The Kids Are Grown — Now What?

Summary

What We Spend Podcast: "The Kids Are Grown — Now What?"

Release Date: July 9, 2025
Host: Courtney Harrell
Guest: Molly, a 60-year-old Chicago resident, General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Development for a major fitness company, and mother of two adult daughters and a teenager about to leave for college.

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Introduction: Navigating the Empty Nest

In this poignant episode of What We Spend, host Courtney Harrell delves into the life of Molly, a successful professional and devoted mother facing significant life transitions. With her youngest child preparing to leave home for college, Molly is not only adapting to the empty nest but also contemplating retirement and the potential sale of her long-term family home.

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Molly’s Financial Landscape

Molly opens up about her robust financial situation, sharing that she earns approximately $306,000 in salary, supplemented by $200,000 in dividends and interest, totaling nearly $500,000 annually before taxes.

Molly [03:26]: "I make a lot of money, but I also spend a lot of money. People say that your spending expands as your income expands, and it's really true."

Despite her substantial income, Molly emphasizes her disciplined financial habits, stating she "doesn't cash flow" and "pays herself first" by maximizing her 401(k) contributions and ensuring her money is actively invested.

Molly [04:01]: "I max out my 401ks and everything's invested so that money is working for me."

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Monthly Expenses Breakdown

Courtney and Molly meticulously break down her monthly expenses, providing listeners with a clear picture of her financial commitments:

• Mortgage: ~$2,030.70/month
• Property Taxes: ~$1,333/month ($16,000/year)
• Utilities: ~$650/month
• Phone Bill: ~$167/month
• Transportation: Gas (~$45/month), Car Insurance, and Home Insurance (~$487/month combined
• Groceries: ~$1,250/month
• Entertainment and Subscriptions: Various subscriptions totalling around $20/month
• Health Insurance and Wellness: ~$1,260/month for health insurance and ~$330/month for chiropractor, acupuncture, and massage
• Education: Previously ~$4,272/month for private schooling, shifting to funding college tuition for her son (~$85,000/year)

Molly [07:31]: "I'm spending a lot on travel, health, and education. Travel is my big thing."

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Funding Education: A Strategic Approach

Molly discusses her strategic approach to funding her children's education. Initially, she and her ex-husband set up 529 savings plans, though divorce halted further contributions.

Molly [08:25]: "My philosophy is that when the kids go to school, you get the FAFSA loan... your money should be earning more elsewhere."

Relying on FAFSA loans, Molly complements these with her savings to cover substantial portions of tuition, particularly for her son’s anticipated $85,000/year college expenses.

Molly [10:12]: "Education is so important. You can never take away education from someone."

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Emotional and Financial Struggles of Selling a Long-Term Home

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Molly's efforts to sell her 39-year-old family home in Chicago. Molly aims to sell independently using her real estate license to save on commissions, a decision that requires her to manage open houses and marketing efforts personally.

Molly [15:46]: "I have not put it on the MLS, I've not put it on Trulia, and I could have more signs, more information."

Throughout the week, Molly documents her experiences and emotions related to selling the house, highlighting both financial calculations and deep emotional ties.

Molly [18:18]: "It's really made me think, okay, so if the house doesn't sell, what's the worst thing? Maybe we keep it."

Her journey includes modest daily expenses related to hosting open houses, personal care, and unexpected costs, accumulating to a weekly total of $832.33.

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Weekly Diary: Balancing Expenses and Emotional Turmoil

Molly provides an intimate look into her week through detailed audio diaries:

• Day 1: Spent $354.12 on open house expenses, groceries, personal care, and utilities. Felt frustrated by low turnout but remained determined.

• Day 2: Expenses totaled $434, covering health services and car maintenance. Reflected on teaching her children financial responsibility.

• Day 3: No spending occurred, but emotional reflections surfaced as her son prepares to leave, emphasizing the deep personal impact.

• Day 4: Zero dollars spent. Focused on work presentations and her daughter’s birthday. Considered strategies for listing her home on the MLS.

• Day 5: No money spent. Prepared for an upcoming open house, highlighting the balance between financial planning and personal emotions.

• Day 6: Minimal spending ($39) on contributions and medical deductibles. Shared thoughts on her son's impending move and the emotional challenges of becoming an empty nester.

