A Week Between Miami, FL, And New York, NY On A $536,000 Joint Income

The background

I am a 27-year-old Principal at a venture capital firm, currently splitting my time between the humid sunshine of Miami and the frantic energy of New York City. My husband and I have a joint income that fluctuates around $536,000, depending on his business performance and my equity. Growing up, my parents were incredibly disciplined with money, which rubbed off on me. My husband is the same way, he started investing at 16. Together, we have built a net worth of about $900,000, much of which is tied up in a portfolio of six rental properties that we bought in cash. We are big believers in "safety nets," but we also value quality of life, especially now that I am pregnant with our first baby.

A week of nesting and New York prep

This week was a whirlwind of logistics. Between doctor appointments and prepping our New York apartment for an upcoming stint there, my credit card saw a lot of action. On Monday, my husband paid $100 for a mobile fingerprinting service for his broker license, and we spent $131 on our weekly Trader Joe's haul via a delivery service called Dumpling. We try to eat 99% organic, which definitely adds a premium to our grocery bill, but it is a non-negotiable for us.

Tuesday was a big "baby day." After a $14.36 Lyft to my OB/GYN for an ultrasound, I pulled the trigger on a major purchase: the Cortez Floating Dresser from Crate & Barrel. It doubles as a changing table and cost $1,693 total. I paid a 50% deposit of $844 today. I like buying hardwood furniture because it holds its value, and I managed to snag a 15% registry discount. Later, I met a friend at Whole Foods and spent $73.28 on essentials like Zak’s bread and Honeycrisp apples.

The NYC split

Wednesday was all about the New York move. My husband and I share a two-bedroom apartment in the city with his business partners to keep costs down. We needed to fully furnish it before our arrival, so we did a massive coordinated order from Amazon, CB2, and West Elm. My share of the furniture, linens, and kitchen tools came to $985. It feels like a lot to drop at once, but splitting everything three ways makes the high-end pieces much more digestible.

By Friday, I was back in hosting mode in Miami. I spent $103.51 at Publix on a charcuterie spread and three bottles of Joel Gott wine for a dinner party. We also had another furniture charge hit for the NYC place, a coffee table and a gold-rimmed mirror from West Elm, which cost me $333.41 for my portion.

What the week revealed

The weekend was relatively low-key. My husband grabbed $28.18 worth of chicken and potatoes for a home-cooked dinner on Saturday. Sunday involved a $204.03 Whole Foods delivery, though my parents actually covered this as a birthday gift reimbursement. We ended the week with a $43.73 mushroom pizza and meatball delivery from our favorite local spot.

Looking back, this week was an outlier because of the double-furnishing situation, but it highlights how we manage our money. We don't mind spending on assets that last or high-quality food, but we are strategic about everything else. I still have $13,000 in student loans, but with the interest paused, I am waiting to see if any forgiveness comes through before I wipe the balance. We are focused on building a world for our little one, and while the "nesting" phase is expensive, I feel secure knowing we have the foundation to support it.