This week: “I’m a 20-year-old finance degree apprentice living in Newcastle. I went straight into the corporate world from school because I bought into the corporate girlie lifestyle and lucrative future prospects. I’m lucky that my company sponsors my degree while also paying me a wage — although it does mean I have a very different life to many of my friends at uni. At the moment I very much focus on a ‘memories over money’ approach by prioritising brunches, holidays and silly treats. As my friends back home say, I am very much in my “city girl era” after growing up in the countryside my whole life. I honestly love it. I’m living up to the stereotype.”
Occupation: Finance (consulting degree apprentice)
Age: 20
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Salary: £23,000
Paycheque Amount: £1,570
Number of housemates: Three housemates (S, D and C)
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £540 rent (includes wifi)
Loan payments: N/A
Savings: I have £2,500 in various pots and accounts. I wouldn’t say I consciously save at the moment.
Pension: I currently pay 5% into my pension and my employee matches this.
Utilities: Bills package for water and electricity comes to £100 (although this is very convenient and easy it is definitely overpriced); £50 council tax.
All other monthly payments: £3 Apple storage; £5 Monzo Plus; £20 gym membership. Subscriptions: £25 Skin+Me
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
I’m currently undergoing a BA (Hons) degree as part of my apprenticeship. This is paid for by my company and follows the same three-year process as if I were to go to university. Additionally, I get a professional qualification in chartered management as part of the degree.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
Money was never a large topic in my household. My parents didn’t encourage materialism but instead allowed us to have every experience we wanted: taking us on holidays abroad, prioritising hobbies and education. They then separated when I was 11 and both adopted very different attitudes to spending. My mother came from a well-off background and brought us up with a good lifestyle, meaning she can often be impulsive with spending when trying to replicate this. My dad on the other hand is more cautious with money. Although I’m very aware he is very generous with money when it comes to his children, so I know he’ll always help me out.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house?
I moved for this job opportunity when I was 18 — almost straight after finishing sixth form — and I rarely go back due to working full time.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
Although I earn a wage my parents still help me out. My dad sends me £200 at the start of every month and frequently helps out with other costs throughout the month, if he approves. Additionally, I participate in athletics and have done so for years. My dad heavily supports this hobby and therefore pays nearly all expenses associated. My mother also pays for my phone bill.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I worked for less than a month at a restaurant at 17, baking for them and waitressing the occasional bottomless brunch. Sadly, it had very questionable owners and my parents encouraged me to quit by giving me an allowance instead. Eventually it got investigated by HMRC and shut down for illegal trading.
Do you worry about money now?
Being in a finance-heavy world, I have become very aware of the cost of life and do worry about how my future looks in the current climate. Although I earn well for my age, my spending habits are very excessive and I have very high expectations for my future, with currently no money to support this. Additionally, I realise my parents won’t help me out forever.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
I was given £2,500 for my 18th birthday. I think I spent the majority of this on post A-levels holidays (I went away five times that summer) and moving to Newcastle.
7:30 a.m. — I wake up feeling quite tired as my friend and I went to a concert last night, but I need to go to the gym as I skipped it yesterday.
7:45 a.m. — Arrive at the gym. As part of my athletics, I have an S&C coach who writes my gym programme. I’ve worked with him since I was 16, so I’m used to his plans. I am lucky my dad covers this cost as it’s definitely a luxury.
9 a.m. — Arrive back home. I have university today so it’s a later start. I shower quickly, tidy up my messy room and get ready to leave.
9:45 a.m. — Me and C leave the house and head to uni together. On the way we always pick up an iced coffee to help us get through. It comes to only £1, as I have a voucher.
10 a.m. — All our lectures are in person so I settle in. I don’t enjoy uni and if my degree wasn’t being paid for, I definitely wouldn’t have done it. I also realise I’m lucky to have this opportunity.
1 p.m. — The morning lectures are done so we head into the centre for lunch. I made a prawn Greek salad the night before, but I still get some chocolate eggs for a sweet treat, £1.25.