• Day 7: Spent $5.21 on a personal treat during the open house, which yielded no significant interest from potential buyers.

Through these diaries, Molly illustrates the delicate interplay between managing substantial financial responsibilities and coping with significant life changes.

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Reflections on Becoming an Empty Nester and Retirement

Molly expresses mixed emotions about her son leaving for college, balancing sadness with the freedom it brings.

Molly [24:33]: "I just miss the connection every day. Like being able to walk downstairs and see him get a hug."

She also contemplates retirement, considering her health, financial security, and personal fulfillment.

Molly [37:02]: "Being a mom is the longest job I've had, the hardest job I've had. I'll always be a mom, and they'll always be my babies."

Molly muses about the uncertainty of life expectancy and the adequacy of her retirement savings, particularly in light of her health challenges.

Molly [36:05]: "If I think I'm going to be around until 99, like, no, I don't know that anyone has enough money for that."

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Conclusion: Embracing Change with Financial Savvy

Molly's story is a testament to balancing financial acumen with the emotional complexities of life's transitions. As she navigates selling her family home and her son’s departure, Molly demonstrates resilience and strategic planning, ensuring her financial stability while honoring her deep-seated values around family and education.

Molly [35:32]: "It's kind of the closing of an era by becoming an empty nester."

Through What We Spend, listeners gain valuable insights into managing finances during significant life changes, inspired by Molly's honest and detailed account.

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Notable Quotes:

• Molly [03:26]: "I make a lot of money, but I also spend a lot of money."
• Molly [04:01]: "I max out my 401ks and everything's invested so that money is working for me."
• Molly [08:25]: "My philosophy is that when the kids go to school, you get the FAFSA loan... your money should be earning more elsewhere."
• Molly [15:46]: "I have not put it on the MLS, I've not put it on Trulia, and I could have more signs, more information."
• Molly [24:33]: "I just miss the connection every day."
• Molly [37:02]: "Being a mom is the longest job I've had, the hardest job I've had."

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Final Thoughts:

Molly's week, meticulously documented and openly shared, offers a compelling narrative on the intersection of personal life changes and financial management. Her experiences underscore the importance of planning, adaptability, and emotional resilience in navigating life's pivotal moments.

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For more stories like Molly’s and to share your own financial journey, consider reaching out to the What We Spend team at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Courtney Harrell]

Just got a new puppy or kitten. Congrats.

[Molly]

But also yikes.

[Courtney Harrell]

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[Molly]

Your pet won't.

[Courtney Harrell]

They don't know what insurance is. Thanks for selling your car to Carvana.

[Molly]

Here's your check.

[Courtney Harrell]

Whoa.

[Molly]

When did I get here?

[Courtney Harrell]

What do you mean?

[Molly]

I swear it was just moments ago.

[Courtney Harrell]

That I accepted a great offer from Carvana online.

[Molly]

I must have time traveled to the future. It was just moments ago. We do same day pickup.

[Courtney Harrell]

Here's your check for that great offer.

[Molly]

It is the future. It's. It's the present and just the convenience of Carvana. Sorry to blow your mind. It's all good.

[Courtney Harrell]

Happens all the time. Sell your car the convenient way to Carvana.

[Molly]

Pick up.

[Courtney Harrell]

Times may vary and fees may apply.

[Molly]

A heads up before you this podcast.

[Courtney Harrell]

Is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. We are not financial advisors. You should always do your own research and consult your own financial advisor before.

[Molly]

Spending or investing your money.

[Courtney Harrell]

Please note that all income, financial information and expenses in what we spend are self reported. How many of your kids do you financially Support right now?

[Molly]

1. My philosophy is you get them through college, they graduate and they're on their own. It's a sign of privilege to me to be able to graduate from college with no debt.

[Courtney Harrell]

Oh huge.

[Molly]

So that's the biggest gift that their dad and I could give to them. None of my three kids have gotten a dime from any of the schools that they've gone to, so we've paid 100% full tuition and I'm embarking on my third and most expensive college journey.

[Courtney Harrell]

Our guest today is a 60 year old in Chicago who we're calling Molly. She's the general counsel and senior Vice President of development for a big fitness company. And she's also a mom of two kids in her 20s and one teenager who's about to leave home for college.

