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Jean Chadsky
Hey, everyone, it's Jean Chadsky. Welcome to her money and an episode of our new series, A week in her Wallet. So here's the plan. Each week we invite a woman from the hermoney community to track her spending for seven days and then reflect on not only what she spent, but why she spent it. Because we know money's not just about what's in the bank. It's about priorities and relationships and how we move through the world. And today, Lizzie's here. Lizzie is 41. She is married, a mom of two young kids. She's a chiropractor, and she lives in a small town in New England where she's raising her family, running her practice, and like all of us, navigating the costs of modern life. So just a few details on Lizzy. This week, she is going to share with us a decision to skip $1,000 concert in favor of a more meaningful summer. Why she's passionate about supporting local businesses and how she and her husband make money decisions together. Lizzy, thank you so much for being here and thanks for doing this.
Lizzie
Oh, it was my pleasure. I jumped at the opportunity when I saw it in the email because it just seemed like a kind of a fun exercise to participate in.
Jean Chadsky
Well, why? I mean, a lot of people I think would hear track your spending and go, oh, my God, please, no, never.
Lizzie
Yeah, that's a. That's a fair question. I think over the years, I've become more interested in my own personal finances. And when I first started to get really serious about it was when my first daughter was a baby. And so it had truthfully been a really long time since I had done this kind of exercise of really carefully monitoring everything. I've. As we've kind of had more things on autopilot, I've taken a step back from like the micro minutiae of. Of everyday spending, but which I think overall has been helpful. But I thought, oh, this would be a really good opportunity to dive in and look at where I'm at these days.
Jean Chadsky
So tell me a little bit more about you. I gave everybody the basics, but what lights you up, what gets you up in the morning? Just some details that we wouldn't know from your resume.
Lizzie
Sure, sure. Well, family is a big one, as you said. I have two small daughters who are eight and a half and almost five. So that is a big part of my day to day. Both like, literally getting me out of bed in the morning, like, dragging me out, and also just motivating me to keep trying to give them an awesome, safe, beautiful life, but also continuing to grow as a partner and as a person individually outside of motherhood. And I think you mentioned, yes, I'm a chiropractor. I love the work I do. I'm really specialized in my practice. I work exclusively with pregnant women and babies and young children. So.
Jean Chadsky
Wow.
Lizzie
It's. Yeah, it's really fun. Very rewarding. Definitely keeps me on my toes and energized on a day to day basis. Interacting with my clients on a really intimate and special level. And then besides that, I love hiking and cooking and all these other travel fun stuff like that.
Jean Chadsky
Does the work that you do as a chiropractor mean that you're self employed and you get to set your own schedule and does that work well for you?
Lizzie
It does. And yes, it does work well for me. I've been my own boss since I graduated chiropractic School in 2012. I think I was one of the few people in my class that just went right out and started a practice from scratch rather than associating with another doctor for a while. It might have been a little of a wild decision at the beginning, but now almost 13 years in, I'm looking back, I know that was the right choice for me. Being able to build that from the ground up before I had kids too. So yes, I make my own schedule and a little dependent on my clients needs and everything, but I really love the flexibility that affords me, especially with my kids. I can't, honestly at this point I can't imagine ever working for someone again. It's just so. It's so nice even talking to some of my chiropractor friends who have employees and hire other chiropractors. I'm strictly a one woman show, especially during COVID I shut down my practice for a while but knew I wasn't responsible for anyone else's income or well being. I do like just being in charge of myself on that level.
Jean Chadsky
Yeah, no, it's a lot honestly to know that there are other people and their livelihoods that you are responsible for it.
Unnamed Speaker
I definitely feel that in my own life. Okay, let's start.
Lizzie
Hi, this is Lizzie checking in on Monday the 16th with my spending tracker. Today a couple of monthly bills went through like our utilities and our life insurance and also just an online order for bulk loose leaf tea that I buy which is just one of these recurring costs that I probably only buy every like four to six months. Something I've been trying to do is buy these bigger orders from smaller places once in a While rather than like getting tea once a week from my grocery store, just really trying to be more intentional about the businesses where I am spending money to use my financial power in that way.
