What I Spent This Week as a Sustainability Manager Making $86,260 a Year

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: 54

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Current Salary: *$86,260 annually

Savings: $35,940 in a high-yield savings account

Debt: $172,320 mortgage on my apartment

Assets:

• $69,800 in index funds and ETFs
• $20,503 in a private pension fund

Monthly Income (after tax): $4,460

Dependents: One adult daughter (21), currently studying

Household status: Divorced

*Note: this member earns and spends in Danish kroner, but we’ve converted this to USD for you.

Money Mindset & Financial Journey

Did your parents educate you around money?

My mother did, in her own understated way. She was the kind of woman who kept receipts in a biscuit tin and wrote down every single household expense. She didn’t teach me how to invest, but she did teach me how to live within my means and be independent.

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

I worked weekend shifts at a bakery when I was 15. My best friend worked at the same bakery and got me the job, so we had a blast working together! I started working mostly for the money so I’d have the freedom to buy things I wanted, but also to get out of the house and socialize.

Did you worry about money growing up?

Not really. We were comfortable, but we weren’t flashy. My mum reused yoghurt containers for leftovers and refused to throw out socks with holes. I’ve inherited some of that frugality (for better or worse!).

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself?

I moved out when I started university. I had a job next to my studies with the SU (government support for everyone studying) but I also had to take on a smaller student loan. I moved into a tiny sublet in Nørrebro and lived off rye bread, instant coffee, and sheer ambition. Those first few years of working life were a constant balancing act, covering rent, stretching every paycheck, and still finding enough left over for a Friday beer with friends.

Do you worry about money now?

I think about retirement more than I used to and I’m aware that it’s creeping up, but I don’t panic. I’ve built a financial life that gives me choice. That’s my definition of wealth, the ability to say no without fear.

What is your biggest money regret?

Taking out a 10-year car loan in my 30s for a car didn’t really need. It felt like a grown-up decision at the time, a symbol of success. But I lived in Copenhagen. A bike and a monthly train pass would’ve done the job, and I could’ve invested the rest instead.

What financial goals are you working towards?

Short term: saving for a sabbatical. I want six months off in the next five years to slow down and explore other interests.

Long term: ensuring my pension will allow me to retire at 62 with options, not obligations.

Who is your role model and why?

She’s a Danish designer I’ve followed quietly for years. Not a household name, but someone who makes sustainability feel aspirational without ever sounding self-righteous. And she still shows up every week to teach workshops to refugee women in her industry. That’s the kind of legacy I admire.

Reflections on My Spending

A fairly typical week for me, with a couple of splurges that felt worth it. I bought a travel yoga mat I didn’t technically need (but I’m genuinely excited about it). And once a month, one of my dearest friends and I treat ourselves to a fancy dinner, which was a wonderful evening of oysters and laughter (and completely worth it). I also had an automatic $720 investment go out of my account - something I’d almost forgotten about, and honestly, I love that. Young me would be so proud of the financial systems I’ve put in place. My 21-year-old daughter came home for the weekend too, which meant a few extra café stops. She moved to Aarhus to study, and we had a great conversation about student loans. I’m trying to guide her to set up a budget.

What I Spent in a Week

Day 1 – Monday: $69

• Monthly metro card renewal: $60
• Coffee and cinnamon bun: $9

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Day 2 – Tuesday: $145

• Weekly grocery shop: $115
• Mobile plan for my daughter: $30

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Day 3 – Wednesday: $0

• No-spend day: worked from home and batch-cooked.

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Day 4 – Thursday: $845

• Travel yoga mat: $53
• Monthly index fund auto-contribution: $720
• Electricity bill: $72

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Day 5 – Friday: $172

• Dinner out with a close friend: $136
• Taxi home: $36

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Day 6 – Saturday: $51

• Browsing at a secondhand bookshop: $30
• Croissants and oat lattes with my daughter (who was home for the weekend): $21

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Day 7 – Sunday: $70

• Sauna and steam session: $63
• Smoothie and turmeric shot: $9

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Total Weekly Spend: $1,352