🟢 DINKWADs $50K startup for childfree couples

Presented by:

By Ted Williams

Hello Thursday. Starting today, you can order a Tiny Money Bowl at Yafo. You’ll see it on the menu screen. It’s my go-to order.

Unconfirmed, but Yafo chef and co-owner Shai Fargian likely chose between Steph Curry, Greg Olsen, and myself for this big-time licensing deal. Glad he made the right decision!

Shai doesn’t know this yet, but I get 15% of all Yafo sales (not just my bowl) over the next 2 weeks. Anyways.

New, healthy Tiny Money Bowl on the screen in Yafo SouthPark

💼 Hot Job: Lead, Real Estate Strategy at Scout Motors ($140K – $170K). Lead transactions. 25 PTO days. Plaza Midwood HQ near Uchi.

🏠 For sale: Matthews 2-bedroom home dubbed "Bohopad" asks $385K. Hippie vibes inspired by "global travels." Short-term rental for past 9 years.

🧑‍🍳 Shout-out: Joe and Katy Kindred, owners of Kindred, Hello Sailor, and Milkbread, for announcing their next restaurant — Deepwell. It's a New Orleans-style steakhouse in Mooresville. Bullish.

MARKETS: YEAR-TO-DATE

S&P 500

7,554

+10.14%

Nasdaq

26,854

+15.57%

BOOTSTRAPPED

Mid-30s DINKWADs invest $50K in social app for child-free couples

Founders Ali (33) and Charlie Higgins (37), dual income, no kids with a dog

Trending: There are 11M DINKs (dual income, no kids) couples in the United States.

With rising housing prices, inflation, and childcare costs, many Gen Z and Millennial couples find raising kids prohibitively expensive.

Idea: "We were the last child-free couple in our friend group," Ali told me. "We wanted to find more couples like us."

"Some couples choose kids. We chose something different — adventure, connection, and a life built on our own terms."

Investment: The couple invested $50K to launch DINK Social.

"DINKs (now 43% of all households) have more disposable income than almost any group, yet no one’s building for them."

Traction: In just 4 months DINK Social has grown to 2,175 couples through word of mouth. They’ve also got 45K followers on Instagram.

Making money: Ali and Charlie are focused on building community. No revenue. Eventual plans are to monetize through ad partnerships.

Restaurant pick: They had their first date and wedding rehearsal dinner at Heist Brewery, but frequent Superica most often.

Trolling: "It’s fascinating how many strangers on the internet push us to have kids and try to belittle us for this decision."

PRESENTED BY CRAFTWORK

Craftwork has painted over 1,200 homes across Charlotte, exterior bookings now open

Craftwork recently raised $7M in Series A funding to support growth

Most painting companies are brokers – you meet the salesperson once before a rotating crew of subs shows up to paint your home.

Solution: Craftwork, a modern painting company, led by my friends Suzanne, Mike, Joey, and Tim.

Full-time crew. Trained to deliver reliable quality.
No back and forth. Regular updates in their fancy app.
Trust. Over 1 in 3 customers hire them again.

Book: Limited slots available this summer. Request an estimate for your home painting project in the next 48 hours and get 20% off!

MEAT SWEATS

The Chop Shop in Myers Park rolls out $195/mo "Meat Club" membership

PJ Jackson, owner of The Chop Shop in Myers Park

Launch: Starting today, The Chop Shop now offers Meat Club Memberships. There's a $195/mo tier and a $395/mo tier. You get a monthly box of fresh, curated meats.

Catch up: After working there for years, PJ and Sharon Jackson purchased The Chop Shop.

"I have a background in hunting, an education in anatomy and sales, and a passion for delicious, locally sourced meats," PJ told me.
2 locations: Asheville and Charlotte (Myers Park).
Last year, the couple sold 50,000 pounds of NC-raised beef and pork at the Myers Park location.

Misunderstood: "People think high prices mean bigger profits," explained PJ. "But it's the opposite, our most expensive product has our lowest margin."