Unnamed Speaker
What kind of tea and why?
Jean Chadsky
Bulk ordering?
Lizzie
Yeah. So this is something I've never been a coffee drinker for some reason. I've just always been a tea gal myself. Probably something I get for my mom and in more recent years started to be more aware of like the microplastics in conventional tea bags and just lower quality where I started learning more about like actual herbs and dried leaves and stuff that can be more beneficial. So I instead buy bulk tea, as you said, like every few months, buy this big order from another Massachusetts company that I found. So I order it directly from her. Again, I obviously am paying for shipping, but it's just every few months rather than like adding a little box of tea here and there from my grocery store shopping or something like that. I think it's easier in some ways, like I never run out of tea or like I notice I'm. I'm getting low and I can just do this other order. And sometimes when feeling very powerless with like the greater political or economic situations, it's like, look, this is literally something I can make a decision about every day and either give my money to this company or that company or save it or do something else with it entirely. But just trying to be more intentional about the businesses I choose to pay for the things that I want.
Jean Chadsky
Very intentional. You went in on a gift for your parents 53rd anniversary and a shared.
Unnamed Speaker
Gift with your siblings and then just.
Lizzie
Like a little money. Feelings I had today was that it is actually my parents 53rd wedding anniversary today, which is super amazing and exciting. And so my work day started with my siblings, my brother and sister and I just kind of texting about it and them deciding that we were all going to send them a bouquet of flowers, which I feel like I didn't really want to do and I agreed to do because I'm still working on having boundaries with my siblings and my parents and family of origin and this like gift giving culture that my family of origin has. Anyway, I'll check in tomorrow with more.
Jean Chadsky
I don't know, it sort of feels like that conversation that we had in my family at one point around Hanukkah and the kids, which is. All right, at what point do we stop getting gifts for all the kids for Hanukkah, right? At what age does that stop? And it kind of has to be a decision, otherwise somebody looks Bad.
Lizzie
Exactly. And it's like, I'm not gonna be the one, and they're gonna sign the card, like, from all of us except for Lizzie or something. You know, it's like, it's. It's true. It has to kind of be all or nothing. And we have had some of these conversations in the past where I thought like, okay, yeah, we've decided and either one of us is misremembering or changing our minds on the spot. But yeah, that definitely brought up some feelings right away. Even though it wasn't. It was money I could afford and, you know, I love my parents. It wasn't like, against my will so much. It's just like, really, are we really doing this? It just. It didn't feel intentional on my side because it was just something I was thrown into. Feels like it. I'm like, okay, this is probably a conversation I should have before next summer when it rolls around again to set that expectations with my siblings if I don't want to do this anymore.
Jean Chadsky
You said that your week was a love letter to your town. I thought that was a terrific line. Tell me about about that.
Lizzie
I live in a town that has municipal electricity and municipal Internet, so my electric bill is extremely inexpensive and my Internet is the cheapest I have paid in, like forever. Even a decade ago, we pay less than $50 for high speed wireless Internet through our town. And I just, I'm. I love our town for doing this and many other things. And that's something I didn't realize when we were looking to buy this house and we just kind of got so lucky and fell into. So if someone is looking at different towns where they live and they come across a town with municipal electricity and municipal Internet, I say go for it. It's a huge financial savings compared to other towns I've lived in where I've had to go through, know, National Grid or Comcast or these other huge Verizon, these other huge faceless organizations versus these. This company that's rooted directly in my town.
Unnamed Speaker
And what makes your town so special?
Lizzie
That is a great question. And I do. I felt like I kept just singing the praises. Oh, I think there was like, the local pool was reopening, so we bought the passes for that. I do think that having fun, accessible and well maintained things in and around our town helps so much with. Especially with kids and like, creating a life that we like, but with money too. And yes, I do think I'm more invested in the community. I think kids really helped me do that, like, made Me realize, oh, I really care about, like, if this tax increase passes or how well the schools are maintained and the sidewalks are maintained. So it's definitely made me more of a community participant since becoming a mom.