4 p.m. — Finish uni and head home. I come home to D who has been at work and listen to the gossip from their day. They work for a big company with a large amount of apprentices so there is always drama and rumours.
4:30 p.m. — I put a chicken Kiev into the oven. I would never usually eat this at this time, but I have an event tonight.
5 p.m. — One of my best friends, B, has driven three hours as we have a mutual friend doing fight night so she is staying with me. We catch up and she has bought me some treats from Selfridges Food Hall as we don’t have one near Newcastle.
5:30 p.m. — We start getting ready to go out as it is a black-tie event and it is always good to dress up.
8 p.m. — Head to the venue which is only a walk away — I’m lucky to live in the centre. We meet friends (B paid for my ticket months ago), and grab some drinks. B pays for a round and another friend for a second. I then manage to flirt with a promoter to get upgraded to the seated area.
11 p.m. — The fights are finished. Unfortunately he lost but was it was a fun evening. We have one more drink — again paid for by another friend — then head into Newcastle to go out.
12 p.m. — Head to a club where the entry is free with the fight night wristband. I decide not to have any more drinks and just dance.
1.30 a.m. — Decide to leave as I have work in the morning and B doesn’t want to drive back hungover. We get in and go straight to bed.
Total: £2.25
8 a.m. — Get up feeling a bit tired and with very sore legs from wearing heels all night. I quickly throw on a blazer and trousers as an easy outfit and walk to the office.
9:30 a.m. — Message C on Teams and grab an iced coffee before my first meeting. I have completed my loyalty card so it is free.
10:30 a.m. — Spend my morning in meetings and looking at pricing and approvals for new work. As an apprentice you are expected to do as much as anyone else in the business would.
12 p.m. — I head home for lunch as I didn’t bring anything in and want to save money. I get in and make eggs and bagels, although I’m not sure how old the bagels are.
12:45 p.m. — I get a call from W. We have been seeing each other for a while now but he works offshore and was meant to be coming back today, but has accepted overtime. I’m rather upset about this decision and make this clear. The last two weeks have been rough due to some personal issues between the two of us and I’d rather not spend another apart.
1 p.m. — Go back into work grumpy and tired. This is commented on in the next meeting as my pale face and tanned body don’t help. Sometimes being the youngest and only girl is rough.
5 p.m. — Finish work and head back home. I get into bed with D who has been at uni and vent about W. She agrees I should say something as I tend not to stand my ground and if it were the other way round, he would definitely be angry.
5.30 p.m. — Head to the shop with D and get some potatoes, a pepper and sweets, £3.40.
6 p.m. — Come back home, make tomorrow’s lunch and watch First Dates with D while eating jacket potatoes for dinner.
7 p.m. — W calls as he has finished work. He works long, odd hours, so arguments often cannot be solved when they start. We talk and he promises to come back on Monday. He says this extra money will go towards a holiday in May for the two of us.
9:30 p.m. — C gets home and the house gets loud. We start packing as we’re going away for the weekend; a girls house is often filled with shouting and laughing in the evenings.
11 p.m. — I shower, fake tan and get ready for bed.
Total: £3.40
8:15 a.m. — Get up late but I can get ready fast. Shower off my fake tan and chuck a dress on to save time. Head to work with D.
8:40 a.m. — I have been wanting a waffle maker for weeks but I thought it was silly, so one of my seniors has brought one in for me. A very sweet gesture.
9:40 a.m. — Me and H head out for coffees. I grab an iced latte and we have a good gossip about stuff on the way, £3.55.
12:15 p.m. — Stay busy in a two-hour meeting then meet the girls for lunch. They are all getting shawarma, but I made some food last night so I eat it instead.
1 p.m. — Back to work. The afternoon has a lot of meetings and I’m kept busy assessing the current state of some of our projects.
4:45 p.m. — I rush out to get home as me and D have a train to go back to my family home as we are going away tomorrow.
5:30 p.m. — Get to the train station after last minute packing. Grab a hot choc (£1 with a voucher) and then a Diet Coke and crisps for £2.80.
