What I Spent This Week as an Entry-Level Engineer Making $40k

Ever wondered how others really manage their money?

In the A Week in My Wallet series, we share it all, because talking about money shouldn't be off-limits.

Every week, an anonymous member shares a week of their spending: no names, no filters, just honest stories about life's everyday financial choices.

Ready to join the conversation and help make money talk less taboo? Share your own story via our form here.

‍Monthly Take-Home Pay (after tax): £2,050 ($2,706)

Do you share expenses with someone? No‍

Dependents: None

What is your overall monthly budget?

I have a 54/35/11 split.

£695 ($915) - Rent & bills, for an en-suite room in a shared house. This is an all in one package so includes rent, bills, council tax and a fortnightly cleaner!
£200 ($264) - Donation, I believe in supporting my community and helping encouraging people to live purposeful lives
£130 ($171) - Groceries and toiletries. I cook for myself alone and don’t eat out often
£72 ($95) - Transport
£28 ($37) - Gym
£38 ($50) - Online classes. I'm trying to build my skillsets
£400 ($527) - LISA payments. Trying to max out the max annual payments

Amount left each month after essentials: £450 ($593)

My Relationship With Money

Growing up, did your parents or guardians educate you around money?‍

Yes, as a child, my parents always let me have my own money, through allowances and holding gifted money myself. That was how I learnt the value of saving, and I used to keep my money in a piggy bank. I opened my first bank account as a preteen and that taught me how to shop for good deals, and budget my money.

Fast forward to uni days, I was still a big saver and budgeter. My mum would tell me to open an investing account but I never felt confident enough to actually do it myself. Now that I have a real job, I knew it was time to take that leap and that’s where Female Invest came in, to take me from saver to investor.

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

First job was around 15/16 years old. I was helping my aunty with her tutoring company teaching primary school children. At the time I was doing it just to help my aunty; I earned very little money from that job.

Did you worry about money growing up?‍

Not really. My parents wouldnt really tell me about any financial hardship that they were going through. It’s only in recent years that they have opened up to me about the various things that we have gone through as a family and how they worked through it. Sometimes they would tell me things like ‘we can’t afford this’ or ‘I don’t have the money for that,’ but it never felt like something I should be worried about.

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

At 22. I graduated from university and got a job. I also moved out my parents’ house and support myself fully financially. Thanks to my saving habits, I have money to use as an emergency fund.

Do you worry about money now?‍

No, but I know that this is the best time to upskill myself and invest my money to open up future avenues of income and let my money grow. As I acquire more responsibilities like a car or first home, I know I’ll feel more pressure, but that is why I want to take my time before committing to those things.

What is your biggest money regret?‍

Not putting my saved money in a high yield savings account or cash ISA earlier. Not following my mum’s lead when she told me to invest!

What financial goals are you working towards?‍

• Invest £3k ($3,955) in my stocks ISA
• Earn £500 ($659) interest in my stocks ISA
• Build my emergency fund to 3 months worth of expenses (leave in my CISA)
• Purchase a car
• Save for a house deposit
• Have 2 income streams

Who is your financial role model (if any), and why?‍

I don’t have one, but I do enjoy the content of some influencers online like Steve Chen.

Reflections on My Spending Habits

‍I try to keep my monthly food budget low, but I definitely need to be more mindful of the expiry dates of my foods so that I don’t end up wasting it.

What I Spent in a Week

Day 1 – Monday: £166 ($219)
• £166 ($219) - Got my hair done

‍

Day 2 – Tuesday: £6 ($8)
• £6 ($8) - Couple of top-up groceries for dinner

‍

Day 3 – Wednesday: £21.38 ($28)
• £0.99 ($1) - phone storage
• £9.74 ($13) - shampoo
• £10.65 ($14) - groceries

‍

Day 4 – Thursday: £0
• I spent nothing.

‍

Day 5 – Friday: £0
• I spent nothing.

‍

Day 6 – Saturday:£53.50 ($70)
• £12 ($16) - transport
• £26.50 ($35) - lunch with a friend
• £15 ($20) - clothes drying rack for my house

‍Day 7 – Sunday: £16.10 ($21)
• £11.10 ($15) - transport
• £5 ($7) - McDonald’s with friends

Total Weekly Spend: £262.98 ($347)

‍