Jean Chadsky
Well, clearly you're a supporter of things in your town. On day two, you won a month to a kickboxing gym in your daughter's preschool. Silent auction.
Lizzie
I am the proud recipient of one month of kickboxing classes at a local kickboxing gym. And I'm really excited about it. It was something I was curious about trying anyway, and I got a whole month for $44. No one else bid on it. So I think that is a huge win. It benefits this fundraiser for a family in the school whose child has cancer. And then it's also this awesome thing that I get to do for, for myself this summer, which I am excited.
Jean Chadsky
About now, I think. Gotta say, I think one and silent auction. A little bit of a conflict there, right? You bid the highest for this kickboxing gym. Are you gonna use it?
Lizzie
I already have, actually. I have. I've gone to four classes so far, which it was something I was exploring already. Like I, I wanted to try it. I was looking at a few different gyms around us and yeah, this, you're right. I didn't win it so much as purchased it for a much lower cost than it would be. I think the intro special for this gym was I think like $160 for the month or something. So I got it for 44. It was good. I'm like, that pays off if I go to like two classes.
Jean Chadsky
I would say the gym probably fits under the umbrella of self care. And we had Katie Gatti Tassen on our show.
Unnamed Speaker
She has the Money with Katie podcast and recently wrote a book where she sort of outed herself and the ridiculous amounts of money that she was spending at one point on all the beauty and other self care expenses. And when she went to slash her budget, that's where she made a lot of significant cuts.
Jean Chadsky
What's your feeling about beauty and self care and those sorts of things?
Lizzie
Yeah, I definitely prioritize it and I would say maybe a little differently than some women. I actually, I don't wear makeup, like really at all. And I don't color my hair. I maybe get it cut once or twice a year. I maybe get a manicure pedicure once a year, like very low on that. But what I do spend my money happily on is yoga and my own chiropractor and massage and like more social self care. Like setting aside time to visit a girlfriend for a weekend or something like that. So I think it's a wonderful way to use your money. And I think like, with that it's like, well, what is actually important to you? I don't want to buy like a scented candle or sit and get my makeup done, but yet I want to do these other things. So it's, it's just finding what actually is caring for yourself as an individual and not spending money on anything else.
Jean Chadsky
I guess for me, yeah, well, like not spending the thousand dollars on tickets.
Lizzie
I also thought I'd share. Notably, my husband and I had a huge purchase that we did not make. We were very excited to see one of our favorite artists, David Byrne, was gonna come through our area and play some shows. And I was really excited. And we got through, like about to buy the tickets, picking out the seats, and then realized the cost that I thought was for both tickets was actually just one ticket. And so the total cost was $1,000. And we decided not to do it for a two hour show for $1,000. We decided to instead save our money and indulge in other cultural experiences that perhaps are just less expensive.
That is.
Yeah, that's just very interesting. So I thought I'd share that because we did not purchase, but it was definitely one, you know, a big money conversation that he and I had and made that decision together that it just wasn't worth it to us. And I love that we were on the same page and I'm glad that we did not spend $1,000 on concert tickets tonight. And yeah, you'll hear from me more tomorrow.
So a thousand was a lot. When I'm thinking about one night and then it's like, okay, because we have small kids that also needs a babysitter. That's another like hundred bucks or so. Maybe we go out to dinner. Like parking at the venue, it's just. It's always so much more.
Jean Chadsky
It is. And sometimes I think there's a line that you just can't cross. My husband and I were in a.
Unnamed Speaker
Restaurant last Friday night, Italian place, local.
Jean Chadsky
Joint where we were down the shore.
Unnamed Speaker
So things were a little more expensive.
Than they typically are. But they had a special pasta special with crab meat and pepperdell and I don't know some other. Clearly I remember it because the server said it was $48 and I was otherwise eyeing penne vodka, which is my go to my favorite 28 bucks, which is still expensive. And my husband's like, what do you even. Why are you Stressing about this, you can afford $48 for this pasta. And I was offended. Like, I just could not bring myself to order it.
