This week: “I’m a 28-year-old based in Manchester, working in marketing for a tech company. I work hybrid, some days working from home and some days I go in the office. I love being active, socialising with friends (which normally includes coffee and brunch at a cute café or vibey independent restaurant) and sprucing up my apartment — since I live on my own! My costs fluctuate quite a bit depending on how much I go out (and how much social battery I have) and if there’s anything I need for the flat in terms of furniture and homewares. I like to go to the gym or do a workout class in the morning, at least five days a week if possible. Living on my own means bills are higher, so I try to keep my costs down by cooking my own lunches and dinners as much as I can — with a balance of socialising, too.”
Occupation: Head of marketing
Industry: Tech
Age: 28
Location: Manchester
Salary: £60,000 per year
Paycheque Amount: £3,683
Number of housemates: 0, I live on my own in a flat.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs : £900 rent
Loan payments: None
Savings?: £1,000
Pension? Around 3% currently.
Utilities: £380 for wifi, electricity, water and council tax.
All other monthly payments: £68 phone bill, £100 for workout classes/gym. Subscriptions: £50 for Netflix, Spotify and other streamers. £100 for workout classes/gym.
Did you participate in any form of higher education?
I did a bachelor’s degree and I paid for it outright while working part time.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
Conversations were mostly around the need to save money, as we didn’t have much disposable income. It wasn’t necessarily talked about with a scarcity mindset, but more about being mindful and not purchasing things that weren’t essential — or wouldn’t bring a huge amount of joy. Generally the attitude towards money was positive, and that the future was bright, but it was essential to not get into any big loans. I remember clearly that my family taught me to always pay my credit card bills on time — if anything, pay it early so you don’t get penalised.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house?
At 19.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
Technically when I got my first job, so around 17/18, but my family helped with the university tuition, so I’d say 21. No one else covers any aspects of my financial life now.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I worked at a retail clothing store. I loved fashion and still do, and it felt like the perfect job for me to do what I love and meet friends, as everyone there was also working part time. I also liked the hours more than bar hours, as I prefer to work morning and afternoon shifts.
Do you worry about money now?
I do, but not constantly. I just try to be more mindful of spending so I don’t need to stress about it too much.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
None, never.
8 a.m. — Wake up and get ready for the day. It’s a classic day in the office for me, starting with a coffee at a local coffee shop with cute plants and a menu that contains a beetroot latte (millennial must-have, right?!) — although I opt for a dirty chai for the caffeine. I buy takeaway and enjoy it on the walk to the office (as I do most days), £4.20.
12 p.m. — Grab lunch at Itsu and get my favourite salmon box and edamame; sometimes I like to add a kombucha on the side, and I treat myself to one today, £15. I only have 15 minutes so I head back and eat at my desk.
6 p.m. — Head from work to my Pilates class. It’s one of my “luxuries” and I don’t go very often simply because of the price. I also have other workout costs, like the gym and other classes, so I only do this once in a while, £17.
7 p.m. — I head to Tesco for a food shop for the next couple of days. I get the usual veggies and snacks, nothing too out of the ordinary — but I do get myself a nice treat, Halo Top ice cream, £12.
10 p.m. — Sleep.
Total: £48.20
8 a.m. — Another day starting at my favourite local coffee shop. Sometimes I switch it up but I do have a favourite — the dirty chai just hits different! Today I have some extra time, so I sit down in the café, £4.20.
2 p.m. — I brought my lunch in today since I did a food shop last night. I normally go for a sweet snack in the afternoon when I need a pick-me-up, so I head on the hunt for Haribos and chocolate or cookies, £2.
7 p.m. — I head out to dinner with my friends. We go to a taco and small plates spot, which means it is money well spent if you ask me, £35.80.
9 p.m. — After dinner we head for some margaritas at this Mexican place which is so good. Spicy margs don’t hurt nobody after a long day at work, £20.50.
11 p.m. — Get back home, get ready for bed and head to sleep.
Total: £62.50
8:30 a.m. — I don’t get a coffee this morning as I don’t have time — one of those days! I woke up at the same time as usual but I had a few emails to reply to before work, so I’m running a little late to the office.
12 p.m. — I like to break up a busy day with lunch out on office days. Itsu is fantastic but sometimes I go to Pret for a nice veggie or chicken wrap or protein box. Today I head there with colleagues, £8.
2 p.m. — I didn’t get time to buy a coffee this morning, so I need a pick-me-up in the afternoon — I can’t function properly without caffeine! I finally grab a cup at an independent place, £4.
