Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking a cross-section of women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period – and we're tracking every last penny.
This week we're with a 23-year-old just starting her career in advertising and getting used to the higher prices of London living. What with a date, a weekend away and a night out with friends, she's in for a very busy (and potentially expensive) week...
Industry: Advertising
Age: 23
Location: London
Salary: £25,000
Paycheque amount per month: £1,609
Number of housemates: Three. Two other girls, we started out strangers but are now proper friends.
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £750 for my room, seems crazy expensive but is relatively cheap for London!
Loan payments: £21 student loan, probably never going to pay this all off
Utilities: £70/80 usually, council tax is the killer payment – £42
Transportation: £123 for a Zone 1-2 travel card
Phone bill: £36.99 (this gets me 3GB data but I often need to top up)
Savings: Currently put £20 in a month as I’m still paying off a credit card and that comes first.
Other: Now TV £6.99, to feed my Grey’s Anatomy addiction. Also Birchbox £12.95, although thinking of getting rid after this month as haven’t been that impressed.
Day One
8.30am: I'm running late as usual on a Monday, so don’t have time for breakfast at home. I was on holiday last week so haven’t had a chance to top up my Oyster card. Thank God for contactless payment! Get the bus and Tube to work, my commute is around 35 mins which is great for London. Paying with my contactless card all day will top out at £6.50 no matter how many journeys I make.
9.20am: I pop into Pret to pick up breakfast. Their apple bircher is my weakness – I've eaten it every day for two weeks. Note to self: just make my own! £1.99
1pm: I had a ridiculously busy morning, standard Monday. I only have three weeks left in this job before I start a new one, so trying to tie up as many loose ends as possible. Decide to walk to Zara to take back a top I got in the sale and get some new black jeans. I love Zara; 80% of my wardrobe comes from there. As always happens, I end up spending way more than I planned, using the excuse of a date tomorrow to buy clothes. Leave with some jeans and two tops. £73 minus £9.99 refund
2pm: I spent longer than I should’ve in Zara, so pop to Benugo to get lunch on the way back to the office. £6.50 for harissa chicken and squash salad, and a pack of sweet/salty popcorn for an afternoon snack
6pm: I head home after a crazy busy day, Tube and bus again. The money comes out of the day cap.
8.30pm: I eat leftover Domino’s pizza for dinner while catching up with flatmates, promising myself I’ll eat better this week.
Total amount spent: £78
Day Two
9am: I leave the house late as I’m deciding what to wear for the date this evening. I end up going for the classic girl outfit of jeans and a nice top. Bus and Tube into work. £6.50
9.30am: Should be in work on a call right now but I have to make the daily stop at Pret. Get to work and join the call but nobody else does so hang up after 10 minutes of waiting! £1.99
1pm: I’m leaving my job in two weeks and one of my work friends is going on holiday tomorrow until after I leave. We go for lunch to celebrate/commiserate that we won’t be together every day. We both get the lunchtime deal, pork gyoza and chilli chicken ramen for £11.95. With service charge this comes to £13.08
5.30pm: Head to a bar with two colleagues. Have three double gin and tonics to take the edge off, and end up a little bit drunk. My boss pays for one round, and I buy another back. £16.50
7.45pm: I am so late for the date. He is already there and has bought me a drink. We take turns to buy rounds until the pub shuts. Over the night, I buy three rounds. £42
11.30pm: Try to find somewhere else to go but everywhere is shutting as it is only Tuesday. We end up in Sainsbury’s buying red wine and Fanta Limon to make tinto de verano £8.20. Then we get an Uber home. £12.15
Total amount spent:£100.42
Day Three
8am: I am very hungover. I have a shower and assess my life then head to get the train. Stop off at Boots to buy some water and chewing gum. £2.20
9.30am: I get to work and feel terrible. We have a breakfast meeting so I eat a bacon roll and have an orange juice. I can never face caffeine when I’m hungover. Luckily, all is provided for free.