[Molly]

I'm really sad, but yeah, I'm gonna be really, really sad him to not have him on a daily basis.

[Courtney Harrell]

It's not just that she's about to be an empty nester, Molly is facing a Whole bunch of really big changes in her life all at once. She's starting to think about retirement and with her last kid leaving, she's trying to sell the house where she's lived for 39 years in part so she can spend more time in Denver where the fitness company she works for is based on. All of that has her contemplating this whole new era she's entering. This week we'll follow Molly through a week of getting ready for that new stage one where her day to day life and her money looks different than it has before. I'm Courtney Harrell and this is what we spent. How much money do you make?

[Molly]

So salary is 306,000 and then I have dividends and interest, probably close around 200,000.

[Courtney Harrell]

So you end up with about half a million dollars a year.

[Molly]

Yeah, no, I make a lot of money, but I also spend a lot of money. People say that, you know, your spending expands as you're income expands and it's really true. Like I think you, as you earn more money, you definitely spend more money. I actually don't cash flow, which is sort of embarrassing.

[Courtney Harrell]

Why is it embarrassing?

[Molly]

Well, because my dad always, both my parents came from absolutely nothing. And my dad taught me that you live, live beneath your means. And when I say I don't cash flow, I mean I'm still living beneath my means. But I pay myself first. I, I max out my 401ks things like, like so, and everything's invested so that money is working for me. So I'm net positive. But just in terms of the cash, sometimes I find that I'll have a credit card that's maxed out but I pay it in full every month. So I guess I don't know why that embarrasses me. I just, I don't think that I spend extravagantly. I definitely spend extravagantly on travel and health and education. Those are my main buckets of spending. Yeah, the travel is my big thing. So we go on probably three really nice trips a year. But that's like, here's my rationalization. Like I'm active and I'm healthy and I don't know how long I'll be around. I already feel like I'm in my bonus because I've had breast cancer three times. My mom passed away at 51 and my dad passed away at 67 and my mom had the breast cancer. This is a inherited gene. So I just enjoy the time that I have and when that time runs out, then we move on. Some people say, oh, like when I retire I'm gonna travel. I'm gonna go here, there, and everywhere. Like, I'm doing it now, I mean, and I don't mean to be morbid, and I don't think of this as morbid, but I don't think I'll be here after 70, so. So I might as well enjoy it now. And I'm lucky that I have kids who want to hang with me. So, yeah, we have a lot of fun together.

[Courtney Harrell]

Let's get into Molly's numbers. Like she said, she ultimately makes about 500,000 a year before taxes. She's married to her second husband. She shares her two oldest daughters with her ex. Her husband doesn't work. He's been taking care of things at home instead since he got laid off from his last job. So Molly's income supports her, her husband, and their son. We'll talk more about her house, but until she sells it, the mortgage on her four bedroom is $2,030.70 a month. That's not including taxes, which are about $16,000 a year. And her utilities are about $650 a month.

[Molly]

And then the phone bill for the three of us, 167amonth.

[Courtney Harrell]

For transportation, she rides her bike as much as she can, so gas for her car is minimal, about 45 bucks a month.

[Molly]

The car insurance, because I have a 17 year old driver was insane.

[Courtney Harrell]

The car insurance for their one shared family car and home insurance combined is $487 a month. And they spend about $1,250 a month on groceries.

[Molly]

I think I spend a fair amount on groceries, but we rarely eat out. I definitely eat out, like for work, but that's all on my expense account.

[Courtney Harrell]

Their wifi is $136 a month and Netflix is $19.83.

[Molly]

And then I looked at my YouTube bill and I don't know how I've got 9,150 for YouTube. I have to tuck into that Hulu. I got on a deal, so that's $1 a month. I watch a lot of junk TV. I watch a lot of reality TV.

[Courtney Harrell]

Oh, what's your favorite?

[Molly]

I love the Voice, the Bachelorette, and the Bachelor franchise. And then my girls and I have like, we have a little like kind of betting thing, so I usually win.

[Courtney Harrell]

She spends about $1,260 a month on health insurance and 330amonth for a combination of chiropractor, acupuncture and massage visits. And their dog usually has $1 300 vet bill a year. Then she spends about $100 a month on clothes for her son. But the big expense for him is education. Until recently, she was paying $4,272 a month for private school. But now she's about to start paying for his college instead. When you had kids, were you thinking about paying for college eventually for them?

