodies particles a year, mostly from cookware. I wish I was kidding, but I am not. This fall, I've been baking a lot. It's apple season after all, and my caraway set hasn't left my stovetop. It's beautiful, non toxic, and honestly has saved me from more than a few hosting fails. Caraway's cookware set is a favorite for a reason. It can save you up to $190 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit carawayhome.community you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. This deal is exclusively for our listeners, so visit carawayhome.com hermoney or use code hermoney at checkout Caraway Non Toxic Cookware Made Modern. And we are back talking to Jennifer. Jennifer, welcome. Thanks so much for being here.
[04:13]
B
Thanks for having me. This is really exciting, Jean. I listen to your podcast all the time.
[04:17]
A
Aw. Well, we're excited to dig into your life, so let's start with some basics. Tell me about what you do, your salary, and your partner's salary. Let's just start there.
[04:30]
B
Okay, sure. So I work for an engineering firm. I lead their strategic communications team. So we are a group of public relations consultants and we typically serve public sector clients, helping them communicate with the communities they serve about big infrastructure projects. I make $210,000 a year roughly. And my partner is a high school teacher and also a voiceover artist. So he makes about, gosh, all in probably about $110,000 a year then.
[05:07]
A
Do you rent or do you own?
[05:09]
B
We own.
[05:11]
A
You own. Okay. Are there any big financial goals right now that you all are working toward?
[05:19]
B
So I think we need to start thinking about retirement as a unit. We're not married, but we've been together for 12 plus years and we have separate accounts and we've both been working toward retirement independently. He has a pension with his job. I do not. I have a 401k, I have an HSA. So we have very different arrangements and we have our own personal goals, but we've really never sat down with anybody and talked about our joint goals. And it's probably time to do that.
[05:54]
A
How old are you?
[05:55]
B
Late 40s for me, early 50s for him.
[05:58]
A
Yeah, I think that's I think that's exactly the right time. I mean, this is why we do pre retirement checkups as part of finance fix at her money. Right at 10 years, ish, maybe 15 out from retirement. Because that's when people need to look at what do we want to do, when do we want to do it, how much is it going to cost, where are we going to live? All of those questions that many of us don't get around to talking about until it's too late or later than it should be. Right? Yeah. Okay, so let's start with the big picture. Have you ever tracked your spending before?
[06:38]
B
I have not tracked my spending on a week to week or month to month basis, but I do have a budget and that is a joint budget in that it takes into account all of our household expenses, all of our recurring expenses, and then I have a pot of money that I've identified for dinners out, vacations, et cetera. And so it's a pretty detailed budget, but it's also a little loose. I don't track it to the penny like I did during the week for this segment.
[07:10]
A
And how did you find this exercise? Was it fun? Was it tedious? Was it illuminating? Did it make you want to pull your hair out?
[07:18]
B
No, it was fun. There were really no big surprises. All of the expenditures were things that I was generally anticipating. But it was sort of interesting how wildly different each day was because I think there was one or two days where I spent absolutely nothing because I work from home. And so I didn't have any recurring expenses come through on those days. I ate all my meals in with groceries that were left over from the prior week. And I was like, wow, I'm really not spending very much. And then toward the end of the week we went on vacation. And then things really ramped up from there. But it, yeah, no surprises. It was an interesting exercise and I felt like it did sort of illuminate how much we spend when we do go out to eat. That's probably our biggest like, waste money thing.
[08:10]
A
Do you think it was a waste? I mean, I know sometimes, often when people dig into where money is sort of leaking quote unquote from their budget or from their bank account, it's often food, right? It's all those coffees, all that takeout, those restaurant meals that have gotten more expensive. But I. Especially when it's a meal in a restaurant with people that you want to talk to. Waste isn't the word that would come to mind for me.
