30/10/25
What I Spent This Week in Tech Sales Making £65k
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.
Monthly Take-Home Pay (after tax): €4,500 (£3,911)
Do you share expenses with someone? No
Dependents: None
Fixed monthly costs (~€2,300 [£2,000]/ 51%):
- Mortgage: €1,400 (£1,216)
- Private health insurance: €400 (£347)
- Utilities, internet, phone: ~€200 (£173)
- Other insurances / admin fees: ~€150 (£130)
Variable needs (~€900 [£347]/ 20%):
- Groceries: ~€500 (£434)
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses (consultations, physio, pharmacy): ~€400 (£347)
- Transport (public + occasional taxis/Uber): ~€150 (£130)
Wants / Lifestyle (~€600 [£433]/ 13%):
- Restaurants, coffee, brunches: ~€250 (£217)
- Social activities / leisure: ~€150 (£130)
- Clothing, small purchases: ~€200 (£173)
Amount left each month after essentials:
Future Me (~€700 [£607]/ 16%)
- Savings & cash reserve: ~€300 (£260)
- Investments (financial + toward property project): ~€400 (£347)
My Relationship with Money
Did your parents or guardians educate you around money?
In a way, yes, but more through contrast than formal lessons. One parent was very much a spender: spending freely, enjoying life in the moment. The other was a saver: frugal, cautious, always saving.
Growing up between those two extremes taught me that money is both a tool for enjoying life and something you must protect. But when it came to investing or planning long term, I had to teach myself.
What was your first job – and why did you get it?
My first job was as an admin assistant in a museum. It was a temporary contract, but it felt like a big step - I had stability for the first time, and I learned what it meant to receive a salary of my own.
Standing in the galleries, I wasn’t just looking after the art; I was learning responsibility and what it meant to be financially independent.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes, in the background. I knew there were limits and that we didn’t have abundance. But the real weight of financial worry came later, when I moved abroad and had to cover everything alone - rent, health costs, and all the admin that comes with living in another country without family support.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself?
Officially, at 22, when I finished my studies and started working.
I have my own apartment, my own salary, and I’ve been working for more than 15 years now.
But to be honest, I’ve never really felt fully “financially responsible.” Even with steady work, I’ve always felt like I’m just one step away from precariousness, like stability could disappear overnight.
So on paper I’ve been independent for a long time, but emotionally it still feels fragile.
Do you worry about money now?
Yes, but in a structural way. It’s not about small daily expenses. It’s about big questions: How do I balance heavy health costs with saving? How do I keep enough liquidity while managing a large mortgage? What happens if my job situation changes suddenly?
My worries today are about resilience and protecting myself against shocks.
What is your biggest money regret?
Not buying an apartment when interest rates were at historic lows. Ten years ago, I could have done it, and again a few years later when conditions were still favorable. Twice, I let the opportunity pass. It wasn’t just hesitation - I had mental barriers, doubts, and a lack of confidence that stopped me.
I told myself I wasn’t ready, that it was too risky.
Looking back, I see how much stability I lost by waiting.
What financial goals are you working towards?
Short term: Stay liquid while covering medical and living costs, and complete my rehabilitation without adding debt.
Long term: Grow my real estate investment into steady passive income, reach at least €250,000 (£217,574) in assets before age 45, and create lasting financial independence beyond my salary.
Who is your financial role model?
Honestly, any independent woman who rebuilds after life knocks her down.
Divorce, illness, job loss - whatever the challenge, I admire the resilience of women who start again and create a life on their own terms. That’s the kind of strength I aspire to.
Reflections on my Spending
This week underlines the obvious: healthcare is my largest expense category. Even with insurance, out-of-pocket costs add up quickly and shape how I spend on everything else.
Social spending is more modest now, not because I don’t enjoy it, but because my priorities have shifted.
Health, savings, and stability come first.
Taking on a €300,000 (£260,729) mortgage has changed my perspective. It feels like a heavy responsibility, but it’s also a long-term commitment to financial growth. It keeps me disciplined and future-focused.
My biggest lesson so far: liquidity equals freedom. Every euro I keep accessible today is a layer of protection for tomorrow - for my health, my career, and my independence.
What I Spent in a Week
Day 1 – Monday: €92 (£80.77)
• Specialist medical appointment (partially unreimbursed): €65 (£56.49)
• Groceries: €27 (£23.46)
Day 2 – Tuesday: €38 (£33.03)
• Transport to appointments: €18 (£15.64)
• Quick lunch: €20 (£17.38)
Day 3 – Wednesday: €0 (£0)
• Stayed home, cooked with what I had.
Day 4 – Thursday: €76 (£66.05)
• Physiotherapy & therapeutic massage: €60 (£52.15)
• Coffee & snack while out: €16 (£13.90)
Day 5 – Friday: €42 (£36.50)
• Lunch with a friend: €22 (£19.12)
• Grocery top-up: €20 (£17.38)
Day 6 – Saturday: €54 (£46.93)
• Weekend brunch: €28 (£24.35)
• Pharmacy items: €26 (£22.58)
Day 7 – Sunday: €0 (£0)
• Rest day, no spending.
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