A Week In Perth As A Senior Social Worker On $121,000

Occupation: Senior Social Worker
Industry: Family and Social Services
Age: 28
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Pronouns: She/Her
Salary: $121,000
Net Worth: $63,000 in savings, $9,600 in ETFs, $85,600 in super
Debt: $1,750 on HECS/HELP
Paycheque Amount (Fortnightly): $3,196

Rent: $1,300 per month
Loan Payments: I have no loans.
Health Insurance: $125
Mobile and WiFi: $79
Electricity, Gas and Water: $200
Disney+: $15

Yes. I studied a Bachelor of Arts and Science (Psychology), and a Master's Degree in Social Work and Social Policy. I paid them through the HECS/HELP scheme.

I was always taught that "money never grows on trees", and it was something that needed to be worked for. I was given pocket money from a young age — and had to put a portion of this into long-term savings — and was taught to save up for things I wanted to buy (my family loved lay-by!). This carried over to when I got my first job; my parents set up that 30% would go into long-term savings. They taught me the basics of budgeting, making sure I had money for a rainy day, and a portion of my pay went to another account to make sure I could pay my weekly bills. I would describe my parents as quite risk-averse with money, so investing wasn't something that I was taught growing up.

Other than my paper round when I was 9, I started working when I was 15 at a family-run shoe store. I was very lucky that my step-mum worked there and hired my siblings and me when we each turned 15. I was eager to start work and have my own money to play with, but there was also an expectation that we started working to learn important life skills when we could.

Not really. My parents definitely didn't have a lot of spare money, but we were lucky enough to all go to private schools, and never had to worry about food on the table or a roof over our heads, and had a family holiday every couple of years. We always had everything we needed, noting my parents were always honest about their financial situation, and the value of working for money, and saving up for things as a family.

Yes absolutely! Maybe more than I need to. I would say that I've always been quite money-conscious, but sometimes it does teeter over to anxiety. The cost-of-living crisis and the current state of the housing market don't make it easier, especially as a single person. I do worry about how I will be able to enter the housing market solo.

I was very lucky to live at home while I was at uni and moved out of home straight afterwards, when I was 22. I've been financially responsible for myself since then. I wouldn't say I have a huge financial safety net in my family, as they don't have a lot of disposable income, but I know they would always help me out as much as they could, and I could always move in with them if I ever needed.

When I was 18, I got access to some investments that my grandfather made on my behalf when I was a kid. The investments didn't do super well over time, and 18-year-old me did not understand investing well. I immediately sold and got about $4000, which went towards an overseas trip and buying a new laptop for uni.

6:30am – I wake up with the sun because I've been camping. We are all up early to pack up our site and get back home. It's hot already, and I am desperate for a real bed and a hot shower. $0

8:30am – We stop off at the local bakery for a pie for breakfast. I go for the classic potato pie. $9.30

11:30am – Home, unpacked, showered and feel like a real person again. I fight the urge to rot in bed all day and head to the shops to get some groceries. The fridge is bare after being away for most of the Christmas and New Year's period. I do a huge shop, including meat to stock up the freezer and those expensive household items (why is it still $32 for dishwashing tablets, when they're half price?). $254

2pm – I always have the urge to purge in the new year, so I decide to declutter my kitchen cupboards and do a million loads of laundry. Halfway through, I decide I've had enough for the day, so there are various piles of things to donate or throw out throughout the house. $0 

5:30pm – I make some pesto with the crazy amounts of basil coming from my herb garden. My parents gave me some of their homegrown tomatoes, so I slow-roast them and stir them through the pasta and pesto. $0

9pm – I put my phone away for the night and read my book for an hour in bed. $0

Daily Total: $263.30

8am – Had a doctor's appointment before work this morning, so had a sleep in ($55). I may have slept in slightly too long, and don't have enough time for breakfast, so I scoff a Vegemite crumpet in the car. After my appointment, I stopped in at the chemist to fill my prescriptions ($56.80). $111.80

10am – Get to work and meet our new colleague who has just joined the team. I haven't been at work for a couple of days, so I catch up on what everyone did over the New Year's break, and clear my inbox. $0

12:30pm – I have last night's leftover pasta at my desk, and make a mental note to try to take my lunch break away from the computer screen more often this year. $0

6pm – I get home and video call my friend, who is taking a year of 'funemployment' and catch up on all his antics of the past two months. After speaking to him, my cup feels full, and I reheat some leftover Indian curry that's been sitting in my freezer for the past couple of weeks. The garlic naan still surprisingly tastes as good as when it arrived by Uber Eats. $0

9pm – After a couple of episodes of Grey's Anatomy, I put my phone away and keep on with my book, before turning in for the night. $0

Daily Total: $111.80

6:20am – I am up a lot earlier this morning. My close friend is moving to Tassie, so a bunch of us are meeting for a pre-work, farewell coffee. I don't drink coffee, so I make a tea at home and bring it in my Keep Cup. I don't really see the point of buying tea there when it tastes just as good from home. $0

8:15am – I'm at work, logged on and have cleared my inbox. We have a team meeting, and I get stuck into my to-do list. $0