[08:43]
B
Yeah, you're right. I actually have no Problem spending money on meals out or even. I bought a latte over the weekend. It cost $7.50 and I couldn't believe it. Yeah, but it is what it is. I enjoyed it. So I guess I say waste because I think that's how like society perceives it, but I don't perceive it that way. And when we go out to eat, we really don't think too much about the cost of the items on the menu. I'll get the lobster roll, I'll get the upgraded item and we go out to eat quite a bit. And then the rest of the time I cook. I would say that during the week we eat in at least four nights and then typically go out three nights. And you know, we're not going to inexpensive or fast casual places necessarily. So we are spending a lot. And I guess when I say it's a waste of money, I think that other people may perceive it that way, but it is a big part of our lives and we enjoy it very much. So I don't mind going out for a nice meal.
[09:50]
A
One thing that stood out to me was on day two, your $224 cable bill. Hi.
[09:59]
B
This is day two of Week in her wallet, Jen Keller. And today I had an automatic bill payment to comcast cable for $224.28. This is for TV and high speed Internet. This includes Netflix and Apple TV streaming services. And each month I am aggravated by this bill. I just recently renegotiated it to get a better package deal. And even though I think this is really high and it's one of the highest bills in our household, I think it's a better solution than cobbling together Internet from a different provider and then streaming services. Because even though people act like cutting the cord is a better deal, I'm not convinced. I think it would probably add up to roughly the same amount. And while I'm not thrilled with this provider, I do like having a one stop shop for tv, Internet and streaming.
[10:56]
A
You mentioned that you recently renegotiated a better package deal. Tell me what happened. How much was your bill? How much did you bring it down by? Did you have to give up anything in order to get that better deal?
[11:11]
B
Sure. So I feel like this is such a hot topic in our friend group. It's always like a little internal competition. I feel like that's going on between the people that we socialize with about, you know, how you're getting your entertainment and your wi fi and what you're paying for it. And we have so many friends that are big proponents of cutting the cord. And I've never wanted to do that because I feel like it's a lot of legwork to figure all of that out. And I like the idea of either going with Xfinity, Comcast or Verizon and just having a one stop shop. So we've been with Comcast forever and every year or two, it depends on what kind of package we're in, I call and see if I can get a better package deal. And we had been paying, I think $260, but that did not include Netflix. We were paying for Netflix separately. And so when I called to see what we could do, because, you know, as I told them, it's like our highest recurring bill in the house, it's even higher than our energy bill. And that feels ridiculous, I asked if we could do something to bring it down and then roll in the Netflix. So ultimately it is a savings. We were able to get the overall cost down and then bring in the separate Netflix fee. And then we added Apple tv. They were able to give us that, which we didn't even know we wanted, but now we're enjoying.
[12:30]
A
Wait, okay, so I'm on Comcast and I am learning a big lesson here because we pay for all of these things separately. And I don't want to cut the cord either. My husband and I have actually had this discussion because the kind of people that will just go through the channels and realize that the replacements is on for the 50th time. And yes, we want to watch that movie again, but only because it's on. Right. I was not going to go and look for it on one of my services, but the fact that they're, you know, a half an hour in, I already know what happened. I know what's coming. But it's, it's a way to chill.
[13:04]
B
Right.
[13:05]
A
I like that. I like that experience.
[13:08]
B
Yeah.
[13:09]
A
So we don't cut the cord because of that. But I can roll my Netflix and my Apple TV into my Comcast bill.
[13:17]
B
Yeah. And I believe there are a few others you can do. Max and Paramount plus and Showtime, they have packages that include the streaming services. So I was happy to roll that back in. And Netflix had been part of our Comcast years ago, and then it was more cost effective to kick it out. I don't mind doing this up to once a year. It takes like an hour of the day to carve out time to call them, be on hold, get to the right person, and then work through all of this. So, yeah, I mean, I'm same as you. I like to flip channels. I like Bravo. That's important. I don't want to be delayed on getting my, my Bravo fixed. So I was happy to be able to keep cable and then bring in the streaming services. So now I don't have to like monitor how those subscriptions are going up.
