What I Spent This Week as an Executive Assistant Making $56K

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): €3,250 ($3,770) (including holiday pay - 8% in the Netherlands of your annual salary; in my company we receive a part of every month with our salary, other companies pay sometimes once a year. I also have 30% ruling as an expat).

Do you share expenses with someone? Yes, my boyfriend.

Household Income (if shared): Around €110,000 ($127,600) gross per year (my boyfriend has a 13th month pay in December and also some extra bonuses at the end of the year).

What is your overall monthly budget?

• ‍Rent / Mortgage: €340 ($394) I live in my boyfriend’s apartment, but he has a mortgage and because we have a "samenlevingscontract” (a contact in the Netherlands that you can sign when you start living together) I pay like 1/4 of the mortgage. ‍
• Bills, Subscriptions & Utilities: €214 ($248) water, gas, electricity, waste, municipality taxes‍
• Insurance + health insurance (mandatory in the Netherlands): €160 ($186)‍
• Telephone: €16 ($19)‍
• Subscriptions: €170 ($197) iCloud, Spotify, Parfumado, Pilates classes‍
• Groceries & Essentials: €400 ($464) I have free lunch at work. ‍
• Investment Contributions: €475 ($551)‍
• Transport: €40 ($46) I have a mobility card from my work, so when commuting to the office my costs are covered; I don’t have a car right now but we are planning on buying/leasing; I walk and bike a lot.

Amount left each month after essentials (to spend, save or invest): Around €1,400 ($1,624)

Dependents (if any): No

My Relationship with Money

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

I’d say my parents taught me quite a lot about being responsible with money. They weren’t into investing, they preferred more traditional ways of saving money, like fixed-term bank deposits. Growing up, they always told me it’s important to have savings and to think carefully before spending money.

They also believed that quality matters more than just the price and sometimes it’s better to pay a bit more for something that will last longer, especially when it comes to furniture or bigger purchases.

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

Customer Service Agent with Dutch at a company that produced and sold air filters. I studied Dutch at the University and there are a lot of Dutch companies outsourcing in Poland, where I come from, and they needed somebody with the language. I started this job after my Bachelor's degree and I was simultaneously doing my Master's degree.

Did you worry about money growing up?

No.

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

I think around 23 years old but as I said, I was living with my parents, so I didn’t need to pay the rent. I moved out to other country when I was 26.

Do you worry about money now?

No.

What is your biggest money regret?

I think my biggest regret is that I used to be afraid of investing because nobody around me really talked about it. I focused mostly on saving money instead of growing it. I then started with Female Invest and met my boyfriend who invests already almost 10 years and he encouraged me. Now, we talk daily about investing and that helps a lot because it is also a sort of hobby of him so he shares a lot with me.

I also used to sometimes buy clothes on sale that I never wore (but I didn’t do it a lot) and a lot of face cosmetics because I was influenced and then never finishing the products. Now, I have a minimal routine and my face was never in a better condition. I also chose to go every 6 weeks to the beautician for a facial.

What financial goals are you working towards?

I would like to work only 32h when I turn 30 and stop working full-time job when I am 50.

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

I think my boyfriend. I know that it sounds cliché but I as I said, I really learn a lot from him and he makes me remember my financial goals.

Reflections on My Spending Habits:

Looking back at this week, I think I was quite mindful with my spending. I try to think before buying things and avoid unnecessary purchases, but at the same time I don’t mind spending more on things that are good quality or make my daily life easier, for example Pilates classes or the face cleanser that works for my skin (I could use a cheaper one, but I am happy with this one and it works). I’m still learning to find a healthy balance between saving money and enjoying it.

What I Spent in a Week

Day 1: Monday - €288 ($334)
€149 ($173) — Health Insurance
€12 ($14) — Train + metro
€127 ($147) — Reformer Pilates subscription‍

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Day 2: Tuesday - €93 ($108)
€17 ($20) — Groceries
€70 ($81) — Gel nails at a nail bar
€6 ($7) — Matcha while waiting on the delayed train

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Day 3: Wednesday - €27.5 ($32)
€2.5 ($3) — Croissant
€25 ($29) — Hair heat protectant‍

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Day 4: Thursday - €21 ($24)
€11 ($13) — Train + metro
€10 ($12) — Groceries‍

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Day 5: Friday - €43.50 ($50)
€3.50 ($4) — Ice cream with colleagues during lunch break
€40 ($46) — Sip & Paint painting session for my friend’s birthday

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Day 6: Saturday - €316 ($367)
€36 ($42) — Face cleanser butter (200 ml), because mine was finished
€2.20 ($3) — Raspberries at a bazaar
€53.30 ($62) — Groceries for a couple of days
€224.50 ($260) — Flights to Mallorca for holidays‍

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Day 7: Sunday - €0 ($0)
Nothing :) I was at home the whole day, walking and doing some sports and didn’t do any online shopping

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Total Weekly Spend: €789 ($915)

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