What I Spent This Week as a Project Engineer Making £50k

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): £3,200

‍Do you share expenses with someone? Yes

‍Household Income (if shared): £100,000

What is your overall monthly budget?

• ‍‍Rent and home bills are shared with partner, my share is: Rent: £900 Council tax: £90
• Household bills: £100
• Subscriptions: £180 (majority of this is donations to a few charities)
• Gym + activities: £50 for gym and £48 for adult gymnastics
• Fuel: £100
• Investments: £300
• Savings: £500
• Groceries: £200
• Eyebrows: £20
• Eating out: £100 (love going for coffees but hate spending on expensive dinners! Much rather make the food at home)
• Shopping: £150 (I tend to buy as much as I can second hand for the house or clothing items I need, really enjoy the treasure hunting at charity shops)
• Travel pot: £400 (I prefer putting money towards travel than eating out, any extra money from shopping usually goes straight into my travel pot)

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Amount left each month after essentials (to spend, save or invest): £800 (allocated above)

Dependents (if any): None

My Relationship with Money

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

‍I was never sat down and taught about savings nor the real value of money. I often watched my mom sit down at the beginning of each month to plan her budget.

I can remember looking at the number of entries she had and would always amaze me that adults have so many things to pay for - there I realised that running a household comes with many many costs but not really ways to handle your money.

My gran has always been a big saver, and although she's had good habits all her life - I do think her money has depreciated as it was never growing in her savings account.

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

During university I started baby sitting and au pairing. I like the idea of having my own money. This was all used to buy extra things I needed but I wish I had started investing with it.

Did you worry about money growing up?‍

A little. I grew up quite well off. Always got what I needed, always got high quality items. There was a point in high school where we had some money issues, we really had to cut back and some of my school fees had to be paid late.

I didn't like how things were more than fine and next thing we were struggling. That was a short period but it really stayed with me. Why were we living well and large and not rather buying middle range items and saving for a rainy day.

I never understood that and wish I grew up shopping at average shops and taught to keep the surplus for rocky times.

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

I would say 25. But I only started building my safety net 1 year ago all thanks to FI. I want to build more of an emergency fund, after depleting it to pay off the car. I enjoy investing money and thinking about my retired self more than you could ever imagine.

Do you worry about money now?‍

I do. I had a very late start to investing. I wish I started earlier. But I am so grateful I am money aware. My financial literacy is honestly 10/10 after I got my FI subscription.

I'm looking to work up the corporate ladder to increase my salary, not to earn more money but to live the same way and save/invest all the extra money.

What is your biggest money regret?‍

Not getting used to allocating a portion of my salary to investing.

What financial goals are you working towards?‍

Investing/saving 30% of salary each month.
Once emergency fund is back to a healthy number, I want to build up my house deposit. I like the freedom of renting but it's time to settle! I'm aiming for a £20k house deposit so I have some work to do!

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

I have a friend that would save 50% of her salary each month. I could never understand it. She would barely travel and live. While I love putting as much money as I can to travel. I've learned a lot from her to live minimally, and also am gobsmacked at how much savings she has. While 50% of savings is excessive, I do aspire to save a greater percentage of my salary.

‍Reflections on My Spending Habits:‍

WFH definitely saves me on transport so I allow myself a treat every now and then. This was the start of the year so needed a few new things but I usually cringe spending £50 on a single item!

I always feel like I don't spend much money on groceries (Lidl shop on a Sunday) but need to bare in mind the top up shops I do during the week at Waitrose and M&S!

‍What I Spent in a Week

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Day 1 – Monday: £20.60
Parking: £2
Coffee + pastry or two: £13.60
B&Q: £5 (Paint brush for upcycling!)

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Day 2 – Tuesday: £57.00
Waitrose: £9 (Milk and lunch for WFH day)
Gym classes: £48

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Day 3 – Wednesday: £8.60
Post office: £8.60 (Shipping for gift to friend)

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Day 4 – Thursday: £66.00
Waitrose: £18 (Top up shop)
Vinted: £48 (bought second hand running vest)

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Day 5 – Friday: £29.00
Odeon: £20 for movie and snacks
Phyllis Tuckwell: £9 (bought frames to upcycle)
All days were WFH this week

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Day 6 – Saturday: £119.20
Health shop: £25 (bought supplements VitD and Omega 3)
M&S: £14 (things for dinner)
ProCook: £55 Bought a stainless steel pan
Gails: £7.20
Lunch: £18

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Day 7 – Sunday: £79.50
IKEA: £33 (New year new me, need to organise my life)
Farm shop: £8
Lidl: £38.50 (Groceries for week)

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Total Weekly Spend: £380

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