I ordered the penne vodka.
I loved it. I think if I had ordered the one with the crab meat, I would have been pissed off at myself and at the chef for not putting enough crab meat in it, no matter how much there was. I don't know. Sometimes it's arbitrary, but it means something.
Lizzie
I agree. I always feel this way about really nice wine because I'm like, sure, it might taste great, but it's still going to be over in four glasses, right? Like, or you're still going to be done with dinner and just have a full belly, which is great. But I'm like, or I'm just going to still have gone to this two hour show and then drive home.
It's.
I know we made the right choice. I don't have regrets about this personally. I think that again, to some people that absolutely would be worth it to them and they'd say, yeah, let's do it. I think we had also maybe like a few weeks before that we had purchased tickets to see a show on Broadway in New York like in October, which we are so excited about. And again, like had been planning and thinking about and that I think was like 400 bucks or something. So it's like, why? Like, I want to do this but not that much. And I agree there is some line and I think it's very personal. But for me that was, that was.
Jean Chadsky
Beyond, that was a hard no. We're going to take a quick break. Lizzie, when we come back, we're going to get into the rest of your week.
Unnamed Speaker
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Jean Chadsky
You know that feeling when you walk.
Unnamed Speaker
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Jean Chadsky
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Unnamed Speaker
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Jean Chadsky
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Unnamed Speaker
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Jean Chadsky
But personally I don't think you're going.
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Jean Chadsky
We are back talking to Lizzy on day three. You said it had been a long time since you tracked your spending and you were surprised that you were spending on certain things or or spending on so much so easily.
Lizzie
Hi, this is Lizzie checking in on day three of a week in my money and today there was just a few. I spent just a few things. I filled my car up with gas first thing in the morning. I needed to get my windshield of my car replaced because a rock like a pebble flew up and it was damaged so I couldn't pass inspection. My insurance covered the replacement in full but they upsold me on the windshield wipers so that was like 70 bucks. Feeling okay about everything so far? I think it's been a really long time since I tracked my spending on a daily basis and I think I'm just surprised how easy it is to spend so much money. Like I don't feel like I'm spending a lot of money right now and it's, it's just hundreds and hundreds of dollars just on what I view as like kind of just cost of doing family life right now. So it's definitely been an interesting exercise so far and I look forward to telling you about the rest of the week.
Jean Chadsky
Where did you, where did you find that your money was leaking?
Lizzie
That really struck me because it was Just all written down. And in my brain I was like, oh, I'm not even like spending anything. I'm not going out to eat, I'm not doing. And it's like it was just hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I just the utilities and the life insurance and like just again, so many things that are just, that are non negotiables for us and just recurring costs. But just leaving, just money just leaving so easily. I think. I like it all evens out at the end of the month. I see it all like, okay, yeah, the money left, the money came in. But when I'm actually just looking at a day to day basis, like wow, I didn't even leave the house today and I spent 300, like just. I felt like it was kind of like just cost of doing the family. There's so many inherent costs with kids too of just like registering for this class and going to a friend's birthday party that we had to buy a present for and end of year teacher gifts and stuff. It just that I never really, even though they happen every year, I'm never like, oh, don't forget like $200 in June is just gonna need to be spent for no apparent reason. Just lots of little things that, that's.
Unnamed Speaker
Sort of what 4 and 5 seem.
To me like, full of, of a.
Jean Chadsky
Lot of little things. But on day six, you said you.
Unnamed Speaker
Spent all day outside hiking and scootering with your girls.
Lizzie
Hello, this is Lizzy checking in for day six.
It was such a busy day.
Spent all day with the girls outside just hiking and scootering and doing all sorts of things that did not cost money.
We did do a grocery trip haul.
For the week which was actually a little smaller because we had done some of the extras the day before. So it was only about 200 bucks. And we also had to go to.
The toy store to get a birthday.