[Molly]

Yes. So great question. So immediately, my ex husband and I set up 529s when my first daughter was born.

[Courtney Harrell]

And a 529 is a savings account specifically for education costs. It lets you both grow and withdraw money tax free.

[Molly]

So yeah, we both contributed. And then when we got divorced, unfortunately, that was one thing we couldn't agree to. So we stopped, which was really a mistake.

[Courtney Harrell]

They ended up with enough money in there to pay for their first daughter's first year of tuition and their second daughter's first semester. But everything else they had to pay for out of pocket with the help of a couple small loans.

[Molly]

My philosophy is that when the kids go to school, you get the FAFSA loan. Because the FAFSA loan is a low interest loan, your money should be earning more elsewhere. So why not take the loans? There's a whole cottage industry with people who take the FAFSA loan and invest it in something else. So I took her FAFSA loan freshman sophomore year and applied it to the tuition.

[Courtney Harrell]

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. And it's a kind of one stop shop to find out what kind of federal loans and grants you qualify for. Most people, regardless of income, qualify for unsubsidized student federal loans, which, like Molly said, have much lower interest rates than other loans. In Molly's case, they qualified for about $5,000 a year for each daughter, which was a pretty small percentage of the overall tuition. Their first daughter's school cost $60,000 a year. Their second was 65,000. Molly's son's will be 85,000. And how are you going to pay for the 85,000 a year for your son?

[Molly]

Out of my savings. So I mean, my first two, obviously, you know, I had. My ex husband was very generous and he certainly shouldered more than half of it. But this last one is all on me, and I'm grateful to be able to do it because I think education is so important. You can never take away education from someone. You can take away money, you can lose money, but you can't lose education.

[Courtney Harrell]

Yeah, it feels like school is very important to you. So what is that? Why does paying for education matter so much to you?

[Molly]

I Look at my education. My education has unlocked so many doors for me. So I went to University of Illinois. My dad told me I could go anywhere I wanted as long as it was in state and public.

[Courtney Harrell]

Molly was an accounting major, and it turned out that the University of Illinois had a great accounting program. So when she graduated, she says having that school on her resume is what got her her first really good job and set her up for her future. And that's exactly what she wants for her kids. How did you pay for your school?

[Molly]

So University of Illinois, when I went to school, was very, very reasonable. Every semester except senior year was below $1,000 in tuition. Can you imagine that? Below $1,000.

[Courtney Harrell]

Molly had gotten a job and started saving as soon as she turned 16. So by the time she got to college, she had a lot, but not all of the tuition.

[Molly]

When it came time for paying, I paid for most of it. And then if I didn't have the cash, my dad would pay for it. And then he wanted me to go straight through to law school, but he was, he was sick.

[Courtney Harrell]

Molly's dad got leukemia while she was in college. So instead of going to law school out of state like she wanted, she stayed in Chicago and worked for a bit. Then she decided to go to law school in the city where she could still take care of her dad.

[Molly]

So he lasted for all three years of law school, went to my graduation, went in a coma and died. I'm so sad. Yeah. So the first day of Barbary, which is the review course you take to study for the bar, was his funeral. Oh, yeah. But he made it. And I was president of the Student Bar association, so he got to hear me speak on stage at graduation and he was really proud. So my mom made it to my 8th grade graduation and died like a week or so later. My dad made it to law school graduation. So graduations are a big thing for me. They're a real big milestone. So I think about my mom made it to one grade school graduation, and then that was it. My dad made it to all of my graduations. So right now I've got two. Two college graduations, two high school graduations. I'm going to get a third high school graduation in a few weeks. So just grateful for the time, you know, and hopefully we'll be there for the college graduation.

[Courtney Harrell]

After the break, we'll dive in to Molly's week. Why are more women than ever choosing Natural Cycles, the hormone free, side effect free way to take control of your fertility. Natural Cycles is a birth control app that uses your temperature to find your fertile window. It is more than a basic cycle tracking app. Natural Cycles is the only FDA cleared and CE marked birth control app and has helped millions prevent and plan for pregnancy naturally. Save 15% when you sign up today with code RADIO15. Learn [e-mail] hey, what's up flies?

