“I am a 29-year-old veterinary surgeon from Scotland, living and working in Glasgow. I moved to the city to study and have been here ever since. I moved from general practice to a charity role just over two years ago and feel much more at home in this role. I took a significant pay cut to do this but feel I have progressed in my skills and have far better job satisfaction and work/life balance now. Money-wise I am doing well overall but this doesn’t stop me worrying and comparing myself to peers who are at similar stages in their careers and making significantly more than me. However I have enough to allow myself nice dinners, drinks and things most of the time and my partner is moving in with me soon, which will make our bills significantly less.”
Occupation: Veterinary surgeon
Industry: Charity/veterinary
Age: 29
Location: Glasgow
Salary: £31,000
Paycheque amount: About £1,900 after all deductions
Number of housemates: One and a half? My partner stays a few nights a week and officially moves in in August once their flat is sold. Plus my dog!
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £470 mortgage on my two-bedroom flat.
Loan payments: I pay about £54 a month off my £25k student loan. I used to be insistent that I’d pay this off by the time I was 30 – good joke, past me. I now view this as education tax as I am lucky enough to be Scottish and thus had my undergraduate tuition fees paid for me.
Savings? I have about £45k spread across three accounts with an ethical bank: one easy access savings account, one fixed term ISA and one fixed term bond. I am incredibly privileged to have such a massive financial safety net, even after buying my house, but these savings (and my house deposit) were an insurance payout after a life-changing car accident so I do have mixed feelings about them. I am also very aware I am not working them to their full potential and have had ‘look up ethical stocks and shares ISAs’ on my to-do list for longer than I care to admit. I also have £2k in premium bonds.
Pension? Yes! I pay 5% and my employer pays 3%. I amalgamated my pensions from my previous two jobs into my current one but it’s still not great. I really must look into that stocks and shares ISA.
Utilities: £119 council tax, £24.95 internet, £66 gas and electric, £80 factor fees, £13.18 TV licence.
All other monthly payments: £10 phone, £14.24 home insurance, £37.95 life insurance, £27 gym, £12 a week dog walker. Subscriptions: £9.99 Spotify, £3.99 Netflix (split with family members).
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
My undergraduate vet degree tuition fees were covered by the Scottish government. I got the maximum student loan as I was from a single parent/low income household at that time (my parents had a very acrimonious separation two years before I left home, which led to quite a lot of money worries). I went back to uni a year after qualifying to do an MSc. I applied for and was granted a fee waiver for this, which was fantastic and let me really broaden my horizons, having done a vocational undergraduate degree.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
The main thing I recall being told by my parents was NEVER to get a credit card. Clearly I took this to heart because I’ve never had one and still feel mildly suspicious of them… We were fairly comfortable growing up as far as I’m aware (two cars, European holiday most years etc.) but my parents separated when I was 16 so we went from fairly comfortable to a single parent household that struggled with money. It also took years and a lot of money for them to finalise their divorce. This was upsetting at the time and has made me very aware of the privilege I have now of a decent salary, significant savings and financial autonomy.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house?
I moved out at 18 for university and moved back in occasionally over summers, during which I had work placements. I was not expected to pay rent during these times but tried to help out with grocery shopping and providing lifts for my younger sibling, for example.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
I was mostly responsible for myself after I left home to start uni due to that big old student loan and my savings but both parents would spot me the odd phone bill or grocery shop (or dinner out, if I was lucky) if I was struggling. I was very aware that the savings I talk about above were NOT for burning through on fun stuff but I did dip into them a few times when I was short. I have been solely financially responsible for myself since I qualified as a vet in 2016.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I was a waitress at a local pub from the age of 14 (then worked in the kitchen, then behind the bar over the years). I got the job because it was the done thing and I wanted money to spend on Criminal Damage jeans, Malibu and ill-advised piercings.
Do you worry about money now?
All the time. I worry about not using my savings to their full potential, I worry about dipping into them when I have too much month left at the end of my money (which seems to be happening more often lately…), I worry about my pension and I worry about not donating enough money to charity (I try and split whatever I have left at the end of the month between savings and a charity donation but this often isn’t very much). I feel a lot of these worries are unfounded as I have such a good financial safety net but it doesn’t stop them bothering me.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
I consider the insurance money inherited income, I suppose? Part of my premium bonds were bought for me by grandparents as a child (I honestly can’t remember how much) and I have topped this up to £2k over the years.
Refinery29 is currently looking for someone who has a NatWest ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ card to take part in a paid opportunity around R29’s Money Diaries. This person would need to be a conscious spender and saving up for or considering making a large purchase (£500 and under). If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please do send a bit of information about yourself and your financial situation to moneydiary@refinery29.uk.
8.40am: It’s the weekend! Celebrate by staying in bed and scrolling on phone for ages, so healthy. Send my friend a birthday message as she’s turning 30 today. This year has been filled with 30th celebrations, hen dos and weddings and I LOVE it.
