Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We asked a millennial woman how she spends her hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar. (Thanks, New York Mag, for the inspiration.)
The social media strategist celebrating her birthday and budgeting for Starbucks.
The social media strategist celebrating her birthday and budgeting for Starbucks.
Industry: Media
Age: 24
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $55,000
# of roommates: Two Monthly expenses
Rent: $952
Loan payments: $158
Utilities: ~$23
Transportation: ~$130 per month ($116 for monthly subway card plus at least one trip to Connecticut)
Total amount spent: $4.84
Age: 24
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $55,000
# of roommates: Two Monthly expenses
Rent: $952
Loan payments: $158
Utilities: ~$23
Transportation: ~$130 per month ($116 for monthly subway card plus at least one trip to Connecticut)
Day One
10:00 a.m. — Working from home, so I make a late breakfast and coffee with my boyfriend, and then spend the day working in front of the fireplace. 5:00 p.m. — Dinner with my dad, stepmom, and boyfriend for my dad’s birthday. The company is excellent, but the food is mediocre at best, so I eat an appetizer and anticipate being hungry later. My stepmom pays as a birthday treat. 9:00 p.m. — Called it, I’m already starving. Time for a phone call to order my favorite chicken sandwich as takeout. I feel no regret as I get melted cheese all over my face. $12.77 11:00 p.m. — After an evening of chilling out on the couch and extensive research, I book four nights at a hotel in Europe as part of a trip my boyfriend and I are planning for the spring. He agrees that rather than pay me back now, he’ll pay for other trip related stuff (luggage and meals) until we’re even. $519.08 Total amount spent: $531.85Day Two
11:00 a.m. — Brunch at my boyfriend’s parent’s house. His mother buys the groceries and cooks delicious breakfast pizza. 7:55 p.m. — Ran late shooting a video for work, so I call an Uber to my own birthday dinner 60 blocks away. Normally I’d take the subway, but we are so late. Plus, I can expense it to the company. $15.14, but it's expensed, so $0. 10:00 p.m. — Amazing birthday dinner with friends at Awadh on the Upper West Side. They take the check when I go to the bathroom. I am given a firm “no” when I offer to contribute. 10:30 p.m. — Birthday party for a friend at a bar in Harlem. My boyfriend orders and pays for his own beer, I am still tipsy from wine at dinner. Total amount spent: $0Day Three
9:00 a.m. — We’re almost out of groceries at my apartment, but it’s my boyfriend’s turn to pay. 10:00 a.m. — On the way home from the store, we stop at Company on Edgecombe for coffee. I intended on cooking breakfast since I have plenty of eggs and bacon, but we see they have breakfast sandwiches on cheddar chive biscuits, so I cave. $24.28 12:00 p.m. — Hulu membership is automatically renewed. $7.99 5:30 p.m. — While prepping homemade broccoli and cheddar soup, I realize I don’t have a peeler with which to skin carrots or potatoes. I order one from Amazon using a birthday gift card. $8.99, but with the gift card it's free. $0. 6:00 p.m. — My boyfriend comes home from work and makes three different kinds of wings for dinner, we watch the Super Bowl from the comfort of our bed. Total amount spent: $32.27Day Four
9:00 a.m. — I stop by Starbucks to pick up my latte that I have budgeted in three times a week. $4.84 12:00 p.m. — I bring lunch from home, eat office snacks, and then enjoy leftovers for dinner.Total amount spent: $4.84
Day Five
9:45 a.m. — I forget to eat breakfast and grab a doughnut on my way to work. $1.12 2:00 p.m. — Leftovers for lunch. 7:00 p.m. — Fashion event after work with free drinks and hors d'oeuvres, plus an ice cream sandwich when I get home. Total amount spent: $1.12Day Six
9:20 a.m. — Thank god it’s Wednesday and I get to have coffee. $4.84 12:45 p.m. — I’m bored and want to bond with a coworker, so we pop out for Starbucks round two. $3.10 8:00 p.m. — Dinner is a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on an English muffin, made at home. Total amount spent: $7.94Day Seven
9:15 a.m. — I forget breakfast again. Another doughnut. Oops, yum. $1.12 1:00 p.m. — Out to lunch with a few of my team members. A rare opportunity since we all have insane schedules, but it’s important for us to bond. It was fun and totally worth the extra money. $13.15 8:30 p.m. — Working overtime, so I can expense dinner. Normally I’d order something small, but the time I spent working was also the time I would have spent grocery shopping and prepping lunch for the next day, so I splurge and get $25 worth of food to last me through the end of the week. $0 Total amount spent: $14.27The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day.
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