Bad beer and soccer sweeps: What an executive on $110,000 spends in a week

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This article originally appeared in Refinery29 Australia.

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’s how.

Today: a learning and development executive who makes $110,000 a year and spends some of her money this week on her work’s FIFA Women’s World Cup sweepstake.

This week on Money Diaries, a learning and development executive who makes $110,000 a year and spends some of her money on her work’s FIFA Women’s World Cup sweepstake.Credit: Refinery29 Australia

Occupation: Learning and Development Executive
Industry: Education and Training
Age: 40
Location: Inner North Melbourne
Salary: $110,000
Net Worth: $167,000 (An apartment worth $385,000 (bought 13 months ago on a fixed interest rate until May 2024), $90,000 in super, $10,000 in shares portfolio in the UK, $15,000 in savings, and a car worth $3,000). I have a partner but as we’ve only been together for nine months, we don’t share any finances. We tend to take turns paying for things, assuming that it all balances out eventually.
Debt: $330,000 remaining on my mortgage and $6,000 on an interest-free credit card, which I use for implementing split systems when I bought my apartment.
Paycheque Amount (Monthly): $6,100
Pronouns: She/Her

Monthly Expenses

Mortgage: My mortgage is $1,650 each month, but I pay $1,850. I live alone in a two-bedroom apartment. At some point, my partner and I plan to live together but we’re undecided as to where or when.
Debt: I pay $200 towards my interest-free credit card
Electricity: $80
Gym: $180
Internet: $70
Health Insurance: $155
Home Insurance: $200 (Annually)
Car Rego: $800 (Annually)
Car Insurance: $500 (Annually)
Car Service: $200 (Annually)
Netflix: $17. I share my Netflix with my parents in the UK (still waiting on the Netflix crackdown!). In return, I get Disney+ from them.
Binge: $14 (Which I just cancelled)
Amazon Prime: $10 (I’m considering cancelling this one too as I don’t really have time for all these streaming services)
Spotify: I’m on a family account that I don’t contribute to
Water: $250/quarter
Body Corp: $430/quarter
Council Rates: $350/quarter

Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?

I went to uni in the UK where everyone’s first degree is free so I am debt-free from education. Thanks, UK! I also lived at home throughout uni and worked part-time in a local supermarket – it may have been the time when I was richest!

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?

My siblings and I were encouraged to save part of our pocket money every week, usually with a holiday in sight where we’d like to buy clothes, toys and books (like most British families, we holidayed in Florida regularly so the shopping options were extensive!). Ironically, I now hate shopping! However, I do enjoy browsing online, putting things in my cart and then never checking out.

What was your first job and why did you get it?

I started delivering newspapers with my best friend when I was around 14. We really earned a £9 (around $15 AUD) weekly paycheque and got up at 5am in the freezing Scottish winter (and spring, summer and autumn…) six days a week. I always worked to supplement the allowance my parents gave me — whether it was by babysitting or working as a checkout chick at a supermarket during uni. I loved the financial freedom it gave me to spend and save whatever I wanted.

Did you worry about money growing up?

I don’t think so. We felt pretty comfortable when I was growing up but looking back, I think money was tight for them in the early days. My mum didn’t work until I was in high school, but my dad is quite money savvy. We went on a lot of overseas holidays growing up and travel is definitely my biggest vice. My parents didn’t buy a lot of things so we never had the newest cars but we travelled a lot. My dad got a big fancy job when I left uni and my parents really started to enjoy themselves which was lovely to see. I (along with my two siblings) don’t expect any inheritance from my parents — I fully hope that they spend it enjoying themselves. My dad is really into the stock market and the shares I have in the UK are his doing (he bought them but with my money). It’s something I always mean to get into properly, but sadly, it just doesn’t interest me and seems like a massive effort.

Do you worry about money now?

Yup. The stress of owning a place just replaces the stress of trying to buy somewhere. I am thankful to be out of the rental market and I got a good deal on my apartment, but all the bills and rising cost of living means that I don’t get to save much these days. I also spend too much on holidays, which is definitely a learned behaviour from my parents. I’ve always put travel ahead of making improvements to my apartment.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?

I moved out of home and to London when I was 24, where I became financially responsible for myself. I wasn’t particularly responsible with my money at that time because I was having too much fun and not earning a great wage. I know I could ask my parents for help if I really need to, but I hate taking money from them. I like being financially independent.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.

No.

Day 1

7:30am — My partner, K., stayed last night and as he works shifts, we went to bed later than I would like (which is usually the case when he’s around). I sneak out of bed, trying not to wake him, and head to the kitchen to make a coffee before settling in the living room and turning on the split system. It’s a chilly Melbourne morning, brrr. I turn on my work laptop and sit and do my Wordle followed by some browsing on Booking.com — I’m looking at options for Byron Bay for when my parents come over in summer. So exxy!

9:00am — Make myself some porridge with sliced banana, chopped dates and a spoonful of tahini. Yum. Porridge obsessed here!

10:00am — K. wakes up and we make a coffee together before my 10:30am meeting.

11:30am — K. heads home and I get some work done before heating up some leek and potato soup which I made yesterday. I also whip up a cheese, ham, mustard and pickle toastie. After eating, I go for a quick walk around the local park in the winter sun.

