What I Spent This Week as a Marketing Manager Making $78K

Ever wondered how others really manage their money?

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.

About Me

Age: 38

Location: Chicago, IL, USA

Current Salary: $78,000

Savings: $9,000 in emergency fund

Debt: Around $5,000 on a credit card with 0% APR

Assets: $35,000 in index funds + $20,000 in a Roth IRA

Monthly Income Overview: $4,850 (after tax)

Dependents: None

Money Mindset & Financial Journey

Did your parents educate you around money?

A little, but their version of financial education was "save money" and "don't spend it all in one place"! My parents always emphasized saving, but I had to figure out investing and budgeting on my own. No trust fund for me, unfortunately!!

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

Slung coffee at 16, mostly to fund my embarrassing mall rat phase (shoutout to Claire's Accessories and their choker necklaces… where's that money now??). Pretty sure I spent more on frappuccinos during my shifts than I actually earned!

Did you worry about money growing up?

No, I didn't have to. My parents made sure we had what we needed, and I was insulated from that side of life growing up. I did start to worry once I was on my own, though!

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself?

Post-college at 22, when reality hit and I realized my parents weren't kidding about the whole "real world" thing. Nothing says ‘you’re on your own now’ quite like your first utility bill!

Do you worry about money now?

Not as much as I used to, but now it's more sophisticated worries like "will I ever own a house?" and "is my retirement account judging me?" …and the answer is yes.

What is your biggest money regret?

Dropping $2000 on a fancy exercise bike during lockdown that's now basically an expensive clothes hanger. Plot twist: turns out I'm more of a yoga person, and that money could've gone into my emergency fund instead! Like everyone else, I was just trying to stay sane, one questionable purchase at a time.

What financial goals are you working towards?

Short term: Saying goodbye to my credit card debt and somehow scraping together $40k for a down payment without giving up brunch or my streaming services… wish me luck!

Long term: Reaching $225,000 in investments by 45. It's not the most exciting goal, but watching the numbers gradually tick up has become oddly satisfying.

Who is your role model and why?

My friend who turned her financial life around in such an inspiring way. She tackled her student loans head-on and now makes investing look easy. She's my go-to for honest money advice (aside from Female Invest of course!). :)

Reflections on My Spending

Looking through these numbers now, it wasn't a bad week but I can definitely spot my weak points. There's that $52 online clothing order  and what seems like a concerning devotion to eating at restaurants. And while my investments are steadily growing, my social calendar is clearly conspiring against my down payment dreams. Don't get me wrong - I love a good happy hour and comedy show, but maybe it's time to channel some of that energy into my house fund. Though between you and me, I'll probably still justify the occasional fancy coffee as 'self-care.' Finding that balance between future me and present me is definitely still a work in progress!

What I Spent in a Week


Day 1 - Monday: $108.50

  • Morning coffee & bagel: ($6.50)
  • Train commute: ($5)
  • Monthly gym membership: ($70)
  • Quick grocery run: ($27)


Day 2 - Tuesday: $59

  • Happy hour with coworkers ($22)
  • Train commute ($5)
  • Online order for household essentials ($32)


Day 3 - Wednesday: $67

  • Latte ($5.50)
  • Commute one-way ($2.50)
  • Protein shake ($7)
  • Online clothing order ($52)


Day 4 - Thursday: $46

  • Power yoga class ($22)
  • Dinner with a friend ($24)


Day 5 - Friday: $51

  • Dinner with friends ($46)
  • Train commute($5)


Day 6 - Saturday: $78

  • Brunch with friends ($28)
  • Comedy show tickets ($15)
  • Bar drinks ($21)
  • Uber ($14)


Day 7 - Sunday: $77

  • Grocery stock up ($77)


Total Weekly Spend: $486.50

At Female Invest, we recommend a monthly budget split of 50/30/20: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for future you.