This week: “I’m a 32 year-old living in Surrey and working as a police officer in South London. I wrote my first money diary about four years ago when I was working in neighbourhood policing and had just gone through a break up. My life has completely changed since then. I now work in emergency response policing (I get to drive the fast cars with the sirens and lights) and I live with my partner and his seven year-old son who stays with us on the days my partner (also a police officer but on a different team) isn’t working late shifts. Me and my parter met on response policing, however, now work on different teams. My salary has taken a big jump but my savings still aren’t great. However, I am a million times happier and although I’m paying about four times the rent I was four years ago, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Occupation: Police officer
Industry: Public sector
Age: 32
Location: Surrey
Salary: £44,500
Paycheque Amount: £2,400 after tax etc comes out.
Number of housemates: One (M) although his son (J) stays with us a few nights a week.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: I pay £825 towards the rent and M pays £975 as he earns slightly more at the moment.
Loan payments: I pay around £130 for my student loan.
Savings?: I try and put at least £150 a way each month. I have about £6,000 in savings currently.
Pension? I have no idea how much is in my pension but I paid around £400 this month.
Utilities: £46.60 gas/electricity, £124 council tax, £21 wifi, £15.90 TV license.
All other monthly payments: £36.31 car insurance, £34.98 gym membership, £15.75 car tax, £53 phone bill, £6.78 business insurance, £4.27 renters insurance. Subscriptions: £10.99 Netflix, £16.99 Spotify, £0.99 Apple.
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
I went to uni to study film and media. I got a student loan but also worked part-time for the entire three years. My parents would also kindly give me money if I ever needed any.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
I don’t remember too many conversations about it but I think we were comfortable. My dad was in the army and so my mum had to find work wherever we ended up moving to every three years. They did always advise not to get a credit card but I went against that advice, oops.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents/guardians house?
As noted in my last diary, I moved back in 2021 after my ex and I broke up. I was there for maybe a few months before I started renting with my housemate. There was a period of about six months when I moved back again after my housemate bought a place for herself, where I eventually ended up moving in as well. That was 2022 and the final time living there. I’m lucky that they are my safety net if I need.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
I would say about 29 when I moved out of my parents’ place for the final time. This probably seems quite old but I’m grateful for my parents being there and letting me stay with them when needed.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I did some babysitting for family friends on the army barracks when I was about 13 (it’s mad to think I was that young looking after other people’s kids). But my first proper job was in the local army shop when I was about 16. I was always keen to earn my own money.
Do you worry about money now?
I feel conscious of my credit card debt and I am keen to try and pay off as much as possible this year. I worry that I’ll have this forever but generally not so much. I have a partner to share all of life’s costs with and parents I know I can go to if I need to. I work in a pretty stable job and there is always overtime going if I want to do it.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
No I haven’t.
8 a.m. — My alarm jolts me out of the cosiest sleep. The weather has been about 0 degrees so I’ve been putting an extra duvet on the bed with us and it was so comfortable.
8:15 a.m. — I make my usual breakfast of oats with soya milk, cinnamon, peanut butter and apple. I also make a coffee with oat milk. I have been struggling recently with really bad eczema and I am making a conscious effort to cut out dairy as I believe this flares it up. Also have a multivitamin and an omega 3 oil capsule.
8:30 a.m. — After dragging myself off TikTok, I take my morning vitamin gummies, take an antihistamine (for the aforementioned skin issues) and then throw on some gym clothes.
8:45 a.m. — It’s showing -3 and I’m freezing! Have to defrost my car before I can leave for the gym.
10 a.m. — Finish in the gym and I pop into Sainsbury’s next door for a few bits: Alpro yogurts, tuna, rice, kiwis and grapes, £11.
10:30 a.m. — Get home where I am greeted by M and his son, J. J stays with us as much as possible, whenever M is on an early shift or on a day off we will have him. My relationship with J is really good (probably down to giving him chocolate behind his dad’s back) and I’m really happy with the bond I have with him. They’re playing Fortnite so I sit with them for a little bit before heading in the shower.
11:30 a.m. — I’m showered and sat with the boys for a little bit with a fruit bowl and yogurt.
1 p.m. — We end up watching telly before I have some lunch, dry my hair and leave for work.