8 p.m. — Arrive at my hometown station. One of my close friends T is waiting to pick us up. Having long-distance friends is an adjustment I’ve had to make but I am so lucky to have people that always make time for me.
8:30 p.m. — We all head back to my house where my mother has put on Mexican food for everyone. We sit and talk about our last few weeks (she also knows D as we all got together in Manchester a few weeks ago).
10:30 p.m. — C joins as she had to stay later in Newcastle for a work event and we all head up to bed.
Total: £7.35
5:45 a.m. — An early wake-up call for our flight. As a group we love going away together and this will be our fifth holiday abroad together. I very much live by “memories over money”, meaning that weekends away and holidays occur monthly.
6:15 a.m. — My dad comes to pick us up and drive us to the airport. Although we haven’t lived together for eight years, he is always there for me and will do anything.
7 a.m. — We make it to the airport and my dad hands me £30 for breakfast. This is something he has always done when I go away without him which is a sweet gesture and I know I’m very spoilt by him.
7:45 a.m. — Go to Boots to grab conditioner, toothpaste, water, Diet Coke and mentos, £10.
8 a.m. — Our gate isn’t ready until 9 a.m. so I get a hot chocolate to avoid coffee and a pain au chocolate, £8.
9:30 a.m. — Board the plane to Bucharest and we all go straight to sleep.
3 p.m. — Our flight arrives, and we get a Bolt straight to our accommodation. They are very cheap here and it comes to £12 for a 40-minute trip, £4 my share.
5 p.m. — We check in, get changed and grab a pastry at a near by café for some energy, £2.
6 p.m. — We get another Bolt and head to a spa. This is the main reason behind this trip as we had seen it on TikTok; £4 my share.
7 p.m. — The spa is unreal with over ten saunas and all different pools and baths (paid for in advance).
9 p.m. — We grab some drinks from the pool bar which comes to £15.
12 a.m. — Get a taxi back, £4. We all go straight to sleep after a long day.
Total: £47
10 a.m. — We get up and get ready for a brunch we booked in advance. We go for brunch every weekend at home so we love trying different places.
12 p.m. — I get French toast at brunch and an iced coffee. It was nice but definitely overhyped, £15 each.
2 p.m. — We spend the day just walking around the old town as it’s really sunny and we have no plans. I buy some magnets (a tradition I have with my mum) for £6.
3 p.m. — We get sucked in by a shopping centre and I end up spending £8 on sunglasses even though W bought me two pairs before this trip. I also spend £7 on a silver ring, something I like to collect from every country.
4 p.m. — We sit on the main square and have an Aperol spritz. I pay for everyone but I’m charged 700 RON instead of 70. It was a shifty exchange and I have to request to see the receipt as something felt off — I’m glad I spotted it. It takes another 10 minutes for them to sort a refund; £4 for my drink.
6 p.m. — On the way back we stop off at a supermarket and get some snacks in: Diet Coke, watermelon and crisps. This will mostly end up not getting eaten, £6.
7 p.m. — Me and D wake up from a quick nap and get ready again. We have booked a highly recommended sky bar for dinner.
8 p.m. — We get a Bolt to dinner, £2 for my share. The views are lovely and so is the restaurant. I have the duck breast with truffle mash and an Aperol spritz, and then another cocktail. We also share some desserts. This comes to £40 each which is so cheap.
11 p.m. — Leave dinner and get an Uber straight to a club, £2. There is no entry fee which is rather shocking as it looks very nice so we head straight in.
11:30 p.m. — We get a round of cocktails which comes to £6 for my share. Everyone can smoke inside here and it is very dressy. A bit of a culture shock from Bigg Market.
12 a.m. — We get chatting to a group of men and they proceed to pay for our next round of cocktails, as well as two rounds of Jägers and a round of vodka and lemonades. We all are involved with someone in some way so after a bit we sneak away.
2 a.m. — Get a Bolt to the next club. They initially refuse us without a reservation but after some talking let us in. It is very impressive with dancers, so big and well looked after.
