What I Spent This Week as a Finance Communications Manager Making £62k

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): €3,940 (£3,442)

‍Do you share expenses with someone? Yes

What is your overall monthly budget?

• Rent + household bills (my partner pays this and I send him a fixed amount every month to contribute): €1,300 (£1,131)
• Phone: €40 (£35)
• Gym: €99 (£86)
• Groceries: €350 (£304)
• Health insurance: €184.80 (£160)
• Other subscriptions (bicycle lease, cinema card, cloud storage): €70 (£60)
• Savings contribution (goal is to save this amount every month!!!): €1,400 (£1,218)

Amount left each month after essentials (to spend, save or invest): €2,003 (£1,742)

Dependents (if any) 0

My Relationship with Money

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

‍Not so much. I grew up fairly privileged; my grandparents were both high-ranking government officials in my lower-income country of origin and I think my parents took it for granted that they would always be well-off throughout their adult lives. My mom spoke to me a bit about her real estate investments, but that was about it. I also noticed she noted down household expenses in some old notebook, a habit I took on when I first moved out as an adult, although I did this via note-taking app initially.

When I was in high school, my father lost USD 1 million (£741,485) (his entire lifesavings at the time) to a bad investment. That definitely taught me the importance of diversification! Fortunately, my parents had the privilege of intergenerational wealth and assets to fall back on, but seeing this happen definitely taught me that money, like everything, is transient.

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

I was a receptionist at my university’s career centre. I did this for about a year, because I wanted to build up my CV beyond unpaid internships.‍

Did you worry about money growing up?‍

Not at all. I knew my parents worked hard but I also knew they had more than enough for all their needs. Sometimes they fought about money, although that came down to their lack of agreement about how money should be spent.

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

At 25. I have a partner, which gives me a feeling of safety in case anything unexpected happens. He was a huge source of support last year when I was unemployed for a few months.

Do you worry about money now?‍

I self-funded my move to the Netherlands, as my employer at the time was a small nonprofit that didn’t cover relocation expenses. The move and my unemployment a couple of years later drained my savings, so from that I’ve learned to be extra frugal so I can build savings for future me in the months/years ahead. I have a good, stable income now so I try not to stress myself out.

What is your biggest money regret?

When I was 18, my mom gave me USD 10,000 (£7,414) in shopping money to upgrade my closet. I really regret spending that on expensive clothes, shoes, and bags rather than a study abroad or something more academically useful.

What financial goals are you working towards?‍

• Paying the 50% contribution for my wedding in September (~€10,000-15,000) (~£8,700-13,050)
• Making my first stock/crypto investment in 2026!

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

One of my uncles. He immigrated to France 25+ years ago, worked for large multinational companies, and then built his own business. I admire that he built his own wealth and lives life on his own terms, and also helped his father pay a large sum of debt.

Reflections on My Spending Habits:

I think I’m making slow-yet-steady progress on sticking to my budget and not spending too impulsively, but my eating out/takeout spend is through the roof. Need to limit that a bit better. Because of my cultural background, I see it as an obligation to buy food/snacks for friends when visiting…but rather than buying generous groceries for a potluck dinner, I think a simple, smaller dish could do, especially by Dutch standards.

What I Spent in a Week

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Day 1 - Monday: €0 (£0)‍

No-spend day!

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‍Day 2 - Tuesday: €31.30 (£27)‍

Groceries for an impromptu potluck dinner: €31.30 (£27)

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‍Day 3 - Wednesday: €101.38 (£88)‍

Therapy: €97.88 (£85) (will be reimbursed)
ING subscription: €3.50 (£3)

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‍Day 4 - Thursday: €57.00 (£49)

‍Dinner with a friend: €57.00 (£49)

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‍Day 5 - Friday: €3.49 (£3)

‍Coffee at a cafe: €3.49 (£3)

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‍Day 6 - Saturday: €116.00 (£99)‍

New books + adult coloring book: €40 (£34)
Take-out: €62 (£53)
Lunch at a cafe: €14 (£12)

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‍Day 7 - Sunday: €14.60 (£11)‍

Coffee: €4.40 (£3)
Wine bottle: €6.20 (£5)
Stationary: €4.00 (£3)

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Total Weekly Spend: €323.77 (£277)

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