5 p.m. —I start online shopping and decide to treat myself to some new boots — not a necessity, but they’re missing from my wardrobe, £105.
10 p.m. — Do my skincare, get ready for bed and head to sleep.
Total: £117
7 a.m. — I head to a barre class this morning which is, again, pretty much a luxury at £17 per class. It also feels like a luxury as it’s only 40 minutes! It is a lot of fun though, so I do enjoy treating myself to it every now and again.
9 a.m. — Afterwards, I head to my usual coffee shop for a nice latte — not a dirty chai today (but I do go for double shot espresso in my latte), £4.20.
12 p.m. — I stop for lunch. I’m super busy today at work so I just have soup and get back to it.
6 p.m. — After a long day I log off and make dinner. Afterwards I chill out and watch TV.
8 p.m. — Homewares are a big thing for me, so I do some slightly spontaneous online shopping. I find a TV stand, plant basket and some cute bits on various websites, £400.
10 p.m. — Get into bed, do my skincare and head to sleep.
Total: £421.20
8 a.m. — I get up and get ready quite early today so I make my own coffee. It’s good to use my own espresso machine, as I buy a coffee on weekdays normally.
10 a.m. — I have a snack from the food shop I did — a full packet of Haribo to keep me going until lunch!
12 p.m. — I make my own lunch at home today so I can spend my money on other things. I make a nice pasta with meatballs and tomatoes and I even have leftovers to freeze so I can have them for lunch or dinner another time.
3 p.m. — I’m really tempted to buy a coffee for my afternoon crash but think it would be good to try and not spend too much after my homewares shopping, so I manage to fight the temptation.
5 p.m. — I tend to do smaller food shops instead of a big weekly shop, as my week can change quite a bit as it goes. Today I get some beans, veg and snacks as usual. Some nice Tony’s chocolate never hurt, £13.40.
7 p.m. — I head to the cinema to see Dune 2 — what a great film. I buy my own snacks to avoid the popcorn cost, £8.99.
11 p.m. — Head to sleep.
Total: £22.39
12 p.m. — As it’s the weekend today I sleep until noon. Work is so busy during the week that I really need to catch up on the Zs in weekend (not ideal but hey ho).
12:30 p.m. — I get up and clean the apartment, and then read my book for a bit.
3 p.m. — I do some shopping for essential items that need replenishing, just your classic makeup and skin care, and some shampoo. I head to Boots for everything I need and the price for my toiletries, makeup and skin care comes to £42.
6 p.m. — I head out for dinner with my friends. We grab ramen and salt and pepper wings, and then head for a cute dessert after at a pancake and waffle place. I really love going for dessert instead of drinks sometimes, it means you avoid the hangover! The total for dinner comes to £23.50 and the dessert is £8.50.
11 p.m. — After a lovely evening with my friends I get in and do my skincare, read my book for a bit and then head to sleep.
Total: £74
11 a.m. — On Sundays I like to have another late start and enjoy a chill morning at home with my book.
2 p.m. — I head for an afternoon coffee today with a friend. I treated her as I like to be able to treat my friends once in a while — it feels good! The total for both coffees and a snack comes to £9.
3 p.m. — I’m still a bit hungry so we head to a local bakery for a hazelnut croissant. I’ve got to say it’s quite overpriced but it is delicious and I completely devour it, £6.
6 p.m. — I head for dinner with friends. Tacos seem to be a constant theme recently! We get a selection to share and the bill comes to £24 for my cut.
8 p.m. — Head for drinks with friends at a cute bar. We head to a speakeasy cocktail place this time. It’s always nice to get a drink at a bar with cute vibes aka somewhere you can chill and hear each other without super loud music. My drinks bill comes to £14.
10 p.m. — I decide it’s best to get an Uber home. It turns out to be more expensive than I expected due to the peak surge which is frustrating, £18.
Total: £71
Food & Drink: £208.30
Clothes & Beauty: £164
Home & Health: £417
Entertainment: £8.99
Travel: £18
Other: £0
Total: £816.29
Conclusion
“While I enjoyed keeping the diary it did make me more conscious about what I’m spending. This week actually was a bit of lower spend for me as much as I socialised a bit less, and the activities were on the slightly cheaper end (instead of tickets to the theatre, et cetera), and I didn’t need to buy any big items — for example, sometimes when cleaning supplies all run out at the same time, it can add another £50 to the week. Sometimes I’d also take an Uber three or four times in one week, which really adds to the week’s spend as each trip is at least £10 these days. I have definitely been using Uber a lot more recently, although not necessarily reflected in this week, so I think it’s an area where I can cut costs to save more.”
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