Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last penny.
This week: “I’m a 25-year-old working in food and living in central Scotland. Financially, the last few years have been quite varied and there’s always been uncertainty/a bit of money stress. I’ve done a few different jobs in the last few years and bought a flat with my partner last year, which took a lot of time and expense. My hope this year is that now I’ve got fewer expenses and life changes coming up, I can be a bit more settled in my job and enjoy my money a bit more. I’m hoping to take some trips at home and abroad and generally have more time to enjoy myself, while not going crazy and still putting a bit of money aside for the future.”
Occupation: Technologist
Industry: Food
Age: 25
Location: Central Scotland
Salary: £34,500
Paycheque amount: £2,153.37
Number of housemates: One: my boyfriend.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £1,080 mortgage (split equally between boyfriend and me).
Loan payments: £30 sofa, £40 student loan.
Savings? £1,500 in a joint account. I recently paid off a (free) overdraft using savings so that’s why I don’t have any personal savings at the moment but I try to save £350/month personally.
Pension? I pay 7% and the company pays 5%. I have a few thousand across a few accounts.
Utilities: £100 gas/electric, £22 wi-fi, £70.50 council tax.
All other monthly payments: £7.99 phone, £40 pole classes, £1.99 Google storage, £14.99 Spotify (split). Subscriptions: £30 gym membership, £10.99 Netflix.
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
I did an undergraduate degree at a Scottish university so the fees were covered. I took out the maximum student loan/bursary, which was £475-£625 per month during the degree. I worked part-time for spending money in bars and my parents gave me £100 a month, which was a great help.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
I don’t think there was much talk about money — or maybe I just didn’t ask! I often noticed when my friends went out that they were much happier to spend and that they’d turn up with a few £20 notes that had been given to them. My mum would always get me a little present or treat when she went away, even if it was just something like the Biscoff off her coffee (this was and still is a great gift). Looking at it with an adult perspective, I think we were firmly middle class. As an adult I have friends who had far more growing up and friends who had far less.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house?
I moved out at 18 to go to uni. I moved back in for around two months during COVID, and also lived at my boyfriend’s childhood home multiple times for a few months during summers/after graduating.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
I would say I became semi-financially responsible for myself during uni but not entirely as I had loan payments and also received some money from my parents. I became totally financially responsible for myself at 21 after I graduated and got my first job. I wouldn’t say I’m financially reliant on anyone else but my finances are pretty intermingled with my boyfriend’s and a lot of payments are built on the assumption that they are paid jointly, although we have factored in that this may not always be the case.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I started out selling cakes and cleaning on a campsite but my first official job (where I received a paycheque) was at a local restaurant the summer I left school. I wanted some spending money and to have a bit of independence to pay for fuel for driving, clothes etc.
Do you worry about money now?
A bit. I do feel like sometimes I spend too much and treat myself when I should be saving but I enjoy doing nice things, treating friends to a drink etc. Lots of fun things involve spending money! I am trying to be more conscious of money though and to put a bit more into savings while still having a fun time. I think buying clothes I don’t really love and purchases to cheer myself up that I only use once or twice may be the offenders here. I’m not worried but feel quite conflicted on whether to start focusing on paying off my student loan or whether to keep paying the minimum. I’m quite happy with my salary but even now I am still not making payments above interest so I do find that quite disheartening when I look at it.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
When my boyfriend and I bought our flat we both had Help To Buy ISAs so we received 25% from the government on top of what we had saved to purchase our flat — around £2,100 for me. I also recently inherited £10,000 and was gifted around £4,000 of shares in a renewable energy company.
7:30 a.m. — In the office today so I buy a return train ticket for £12. I pack a yoghurt and blueberries and raspberries for breakfast with oats. I eat this on the journey, do my Duolingo and browse the news a bit.
8:30 a.m. — Arrive at the office. I had Friday off so it takes me a bit to catch up.
12:30 p.m. — I go to the gym and do some legs during my lunch break. I’ve been trying to make the most of my membership by fitting in a few lunchtime sessions a week. Potter around on the machines until I need to be back in the office.
1:30 p.m. — Once I’m back it’s more work and some meetings.
3 p.m. — Cake time!
5 p.m. — Head home. I’m on this train until just after 6 p.m. so I generally do my Duolingo, watch reels and veg out.
6:30 p.m. — My boyfriend and I normally try and run together on a Monday but I am feeling quite knackered (don’t go to bed at 4 a.m. on a Saturday and expect to recover your sleep in one day!). We bin this off and instead make a good effort (I provide moral support) to put up a light that we have been putting off doing for ages. The proof of the pudding is in the eating so we pop to the local Tesco to buy four bulbs. We only see the smart bulbs at first and almost cry at the thought of paying £25 for two bulbs that we don’t even want. Eventually we find the normal ones for £7.75.
8 p.m. — It works! I’m very happy with our night’s work. We get a quick dinner of pasta and veggies.
10:30 p.m. — Get into bed. I am knackered!
Total: £19.75
7:30 a.m. — Sleep a little late today in an attempt to catch up. Tidy up the flat for about an hour, eat a bit of granola then pop out on a run. I recently discovered eating before a run and OMG. It is actually kind of a game-changer? I run 5.5k, which is pretty good for me, and get my second best time. A good start to the day!
8:30 a.m. — Home, showered and start my workday by 9 a.m.
12 p.m. — Get a smallish shop delivered. I like doing this while I WFH and to be honest I do not miss stocking up in a physical shop. Aware this is a bit bougie. £30.27 for my half.
