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Exploring Financial Habits: A Week of Spending
Welcome to Money Diaries, where we delve into the often-unspoken subject of finances. We invite individuals to share their spending habits over a week, meticulously documenting every expense.
This Week’s Diary Entry:
“I’m a 33-year-old residing in the countryside who has recently faced redundancy. My husband and I have been together since our school days, and our financial outlook has shifted dramatically over recent years. Following COVID-19, many of our friends began starting families, which left us feeling inspired yet introspective. After numerous discussions—both between us and with my therapist—we recognized that parenthood is not the journey we wish to embark on. This realization has opened up an exhilarating (and somewhat daunting) chapter in our lives where we can redefine what the next two decades hold for us without adhering to a traditional parenting framework. Our passion lies in travel; thus, our primary objective is achieving enough financial independence to avoid full-time work or burdensome mortgage commitments while dedicating more time to exploring new horizons.”
Personal Details:
- Current Status: Recently made redundant.
- Field: Communications
- Age: 33
- Location: Oxfordshire
- Past Salary: My last position as head of communications earned me just above £60,000 annually; currently, my household income relies solely on my husband’s earnings of approximately £50,000.
- Your Paycheck Before Redundancy: Previously received £3,301.98 monthly; now drawing £1,895 from redundancy funds for bills and living costs.
- Cohabitants:
- Prounouns Used:
A Breakdown of Monthly Expenses
Total Housing Costs:
I contribute £756.50 towards our mortgage each month. Unfortunately, following the controversial mini-budget announcement that coincided with the end of our fixed-rate deal led to a staggering 50% increase in payments! We purchased a fixer-upper with plans for renovations but are now burdened by high costs for a property that requires significant repairs—adulting can be quite challenging!
Lending Obligations:
- I still owe just over £5k on my student loan (Plan 1), which I anticipate clearing within about a year once I secure employment again.
I also carry around £2k on a zero-interest credit card from enrolling in an MFA-style creative writing course after losing my job (this will be settled as soon as I’m back at work). Additionally, we financed our car five years ago and have five remaining payments of £151.20 each month while hoping for some reimbursement due to ongoing investigations into car finance commission issues.
Savings Overview:
The current balance stands at slightly above £15k held within a high-yield savings account.
Pension Contributions:
I do have one! One of my first tasks post-redundancy was consolidating all previous pensions into one account—it currently holds just over £60k thanks to consistent contributions averaging around £300 per month during employment along with generous employer matching schemes.
Bills & Utilities Breakdown:
The monthly utility expenses include:
- Council Tax -£235;
- Gas & Electric -£130;
- Water -£21;
- Internet -£49;
- TV License -£13.25 (shared equally with C).
The rest includes life insurance (£113), bundled home/car insurance (£54), pet insurance (£15.40), vet plan (£20.50)—all shared equally—and personal expenses like phone bill (£6 .95) plus charitable donations totaling around (£25). Subscriptions include Spotify at (£13 .99), Netflix at (£10 .99), Amazon Prime at (£8 .99) ,and Dabble Writer subscription costing about(£12).
Navigating Higher Education Finances
I pursued an undergraduate degree funded through student loans covering tuition fees alongside maintenance support from family members who generously covered accommodation costs throughout university life while providing additional funds when needed—I am fortunate being first-generation university attendee!
< h2 > Childhood Financial Conversations< / h2 >
I grew up privileged within an affluent family dynamic featuring one stay-at-home parent alongside another working professionally—a lifestyle filled with global travel experiences without any financial constraints meant discussions surrounding money were minimalistic if existent altogether! Reflecting back upon this upbringing makes me appreciate how lucky I truly was despite not realizing it until later stages outside private schooling environments!
< h2 > Transitioning Into Independence< / h2 >
Migrated out officially upon reaching eighteen years old heading off towards university but fully transitioned away from parental home post-graduation age twenty-two securing initial job opportunities based out London area thereafter!
< h2 > Taking Charge Of Finances At An Early Age? Any External Support?< / h2 >
< < h5 > First Job Experience And Motivations Behind It? <
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A Unique Daily Diary: Life with G
Inherited Wealth and Family Support
While I haven’t received any inheritance, my parents generously contributed £10,000 towards our home deposit. My husband’s parents matched that amount, making it a total of £30,000 for our house purchase.
Day One: 5:24 a.m. — My morning begins as usual with my cat, G, jumping on me. We have an arrangement where if I let her snuggle under the duvet like a teddy bear, she allows me to catch some extra sleep. I drift off again to her soothing purrs.
5:54 a.m. — After ten minutes of gentle nudging and pawing at the bed’s edge, I take the hint and rise for G’s intricate breakfast routine. A few weeks ago we learned that she has a terminal heart condition despite her young age. With uncertainty about how much time we have left together, we’re cherishing each day as an unexpected gift. I give her inhaler (yes—she has asthma too!) along with her first dose of heart medication before serving breakfast. Although it would be wise to stay up now, I crawl back into bed.
7 a.m. — Finally out of bed after C and I enjoy some quiet moments before he heads off to work. Since G’s diagnosis brought us anticipatory grief and frequent vet visits, it’s been refreshing these past few days to feel like we’re moving away from crisis mode toward normalcy.
8 a.m.— Off to the supermarket for brownie ingredients requested by my best friends who I’m meeting tonight! Alongside brownies, strawberries and raspberries are added to my cart totaling £23.20.