3:00pm — The work day is ticking along nicely. I take a brief break to pay $10 to work’s FIFA Women’s World Cup sweepstake ($10.50 including platform fee). I got China and South Korea in the draw so I’m not holding out much hope for a return on my investment! Also top up my Myki ($50) for going out tonight. I don’t use public transport a huge amount as I try to cycle where possible, so every now and then, I chuck $50 on it. $60.50

4:30pm — Finish up work, have a quick shower, dress in warm clothes and drive to pick up K. before heading to the train station to get the train to the Women’s World Cup match. Germany v Morocco. Jump on the train, tap on my Myki and head to AAMI Park.

6:00pm — Buy us each a beer at the stadium (horrible beer choices) for $21 and head to our seats for the 6:30pm kickoff. It’s not as cold as expected. $21

7:30pm — Half time and Germany are 2-0 but it’s been an entertaining first half. Head to get food and drinks. I queue for food and by the time I finally get to the front, there’s no food left! Wait around for a bit and finally grab the only options — one hot chips and two hot dogs ($22). K. gets the drinks but I end up giving him most of my very average beer to finish. The hot dogs are extremely gross! I can’t believe the food and drink options are so bad — it’s 2023! I was considering getting into the Melbourne soccer scene but now I might have to reconsider. $22

8:30pm — Germany has smashed Morocco 6-0. It kinda killed the second-half buzz. We catch the train and I drop K. at his place as we both need a decent sleep and I have an early gym class.

10:30pm — Try to read a bit of my current book, I’m Glad My Mom Died, but just want to sleep. Alarm set for 6:30am, lights out.

Daily Total: $103.50

Day 2

6:30am — Alarm goes off and I snooze it twice before jumping out of bed and race around to try and make my gym class on time. Got a decent sleep, thankfully. Class is good and there’s lots of nice chatter.

8:15am — Home, make coffee, do Wordle, put on two loads of laundry and log on to work.

9:30am — Breakfast of porridge with grated carrot, raisins and a dash of allspice. Yum!

12:00pm — Was supposed to have lunch with a friend today but she’s cancelled because her child is sick. Works for me as I could do with a low key day.

12:30pm — Heat up some leek and potato soup and have it with two slices of olive sourdough and butter. I also chug decaf tea all day (every day!). Have an orange and some freckle choccies mid-arvo while developing content for a couple of online courses.

3:30pm — The Kiwis World Cup match against the Philippines starts so I put it on in the background. Go Kiwis! Sadly, they lose 1-0.

5:00pm — I log off, grab my book, run a bath and make myself a G&T.

6:00pm — Bath done, hair washed, book nearly finished (already overdue at the library) but I need to finish it by next Thursday for book club. Boil some fresh spaghetti that I bought on the weekend and mix it with some kale pesto that I made two weeks ago and froze. Settle in to watch Switzerland v Norway match.

8:00pm — Ends 0-0. I watch an ep of Gilmore Girls before getting into bed early and finishing my book. Yay! I’m usually stress reading an hour before book club starts. This was a very easy read!

10:00pm — Bedtime. Set my alarm for 6:30am as tomorrow is an office day.

Daily Total: $0

Day 3

6:30am — Alarm goes off and I only snooze for 10 minutes, thereby giving myself plenty of time to get ready for the office (very unusual for me). Usually, I cycle to work and shower/change there, but tonight I’m going with some workmates to see Barbie straight from the office, so I shower and get ready at home. Make a coffee to sip while I get ready.

8:00am — Catch the tram. It takes slightly longer than cycling but lets me get back to my pre-book club book — Toxic by Richard Flanagan. No more Tassie salmon for me!

9:00am — Work offers subsidised barista coffees which are usually $2, but the coffees are free this week because our big system upgrade is happening. I overindulge and have two. It’s a novelty! I whip up a hearty bowl of porridge courtesy of a packet of quick oats and some frozen blueberries.

12:00pm — Stop for lunch. I’ve brought some leftover mushroom risotto from home for lunch — there are lots of food options around the office, but I find them expensive and of average quality. I’ll save my money for snacks and wine at Gold Class tonight.

2:00pm — I recently switched over my electricity supplier and as my old account was in credit, I’m due a refund. See it has come through (+$105).

4:15pm — We leave the office to head to the cinema. I order two small glasses of pinot noir (one for now and one for halfway through the film) and the beef tacos (very average — this is not shaping up to be a good food week!) which cost $48 altogether. We bought the cinema tix last week through RACV so got them for a reasonable price. $48

7:30pm — Barbie was fab. We leave the cinema and head home separately. Tram for me.

8:30pm — Make scrambled eggs on sourdough because the tacos were tiny and didn’t fill me up at all. Check football scores — it’s the first day I haven’t watched any matches. The last one is at 10pm and I’ll definitely be in bed.

10:00pm — Watch a couple of eps of Gilmore Girls before heading to bed. Lights out.

Daily Total: $48

Read the rest on Refinery29 Australia here.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald are owned by Nine, which also holds the publishing rights for Refinery29 in Australia.

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