Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last penny.
This week: “I’m a 23-year-old sales executive who just got engaged to my partner, H. We recently bought a house out in a more rural area after living in the city for the last three years. I also recently left a job with a much higher salary due to poor working conditions that really ruined my mental health. For a month we were living with a family member, as our home was not yet ready and due to the rising cost of living in the city. I didn’t work during this time as the thought made me sick and I would have panic attacks due to what happened in my previous job. I used to work within the education and childcare sector as a room head for a private nursery and while it is my area of passion, the 12-hour days, constant berating from managers and less and less money being spent on the resources for the children was too much. I now work in sales and marketing, but still within childcare, so I feel like I’m still doing something with my experience. Now H and I are getting our home sorted out, I’m feeling more social again so I’m seeing friends more often, which is making it a little harder to save and recoup what I lost when I quit my job. My goal by the end of the year is to have a small emergency fund and then next year will be for clearing any credit cards.”
Occupation: Sales executive
Industry: Early years
Age: 23
Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £21,700
Paycheque Amount: Roughly £1,500 after tax.
Number of housemates: One, my partner H.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: I pay £600 monthly, this includes my portion of utilities. My partner H pays slightly more as he earns a large amount more than me.
Loan payments: I have two credit cards that I pay £100 into each month (I’d prefer to put in more but I’m working on building my savings up again).
Savings?: These have been depleted recently after I suddenly left my previous job and wasn’t in the mental headspace to find another straight away. I think I have roughly £100 in my savings account at the moment, definitely a big hit.
Pension?: At my previous job I was paying 6% into my pension, and as I’ve just started my current job I still haven’t sorted my new plan out but I will do roughly the same.
Utilities: My split works out roughly to be £100 for electricity, internet and council tax.
All other monthly payments: £20 phone;£54 car insurance. Subscriptions: £16.99 for cinema; £9.99 for Spotify.
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?: I went to college to study childhood practice. Luckily because I live in Scotland I was able to get this for free. I also got a bursary so I don’t need to pay that back either.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
Growing up I was always unaware of the financial situation in the house. My parents never really taught me how to save money and because of this I do struggle with my relationship with my finances.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house?
I moved out when I was 21 and got my first full-time job.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
I’d say I’ve been financially responsible for myself since I was around 18. I didn’t have to pay “rent” to my parents while I lived at home, but any other aspect of my life was paid for by me.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I worked in a clothes shop at 16/17 to be able to buy myself bits and pieces. When I turned 18 I also used that money to pay for things like petrol for my car.
Do you worry about money now? Definitely. I recently had to quit my previous job after months of being made mentally and physically unwell by the environment. I left without any real plan. That might sound foolish, but I knew that if I didn’t then things would only become worse. I ended up using most of my savings to stay afloat for a couple of months while I looked for a job. I’m now earning a lot less than I was previously, so money has certainly become a worry again, especially in the current climate.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
My grandparents set up a savings account for me when I was a baby and I gained access to that on my 18th birthday, I used the money to get myself a car.
7 a.m. — I wake up to get ready for work. I have a shower and then find something that looks office-appropriate for the day. I work hybrid so luckily I only need to do this a few times a week.
8:30 a.m. — I finally get to work and get set up for the day. My job is pretty flexible with hours, so we all do staggered starts in the office. My first half hour of work is typically just me. I use this time to get some parcels ready for today’s collection and look through my calendar for the rest of the week.
2 p.m. — Time for a meeting. I typically just sit in on these and listen to people talk about changes to the company. Afterwards I go for a walk to get some time away from the screen and eat the sandwich I brought for lunch. I see Costa but steer clear. Win.
5:40 p.m. — I finally get home from work. H is home already but we are immediately back out of the door. We go to Costco to get some bits and pieces for our engagement party. It ends up being a lot of booze and a few sweet bits as well as a ready meal to chuck in the oven, £60 for my half.
8:30 p.m — Finally get home. I put the oven on and throw in the food. We sit and put on an episode of The Last Of Us while we eat and then call it a night.
9:45 p.m. — I go upstairs and do my skincare before climbing into bed and falling asleep immediately.
Total: £60
7 a.m. — Time to get up again. I make myself a smoothie this morning in an attempt to feel a little less tired (it doesn’t help).
