The Mid-Year Money Check-In: What I’ve Done Right And What Still Needs Work

Six months ago, I quit my job to build SIMMER.

We went from two stable incomes to one—while raising two kids and carrying a mortgage.
Starting a company is always a leap, but doing it with a family? That changes everything.
Suddenly, every dollar has a job.

And if I’m honest, it’s been a financial (and emotional) adjustment.
There’s no more autopilot. No more “I’ll deal with it later.”
I’ve had to get clear—fast—on what’s working and what’s not.

Here’s what I’ve learned halfway through the year.

What I’ve Done Right

I finally stopped ignoring the small stuff.
Subscriptions I forgot about, auto-renewals I didn’t use, services that didn’t add value—gone.
Even those “nice to have” streaming platforms I only used for one show a year didn’t make the cut.
I trimmed both our personal and business expenses hard.
The little things add up fast when the margin is tight.

We cut back on eating out.
It’s not glamorous, but it helped. Groceries are still expensive, but takeout adds up fast.
To ease the burden of cooking, we started a weekly potluck dinner system with my sister and mom.
We each cook a few meals a week, so no one is in the kitchen all seven days.
It’s simple, it’s shared, and we’ve even had fun trying new recipes together.
It’s one of those small changes that makes things feel a little lighter and a lot more doable.

I created buffers for both SIMMER and our family.
They’re not massive, but they exist.
I split our emergency fund into two: one for business, one for home.
It’s helped me make cleaner decisions without everything feeling tangled and emotionally charged.

What Still Needs Work

Our personal buffer is shrinking.
Even with planning, real life happens—school fees, doctor visits, birthday parties, random things Amazon says we “need.”
I keep thinking we’ll catch up, but lately it feels like we’re treading water.
I’ve started checking in on our budget more regularly, even if I don’t change anything.
Just seeing the numbers helps me feel a little more grounded, even when they’re not where I want them to be.

I haven’t planned ahead for summer spending.
I know camps and travel are coming up.
I keep pushing off the full breakdown because I know it’s going to hurt.
But I also know that the longer I avoid it, the more stressful it’ll get.
So I’m sitting down this week to be honest about what we can do and what needs to wait.
Joy doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be planned.
No more winging it like I’m used to!

I’m living in emotional overdraft more often than I want to admit.
It’s not just the financial pressure—it’s the emotional weight of holding it all.
Some mornings I’m tired before the day even begins.
I’ve started building in short recovery windows: 20 minutes of no-screen time in the afternoon, short walks with my dog (but no phone), and letting myself off the hook for not answering everything right away.
I’m also trying to check in with myself more before I make decisions—because you know how they say don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach?
Well, we shouldn’t spend when we’re mentally wiped out either.

Final Thoughts: Progress Over Perfection

I know how to manage money. I’m literally building a financial app.
But that doesn’t mean it’s easy—or that I always get it right.

Some days it means adjusting the plan.
Some days it means saying no, even when I don’t want to.
And some days, it’s just about giving myself credit for surviving.

Building something big while raising a family isn’t neat and tidy.
It’s messy and humbling—but I keep going.

Not perfectly. Just honestly.
And that counts for something.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Join the SIMMER waitlist and learn how to manage your money—with less stress, more clarity, and no emotional overdraft.