Welcome to Money Diaries, where we ask real people how they spend and save their money during a seven-day period, tracking every last dollar. Anyone can write a Money Diary! Want to see yours here? Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n
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Today on Money Diaries, a marketing and fundraising executive who makes $75,000 a year and spends some of her money this week on Berocca.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Refinery29 Australia<\/cite><\/p>\n Today: a marketing and fundraising executive who makes $75,000 a year and spends some of her money this week on Berocca.<\/p>\n Occupation:<\/strong> Marketing & Fundraising Executive Rent: <\/strong>$1060, split between my partner and I. He earns a little bit more than I do so we pay 60\/40 \u2014 I feel lucky we came to this agreement. We live in a one-bedroom apartment in Canberra, which is the biggest contrast from our three-bedroom house back in the UK, but we love it. Our estate agents are so chill and they leave us to it, which is great. I like to think because we own a house, we\u2019re slightly more caring and careful with the apartment. We have a small balcony which was my one request when we were looking for somewhere to rent. Moving to Australia means I will be tanned at all costs (at least in my head), so a balcony was a must. The kitchen\/living area is all in one, which I love. It has a cute little island in the centre, something I will 10000% be copying if and when we move back to the UK.<\/p>\n We keep track of all our joint payments using our joint account which is with Monzo. It\u2019s such a brilliant and user-friendly app. We both receive notifications when a transaction is made which is brilliant, but also not so brilliant when I accidentally fall onto Dissh\u2019s website\u2026 We bought a car when we moved out here which helps a lot with knowing how much we need to budget. Yes. I went to university in the UK for three years and graduated with a Bachelor\u2019s in Media Communications. I received a loan from the government to help with tuition fees. I worked throughout my time at university as my parents couldn\u2019t really afford to help that much. I\u2019m grateful though as I feel proud to have a really strong work ethic now. I feel like I also appreciate the value of money as I know how crappy it is when you have none!<\/p>\n Money is a bit of an awkward one which is why I love reading these diaries! It shouldn\u2019t be so uncomfortable to talk about. My parents went through a stage when I was growing up of really struggling and I remember vividly hearing them argue when I was meant to be asleep. My parents have always worked really hard. My mum works at a school and my dad is a carpenter. They always provided for my sister and I, but I definitely remember times when it got really tough.<\/p>\n My first job was when I was 14. I worked at a fancy hotel down the road from my parents\u2019 house as a pot wash girl. Yep, it was as glamorous as it sounds. I worked there for years and eventually was promoted to waitress, then head waitress, and then booking manager on the front desk. On my first ever day as a waitress, I managed to break a guest\u2019s nose. Let me tell you: a first day has never ever been that bad since!<\/p>\n I did to a certain extent, yes. But it was more because I hated it when I could see or hear the financial strain it put on my parents. For example, I hated that they sometimes compromised their weekend activities so I could go on a school trip.<\/p>\n I do, yes. I am quite savvy with my money so I probably shouldn\u2019t worry as much as I do. But, with the cost of living always going up, I feel it\u2019s probably quite natural for it to be at the forefront of my mind. I am also really conscious of things being equal between my partner and I. I have come quite a long way with how I think about my finances, but I do worry.<\/p>\n I became financially responsible when I moved to London for my first proper job after university. I think I was 21. My salary was so low and I genuinely couldn\u2019t afford to buy more than one coffee every two weeks, but it gave me so much independence. I lived very much paycheque to paycheque, but that taught me how important it is to have a bit of a buffer, just in case. I don\u2019t think I was able to have more than about $150 as a buffer for months. I learnt so much in that time.<\/p>\n No.<\/p>\n 6:03am<\/strong> \u2014 I wake up. It\u2019s very specific timing, I know, but I\u2019ve got my routine down to a tee and I\u2019m very proud of it. I try to always get to the gym on a Monday morning as I feel it really sets me up well for the week. Gym done, showered and ready by 8:05am, I walk to the bus stop and wait for the 8:15am bus. It costs roughly $6.50 a day for my return trip, which is prepaid on my travel card.<\/p>\n 8:40am<\/strong> \u2014 I get to work around about this time most days which is good as I like to sort through all my emails with a coffee before the rest of my team gets in. Our office just got a new fancy coffee machine which is great because it saves me money every day, and my bank balance thanks me for this.