Present for a really good friend of both of our girls. So it was a bigger gift than we ordinarily do for just like okay friends. I try to usually spend about 10 or $15 because these are like both girls going, this is such a special friend who's their family's done so much for us. We spent about $40 on his gift and that was the day I wondered.
Unnamed Speaker
Do you think that those things are.
More rewarding because they don't cost a lot of money?
Lizzie
Perhaps I get really rewarded just being outside with my girls and seeing them enjoy that too. I do think there is something very satisfying about having a full wonderful day with the kids and Realizing, yeah, I didn't have to spend all this money because there's so many things. Again, just like going out to the movies or something. It's like, oh, there's a hundred dollars. Goodbye. And same amount of time, probably same amount of enjoyment. I think I got an extra little thrill of it this week just because I was thinking about my money spending so much with this exercise. So, yeah, maybe it does feel a little good. There are also parks that again, along the theme, like we do some of these parks, we've invested in a yearly basis as members and support the Audubon Society and things like that. Also really important to me that we are protecting the natural resources and that there are places that we can. Everyone in the community can go and be welcomed without being expected to spend money like parks or the library or whatever.
Jean Chadsky
Your total spent for the week was $1,149.32. What do you think about when you hear that number and is there anything that you would change going forward?
Lizzie
That's a good question. I don't think there would be anything I would change about that specific week. No, I think the number. Maybe an older version of me would have been shocked and that would have seemed really big. It still of money, but in terms of the, like, it's pretty on par with our typical spending and with our income. It makes sense. It's not like we're overstretched. So it's. I guess that's just me slowly accepting my adulthood and to like, how much money we make as a family and how much it costs just to live in a family of four with a house and a car, two cars and things. I guess it is still surprising to see it all listed out like that.
It's.
Jean Chadsky
Is that the word you would choose to describe your week of spending? Is it surprising or would it be something else?
Lizzie
Maybe not surprising. Yeah, I guess illuminating. Also validating too. And that like these life does cost this money. Like, okay, this. Yes. This is why we're working. This is why we are being mindful of our spending and not just splurging on every whim like the David Byrne tickets. And I also felt really. I guess I felt validated in that I was on the right path. It's not like I'm seeing subscriptions I didn't know about or frivolous spending that I know I should be stopping or things like that, which felt good too.
Jean Chadsky
I think a lot of people do. So sounds to me like you're definitely in control. Lizzie, thank you so much for doing this with us today. I hope that your experience will encourage other people to try to try to track with us for a week in her wallet. And I really enjoyed talking to you, so thanks for that as well.
Lizzie
I enjoyed it too. Thanks so much for your curiosity and for taking the time to chat with me.
Jean Chadsky
Absolutely. 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. And your first month 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.
HerMoney with Jean Chatzky: A Week In Her Wallet – How a 41-Year-Old Chiropractor Balances Family Life and Finances
In the compelling episode of HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, titled "A Week In Her Wallet: How a 41-Year-Old Chiropractor Balances Family Life and Finances," host Jean Chatzky delves into the financial life of Lizzie, a 41-year-old chiropractor from a small town in New England. This episode is part of the new series “A Week in Her Wallet,” where women from the HerMoney community track their spending for seven days, reflecting on both the amounts and the motivations behind their expenditures.
