What I Spent This Week as a Programme Director Making $196k

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): £5,485 ($7,198)

‍Household Income: £11,000 ($14,435)

‍Do you share expenses with someone? Yes

‍Dependents: 1‍

Fixed monthly costs (your share only):

• Mortgage: £1,660 ($2,178)
• Bills, Subscriptions & Utilities: £200 ($262)
• Transport: £400 ($525)
• Groceries & Essentials: £500 ($656)
• Travel: £1,000 ($1,312)
• Investment contributions: £1,325 ($1,738)
• Pension contributions: £4,250 ($5,576)

Trying to keep annual income below the £100k ($131k) limit to avoid the ‘60%’ tax trap, so a lot goes into my pension contributions every month! Generally quite frugal with spending and always trying to keep my savings (including pension) above 50%.

Amount left each month after essentials (to spend, save or invest): Usually about £400 ($525) for eating out, buying clothes, make up, skincare etc. which is not a lot, but I am quite frugal and don’t wear a lot of make up and never ever get my nails done or anything like that… Travel, however, is definitely where I spend the majority of my “wants”!

My Relationship with Money

Did your parents or guardians educate you around money?‍

‍Yes, I was always told to never get into debt and to pay off the mortgage as soon as possible! I’ve since realised that I don’t think this is always the wisest option — I think I wasted the years of low mortgage interest rates by overpaying my mortgage to try and pay it off as quickly as I could, when I should have invested the money instead!

What was your first job and why did you get it?
‍I was a chemical engineer. It was what I studied because I was good at STEM subjects and didn’t really know what else to do — this sounded cool

Did you worry about money growing up?
‍Yes, in my 20s trying to save up for a house and then having a baby at 24 when I wasn’t financially (or mentally, for that matter) ready was really difficult. However, luckily I had a boy and he doesn’t cost as much to raise as girls! Now that he is in his teens and I am in my 30s, I am reaping the rewards, as early retirement is definitely in sight!

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself, and do you have a financial safety net?
‍23, but my parents had always been there as a safety net that I could rely on if I was really stuck.

Do you worry about money now?
‍I know that I have more than enough income, but I do worry that I am spending too much because I’d rather be saving it.

‍What is your biggest money regret?
Overpaying my mortgage during record low mortgage rates.

What financial goals are you working towards?
We’re working towards financial independence and early retirement. My goal is to have $1.5M in assets by the time I’m 45, so I can quit work and travel full time!

Who is your financial role model and why?‍
‍I don’t think I have one! I’m always educating myself by listening to a lot of different people, looking at different options, but ultimately making my own decisions and doing what’s right for me.

Reflections on my Spending

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I am quite frugal! I only buy what is necessary and usually at a discount. We don’t eat out too often, and when we do it’s usually to meet friends — and we try to keep costs low all the time. It doesn’t matter how much my income is, I save and invest as much as I can to achieve my goal of early retirement!

What I Spent in a Week

Day 1 – Monday: £77 ($101)
• Energy bill: £77 ($101) (my 50% share)
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We pay £154 ($202) a month for a 4BR semi-detached with 3 people and an electric car. Night rate of 8p between 12–5 makes car charging really cheap. I’m also lucky though that I get free car charging at work, so I literally only turn up to the office once a week to charge the car 😆

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Day 2 – Tuesday: £0 ($0)
Nothing!!! I went to work today, but we share one car. Luckily my partner and I don’t work too far apart, as he works on-site so he has to go in every day. We both bring lunch to work, so zero spending today.

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Day 3 – Wednesday: £190.85 ($249.60)
• Bread Ahead Baking Class for 2 people: £152 ($199)
• Hush Puppies: £30 ($39)
• Marks & Spencer: £8.85 ($11.60)

It’s school summer holidays and we don’t have any holidays booked, so I’m going to do a few day activities with my 15-year-old. This is booking ahead for next month.
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Summer holidays also mean new uniforms for my son. Hush Puppies had a sale on for black leather shoes, purchased online at 50% off — I hope they fit!
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Top-up groceries, I usually walk to my local M&S in search of yellow stickers! We found discounted sausages for the freezer and treated ourselves to discounted apple turnovers for dessert, as well as some veggies that we needed for dinner.

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Day 4 – Thursday: £27.60 ($36.20)
• Boots: £6.10 ($8.00)
• 12kg duck food: £21.50 ($28.20)

My son needed some new Lynx deodorants and hairspray — sale price again for both items.
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We have a local pond with loads of ducks and geese (last count was up to 50!), so we buy a huge bag of feed (much better value than buying small ones) and go for a walk to feed them 2–3 times a week.

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Day 5 – Friday: £1,780 ($2,334)
• Mortgage: £1,664 ($2,182)
• Gym membership: £54 ($70.80)
• Dental plan: £14,50 ($15.70)
• Vet plan: £14.50 ($19)
• Dinner out: £35.50 ($46.50)

The 1st of the month is when a few of my monthly bills go out, so today is a big outgoing day. The mortgage payment is 100% my responsibility, as I own the house that my partner, my son and I live in. We share bills 50/50.

Gym membership at my local leisure centre, which is actually quite economical — we go about 5 times a week to use the gym, do fitness classes and play badminton.

I choose to spread out the cost of my annual dental visits and for my cat’s vet checkups, vaccines and flea/worm treatments throughout the year. This way it’s not a big one-off cost, and it makes me go do them because I’ve paid for them!

Went to Lebnani Restaurant in Reigate to meet a friend. Drove there, free parking, and kept the bill low by not drinking alcohol! Luckily we’re not big drinkers, so I waited until I got home for an alcoholic beverage — so much cheaper that way!

Day 6 – Saturday: £43.30 ($56.60)
• Return train ticket to London: £13.80 ($18)
• Lunch at Maltby Street Market: £14.50 ($19)
• Pancakes and coffee: £15 ($19.60)

My partner and I went for a day out in London. We walked all over town, stopped for lunch at a market and did some window shopping — didn’t buy anything though! We try to do free activities where we can, so today we went up to Horizon 22, a free viewing platform in London (must be booked in advance).

All in all, quite a cheap day out — we got lots of steps in and had quite a bit of fun!

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Day 7 – Sunday: £76.20 ($99.80)

• Weekly grocery shop: £76.20 ($99.80)

Gym and badminton were our activity today and we ate in since we already went out yesterday.Chilled in our garden!

Total Weekly Spend: £2,194.95 ($2,877.20)

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