<\/p>\n 10:00am<\/strong> \u2014 I pack my brekkie and lunch most days (again, to save some money). I\u2019m a real creature of habit, so my breakfast is the same every day \u2014 three smushed Weetbix with a scoop of protein powder topped with some fruits, usually a banana. Yum! 10am is usually time for coffee number two and I\u2019m grateful to feel the caffeine starting to work.<\/p>\n 1:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 Lunch time! Monday is usually filled with a few meetings so I\u2019m ravenous. I swear using my brain makes me extra hungry. Again, I\u2019m a creature of habit, so I have my usual sandwich. The weather is finally getting better here in the ACT, so I sit outside with my colleagues. Everyone laughs at me for bringing in lunch, but I secretly always feel quite smug as they can sometimes spend $15 to $20 daily on food. I always do a little walk around the block to stretch my legs, so I pair that with my lunch break too.<\/p>\n 3:15pm<\/strong> \u2014 The inevitable afternoon slump hits and I head to the local caf\u00e9 to pick up a sweet treat. I figure I deserve to treat myself for working really hard on a Monday. My toxic trait is thinking I need a little reward when I do something good. $6 for a gluten-free brownie, but it\u2019s so worth it, they\u2019re gooey and delicious! I pair this with a peppermint tea because #health. $6<\/strong><\/p>\n 4:48pm<\/strong> \u2014 Home time! I get the bus back into the city and then walk back to my apartment. I really like the walk home after a day in the office. I\u2019ve started listening to audiobooks on my way home and it\u2019s such a great way to switch off after a day\u2019s work. I\u2019m currently listening to \u201cThe Body Keeps The Score<\/em>\u201d by Bessel van de Kolk and it\u2019s fascinating.<\/p>\n 5:40pm<\/strong> \u2014 Finally home and catch up with my partner about our days. I love this part of our relationship \u2014 every day after work, we have a little check-in to see how we\u2019re going. It\u2019s really nice and we often end up bouncing ideas off one another. He\u2019s got such an analytical\/logical brain whereas I am scatty and irrational. They do say opposites attract.<\/p>\n 6:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 I\u2019m due on my period so I end up snacking on leftover choccie in the fridge whilst making dinner. I\u2019m craving fish finger sandwiches, so that\u2019s what we\u2019re having. Beige food is sometimes just essential and I\u2019m feeling pretty smug about it.<\/p>\n 6:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 We\u2019ve started watching Modern Family<\/em> and it\u2019s the best show to watch with dinner. Each episode is about 24 minutes long which is the perfect length to eat.<\/p>\n 7:30pm<\/strong> \u2014 I do the dishes and food prep for tomorrow. Brekkie and lunch sorted.<\/p>\n 10pm<\/strong> \u2014 Skincare, hand cream and lights out. I fall asleep instantly. Totally convinced it\u2019s because I\u2019m so content after having fish finger sandwiches for dinner.<\/p>\n Daily Total: $6<\/strong><\/p>\n 6:03am<\/strong> \u2014 Alarm goes off again and I\u2019m exhausted but I know the gym will wake me up. I make some pre-workout and head out the door. I usually take two rest days a week. If it falls on a weekday, I like to ensure I\u2019m still getting some steps in, so I\u2019ll take my book and read whilst walking on the treadmill. Sounds silly, but it helps to keep my brain functioning, ensures I get some steps in and just makes me feel productive before the day has begun. I\u2019ve set myself a target of reading 40 books this year and I\u2019m currently on 30.<\/p>\n 8:05am<\/strong> \u2014 Walking\/reading session done. I head to the bus stop and prepare for the journey to work. I try really hard not to sit, and doomscroll on the bus, so the audiobook goes back on.<\/p>\n 9:10am<\/strong> \u2014 Arrive at work late because there was a big protest outside Parliament House and my bus route goes that way. Nightmare. I hate being late for work even though I know 10 minutes is nothing, I\u2019m one of those people who stresses out and thinks that my team will think I\u2019m not arsed.<\/p>\n 9:15am<\/strong> \u2014 Coffee on hand and I\u2019m feeling better about the bus situation. I\u2019ve got a couple of meetings this morning, so I scoff my brekkie and get to work.<\/p>\n 11:00am<\/strong> \u2014 Meetings done. I take a quick break to catch up with the news headlines, which of course turns into checking Instagram and TikTok. Let\u2019s be honest though, making it to 11am without checking social media is quite an achievement.<\/p>\n 12:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 Who puts a meeting over lunchtime? Not. Fair. But I make a coffee and grab a protein bar to soften the blow. Turns out, there are biscuits provided in the meeting, but I resist as I\u2019ve got a sandwich waiting for me when the meeting ends.