12:30pm – The morning goes so quickly; I didn't expect it to be lunchtime by the time I look up. I still have leftover pasta, so I have that at my desk again. I realise I forgot to pack a Diet Coke, so grab a can from the vending machine ($2.60) and make a mental note that I need to curb this addiction in this new year. $2.60

3pm – I am very much feeling the 3pm slump today, so I eat an apple and make a cup of tea to get me through the afternoon. $0

5pm – I call my aunty and dad on the way home and catch up on the family goings on. $0

6:30pm – I'm suddenly starving and quickly grill some Greek-marinated chicken, some broccoli and asparagus, and airfry some wedges. Such an easy dinner, but super yum! Have a glass of chardonnay with dinner. $0

Spend the rest of the evening scrolling on the couch, until my phone shuts down at 9pm, and I am forced to pick up my book. $0

Daily Total: $2.60

7:30am – I had every intention of getting up at my alarm, an hour and a half ago, to go for a run. This is not usual behaviour, but my new years resolution is to be able to run 5km. After too many snoozes, I'm out of bed, but it's too late for a run. I jump in the shower and quickly get ready for work. $0

9am – At work, desperate for a cup of tea, but there's no milk. I head down a couple of floors and steal some milk from another department. $0

12pm – After a couple of home visits this morning, I am back at the office and heat up my lunch. It's leftover pasta, yet again, made slightly better by the addition of some grilled chicken, along with a Diet Coke. $0

5:45pm – I have dinner plans tonight, with some friends from high school, so I stay at work a bit longer and get some case notes written up. $0

6:15pm – Huge surprise when I get to my friend's place, she got a dog! Once I get over the shock and have many pats and some face licks, she orders us sushi for dinner. $0

9pm – Back at home, I quickly cook some rice for tomorrow's dinner, and am in bed ready to start a new book. I choose a psychological thriller, which may not be the best idea before bed. $0

Daily Total: $0

7:55am –  I have snoozed my alarms yet again and was not up in time for a run. In fact, I'm running wildly late. Get ready in the quickest time possible, and off to work. $0

10am – I have a pesto and bocconcini toastie for breakfast and have a cup of tea. Spend the morning doing many tiny tasks and a couple of home visits. $0

1pm – Have 15 minutes to scoff some lunch before an afternoon of meetings. Salmon sushi bowl is always my go-to quick meal. $0

5pm – After an exhausting afternoon of back-to-back meetings, I head off to the shops. My best friend and I book a trip away each year as our Christmas present to each other. This year, we are going glamping. I pick up some steak, salad, and bits for a cheeseboard ($47). I pop into the fruit and veg shop to grab some fruit for a platter I'm making for her engagement morning tea on the weekend ($20). $67

6:30pm – I'm home and finally get the motivation to go on that run. It's hard, but I feel great afterwards. $0

7pm – Make steak, potato, and broccolini for dinner, and enough for lunch tomorrow. $0

8:30pm – Have a shower, wash my hair, then I'm in bed with my book. $0

Daily Total: $67

7am – I am up, quickly shower, and get ready for work. I want to leave work a bit earlier today, so I need to get in early. $0

8:15am – I make a pesto and bocconcini toastie, and eat it with a cup of tea at work, whilst I clear my inbox and make a to-do list for the day. $0

12pm – Stop for lunch today, and go and meet my friend who has moved to another department. We catch up about the goings-on in each other's lives, and I have leftover steak and veg for lunch. $0

3:30pm – All my plans to leave early go out the window when I need to make an unplanned visit to deal with a crisis. Best laid plans on a Friday afternoon. $0

5pm – I'm out the door and head to my aunty's. My little cousin has just moved over from New Zealand, so my other cousin, her husband and kids meet us there, and we all catch up over a couple of glasses of prosecco and a cheeseboard. We order pizza from the new local pizzeria down the road ($37 for my portion). $37

11pm – I end up having a couple more glasses of prosecco than originally planned, so I stay the night. $0

Daily Total: $37

6:30am – I'm up super early for a Saturday morning and out the door. When I get home, I make some toast and a cup of tea, and eat this while I get ready. I prep a fruit platter and tidy up the kitchen. $0

9:15am – I get to my friend's house and help with the last-minute finishing touches before the guests arrive for their engagement morning tea. It's just a family event, so I feel so honoured that my friend invited me. We've known each other for more than 20 years, so her family feel like my family at this point. $0

12:30pm – After some delightful cake and tea, I help clean up and quickly head home to pack my bags and get the food for our weekend away. I stop off at the petrol station to fill up and get a Diet Coke for the road. $45

12:45pm – Pick my friend up, and we hop on the road. We have a three-hour drive, which we spend talking about wedding plans, and then listen to some of a Harry Potter audiobook. $0

4:30pm – We arrive at the glamping tent. It's super lovely and has a gorgeous view overlooking the lake. We go for a walk around the property to stretch our legs. $0

5:30pm – We drink some prosecco, eat a cheeseboard outside, and FaceTime our friend in Germany. When we get off the phone, we realise it's 7pm, and we've lost all motivation to make dinner, so we just eat more cheese. $0

8pm – The mozzies are out, so we move inside and play some card games. I am majorly defeated. $0

9:30pm – We are both feeling quite tired, so have an early night. $0

Daily Total: $45