7:45 a.m. — I end up stopping in at Costa to grab a drink. I get a caramel cortado and decide against a pastry as I already brought my smoothie with me, £3.05.
8 a.m. — Get into work and get set up. I don’t have any meetings today so I can crack on with emails and editing brochures. I have to call a few sites to ask about updates but it’s easier than the waiting game of an email.
5:20 p.m. — The traffic was good today, so I make it home in time to do some dishes and water all of my plants before H gets home from his day on site. He brings home some bits to make dinner and I’m a little sad because I was totally going to suggest a McDonald’s.
6:55 p.m. — We make dinner after tidying the house for a bit and sit watching the next episode of the The Last Of Us (I cry a lot).
8 p.m. — I look up where I can buy strawberry wine (if you know you know) and find an online store that does a few fruit wines. I’m currently in the early stages of my wine journey so I buy a bottle of strawberry and a bottle of elderflower to have when some friends come over, £33.50.
9pm: After cleaning up from dinner and doing a bit of reading I end up heading upstairs for the night. I do my skincare and get into bed, spend a little bit scrolling and then pass out.
Total: £36.55
8 a.m. — Finally a day at home. I get up later than usual and wash my hair since I don’t have any meetings today.
11 a.m. — One of our nurseries just got their inspection report back and that means an emergency meeting is called with the regional manager. I definitely don’t look like I’m the only one taking advantage of the day from home, so I relax a little as we chat through next steps and how we can handle the grades.
1:40 p.m. — Finally I get my lunch. I throw some chicken nuggets into the oven and do 20 minutes of yoga while they’re cooking. By the time my food is ready my lunch is over but I just eat while I send off emails.
5:30 p.m. — I work a little later than usual today as I get carried away with a few things that need to be actioned as well as making sure some sites know I’m coming for visits tomorrow.
6 p.m. — H gets home and I ask if he wants to go to the cinema. We have cards so it’s something we try to do a lot to make our money back. We get some snacks at a shop before we go in (H pays).
10:30 p.m. — We take a long drive home since our closest cinema is a little bit out of our way. During our drive we chat more about our wedding plans and agree to go view a few venues. I check for any open days and email a couple asking if we can come in for a viewing.
11 p.m. — We both get ready for bed and pass out.
Total: £0
6:45 a.m. — I regret being up so late last night since I have to drive into Glasgow this morning and pick up a colleague.
9 a.m. — After a bit of driving around we finally get to our first nursery. We both make a note to perhaps discuss signage and get some more in place for the building.
10:30 a.m. — After having a look around and a chat with the manager about marketing for the nursery we finally head off again. This is my favourite part of the job since I used to work in nurseries before I moved into the office side of the sector.
11 a.m. — We decide on an early lunch in an attempt to get home before rush hour starts. I get a meal deal from Boots and a few other bits and pieces since I’m there and this Boots is absolutely HUGE, £13.95.
3:30 p.m. — We manage to go to the two other sites on our list and meet with a signage company for some quotes for a few other nurseries in the area.
5:55 p.m. — Drop off my colleague and make it back home. I end up making some frozen dumplings and soup from the freezer for an easy dinner.
6:30 p.m. — H worked from home today so he did washing and the dishes and I put away my half of the laundry while we have a discussion about what food we should serve for our engagement party. A few of our friends are picky eaters and we don’t want to be in the kitchen all night so we decide on a baked potato bar and some finger food. I make a promise to do the snacks if he does main food cooking.
9 p.m. — I decide on an early night as I’m exhausted from all of the driving and conversation. I do my skincare and make a mental note to buy a different cleanser as this one seems to have me feeling really dry and tight.
Total: £13.95
8 a.m. — Finally the end of the work week! Fridays are so light with work that I usually get some free time during the day. I spend this intermittently making a balloon arch and also questioning my life choices about said balloon arch. H hears me cursing and comes down to help me with the last few bits.
12 p.m. — H makes me lunch. I eat while I work and also browse ASOS for some events we have coming up. I order some clothes and new Converse knowing I’ll likely return most of it, £140. Due to the stress of my last job I lost so much weight so I don’t really know what size I am now.