[14:04]
A
Oh, I have a project for this afternoon. Here we go. You have also started ordering ahead for pickup at Target. Instead of walking the aisles, I visited Target headquarters once to give a speech to some of their employees. And at the Target store, at Target headquarters, which has Target swag, I bought a T shirt for my husband that says I only bought the items on my list at Target. Said nobody ever. Right. Because that's so true. What inspired you to make that move?
[14:42]
B
Really, it was the pandemic. I was a big time curbside pickup girl during the pandemic. I was doing it with groceries and Target for me felt like the most user friendly application. So it's just so easy. And now at our Target, they'll bring you a Starbucks with your drive up order as well. So you can add that on if you are so inclined. And the Target's very close to the house, but. And they also don't have a minimum, whereas our grocery store, you have to spend a certain threshold in order to get free pickup. So you could get like just a pack of razors and shampoo and conditioner and drive up and get it. So I always do Target pickup. In fact, I had to go in not too long ago and I was shocked because they had like revamped the whole store's layout. And I was like, I haven't been in here in a really long time. But I always do that pickup. But I did. I missed going to the grocery store because I would much prefer to pick out my own avocados and bananas than to have somebody else do it. So I'm back to that. But I kept the Target pickup.
[15:43]
A
Does it save you money doing pickup instead of shopping at Target?
[15:47]
B
I don't know that it necessarily does because I have gone on there and ordered an immersion blender. Like all kinds. Like, I still think of things and it's super easy to get them, but I'm not grabbing a novel at checkout or any of those like pickup items that you see like when you go in and it's like that dollar spot. So I'm not picking up any of those kinds of little odds and ends. So yeah, probably it is saving me a few bucks. And it's definitely Saving time.
[16:16]
A
Your week also showed how you and your partner split things after being together for more than a decade.
[16:23]
B
I purchased concert tickets for $113.50. That was for two tickets. That's for a concert that we'll go see in July down in Dewey Beach, Delaware, and my boyfriend will reimburse me for his ticket, which will be 5,675. We live together and have for probably about 12 years now, both previously divorced. We chosen not to get remarried, but we've been together for a long time. We handle most of our expenses. Kind of a roommate setup where we each pay for our own expenses. And on something like this, he'll pay for his ticket, I'll pay for my ticket. For meals and groceries, we kind of just contribute and buy and go back and forth on that. We're not like real prescriptive about splitting those amounts, but bills and other purchases we generally split.
[17:15]
A
You said you bought two concert tickets at $57 each, knowing that he would reimburse you for his half. Do you think that the fact that you've decided to keep your finances separate is a result of the fact that you're both divorced in the past, or is it something else?
[17:34]
B
I think it's that, yeah, we're both divorced. He has children. I don't. I kind of run the show financially because we moved into my house and I have all the bills in my name. And so he reimburses me for half of everything. And if we do something like that, where we're buying concert tickets, if he buys them, then I send him money. We're not one of those Venmo couples that like, sends each other money for coffee and that kind of thing. It's not like to that extreme. Like we pick up the tab for each other for little stuff here and there. Those concert tickets were rather inexpensive. But if we're going to like a $300, like all day concert package kind of thing, like, we'll each pay our own way. And that's just always the way we've done it and it works for us and haven't seen a reason to change that. But I do think about, like, what the future holds and. And maybe like ways that we could merge our money more moving forward. We don't have plans to get married, but I see us retiring together, aging together and all of that. So we're going to have to start thinking through some of that stuff.
[18:39]
A
Does the fact that you make significantly more money than he does have any impact on your relationship?