<\/p>\n 1:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 Lunchtime. Yay. Pre-made sandwich and an apple. I\u2019m lucky in that my office orders a weekly fruit box for us which saves me picking up fruit during our weekly grocery shop. It also means I can healthily snack at work (even though I end up buying a brownie most weeks).<\/p>\n 4:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 I take a little walk at 4pm to stretch my legs before returning to the office and using my stand-up desk. I am obsessed. I alternate throughout the day but try to stand in the afternoons to keep my brain working.<\/p>\n 5:05pm<\/strong> \u2014 Head to the bus stop and catch the bus home. I\u2019m tired on the way back home today and text my boyfriend asking if he can pick me up from the city to avoid the walk home. He agrees.<\/p>\n 6:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 We start thinking about what we\u2019d like for dinner \u2014 he requests tuna with sweet potato and veggies. Works for me as it\u2019s the easiest dinner that requires little to no brain power to prepare. We bought an air fryer from Kmart when we first moved and it really is a game changer. I throw the sweet pots in the microwave for 10 minutes then chuck them in the air fryer for 15. Bish bash bosh.<\/p>\n 7:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 Dinner time and an episode of Modern Family.<\/em><\/p>\n 8:10am<\/strong> \u2014 Oops, we end up watching almost three episodes, but my brain is thanking me for switching off!<\/p>\n 8:15pm<\/strong> \u2014 Dishes done. I decide to get into bed early to try and read a bit of my book.<\/p>\n 10:30pm<\/strong> \u2014 Skincare done, running outfit laid out for the morning and lights out!<\/p>\n Daily Total: $0<\/strong><\/p>\n 6:30am<\/strong> \u2014 My alarm goes off and I feel instant joy as I work from home on Wednesdays. Such a luxury and really breaks up my working week. It also means I can get in a midweek run. I\u2019m training for a half marathon, so being able to squeeze in a speed session during the week means I can save my longer runs for the weekend. YAY.<\/p>\n 6:45am<\/strong> \u2014 I finally roll out of bed and step into my running outfit. Hair brushed, face washed, and SPF applied, I fumble in the cupboard for some pre-workout. I always have pre-workout before a run. It sets me up and even if it acts as a placebo, I\u2019m here for it.<\/p>\n 7:00am<\/strong> \u2014 Foam roll and stretching time. This is one thing I never skip before a run; I\u2019ve learnt the hard way and picked up too many niggles in the past.<\/p>\n 7:10am<\/strong> \u2014 Say goodbye to my boyfriend, finish stretching and down the last of the pre-workout.<\/p>\n 7:15am<\/strong> \u2014 Out the door and begin my 55-minute speed session. The session consists of a 15-minute warm-up and a 15-minute cooldown, then some gnarly sprints in the middle. I hate speedwork but I know it makes me a better runner. Or that\u2019s what I tell myself when it gets hard.<\/p>\n 8:20am<\/strong> \u2014 I conveniently end the run at my favourite coffee shop which is a street over from our apartment. I order a long black with a dash of oat milk ($6.50). It\u2019s worth every cent. I walk 10 minutes back to our apartment, have a quick shower and log on at 9am. $6.50<\/strong><\/p>\n 10:00am<\/strong> \u2014 A second coffee of the day is needed. I boil the kettle and whilst I wait, I decide to put on a load of washing and turn on the news. Here comes the work-from-home distractions!<\/p>\n 10:04am<\/strong> \u2014 That coffee was so needed. I take a 10-minute break to catch up on the news and doomscroll. 10 minutes turns into 20 and I start feeling a little guilty so I head back to my desk.<\/p>\n 10:45am<\/strong> \u2014 I clearly don\u2019t feel bad for too long as my loud tummy grumbles so I know it\u2019s time for brekkie. I find it quite hard to eat straight after a run, so I let my body dictate when it\u2019s ready. Weetbix with protein powder and fruit as usual. I also have a slice of Vegemite toast as I\u2019m still a bit peckish. Delicious.<\/p>\n 12:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 Hang the clothes out to dry. It\u2019s a beautiful day, so I take my laptop outside to get a couple of hours of work done before my 3pm meeting.<\/p>\n 1:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 Break time. I decide it\u2019s necessary to go for a little 20-minute stroll around the park, stretch my legs and enjoy the weather. It\u2019s absolutely beautiful. I walk past Whole Scoop and pick up a protein ball snack: date, cashew, and something else that\u2019s yum! It\u2019s only $3.25 so I figure it\u2019s a bargain. $3.25<\/strong><\/p>\n 2:30pm<\/strong> \u2014 Back home and I make myself some lunch. I opt for a wrap with salad. Simple, but tasty.<\/p>\n 3:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 A very very dull meeting about budgets\u2026 I can\u2019t say I\u2019m totally focused but I am listening, so that half counts. I also have the Assembly Label website open on my second screen, but resist the urge to online shop.<\/p>\n 4:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 Finish up work for the day. I take the washing in, wash the dishes and put Friends<\/em> on the TV as some background noise.