9am: Notice I’ve been charged for my laundry capsule subscription, £5.30. I get this intermittently and am constantly pausing the renewal (hence why I haven’t included it in my regular subscriptions).
9.10am: Haul self out of bed and take the dog out, then feed him. Put laundry on, make posh coffee for myself, then get back in bed with coffee and dog.
12.30pm: Hang laundry, then do a lil ab workout and some stretching and foam rolling. Who even am I?!
4pm: Showered and ready to head to partner’s house with the dog. I’m not going to miss travelling between our places when they move in! We have a dinner reservation later on at a place we’ve both wanted to try for ages so we’re both very excited.
7pm: After hanging out in the sun for a couple of hours we pop the dog home (does anyone else leave the radio on for their pet when they are out?).
7.30pm: We start with a wine before dinner.
10pm: Dinner was delicious! I’m drunk so we (perhaps foolishly) go over the road to a little wine bar for more wine.
Total: £5.30
12am: I pay for the drinks as my partner paid for dinner, £30. We will put both onto Splitwise, which we usually settle up at the end of the month.
1am: We stumble home.
8.20am: OMG why do I do this to myself. I feel very fragile. Try and lie very still for another hour or so. Phew.
10am: Partner is an angel and brings me coffee, Alka-Seltzer (in separate vessels haha), tattie scones and toast. I’m alive!
12pm: Make it out the house and walk to a local country park with the dog. It’s so lovely to spend a few hours in the sun among the trees. I make a mental note to prioritise outside time if this glorious weather continues (sadly unlikely, this is Glasgow after all).
2.30pm: Stop at the shop for cystitis meds and a Diet Coke, £5.80. I’m pretty sure this is a direct sequel of drinking so much wine and being hungover and dehydrated. I’m then very silly and try and put the cystitis sachet into the Coke, which unsurprisingly causes a volcano of fizzy juice that ends up all over my hands. Don’t try this at home, kids!
3pm: Make it home, take cystitis sachet in water like a sensible adult woman and go for a nap.
6pm: Partner once again being an angel and has made pineapple fried rice for dinner, yum.
7pm: Head off to pick sister up from work and then drop her home with the dog (she kindly watches him for me when she’s not at work and I am). I then head to pick up a few food bits for the week including bread, bananas, frozen fruit, tomatoes, broccoli, onions and some vegan yoghurts, £6.18. No idea what I’ll make with these things, my hungover wee brain is struggling. I head back to my place to potter about, tidy up and chill out for the rest of the evening.
9.20pm: Check my emails and see I have a discount code for a fancy sunscreen I’ve had my eye on. Order the sunscreen and stock up on moisturiser and brow/lash serum as well, £53.03.
10.30pm: Showered, skincared and ready for bed.
Total: £95.01
6.30am: Nahhh too early.
6.50am: This is a bit better. I get ready for work, eat muesli with vegan yoghurt and strawberries, drink green tea with lemon and take many supplements.
8.05am: Make it to work only five minutes late. I have a busy morning of cat dental work and surgery awaits me. I operate every day as part of my job, which I love.
3pm: A reasonably/surprisingly quiet afternoon gives me an hour to peacefully write my notes before I leave. I update animals’ files with what they’ve had done that day, dispense medications and discuss treatment plans with other staff. I often stay late to get these things done when it’s really busy so it’s nice to have time to sit and concentrate and know I will get to leave on time.
4pm: Jump in the car for the commute home. I work between three different sites and this one is the furthest away from my house so petrol costs can be pretty alarming but I don’t mind the drive itself.
6pm: Against all odds I get off the sofa and go to the gym. It’s very warm in the building but quiet, which is nice.
8.30pm: Phewww I am sweaty. The programme I am running has me doing squats, deadlifts and hip thrusts on the same day and it is challenging, especially when it’s so hot.
9pm: I finish up, get home and shower quickly, then eat some lentil and tomato curry with rice (made by my partner, thanks bae).
9.30pm: My partner heads back to theirs after eating so I box up leftover curry for my lunches for the rest of the week, do the dishes and tidy up before chilling.
10.40pm: Manage to restrain myself and head to bed after one episode of Glow Up.
Total: £0
6.30am: Still too early.
6.50am: Get up and get ready, with the same breakfast as yesterday. I tend to eat the same breakfasts and lunches on workdays because I am lazy and it frees up time/brain space to have the same things in the house and prepped.
11.30am: Busy morning of surgery, blood sampling and scaling teeth but I finally get a moment for my nurse and I to stop for a tea. I have a Nakd bar and a banana as well, delightful.
4.10pm: After a busy, up-and-down afternoon, it’s home time. I stop at the shop on my way to pick up bits to make tofu bánh mì for dinner, £4.09.
6.30pm: Leave my tofu to marinate and head out for a quick walk with a pal and her dog to make the most of the sunshine. We head round the park and watch her dog zoom, so cute!