[18:48]
B
It really doesn't I have not had any issues with him about that. I feel like my job is a good gig. I'm lucky to have it. And I am a big time saver because I also feel like when you're in consulting, the bottom could fall out at any time. And I always have kind of hoarded my money for a rainy day and the whole have six months of your expenses covered. I probably have like three years of my expenses covered. So I'm like a little bit extreme in that way. He is a saver also. So I think we're like financially compatible and I don't think there would be any issues if we were to combine. But both of our divorces were like an absolute nightmare as far as separating real estate and all that kind of stuff. So it's just worked for us. Like, we both bought vehicles in 2024. And like, I went to the Volvo dealership and like bought the car by myself. And like, he went to the Toyota dealership and bought his 4Runner on his own. And like, we both paid off our cars really fast. I think that other couples may be like, that's bizarre. But for us it's just the way we've rolled now for a long time. And so we stick with it.
[20:02]
A
Day three for you was a mix of bills, clothes and gifts.
[20:08]
B
Hi, it's Jen Keller week in her wallet. Day 3. Today I paid a credit card balance for a MasterCard that I only use for a couple of recurring bills, and that statement amount was just $50.82. I also placed an order for a cardigan from L.L. bean, a summer weight cardigan that I had been eyeing. And I had some Bean bucks to use, so I ordered that. It was 39.92 after the discount. And then I wrote checks for two graduation gifts. $50 for my best friend's only child's 8th grade graduation. I'll drop that in the mail. And then I wrote a check for $100 for my childhood friend's high school graduation. And I'll take that to a party for her on Saturday. And as I was doing this, it occurred to me that these kids would probably rather receive this money via Venmo or something like that. But I'm writing checks like an old person. So that was it for my expenditures for today. Thanks.
[21:16]
A
You joked on your voice memo, these kids would probably rather get it via Venmo. But I'm writing checks like an old person. I do that too. I kind of like, I like sending something even if it's a check is gift Giving a big part of your budget and how do you plan for it?
[21:36]
B
So it's not a huge part of my budget because I don't have that many people to buy for. I'm an only child. I don't have brothers and sisters. And so I don't have nieces and nephews. Certainly for my boyfriend's kids. We're very generous with them. And I think for that reason, when things do come up, like a friend's kid's eighth grade graduation, like, I don't mind sending them a check. Like, I'm happy to do that. And just for the record, it took two months for that check to get cashed. So I had to reach out to my friend, oh, my God, should I have venmoed this? Where is this check? So anyway, she did finally cash it right after that. But yeah, I would say that gifts are something that I just have, like a pot of money for that I dole out on an as needed basis. And so these two graduations weren't something I was, like, planning ahead for. But you know, when a wedding pops up for a cousin or a friend's child's graduation, like, I have no qualms about writing a check for that. And to be honest, like, I don't know what kids are into really. And so I'm happy to give money because then I don't have to think it through.
[22:50]
A
Jennifer, we're going to take a very quick break. When we come back, I want to get into what it's like owning a second home, why you want to pay off that house early, and how you budget for your vacations.
[23:01]
B
Sounds good.
[23:03]
A
So you all know I don't rave about things unless I really mean it. And I have to say, I finally tried the Fits Everyone collection from Skims. My daughter has been telling me about it for such a long time, but now I totally get the hype. I've always had issues with underwear. It's too tight, it's too bulky. It leaves lines under everything. I can't stand the lines. This is a game changer. The fabric is soft. I can't believe how comfortable it is. This is the kind of feel good upgrade that is small but seriously meaningful. We all deserve a few small upgrades in our lives. So if you haven't tried skims yet, take this as your sign. The Fits Everybody collection lives up to the name. It really does fit and flatter Everybody. Shop Skims Fits everybody collection@skims.com and after you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show in the drop down menu that follows. Many people can't tell you exactly how many financial accounts they have or even what they're worth. 401s from old jobs, scattered savings accounts, investments they haven't checked in years. And when you don't have the full picture, you will leave money on the table. That's where Monarch Money comes in. It's an all in one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together cleanly, clearly all in one place. My producer Hailey uses it every single day and she's been loving one feature in particular. Monarch automatically separates your monthly spending into fixed and flexible categories. Her mortgage and gym membership are fixed, but groceries, dining out, everything else is flexible and that gives her some wiggle room. Don't let financial opportunity slip through the cracks in your Life. Use code hermoneyonarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off@monimalmoney.com with code HERMONEY and we are back talking to Jennifer. On day five, you made an $850 mortgage payment on a beach property that you own in Delaware.