1pm: Today is a great day for food as we also have a "lunch and learn". A media owner comes in to present and brings lunch for everyone. Today it is Pret so I have a pesto chicken salad, crisps and a juice. They’ve brought too much as always so I take a sandwich for a second lunch, as the hangover is really kicking in.
5.30pm: Spend most of the afternoon in a bit of a daze. All I want to do is go to bed. However, meeting friends for dinner so take the Tube to meet them. £6.50
7pm: We eat at a vegetarian restaurant where you pay for how much your plate weighs. I go a bit mad but as it’s all healthy it’s kind of fine?! I regret it when it comes to paying, because my plate costs £20.50. It is all delicious, though, and great to catch up with the girls.
9.30pm: Head home, shower and go straight to bed because I am knackered.
Total amount spent: £29.20
Day Four
8.50am: I kept hitting snooze on my alarm this morning and had about 10 minutes to get ready and leave. I go my usual way to work. £6.50
9.30am: I go into Pret yet again. I wish they did loyalty cards. £1.99
1pm: It's suddenly lunchtime. I had the most productive morning. I head upstairs to our canteen with two of my teammates and get a salad from the bar; red cabbage, chickpeas, quinoa, chicken, seeds and various other bits. £4.25
2pm: Get a Diet Coke to bring back to my desk. £0.70
5.30pm: Had quite a quiet afternoon, typical advertising, one moment it's manic and the next you’re twiddling your thumbs. Head straight home.
7pm: Eat a jacket potato with beans for dinner while catching up with my flatmate and Silent Witness. I haven’t done a food shop in around two weeks now, as I knew I was going to be out a lot and don’t want to waste fresh food.
10pm: Watch three episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. I'm currently on season 10. I pack my bag for a weekend away and go to bed.
Total amount spent: £13.44
Day Five
8.30am: I get up late – nobody is ever on time on Friday. I shower and get ready then take the usual transport to work. £6.50
9.30am: I cannot resist going into Pret. This is literally the last time and I will make my own breakfast. Starting next week... £1.99
12.30pm: I was supposed to be on a client lunch but it gets cancelled. I am kind of glad as making small talk with people you don’t really know isn’t that fun and I really can’t be bothered today. Head upstairs for fish and chip Friday with my teammate. £4.50
2pm: I get a Diet Coke to keep me going. £0.70
4pm: I leave work half an hour early to get the train. Pop to M&S to get snacks for the train – pistachios, mango, water and a bottle of prosecco for my friend, whose house I’m going to. £17
7.30pm: Arrive at her house, have chilli and sweet potato for dinner with her family, drink prosecco and catch up.
12am: Bed.
Total amount spent: £30.69
Day Six
11am: As it’s the weekend, a lie-in is definitely called for. We have a leisurely breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and coffee while deciding what to do for the day.
12pm: We head to a nearby park for a walk as it is beautifully sunny.
2.20pm: Next we go for afternoon tea at a local bakery/café. Have a scone, coffee and share a sandwich with my friend. £13.95
3.30pm: Before we leave, buy some Florentines for my parents as I’m going for lunch with them tomorrow. £11.95
5pm: We have a chilled afternoon chatting; we’ve been friends for almost six years now, but it still feels like yesterday when we first met.
7pm: We order Chinese, and I share everything with my friend – crispy shredded chicken, egg fried rice and duck chow mein. We split the cost between six of us. £10
9pm: Watch Crazy Stupid Love with prosecco
12am: Go to bed
Total amount spent: £35.90
Day Seven
11.30am: Wake up very late. Have a cheese bagel and coffee for breakfast
2.30pm: Head to meet my parents for lunch. Go to Zizzi and have butternut squash and goat’s cheese salad. Don’t want a dessert so have a fresh mint tea instead. Parents pay.
5.30pm: I get the train back to London.
10pm: I stop in M&S on the way home and get some soup for lunches this week, a chicken and avocado sandwich and some chocolate buttons. £12
Total amount spent: £12
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