8.30pm: Back home I assemble my bánh mì and it’s tasty but not *quite* as tasty as I’d wanted… I might quick pickle the veg next time.
9.15pm: Video call catch-up for an hour or so with another pal, which is lovely as we have a proper belly laugh together.
11pm: House tidied (i.e. dishes stacked neatly in the sink for me to do tomorrow, oops), Glow Up finished, time for bed.
Total: £4.09
4.30am: Wake up suddenly, convinced I’ve slept in. I look at phone, panic over. Annoyingly, I struggle to get back to sleep because it’s almost light and there’s a gang of seagulls having a very raucous party outside my windows.
6.50am: Must have managed to get back to sleep because here I am getting out of bed on the second snooze again…
1.30pm: Very, very busy today, seeing lots of animals. I have leftover curry, an apple and an orange for lunch and manage to sit for long enough to do Wordle and a mini crossword. I honestly love having these little games in my daily routine, they are a great brain break.
4.30pm: An even busier afternoon, phewww. I finish up a few loose ends and go pick the dog up. We are equally excited to see each other so we go for a little walk when we get home to chill out. I also pick up my skincare parcel, which my neighbours kindly took in for me as it arrived when I was at work.
8pm: Accidentally zoned out watching YouTube videos on the couch for almost two hours, oops! I am shattered after such a busy day at work so I stick the oven on for a quick and lazy dinner of veggie nuggets, oven chips and peas (aka kid dinner).
10pm: Do dishes then lose another hour to scrolling/YouTube. Realise I am struggling to stay awake so I take the dog out one last time, brush my teeth, wash and moisturise my face, then head to bed.
Total: £0
8.20am: Day off! I have a therapy appointment at 9am so quickly get ready, take the dog out, feed him and then have a swift decaf coffee.
10am: Therapy is hard but very, very useful; I really believe everyone everywhere would benefit from it. I am very privileged to be able to afford a £60 session every four to six weeks and it’s actually changed my life. I book in for another session in a month.
11am: I have a think about everything we’ve spoken about while popping to a local coffee shop to pick up a bag of fancy coffee (this is low key a reward to myself for going to therapy – it’s so important and useful but I still experience mild dread before a session so am proud of myself for sticking with it), £6.
11.40am: I am now caffeinated and have a delicious smoothie (banana, orange, berries, beetroot, seeds, peanut butter and oat milk) while pottering about and doing some life admin.
12.40pm: Walk the dog through rain, wind and sun. Classic ‘four seasons in one day’ Scottish weather.
4pm: I’ve spent most of the afternoon continuing to potter about and have run a few errands. I took back an overdue library book (sorry!) and picked up a collection of short stories and a novel to read to try and get me out of my reading slump. I speed through the short stories in a couple of hours and really enjoy them.
7pm: Pull together a quick vegan Alfredo sauce for some pasta and pan-fried broccoli. Very tasty for a low-input dinner. I’ve felt a bit brain-foggy all day after therapy so it’s nice to have a quick and easy dinner again.
10.45pm: Spend the evening chilling out, showering and skincaring. I take the dog out again and then get ready for bed after starting my other library book.
Total: £66
6.50am: Back at it again. Bit worried about the dog as he’s very quiet this morning and takes ages to eat his breakfast. Thankfully he perks up after eating so I feel better. I leave him at home with Classic FM on (he will have a walk with the dog walker at lunchtime so will be tired this evening).
1.30pm: A completely chaotic and sad morning today with lots of bad news for various patients. I do enjoy my job and feel I am doing good work as a charity vet but sometimes it’s really rough. My nurse and I are both a bit upset after this morning and sit quietly eating our lunches.
4pm: Remarkably the afternoon goes smoothly and a few animals get signed off from vet treatment, which is even more rewarding than usual due to our rubbish morning. We finish up on time and I head home to put wine in the fridge.
5.45pm: Dog fed (he seems completely fine after being not himself this morning) and cup of tea drunk. We head out for a walk and have a little sit-down in the sunshine.
7pm: My partner has come over after work and we nip to the shop to get some ingredients for a Mexican feast for dinner, £7.37 for my half.
9pm: We spend a peaceable hour or so chopping and prepping and drinking wine, then sit down to a delicious dinner of tostadas, refried beans, guacamole and pineapple ‘ceviche’.
10.30pm: Tidy up, finish the wine and head to bed.
Total: £7.37
Food & Drink: £53.64
Entertainment: £0
Clothes & Beauty: £53.03
Home & Health: £71.10
Travel: £0
Other: £0
Total: £177.77
Conclusion
“I’d say my total this week was pretty average but obviously it isn’t always made up of £50 of skincare and £60 on therapy. I was definitely more mindful of my spending when I was tracking it daily like this (I usually do a monthly spreadsheet that’s quite confusing) so I will aim to keep doing this in my head at least. I feel I have a nice balance of necessary spends and fun things but I should probably stop spending so much money on drinking so much wine.”
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