[25:28]
B
Hi. This is week in her wallet. Day five Friday. This is Jen Keller. Today I paid the mortgage on my property in Delaware at the beach. I pay that 26 times a year on the accelerated payment plan and it's in line with payday. So on days that I get paid from work, I pay $850 toward that mortgage. I also paid an insurance payment today for the homeowner's policy on that same property. It was $122. I pay my insurance in full every May, but this was for increased water backup coverage that I got at the advice of my insurance agent. So again, that was $122 and I put it on my Marriott Visa credit card so that I get hotel points. I got my hair cut and colored today. That was $135 plus a $20 tip. I do this about every eight weeks and then once or twice a year I'll also get highlights. I do not get my nails done or eyebrows or lashes or any of that other stuff. I figure I can do manicures and pedicures and facials myself. So haircut and color is really my only beauty maintenance item. And then I also belong to Massage Envy. So I get a massage once a month. But I did that earlier in the month. We went out to dinner tonight. It was $76.72. I picked up the Tab. My boyfriend's a high school teacher. Today was the last day of school, so that was a little treat for him. And then we went to Target and I picked up$54.5 worth of odds and ends, some things in advance of vacation. We leave on Sunday. That's it. Thank you.
[27:16]
A
Tell us about this second home. What made you buy it? What do you like about owning it and why? Get out of the mortgage.
[27:23]
B
Sure. So the second home in Delaware was initially a rental property, and now my retired parents are actually living in it. We made that arrangement during the pandemic because they had a separate beach property and I really wasn't interested in trying to navigate rentals during that time.
[27:43]
A
And.
[27:43]
B
And so they ended up selling their place. The market was good and it was a good time for them to shift into my place at the beach. And now we've got all our eggs in one beach basket, which is probably good in the long run because of flood insurance and all of the other risks associated with owning a beach property. So that is the nature of that property. It's a former rental property, second home. We go there frequently and are happy to share the space with my parents. I view it as a family beach house. And I had it on accelerated payments initially and then took that off because I thought, well, you know, why, why am I in a hurry to pay off this mortgage? Because I think the rate is like 2.5%.
[28:29]
A
Oh, wow.
[28:30]
B
Yeah, I got really lucky with that. So super low rate. But I've maxed out my 401k, I have maxed out my HSA. I'm saving in high yield savings accounts, and I really just wasn't sure where else would be a good use of the money. And I thought, well, I should do the accelerated payments again. And so I'm doing that. And I have attended a couple of your investing fixed classes, and I got to get back to that after the summer because I. I would like to open a brokerage account and like go down that path with some of the extra funds that I have available, but I haven't really done much of that right now. I just have my 401k and then a Roth IRA that's lingering from old, you know, that is invested and then the HSA money. But I feel like I could get some of the money that's in savings accounts into better use. But in the meantime, I just thought, well, I'll throw a little bit of extra at the mortgage.
[29:32]
A
Got it. The same day that you paid the mortgage, you also had a $122 homeowner's insurance. Add on cut in color at the salon for $155 with tip. A celebratory dinner for your partner's last day of school. You mentioned he was a teacher. How do you decide what's a splurge and what's not?