[Molly]

This is David Spade Dana Carvey. Look at I know we never actually left, but I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall. Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be on Vimeo. Every Thursday you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities. And every Monday you're stuck with just me and Dana. We react to news, what's trending, viral clips follow and listen to Fly on the Wall everywhere you get your podcasts.

[Courtney Harrell]

This message is sponsored by Greenlight. With school out, summer is the perfect time to teach our kids real world money skills they'll use forever. Greenlight is a debit card in the number one family finance and safety app used by millions of families helping kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely. Parents can send their kids money and track their spending and saving while kids build money, confidence and skills in fun ways. Start your risk free Greenlight trial [e-mail] Spotify that's greenlight.com Spotify the first day of Molly's week started with her focused on selling her house. Just a little context. She wants to sell it partly because she doesn't want to be in Chicago year round and especially if she's going to be gone part of the year. She doesn't need all the space. Plus the house is mostly paid off, so if she sells it, she could take the money and get a smaller place in Chicago and then rent somewhere in Denver to spend more time in person at work. But also, selling the house would be a nice, tidy end of one chapter and beginning of a new one. To get there, though, it's a lot of work, Molly is trying to sell the house on her own. She has her real estate license because her first husband was a broker and she used to help him with open houses. If she sells the house on her own, she'll save the 5% real estate commission, which could be nearly $100,000. But that means she has to manage things like open houses on her own. That's where day one begins.

[Molly]

I spent today $200 on my open house for my daughter and for her best friend to help me with the my first open house to sell my house we had a whopping three parties show up. The third one came after the girls left. Very disappointing for the first day, but that's 200. Then I went to Whole Foods and I spent $74.12. It wasn't as much as I normally spend. This is my second trip to Whole Foods, but I wanted to get my son a pizza, which was the most expensive thing that I bought at $12. And then I went and I have a, a board meeting this week. So I just got a mani pedi and I spent $65 on the mani pedi and $15 on a tip. So I guess that's a total of 280 plus 7, 7412 is 354 12. That's a fair amount of spending for me for one day. But they're all things that, that I needed to do. Feeling a little frustrated from my open house and a little sad that only three people showed up. But I'm still thinking about that processing and I'll probably talk more about it tonight. Audio Diary Day one second recording. So mostly what I did today was just clean the house and focus on the open house and then run some errands afterwards. And the open house was really disappointing. But you know, it's really made me think, okay, so if the house doesn't sell, what's the worst thing? Maybe we keep it. You know, the mortgage is almost paid off. It's only 2,300amonth or less. You know, just had such a great run here for the last almost 18 years. It's just sad, but the other part of me just wants to sell the house and move on. So a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to that. And I printed out another flyer because the next open house is going to be on Saturday. So six days from now. And I just need to keep the house clean and just focus on that.

[Courtney Harrell]

Total for day one, $354.12.

[Molly]

Audio Journal Day two it's ten o'. Clock. Today was kind of sort of an expensive day. I started the day off by going to my chiropractor acupuncturist and I try to do that twice a month. And I paid for last, last month's and this month's because I didn't have my credit card. So it's paid with my health savings account, but that was $220 that I paid. I also happen to go to my massage therapist who I see once a month. It's just kind of crazy that both of these were on the same day. And that was $110. And then I had to get my oil changed on my car and I had a coupon and that one was $84 and some odd cents. So that was spending, I don't normally spend. And then I also got gas for $15. And then I also had a car wash for $5, going through the wash and then vacuuming myself. And that was to get ready for my board meeting because I'll be with my boss tomorrow and the whole executive leadership team. So I wanted to make sure that my car was clean. Since starting this journey, I'm really thinking a lot about feelings about money. And I think your journey with money starts when you're kids and you really learn from your parents. And having three kids and having two of them in their 20s, I see my daughters treating money the same way that I treated it. And in their 20s they're starting to save money and appreciate the value of it. And even my 17 year old is very frugal. And so I'm looking forward to him following in his sister's footfall steps and just being careful with money. Because here I am now at 60, looking at retirement and at the point I am in my life where I now have my last child going off to college and having to pay for that, that tuition, although it's a privilege to be able to do that, it's just a lot of pressure on my cash flow.

[Courtney Harrell]

Total for day two. $434.