Lizzie is a dedicated mother of two young daughters, aged eight and nearly five, and the sole proprietor of her chiropractic practice, which she founded immediately after graduating in 2012. Living in a close-knit New England town, Lizzie enjoys the flexibility of being her own boss, allowing her to balance her professional responsibilities with her family life seamlessly.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “Being able to build that from the ground up before I had kids too. So yes, I make my own schedule and a little dependent on my clients' needs and everything, but I really love the flexibility that affords me, especially with my kids.” [03:28]
Lizzie embarked on the seven-day spending tracker to gain a clearer understanding of her daily financial habits. She expressed enthusiasm about the project, viewing it as an opportunity to re-engage with her personal finances after a period of more passive financial management.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “It was my pleasure. I jumped at the opportunity when I saw it in the email because it just seemed like a kind of a fun exercise to participate in.” [01:14]
Day 1: Prioritizing Meaningful Spending Lizzie began her week by highlighting recurring expenses such as utilities, life insurance, and bulk purchases like loose-leaf tea from a local Massachusetts company. She emphasized her commitment to supporting local businesses and making intentional spending choices.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “I'm just trying to be more intentional about the businesses I choose to pay for the things that I want.” [05:41]
Day 2: Navigating Family Obligations Lizzie discussed the financial and emotional aspects of gift-giving within her family, particularly around her parents' 53rd wedding anniversary. She grappled with the cultural expectation of purchasing gifts and the need to set personal boundaries to maintain financial and emotional well-being.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “It just feels like something I can make a decision about every day and either give my money to this company or that company or save it or do something else with it entirely.” [06:56]
Day 3: Unexpected Expenses and Realizations Tracking her spending revealed how seemingly minor costs can accumulate. Lizzie was surprised by the hundreds of dollars spent on utilities, life insurance, and other non-negotiable expenses, underscoring the hidden costs of family life.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “It was just hundreds and hundreds of dollars just on what I view as kind of just cost of doing family life right now.” [20:19]
Day 4 & 5: Small Daily Expenses While specific details for these days were not extensively covered, Lizzie noted that days four and five were filled with small, everyday expenses that collectively had a significant impact on her budget.
Day 6: Enjoying Cost-Free Activities On the sixth day, Lizzie spent quality time outdoors with her daughters, engaging in hiking and scootering—activities that provided joy without financial strain. This day highlighted the fulfilling nature of non-monetary experiences.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “We did spend about $40 on his gift and that was the day I wondered... perhaps more rewarding because they don't cost a lot of money?” [23:54]
Day 7: Consolidating the Week's Spending By the end of the week, Lizzie had tracked a total of $1,149.32. She reflected on this amount as being consistent with her typical spending and income, providing a sense of validation and acceptance of her financial reality.
Intentional Spending: Lizzie demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting local businesses and making deliberate financial choices that align with her values. By purchasing bulk tea from a local supplier, she not only saved money but also contributed to her community.
Balancing Family and Finances: The episode highlighted the complexities of managing family-related expenses, such as gift-giving and childcare costs. Lizzie’s experience underscores the importance of setting boundaries and having open financial discussions with family members to maintain fiscal health.
Self-Care as a Financial Priority: Lizzie prioritizes spending on activities that enhance her well-being, such as kickboxing classes and social outings with friends. She distinguishes between superficial self-care expenses and those that provide genuine personal value.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “I can buy like a scented candle or sit and get my makeup done, but I want to do these other things. So it's just finding what actually is caring for yourself as an individual and not spending money on anything else.” [13:06]
Realizations Through Tracking: Tracking her spending provided Lizzie with a clearer picture of where her money was going, revealing that many expenditures were essential rather than frivolous. This exercise reaffirmed her financial strategies and provided reassurance that her spending was in line with her income and family needs.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “It felt illuminating and validating too. And that these lives do cost this money. Yes, this is why we're working and being mindful of our spending.” [25:16]
Lizzie concluded her week by acknowledging that her total spending was manageable and appropriate for her family's lifestyle. She felt validated in her financial decisions and recognized the importance of continuous mindfulness in spending to ensure alignment with her long-term financial goals.
Notable Quote:
Lizzie: “I felt validated in that I was on the right path. It's not like I'm seeing subscriptions I didn't know about or frivolous spending that I know I should be stopping, which felt good too.” [25:57]
Jean Chatzky and Lizzie’s conversation offers listeners a transparent look into the financial dynamics of a family balancing modern life’s demands. Lizzie’s journey emphasizes the importance of intentional spending, community support, and the value of tracking finances to achieve financial clarity and peace of mind. Her experience serves as an encouraging example for other women striving to navigate their financial landscapes while maintaining a fulfilling family life.