[29:57]
B
Well, my friends sort of tease me for being frugal because I am a saver. And I do look for ways to cut corners. Like, I never go get my nails done. I just do my own. And I could afford to go get a manicure and pedicure, but I just don't. And I look for ways to save money, but I also don't mind splurging. You know, when we went to Cape May later in the week, we stayed at the Star, which is part of Congress Hall. And every cocktail at Congress hall is like over $20 a piece. And like that, that didn't bother me at all. But there are lots of things that do day to day bother me to spend on. And I try to cut that way. And I feel like the hair salon is one of those places that I know that friends of mine are spending well over $300 per visit. But I've found someone who does a nice job on my hair. I spread it out so I go every eight weeks, not more frequently, and I only do highlights every other time or quarterly. So I do look for ways to save a buck on stuff like that. I don't mind spending on that kind of maintenance, but I definitely don't go crazy with it.
[31:14]
A
As you mentioned, your week wrapped up in Cape May, New Jersey, where you stayed at that beautiful hotel. And your total small spending for the week came to $2,122.10, which, let me just point out one more time, included a big mortgage payment. When you look at that number, what's your overall reaction? Does it feel normal? Did it have more big ticket items than usual?
[31:40]
B
I mean, I hadn't totaled that up, so that's interesting to hear back. I suppose that's not a super high total, considering there was that. That half mortgage payment in there and some other recurring bills were in there, and then the first day of vacation. That's probably a pretty normal and an average week for me, I suppose. I mean, we do go out to eat a lot and we go on a lot of little weekend getaways, so that probably is about right. And even with the two gifts, which would be out of the ordinary, I didn't feel like it was a super spendy week. For me, it sounds about normal.
[32:17]
A
I want to just wrap talking about our money type quiz, which you took. You found you were 95% producer and 64% connoisseur. For anybody who's listening who wants to learn more about your own money personality, you can go to hermoney.com, find your way to our money type quiz and you'll get a diagnostic telling you how your personality breaks down. But I was struck by, by the connoisseur part of your personality because it does feel like although you are self described as frugal, you do like spending on things that make you happy. Is that your philosophy of money?
[33:01]
B
Yeah, that is. And I took that money type quiz a while back actually, and I felt like the results were exactly what I expected. So it felt just right to me. You know, it's kind of like when you take the Myers Briggs and there are no surprises, you're like, yep, that's exactly who I am. But yeah, I am happy to be frugal and live rather simply most of the time so that I can splurge when the opportunity presents itself. And I love a long weekend at a fancy hotel and charging everything to the room. And you know, I don't mind an expensive meal, but I don't spend a lot of money on clothes and that hot girl hamster wheel that you talk about. Right. Like I don't do Botox and nail salons and that sort of thing, but I get a massage every month, so it's like a trade off. Like I, I spend money freely on the things that really do make me happy, are important, important to me. But I also love saving.
[34:02]
A
I, I think the producer connoisseur combo, which is, by the way, exactly what I am. I, I sort of describe it as right, we work hard, but we know what resonates with us and our values and fund those things as well. Jennifer, thanks so much for being here. This was fun.
[34:21]
B
Yeah, thank you. I loved it.
[34:23]
A
I'm so glad and I hope that we'll cross paths again.
[34:27]
B
That would be great. Great to meet you.
[34:29]
A
You as well. If you love today's episode, please take a moment to leave us a five star review on Apple podcast. Your favorite feedback means the world to me. And if you're ready to keep the money conversation going, HerMoney has three amazing programs designed to help you feel more confident and in control of your money. There's Finance Fix. It's our four week coaching program that helps you rethink your spending, find hidden savings and make smarter choices. For the future. Our pre retirement program runs for six weeks and walks you through building a retirement strategy that's personalized for your next chapter. Finally, there's Investing Fix, our investing club for women. It meets every other week on Zoom. It is a supportive space to learn, ask questions, grow your investing confidence, and build your portfolio. Portfolio and your first month is absolutely free. These programs are truly helping level the playing field for women financially. I'd love for you to join us. Her Money is produced by Haley Pascalides and our music is provided by Video Helper. Thanks so much for listening and we'll talk soon.