[Molly]

This is audio recording day three and it's 10 o' clock at night. Crazy busy day. I actually spent nothing today. I was too busy running around for work, but thinking about expenses and things about college, especially since today was the last choir concert for my senior son. And we've had a couple of interesting conversations about money lately. And I like that he really appreciates, you know, what I'm doing in terms of funding for college. And he wants to take on as much debt as he can to help pay for it. So. So we have FAFSA loans for 5,500 per year and he's happy to take those on. I told him I would try and help him pay them off at the end of school and he said no, he would like to pay them off. And I just think he really understands sometimes the pressure of, you know, how expensive things are and what it costs for college and how he wants to shoulder, you know, his part of it. So I definitely appreciate that. And tonight was kind of bittersweet. It's my son's last choir concert and they announced the seniors and where they were going to college. And it just keeps reminding me that this is the end of an era with my last child going away to school. So each time I had a child that left, there was still another child. But this is the last one. And it's just really coming up close in terms of him leaving. And I just, you know, keep thinking about it. While I'm so happy for him and so proud of him. I just am so sad that he's going to be gone. I'm just really, I don't know, I'm happy to be an empty nester, but just really sad. And I know I'm really gonna miss him and I don't know, might have to sneak out to school and make sure I'm there for parents weekend and things like that.

[Courtney Harrell]

What was the process of your first kid leaving home like for you?

[Molly]

Okay. I thought I was gonna be a mess. I visited her a fair amount. I was also doing business there where she was staying. So every time I saw her, I burst into tears. It became like kind of a joke with us as soon as I would see her that I was like so emotional. And then when I left, I was super, super sad. But when each of the first two left, there was still somebody left at home. So I just think that my last one leaving is going to really be hard because he's, he's, he's my baby and we're very close. So it's really going to hit me because I just, I feel like even though it's not like we're certainly not together all the time, he's, you know, he's busy, I'm busy. But knowing that he's here and being able to see him, I just. And he's not going to be calling me, he's not going to be texting me. He's not a super reach out and let me know what you're doing feeling kind of thing. So. Yeah.

[Courtney Harrell]

When you're thinking about your experience after he leaves, what is it that is the hard part for you?

[Molly]

Just missing the connection every day. Like being able to walk downstairs and you know, see him get a hug. Yeah, yeah. It's sad. And it's also positive. There's freedom to it. And talked about the positive. Like I won't be picking up after him, his dirty clothes, his. The bathroom.

[Courtney Harrell]

Yeah.

[Molly]

You know, coming home late at night, I won't, you know, that wakes me up. But obviously those are things that I more than tolerate to spend time with him with a Venmo debit card you.

[Courtney Harrell]

Can Venmo more than just your friends. You can use your balance in so many ways. You can Venmo everything. Need gas? You can Venmo this. How about snacks? You can Venmo that. Your favorite band's merch? You can Venmo this or their next show. You can Venmo that. Visit Venmo me Debit to learn more.

[Molly]

You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo this or you can Venmo that. You can Venmo the Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp bank and a.

[Courtney Harrell]

Pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. Card may be used everywhere.

[Molly]

MasterCard is accepted. Venmo purchase restrictions apply.

[Courtney Harrell]

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[Molly]

This is audio recording Day four Today I spent no money again. I had a big presentation to our board. I was so busy prepping for the meeting, going to the meeting and then the dinner after the meeting that I didn't actually spend any money. It was also my daughter's birthday so I stopped by after our dinner to say hello to her. One of the exciting things that I'm thinking about once we get rid of this house is my daughter who just turned 27 today and her fiance are renting right now but thinking of buying and they're thinking of buying a 2 flat and then renting out, you know, the bottom floor to my husband and.

[Courtney Harrell]

I, Chicago has a lot of two story houses that have separate apartments on each floor. That's a two flat and I think.

[Molly]

That would be really great financially for them because I could really help out with the down payment and I think it's just very smart. So we were talking a little bit about that and then making plans to talk about it more seriously and it's just more, more plans in terms of where we're going to be living and no, no further thoughts or movement on the house today because I was so busy with work. Tomorrow I'm gonna try and spend A little bit of time. I did find out today from somebody who cold called me that I can put it on the MLS myself for $500, which I think I'm gonna do.