5 p.m. — All of my inboxes are done so I log off for the week. We borrowed a gazebo from H’s parents so I go to help him set that up in the garden.
5:30 p.m. — We call H’s parents for them to come over and help us with the gazebo after spending half an hour trying ourselves. They arrive and we have it up in about 20 minutes.
6 p.m. — H and I ask if they want to go to the beach for dinner so we head to get some food from the fish and chip place. We chat about weddings and get some really good advice. His mum and stepdad only got married recently. It’s nice to get a recent perspective as we are the first in our friend groups to get engaged.
9:50 p.m. — Get ready for bed, do my skincare and then sit in bed for a while to read. Eventually H comes upstairs and we go to bed.
Total: £140
9 a.m. — My body doesn’t let me sleep in due to excitement. It’s our engagement party today and while we are having it at home I’m just so happy to be seeing all of my friends. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a few of them.
9:30 a.m. — I throw on some clothes and head to the shops to get some meat and cheese. I’ve been watching charcuterie board tutorials religiously this week in preparation for my own, £15.69 for the supplies.
10:55 a.m. — I finally make a start on all of the prep for the food. It’s only for around 20 people so it’s not a huge amount but we have a few vegans coming so I have to make a mini vegan board for them. I feel a little bad that it’s just hummus and veggies but I’m sure they’ll live. H goes to get our cake from a bakery in town and I pray it survives the ride home.
1 p.m. — Finally go upstairs to get ready. I’m not doing much so I just throw on a dress and curl my hair. I go downstairs to make sure the place looks clean and we finally sit for a moment before guests arrive.
12 a.m. — Most people leave around midnight. I wish I could say I went upstairs and I did my skincare but I definitely did not.
Total: £15.69
8 a.m. — I wake up feeling like I was hit by a bus and vow to never drink again. It takes me a while to actually work up the courage to get out of bed. H is annoyingly fine and goes downstairs to tidy up from last night.
10 a.m. — I make it downstairs finally and put on Still Game to distract me from the headache. H makes me a cup of tea and I drink that to make me feel a little more alive. I look through the photos from the night before that people took on my Instax and get a little emotional at how loving all of my friends are. I send pictures over to a few people and we all discuss how we feel.
2:45 p.m. — I eat the remains of the meat and cheese board for lunch and H and I decide to have a lazy Sunday. We finish The Last Of Us and chat about our upcoming trip. We decide to try a few food places in Amsterdam that we haven’t been to before so I put them into our itinerary and also discuss our plans for travel. We decide to buy the travel cards before we fly because that way it’s cheaper, £40 for my half.
6 p.m. — We go for a short walk around our estate. It’s still being built so we chat about what we think will be put where since we are due for a few shops to be built soon. It’ll be nice to not have to drive 20 minutes to the nearest supermarket.
6:30 p.m. — I think the walk helped because when we get home I have a second wind and decide to finish the last of the cleaning.
9:30 p.m. — We eat cake for dinner since both of us ended up not having any yesterday. It was well worth what we paid for it and, as I ordered it months ago, I consider it practically free. We chat about maybe having a cake from this place for the wedding and I note it down.
10:45 p.m. — We head up to bed after a while and stay up chatting about how the party went. I like to debrief with him and discuss who we think clicked the most or what topics were being covered. Eventually we turn the lights off and fall asleep.
Total: £40
Food & Drink: £112.24
Clothes & Beauty: £140
Home & Health: £13.95
Entertainment: £0
Travel: £40
Other: £0
Total: £306.19
Conclusion
“I think the food total is somewhat shocking but it also makes sense. We put money into a joint account every month and that’s what our daily meals come out of. The party was an added expense so we split that with our own accounts. The clothes I feel okay with because I know I’ll likely send back a few things anyway. Overall I think this cost makes sense, but in a typical week I’d likely be spending way less on food and drink. I think I was a lot more mindful of what I was buying since I was noting it down and I guess seeing it in this format made me really wonder if I needed it or if it was maybe a stress buy in the moment. I did end up scrolling on ASOS a lot during the week and then deciding I didn’t need anything once I thought about adding it into here.”
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Money Diary: An Operations Manager On £49,000
Money Diary: A Marketing Consultant On £45,000