1:30 p.m. — I arrive at work. I am on a late shift today, third of four. We do six days on and four off which is nice and I’m counting down until days off.
4:30 p.m. — I get a bit peckish so stop off for a snack. I buy a pack of cashew nuts and a packet of crisps, £2.15.
6:30 p.m. — Work has been consistently busy all day but we manage to find some time where the radio is a bit quiet to grab some food. I normally eat tuna and rice (yes plain tuna and packet rice) every day but my colleague fancied getting some Nando’s chicken so I join her in getting a butterfly chicken to go with my rice, £4.50 as we get 50% discount.
11 p.m. — I’m home! I do my skincare (double cleanse and then La Roche Posay Cicaplast smothered onto my face) and then cover my eczema covered limbs in Sudocrem before getting into bed with M.
I see an email confirming I can attend a Pilates class on Wednesday so quickly order a mat and resistance bands from Amazon, £13.
Total: £30.65
9:10 a.m. — We wake up and proceed to have a lazy morning together in bed. Some weeks our time together is limited as we will often work opposite shifts so I make the most of morning like this. I also feel slightly under the weather so probably a good idea to skip the gym.
11 a.m. — I get up and quickly chug some water before jumping in the shower to wash my hair. I make my oats and have a coffee and chill with M for a little bit before leaving for work.
12:55 a.m. — I try and post a return and a Vinted parcel but am told that the Post Office doesn’t accept either, great. Leave for work.
2:05 p.m. — Start the shift off with a lovely shoplifting! Quickly stop at a Lidl for some sushi, a vit C drink, some cold and flu tablets and some hand gel, £5.92.
6:30 p.m. — We’ve had a steady afternoon and decide to try and get some food. I have my tuna and rice with me but I have a real craving for the M&S tinned tuna steaks so we pop to get this. I buy the tuna, some reduced strawberries and a chocolate bunny rabbit I see that I think J will love, £7.15.
8 p.m. — I have court tomorrow (as a police officer) so I’m allowed to leave a bit early.
8:30 p.m. — Get home and me and M get into bed for a catch up.
11 p.m. — Sleep!
Total: £13.07
7:30 a.m. — We’re both up at this time. M is going to take J to school and I get up to get ready. Have breakfast and get myself sorted.
8:25 a.m. — Leave for work. Arrive at the station, quickly get changed and walk over to the court with my colleague.
11 a.m. — Court was meant to start at 10 a.m. but we’re still sitting around waiting. I head to the little cafe and get a coffee and a banana, £4.
12:30 p.m. — I’m done! That was relatively straight forward and I’m happy for the early finish as I’m so tired. I stop at Co-op on the way back and get a plain baguette, a bag of crisps and some brioche buns for dinner, £4.90.
1 p.m. — M is at home when I get back so we chill for a little bit and look at holidays for the summer. I make a tuna baguette for lunch.
8 p.m. — The rest of the afternoon flies by. J is picked up from school and we spend time watching YouTube and playing Fortnite. We have chicken burgers for dinner and when he goes to bed, I take the opportunity to also get into bed and get cosy.
9 p.m. — I scroll for a little bit before lights out. I’m up early tomorrow to train my neighbour and a few friends so an early bedtime is needed!
Total: £8.90
6:15 a.m. — My alarm goes off. I organised a PT session a while ago as I want to try and progress this into a real business I can do on the side. My plan is to be teaching on the local green in the summer. I’m starting small today though and doing it in my neighbour’s garden.
6:45 a.m. — I’ve had a coffee and wrapped up warm and I’m ready to begin my boot camp with the three girls!
7:45 a.m. — That was fun! Fitness has definitely become more of a passion since my last diary. I recently qualified in my level 2 PT along with my spin instructor qualification and hope to utilise both this year to earn a little bit of extra cash.
12 p.m. — It’s been a chilled morning with M but he’s off to work now and I’m off to Morrisons for a top-up shop. I get some cooked chicken thighs, bread, eggs, tea bags, strawberries, mince, kidney beans. I also get fuel on the way home, £51.03.
5:15 p.m. — I’ve had a nap, made some chilli to have for dinner later and now I’m on the way to a Pilates class. It’s a taster class so doesn’t cost me anything.