10:30 a.m.— A follow-up call with a recruiter regarding an FTC position at what turns out to be a defense tech company catches me off guard; it feels like quite the shift from my background in purpose-driven organizations and charities but given my current job search struggles—I reluctantly agree to an interview in just days.
1 p.m.— Lunch consists of leftover garlic bread paired with an ice lolly while tackling household chores throughout the afternoon followed by administering G’s second round of heart medication—a distasteful gel she insists on licking directly from my fingers!
5 p.m.— Drop C off at his rugby club social en route to meet L and M for pottery painting this evening.
10 p.m.— An enjoyable night filled with laughter over our BYO picnic feast! My ambitious mug design will require another session for completion so tonight’s payment is just £5 after covering our deposit when booking.
< br/>10:30 p.m.— Back home where I read chapters from the book I’m analyzing for my creative writing course before drifting into sleep as C arrives around 1 a.m.
Total Spent Today: £28.20
Day Two: 5 a.m.— An early start today thanks to G! With C still asleep soundly beside me,
I handle breakfast preparations before returning back under covers for our favorite post-meal nap.…
Total Spent Today: £0
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Total Spent Today:
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A Week in My Life: Balancing Work, Home, and Hobbies
Day Four: Embracing Routine
5:40 a.m. — I start the day with twenty minutes of cozy cuddles with my cat, G, before we rise. After breakfast and administering medications for G, I head to my office to kick off a productive Monday.
6:20 a.m. — I review my monthly planner and jot down a to-do list. I’ve found that clearing my mind first thing helps me focus better. Although I used to write morning pages consistently for nearly a year (if you know, you know), I’ve let that habit slip recently.
6:30 a.m. — It’s time for my favorite part of the day—writing! My goal is to dedicate at least an hour each weekday to novel writing. However, after some recent upheaval involving G’s health issues, I’m easing back into this routine gently.
7:30 a.m. — Today’s word count stands at 440 words—just shy of my 500-word target. Despite feeling like they might be subpar quality, I’m reminding myself that any progress is still progress at this stage in the process.
9:00 a.m. — With C working from home today, we take some time to plan our weekly meals before I return to the pottery studio for an extra session dedicated to finishing up my mug project. The studio is wonderfully quiet; I listen to an audiobook while painting—a true introvert’s paradise! Since I’ve run out of free listening hours on Audible this month, I subscribe again on Spotify for £9.99.
12 p.m. — On my way home from pottery class, I stop by the grocery store for our weekly shopping trip (we typically plan meals for four or five days ahead). The total comes out of our joint account as £27.20—my share of the expenses!
1 p.m. — Lunch consists of leftovers when I get back home. Afternoons between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., however productive they may be intended as—I find myself rather unmotivated; thus today involves light housework and more job applications while C takes care of G’s medications during this time frame instead!
5 p.m.– After shaking off that afternoon slump with an hour dedicated solely towards household chores (seriously how do they multiply?), C begins prepping dinner—a new recipe he’s excited about trying out! I’m incredibly fortunate that he enjoys cooking because it has never been one of my passions; acts like these are truly appreciated since cooking feels tedious sometimes! Over eight years together have led us here where he handles all culinary duties while leaving cleaning/laundry tasks up to me—which suits us both perfectly!
Total Expenses Today: £37.19 The Challenges Continue
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A Week in My Life: Balancing Work, Hobbies, and Finances
Daily Routine Insights
Until C arrives home at 6 p.m., I take care of G and manage medication while we share updates about our day.
At 7 p.m., C prepares an exquisite pasta bake using our home-grown vegetables to create a delicious sauce.
By 8:15 p.m., I find myself in a food coma, struggling to write (a common occurrence when I procrastinate in the morning). Nevertheless, I push through and produce 200 words before tackling another online module. G keeps me company by playfully standing on my laptop.
The evening concludes with my usual bedtime routine of reading. Despite my intention to sleep early, I’m engrossed in a captivating book and end up staying awake until midnight to finish it.
Day Seven Highlights The Morning of Day Seven
I wake up at 5:50 a.m. for my morning routine with G before heading back upstairs to work. Since C is working from home today, he enjoys some extra rest.
At 6:30 a.m., I have an incredibly productive writing hour where I meet my goal of writing 500 words. Although I’m on a roll and could continue writing, I decide to stop so that tomorrow’s session feels more manageable as I’ve already mapped out the next scene.
I struggle with having breakfast but manage to prepare yogurt with granola before reluctantly diving into interview preparation later on. My lack of enthusiasm for the sector might be evident during the interview itself; however, it’s still valuable practice.
<: After purchasing an e-book for £0.99 on Kindle, I call several local bookstores hoping for job openings as a bookseller but find no vacancies available. Next week marks the start of my serious search for temporary part-time work locally until something permanent comes along—this should help alleviate some anxiety while providing structure.
At around 10:45 a.m., I’m thrilled when I receive my first cat-sitting booking through an app I’ve recently joined—it’s several days long and will earn me approximately £150! It’s surprising that it took me this long to consider such side gigs since they seem quite promising.
By 3 p.m., it’s time for my interview which turns out rather odd—they hardly inquire about my experience nor can they answer many questions regarding the role specifics confirming that this position isn’t right for me.
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