21/2/26
What I Spent This Week as a Project Engineer Making $68k
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): £3,200 ($4,352)
Do you share expenses with someone? Yes
Household Income (if shared): £100,000 ($136,000)
What is your overall monthly budget?
- Rent and home bills are shared with partner, my share is: Rent: £900 ($1,224) Council tax: £90 ($122)
- Household bills: £100 ($136)
- Subscriptions: £180 $245) (majority of this is donations to a few charities)
- Gym + activities: £50 ($68) for gym and £48 ($65) for adult gymnastics
- Fuel: £100 ($136)
- Investments: £300 ($408)
- Savings: £500 ($680)
- Groceries: £200 ($272)
- Eyebrows: £20 ($27)
- Eating out: £100 ($136) (love going for coffees but hate spending on expensive dinners! Much rather make the food at home)
- Shopping: £150 ($204) (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 $544) (I prefer putting money towards travel than eating out, any extra money from shopping usually goes straight into my travel pot)
Amount left each month after essentials (to spend, save or invest): £800 ($1,088) (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 ($27,200) 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 ($68) 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
Day 1 – Monday: £20.60 ($28)
Parking: £2 ($3)
Coffee + pastry or two: £13.60 ($18)
B&Q: £5 ($7) (Paint brush for upcycling!)
Day 2 – Tuesday: £57.00 ($78)
Waitrose: £9 ($12) (Milk and lunch for WFH day)
Gym classes: £48 ($65)
Day 3 – Wednesday: £8.60 ($12)
Post office: £8.60 ($12) (Shipping for gift to friend)
Day 4 – Thursday: £66.00 ($90)
Waitrose: £18 ($24) (Top up shop)
Vinted: £48 ($65) (bought second hand running vest)
Day 5 – Friday: £29.00 ($39)
Odeon: £20 ($27) for movie and snacks
Phyllis Tuckwell: £9 ($12) (bought frames to upcycle)
All days were WFH this week
Day 6 – Saturday: £119.20 ($162)
Health shop: £25 ($34) (bought supplements VitD and Omega 3)
M&S: £14 ($19) (things for dinner)
ProCook: £55 ($75) Bought a stainless steel pan
Gails: £7.20 ($10)
Lunch: £18 ($24)
Day 7 – Sunday: £79.50 ($108)
IKEA: £33 ($45) (New year new me, need to organise my life)
Farm shop: £8 ($11)
Lidl: £38.50 ($52) (Groceries for week)
Total Weekly Spend: £380 ($517)