[Courtney Harrell]

The MLS is a big database where real estate agents and brokers list properties.

[Molly]

Probably not gonna get it on the MLS in time for my open house on Saturday, but I think that's gonna be a potentially great opportunity for me to get that out to the brokerage community. Although that will mean that there's a 2% cooperating commission. But I think in furtherance of getting this property unloaded that I'm willing to to share the 2% and getting more excited about the prospect of moving to Denver at least for the winter for six months. We're coming up this weekend on a deadline for scholarship application for my son for college, which would pay about $9,000 a year tuitions if he actually was awarded the scholarship. So he's been working on it. I'm excited about that prospect.

[Courtney Harrell]

Total for day four zero dollars.

[Molly]

This is day five of my audio diary and it's 9:38 in the evening. Today I spent no money. And you know, I'm just. When you basically get all your meals from, from home and make my meals or my husband makes my meals and I don't really eat out very often unless it's business related. It's kind of easy not to spend that kind of money. So it's nice. I'm not traveling this week, but next week I'm going to be spending time in Denver and I'm getting excited for the open house on Saturday. I have nobody signed up so far or asking for a tour before then, but you never know who's going to show up from 12 to 2. And I hope that, that the weather is good because that will definitely help the open house.

[Courtney Harrell]

Total for day 5 $0.

[Molly]

Day 6 so far I've spent $20 to contribute to a coworker's baby shower. This is her third baby. And happy to contribute towards diapers and baby wipes because Lord knows there's so many expenses with kids. And then every other Friday when I get my paycheck I do a little usually sing around the house. Just got paid Friday night. Just got paid. It's Friday night and my husband gets a kick out of it. My dog sometimes howls along with me and I just feel gratitude every time that check hits my account. So, so very much appreciate seeing that and that just makes me super happy and just appreciate having a steady job. I know there's so Many people who don't. So getting ready, thinking about the second open house tomorrow. Of course, this morning, the. The construction group who's ripping up the sidewalk in front of my house did it today. So now I don't have a sidewalk in front of my house, which will be awkward for people coming to the open house tomorrow, but we'll make do. And excited to see my daughter who's helping with the open house. I know she has probably some mixed feelings on selling the house, but she's been very supportive about my selling. And it's not really. I don't think she's super sad about it. It's certainly an inconvenience for her because most of her. Her stuff is stored here. She does live in the city, but in a much smaller place. And she's been really good at culling her items and trying to remove as much as she can from her room. And then my little guy does not remember because he's 17, almost 18, doesn't remember moving in here. He was less than a year, so he had no connection to the old house. So this has been his house. So I think he's probably the one that feels the most maybe sad about leaving this location, but he doesn't really express it. I can't say he's been super helpful in getting his room organized to sell the house. Not that he's super neat to begin with, but I don't think he really feels the need to help out or understand. So he does make himself scarce during open houses. And I appreciate. Appreciate that and makes his bed. But he's been pretty quiet about how he's feeling. But it'll definitely be an inconvenience for him to not have this house after he goes away to college in a couple months and then comes home. Because I know how important it is when you first go away to school and be able to come back to your house and see your friends. So he won't have that. And I feel bad about that, but not bad enough to want to hold out onto the house forever. But we'll see. If it doesn't sell, then it'll be here for Thanksgiving, and he'll be here when he comes home from Thanksgiving to stay in the house. But eventually it'll have to go.

[Courtney Harrell]

On day six. Molly also paid $19 for a deductible from a doctor's visit, bringing her total for the day to $39.

[Molly]

This is my last recording voice diary seven. And I apologize, it's technically on Sunday, but I'm going to Talk about yesterday. Forgot to do it last night. For my spending for yesterday, I spent all of $5.21 on a cookie that I bought myself. Yesterday was the open house and it was so super disappointing. There was one looky Lou, a neighbor who came by who was actually looking for a broker to list her house, which is definitely something I wasn't interested in. But I did take her through the house on what we call the museum tour. No real prospects came by. So that was super disappointing. Kind of frustrating. Although part of it's definitely my fault. I have not put it on the mls, I've not put it on Trulia, and. And I could have more signs, more information. I guess the reality of it is that I know I'm kind of half hearted about it because it's probably best for me to. As much as I kind of want to get rid of it, it's best for me to maybe hold onto it. If I'm going to be in Denver November through April as someplace to store my stuff and not incur rent. So it's just cheaper for me to hold it. When you think about the mortgage and my holding costs would be cheaper than actually renting a place and storing my stuff. So it's not the end of the world if I keep it.