6:30 p.m. — I really enjoyed that! Get home and have my chilli for dinner with home made chips. I get cosy on the sofa and chill for the evening.
10 p.m. — Bedtime! I get woken briefly by M coming in but go straight back to sleep.
Total: £51.03
7:45 a.m. — I wake up, M is still asleep. I give him a kiss and he pulls me in for a cuddle and we doze a bit longer.
9:30 a.m. — We get up and have toast for breakfast and watch a bit of telly. I get ready for the gym and kiss M bye as he’ll be gone to work by the time I get home.
11:15 a.m. — It’s leg day and I feel good! Stop at the card factory on the way home for a card and a balloon for my best friend’s birthday tomorrow. Pop into Sainsbury’s for oats and a lint roller, £9.
12 p.m. — I get home, have some lunch and watch the next episode of Beast Games. We started watching it with J as he’s a fan but as I won’t see him now for well over a week, I feel like it’s only fair that I can watch the episode now.
5:45 p.m. — The house has been cleaned, I’ve showered and got ready and I’m heading to my ex housemate’s house for dinner. We take it in turns going to each others place, whoever hosts gets dinner.
8:30 p.m. — Home and get into bed for some scrolling before I sleep.
Total: £9
8:15 a.m. — I wake up and scroll on my phone for a bit waiting for M to wake up.
9:45 a.m. — I decide to wake him so we can book our holiday this morning before I leave for the gym.
11 a.m. — Holiday is booked! We’re taking J on an all-inclusive in July and I’m very excited it’s all booked. I leave for the gym, saying bye to M as he will be leaving for work shortly. Our shifts are complete opposites the next couple days so we won’t get to see each other much.
12:30 p.m. — Home from the gym and I quickly shower, wash my hair and get ready to leave as I’m meeting my best friend for her birthday lunch.
2:30 p.m. — We’ve come for Japanese food and it’s delicious. I have a rice bowl, we share sushi and bao buns. We have a big catch up and organise dates for our girls trip to Turkey. She’s also a police officer so finding time in both our schedules can be tricky meaning catch ups like this one are sometimes well overdue, £34.24 for my half.
4 p.m. — I pop into Morrisons before I head home and grab some soya milk, £1.25.
4:30 p.m. — I get home, do my skincare already and change into comfy clothes for an evening of chilling.
9 p.m. — I get into bed and try and have an early night. I manage to fall asleep but am woken briefly by M when he gets in from work.
Total: £35.49
6:15 a.m. — Eurgh it’s too early. I’m up for work and have a coffee. I get changed and sorted and I’m out the door by 7 a.m.
7:30 a.m. — This isn’t my usual shift today as some of us are deployed into London for protests. This happens quite often and is a nice break from the usual day-to-day work that I do. We’re on our way to London to see what the day brings!
10 a.m. — We have had our briefing and we’re now on standby in London. It’s going to be a long day.
2 p.m. — We’re still sat around waiting. I get some sushi from Itsu but I can claim this back at this will be an extended tour of duty.
5 p.m. — The day took an unexpected turn and it all kicked off a bit. We had three of our officers make arrests, but with no idea of what custody we are going to at this stage. It’s going to be a long evening.
7 p.m. — We’re hungry so decide to get food. I get a chicken shish with rice, £12.
9 p.m. — Waiting to book in. I’m so so tired. I speak to M on the phone who tells me he’s on his way home from work. This is madness considering I left five hours before him this morning. He says he will wait up for me so we can have a cuddle when I get in.
12:15 a.m. — We get back to the station, de-kit and finally head home!
Total: £12
Food & Drink: £141.22
Clothes & Beauty: £0
Home & Health: £18.92
Entertainment: £0
Travel: £0
Other: £0
Total: £160.14
Conclusion
“I always knew I spent the most on food and drink but this was pretty standard for me. I try and see my friends when I can around shift work and me and M will tend to have some form of date night out once a month. I am trying to save but finding it a bit more difficult now I’m paying for big girl things such as rent and bills! Paying off my credit card this year is a priority for me. I get a pay rise in August and I’m hoping to start PT on the side so hopefully a little extra cash will help me out. I’m also aware my savings are quite low and will need to also make this a priority prior to me and M buying somewhere!”
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