4:30 a.m. — We decide to head back and grab a Bolt for £3 each. We then go to McDonald’s and all grab a Happy Meal each for £4. In our drunken state we then get a Bolt home, only for it to take us 40 metres across the road — the driver found it amusing, at least.
Total: £103
11 a.m. — Wake up feeling a little rough, but nothing a brunch can’t fix. We all speed up and get out.
11:30 a.m. — Arrive at brunch and we all order pancakes and juices. The pancakes are cold as if they’ve been refrigerated and the mascarpone is odd tasting, so it’s not the best experience; £10 for my share.
12:30 p.m. — Head into the centre and grab an iced latte on the way for £4. We then look at a few of the TikTok-recommended must-sees.
3 p.m. — Go to the shopping mall to grab some bits. I try to resist silly treats but I end up buying a bag I don’t need and on reflection don’t really like, £18.
5 p.m. — We head for an early dinner at another recommended restaurant as we’re all lagging at this point. I have a salmon and caviar pasta with a side of truffle fries. I have a truffle obsession at the moment. This is only £20. I also send D £10 for today’s Bolts.
7 p.m. — We all get back and conk out.
9 p.m. — Wake up and pack as we have an early flight. Me and D get a burst of energy and can’t settle down.
11 p.m. — All beginning to regret napping as now we can’t sleep…
Total: £62
4:30 a.m. — Get up very tired. We pre-booked our taxi after D got chatting drunk to one of our drivers on Saturday night and took his number.
5 a.m. — Arrive at the airport, grab some pastries and water then board the plane, £4.
8 a.m. — Land back in the UK. We didn’t fly from Newcastle airport as the choices are minimal so we now have to make the journey back.
9 a.m. — Get on the bus to Leeds train station, £2. I get in a Vinted hole and spend £8 on some new running shorts for training holiday.
10 a.m. — At the station I grab some crisps, mints and drink, £6. We get on the train and all sleep.
12 p.m. — Arrive back in Newcastle and walk straight home. I quickly put some washing on and clean up the mess before hopping in the shower and getting ready to leave again.
2 p.m. — I am going to meet E to catch up after a week apart and also take part in her dissertation on athletes (we train together). I get an iced coffee on the way, £3.
4 p.m. — I sit on a bench as it’s so warm and catch up with my sister on the phone. She is my best friend and I see her rarely so it’s good to talk.
4:30 p.m. — I head to M&S as I think it’s the cheapest shop in the centre and grab some food for the week. I get chicken, tortellini, salad stuff, smoothies, yoghurt, cookie ingredients, wraps, cheese and squash, £25.
5 p.m. — Get home and clean the kitchen as it’s disgusting (we’ve been arguing for weeks over whose mess it is). We don’t own a mop or even a bin, so it’s a task. I then make tortellini for my dinner and bake some cookies for the flat.
7 p.m. — C gets in and we sit and catch up on TV together.
8:30 p.m. — W rings as he’s about an hour away after getting off the ship. He asks if I’ll pick him up a takeaway on the way to see him. I call up and get it on my walk; it comes to £23, but he sends me £30 for the effort.
9:30 p.m. — Meet W at the station after three weeks apart. We are in early stages, so it’s nice to see him again. We get an Uber to his as he has his own place. It’s always so cold when he’s been away for ages so it’s an igloo when we get in.
11 p.m. — We are in bed catching up when W leans over when I’m not paying attention and I manage to land my elbow straight in his eye, resulting in a black eye. I feel so guilty and nearly cry. Luckily, he takes it well.
Total: £48
Food & Drink: £195
Clothes & Beauty: £41
Home & Health: £0
Entertainment: £0
Travel: £31
Other: £6
Total: £273
Conclusion
“Given that this includes a holiday away I don’t think this is awful at all. Embarrassingly, I don’t think this would’ve been much lower if I had spent the weekend in Newcastle as there was a lack of shopping this week. I think my biggest issues are the small purchases like iced coffees. I don’t even view them as a luxury — something they should be on my wage. I definitely need to look at budgeting better and prioritising savings as I think my lifestyle choices can often be silly and unnecessary.”
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