<\/p>\n 5:30pm<\/strong> \u2014 I see a therapist via a Zoom bi-weekly and it falls during this week. I still see my UK therapist and it is $90. It\u2019s expensive, but necessary and although I dread it most weeks, I always feel better afterwards. $90<\/strong><\/p>\n 6:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 My boyfriend gets home from work later than usual on Wednesdays which works well with my therapy. He\u2019s also brought home some leftover Turkish bread from his office so we have chicken, stir-fry veggies with noodles and Turkish bread.<\/p>\n 9:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 I\u2019m always exhausted after therapy, so I turn in super early and try to get an extra long sleep. See you tomorrow.<\/p>\n Daily Total: $99.75<\/strong><\/p>\n 6:10am<\/strong> \u2014 Wake up and snooze for six minutes. I\u2019m up straight away after I snooze which is a pleasant surprise. Nine hours of sleep and I\u2019m feeling so much better.<\/p>\n 9:00am<\/strong> \u2014 I have a doctor\u2019s appointment this morning, so I decide to get a coffee on the way to the appointment. A long black with oat milk, as usual. $5<\/strong><\/p>\n 10:15am<\/strong> \u2014 Almost an hour wait for my 9:15am appointment. I swear GPs are never on time. This is my first visit to a GP since moving to Australia. I pay $100 for the appointment. $100<\/strong><\/p>\n 10:20am<\/strong> \u2014 I decide to get an Uber to the office as I don\u2019t want to be any later. $18<\/strong><\/p>\n 11:45am<\/strong> \u2014 Early lunch as I only had time for a banana for breakfast. I\u2019ve got my usual sandwich and a cereal bar.<\/p>\n 12:15pm<\/strong> \u2014 My colleagues head out for lunch, so I join them to get some fresh air. We end up having an impromptu meeting so I\u2019m glad I joined. I\u2019m working on the post-campaign report for one of the big fundraising campaigns we run so it\u2019s good to get some outsider perspective.<\/p>\n 1:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 I make another coffee and prepare for a 2.5 hour Zoom call. Hideous.<\/p>\n 3:45pm<\/strong> \u2014 My brain is officially mush, but our office manager has bought in some treats. She\u2019s made some healthy flapjacks, so we snack and chat in the communal kitchen.<\/p>\n 5:40pm<\/strong> \u2014 I decide it\u2019s time to head home. My boyfriend conveniently calls me to say he\u2019s driving past my office so he picks me up. I\u2019ve never been so grateful especially as the heavens open on our drive home!<\/p>\n 6:00pm<\/strong> \u2014 We stop at Chemist Warehouse to pick up some fish oil tablets, electrolytes and Berocca ($57). Expensive, but they last. We put this on our joint account, so it doesn\u2019t technically feel like we\u2019ve spent any money. $57<\/strong><\/p>\n
Industry:<\/strong> Non For Profit Charity
Age:<\/strong> 29
Location:<\/strong> Canberra, ACT
Salary:<\/strong> $75,000
Net Worth:<\/strong> -$601. It\u2019s probably not as much as I\u2019d like it to be at the age of 29, but we move. I have $2900 in superannuation (I\u2019m working on this as I\u2019ve only just relocated to Australia), $6000 in savings (the anxiety is real \u2014 who knew moving to the other side of the world would mean your savings drop like a hat?!), and a house back in the UK worth roughly \u00a3325,000 ($617,555 AUD). My partner and I own it so we\u2019re paying monthly mortgage payments, which we split 50\/50. We also split our rent and bills out here. We also have a shared joint account which we use for weekly groceries, fuel, holidays and weekend coffee dates!
Debt: <\/strong>$318,278 ($47,504 for my student loan in the UK (which I\u2019m not currently paying back as I\u2019ve moved overseas for a couple of years). I also have $541,548 on my UK mortgage for our house, split with my partner (that\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve written that number down…).
Paycheque Amount (Fortnightly):<\/strong> $2181.00
Pronouns:<\/strong> She\/Her<\/p>\nMonthly Expenses<\/h3>\n
Netflix: <\/strong>$17.99 (shared with my partner)
Spotify: <\/strong>My parents still pay for my Spotify account (lol) which is very handy.
Gym: <\/strong>$46
Internet: <\/strong>$64 (My partner\u2019s work pays for half of this)
Phone Bill<\/strong>: SO. Much. \u00a390 ($170 AUD) a month\u2026 don\u2019t ask. I got a new phone contract before I knew we were moving from the UK and didn\u2019t want to fork out lots to swap over to an Australian one, so I currently pay for a roaming package.
Savings<\/strong>: I try to save around $500 a month. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\nDid you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?<\/h3>\n
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent\/guardian(s) educate you about finances?<\/h3>\n
What was your first job and why did you get it?<\/h3>\n
Did you worry about money growing up?<\/h3>\n
Do you worry about money now?<\/h3>\n
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?<\/h3>\n
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.<\/h3>\n
Day 1<\/h3>\n
Day 2<\/h3>\n
Day 3<\/h3>\n
Day 4<\/h3>\n