Most expensive: The only beef they don't source from Wilkes County is their Snake River Farms Gold Tenderloins, which Michelin chefs across the country love. It's $140.99 for a steak.

TINY MONEY JOB BOARD

Who’s hiring in Charlotte? 5 Trending jobs

Senior Lead, Digital Strategy at Wells Fargo ($159K – $305K). Hybrid. Part of consumer banking team.
Director of Marketing at Charlotte Latin School. Lead brand, content, media, comms. Hiring manager Kerry Johnston.
Brand Strategy Manager at CPCC ($70K – $75K). Support paid media. Drive enrollment. Hiring manager Annie Williams.
Marketing Coordinator at Harker Construction. Employee-owned firm. Create digital content. Hiring manager CSO Stewart Cowden.
Executive Assistant, CEO at Scout Motors ($90K – $113K). Manage calendar and events for CEO Scott Keogh.

Hiring? Post a job

Hunting? View all 99 open jobs on the Tiny Money Job Board💰

MONEY TALKS

52-year-old lawyer making $412K plans to retire with $5M in Asheville and New England

Osteria Luca, this lawyer’s No. 1 favorite spot with $29 chicken

Money Talks is a weekly series showcasing how real people in Charlotte approach money. Participate.

Living situation: “Own. Bought a modest 3-bedroom home near Dilworth in 2005 for $285K (current Zestimate is $850K). Owe $160K. Refinanced a few years ago at 2.375%.”

Job: “General counsel for a technology company. $275K annual base salary with a 50% bonus. Generous option package that should pay out nicely in the event of an acquisition or IPO.”

Splurge: “I’m a big live music fan. I travel 3-4 times a year to see shows. I usually go by myself and stay at 4-star hotels.”

Favorite expense: “Contrast therapy (sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy). It’s $170 per month. I go every evening. I sleep a solid 8-9 hours every night.”

Retirement: “58. Weird number, but it’s when my son will be out of college. I may have a full mid-life crisis. Goal is $5M. I want to spend half the year in Asheville and the other half in New England.”

Net worth: “$3M. We could move to Myers Park where the high rollers live, but why? Having a ridiculous mortgage and pissing away money on car payments seems like a waste.”

Full story: 52-year-old lawyer invests $500 in each kid’s 529 plan since birth

MONEY SNACKS

5 other financial headlines I’m snacking on

Carolina Theatre showing $5 movies in fancy new venue this summer. Lineup includes Titanic, Clueless, and Home Alone.
Boutique gift shop for sale asking $495K. Revenue $680K. Cash flow $130K. Products from 100 local makers. 30K Instagram followers.
Dozo releases new $19 Blackened Shrimp Caesar Wrap and early reviews are 10/10. Lunch only. Looks insane.
Zyn pouches explode in popularity among Uptown bankers. "They help me lock in," said one 29-year-old. 155M cans sold in Q1.
Normal dad goes viral posting about $2,900 per month he spends on daycare for his 2 children. 31% of their take-home pay.

HOUSEKEEPING

Night Swim opens in South End, bringing James Yoder's total coffee shops to 14

James Yoder, co-owner of Night Swim and Not Just Coffee

Now open: Night Swim opened 6 days ago in South End. James Yoder now co-owns 14 coffee shops.

On a busy day, he'll serve 4,000 cups across his empire.
"It's a good business that I love, but it requires tremendous volume."

Advice: "Invest in and build trust with your team; they are the face of your business," says James.

Tiny take: I've known James and his wife, Miracle, for over a decade. I'm a huge fan. And delicious coffee.

Happy Thursday! I'm going on a bougie double date tonight. Drinks at The Jimmy before walking across Selwyn to dinner at Rada, where I'll be ordering the $22 San Sebastian Martini and $23 Clams from Chef Callan Buckles.

– Ted

P.S. No newsletter next week. I’m heading to Sea Island!