[Courtney Harrell]

Molly is good at crunching the numbers. So it's totally true that temporarily keeping the house could be a good financial decision. But there is is an emotional component too. They spent 18 years in that house. Her son grew up there. There are a lot of memories. The house is a big piece of the chapter that she's in so many ways about to leave behind. It's a lot to let go of all at once.

[Molly]

I know that both my husband and I are ready to move on to the next chapter in terms of a home and where we're going to live. So in a way, I'm holding on to a little bit of the past and my kids by thinking about the house. But it's kind of the closing of an era by becoming an empty nester.

[Courtney Harrell]

Is that where you think you've landed for now, that you're going to hold off on selling it?

[Molly]

I think so, yeah.

[Courtney Harrell]

It gives you a minute to breathe.

[Molly]

Yeah.

[Courtney Harrell]

When you have a lot of transition happening.

[Molly]

Yes. But I'm like probably as an empty nester in a more experimental stage, I would love to try out different markets. I mean, it would be hard for me right now with an office in Denver, but if I weren't with that job, I would go someplace warmer in.

[Courtney Harrell]

The world Winter, how are you thinking about retirement for yourself?

[Molly]

I would be happy doing what I'm doing, maybe indefinitely. But once I hit 65, knowing that I can get on Medicare, that's a big deal for me. But I mean, I have a pretty demanding job. So, you know, there's a lot of pressure. And sometimes I say, okay, like at 65, like, do I really want to be doing. Doing this?

[Courtney Harrell]

Yeah. So the health insurance is a big factor. Do you have enough money set away where you can otherwise cover retirement after 65?

[Molly]

I think so. It also depends on how long I live. So I have twin aunts who are 99.

[Courtney Harrell]

Oh, wow.

[Molly]

But, yeah, but they haven't had the same health challenges that I have. The retirement question is hard because, you know, if I think I'm going to be around for 10 years at 65, sure. If I think I'm going to be around until 99, like, no, I don't know that anyone has enough money for that. And who knows what's going to happen with Social Security. I mean, I'm in really good shape for 60. I work out every day. Like, I'm. With the exception of the cancer, I'm like, really good health and I've got really good energy and I love what I'm doing. So as long as I have that, I'll probably continue to work. But I mean, who knows where I'll be in five years, where I'll be living, where I want to live. If I have grandchildren. That's a thought. Like, if I have grandchildren and I can be more involved, that might be what I want to do. One of the things I would like to say is that being a mom is the longest job I've had, the hardest job I've had. I've never been laid off, fired. I never get a bonus, I never get a raise. But it's 100% the most important, the most rewarding job. And you're always a mom. Even with adult kids. I'm a mom. I'll always be a mom, and they'll always be my babies.

[Courtney Harrell]

Molly's total for the week was $832.33. What we spend is an Odyssey original podcast. It's written and hosted by me, Courtney Harrell. Our producers are Margot Gray, Kristin Torres and Justine Dom. Our editor is Jonathan Menhivar. Our executive producers are Maddie Sprung Keyser, Asha Saluja and Leah Rees Dennis. Theme song and original Music by Matt McGinley. Additional music from EPM Music mixing by Pedro Alvira. Special thanks to Zach Clark, Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Kurt Courtney, Hilary Schuck, Sean Cherry, Laura Berman, and Hilary Van Ornam. If you want to be on what We See spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us@whatwe spend podcastmail.com we'll be back next week.

[Molly]

Hey, I'm Ben Stiller. And I'm Adam Scott, and we host.

[Courtney Harrell]

A podcast called the Severance Podcast, where we used to break down every episode.

[Molly]

Of the TV show Severance. Severance isn't back just yet, but the podcast is.

[Courtney Harrell]

Each week, we'll discuss the movies, TV shows, and ideas that influence the making of Severance.

[Molly]

We're going to talk to the incredible artists who inspire us to do what we do.

[Courtney Harrell]

The Severance podcast returns Thursday, June 26th. Follow and listen everywhere you get your podcasts.