5 p.m. — Go round to B&Q and Dunelm to look at lights. We almost pull the trigger on one for around £150 but can’t agree between it and another one. Fuel up the car while we’re out, £25 for my half.
7:10 p.m. — Go to a dance class at a pole studio I go to. I bought a block this month for four sessions as I’ve not been consistent and I am trying to get back into it. Works out at £10 for a session and I have a lot of fun!
10:30 p.m. — Head to bed.
Total: £55.27
6:10 a.m. — Time to wake up. Do mornings ever get easier? Pull myself out of bed and go for a run. I’ve been doing a part-time uni course and the exam is tomorrow and I very much need to do a lot of work on it. The sign-up was free so I’ve not been very dedicated. I want to do some revision in my work break so I am running before work today. I get in a few kilometres so pretty happy!
7:30 a.m. — Usual return ticket for the train to work, £12. Eat my breakfast, which is yoghurt (made using my EasiYo yoghurt-maker, which I am not sure about) and oats and raspberries. Also scran a banana before I leave.
9 a.m. — In the office and time to get some work done. The morning goes relatively quickly, clearing up some jobs.
11 a.m. — I am hungry again.
12 p.m. — Lunchtime walk. Pop into the gym purely to refill my bottle. When I get back it is another cake day!
5 p.m. — Home time. We head to eat dinner at my boyfriend’s mum’s tonight. Going to hers for food and TV is always great weeknight fun. Unfortunately I may have to do some work on the uni course I have been doing but I can’t really complain, especially as it’s my own fault entirely for leaving it to the last minute.
10:30 p.m. — Bedtime.
Total: £12
7 a.m. — Up this morning and begin by doing the chores I need to do: ironing and washing (one of my least favourite chores and somehow seems to be the one I do the most?). I do enjoy the mornings when I WFH and have time to get everything done early.
8 a.m. — I intended to fit in a longer run today but I manage a small 2k and some home upper body weights so I’m not running late to work. Breakfast is some old potatoes and veg I need to use up, chucked onto toast with a fried egg.
9 a.m. — Work time. I’m taking half a day off for my exam later. It is not too busy so I catch up on reviewing some documents.
12:30 p.m. — I switch to uni work, then take a walk.
2:30 p.m. — Time to get this exam done. It is definitely not my finest work but it goes by quickly. I answer all the questions and submit after a couple of hours. I just hope I pass!
4:30 p.m. — We have a wedding next week and my boyfriend’s got a new kilt and jacket for it so we go to pick them up. It is about a 45-minute drive but running errands on a sunny day is one of the finer things in life.
5 p.m. — Book in two more classes at the pole studio for next week. This is already paid for with my package.
7 p.m. — I do not feel like cooking and the idea of Wetherspoons is suggested (by me). Very cheeky for a weeknight. We go and I get a small vegetarian all-day brunch (I’ve been vaguely trying to cut down on meat) and my boyfriend has a pepperoni pizza. He pays for the food and the first round of drinks.
8:30 p.m. — We then get two more rounds of pints and two cocktail pitchers. This was meant to be split but I accidentally pay on my card. I tell him he can make this up by paying when we go out for dinner and drinks tomorrow, £24.16.
9 p.m. — When we get home I make a snack consisting of roast potatoes and veg and sit and drink some glasses of water.
10:30 p.m. — I get to bed and my boyfriend stays up a bit later to play games.
Total: £24.16
6:30 a.m. — Mornings are hard but at least it is Friday. Get up and make my breakfast to take on the train: yoghurt, oats, protein powder and blueberries. I was going to go for a run this morning but yeah…no. I faff about a lot deciding on a day-to-night outfit as I will be going straight from the office to the pub. I want to dress nicely but appropriately for the office and settle on a skirt and matching jacket. I take an alternative and a different top, which I may change into. Also take my favourite accessory, a pink T-rex purse, for the evening. I am vaguely concerned I look like a clown. Spend £12 for the usual train.
12:30 p.m. — Lunchtime. Pop out and get some baby corn, hummus and strawberries to go with my Pot Noodle. I want a coffee but I’m trying to hold out for an espresso martini this evening, £4.75.
5 p.m. — Finish work! I am going out for dinner and drinks with some friends and my boyfriend tonight and as everyone will trickle in at a different time I head to the pub. My boyfriend arrives about 20 minutes later and we have a couple of rounds while we wait, £6.14 for my half.
7 p.m. — We head out for dinner. It is very nice and we have a few (buckets of) cocktails. We put it on our card but everyone pays us back. My share comes to £40 for food and drinks.
8:30 p.m. — We head to another pub and grab a few more rounds (boyfriend pays) but the music is too loud to chat, which is a personal hate of mine. We eventually decide to head down the road to another pub. It is a very nice vibe and we can actually talk! Our friend buys us all some shots and I put through a round for us and a friend, £17.20.
10:30 p.m. — I am very glad we moved! We enjoy the rest of the night and get the train home. My boyfriend and I head to a local pub once we get back and grab a few more drinks since it’s Friday (he pays). Needless to say, it is late by the time we get home and to bed…
Total: £80.09
11 a.m. — Good (late) morning! Very happy that I’ve managed to avoid a hangover today. Spend time tidying up the flat and getting dressed before heading out.
12:30 p.m. — There’s a local market so I buy some fish and some brownies for a Saturday treat, then go to the butcher’s for sausage rolls and steak to eat later, £26.57 for my half.
1:30 p.m. — I head to browse the charity shops. I have a favourite shop and the offering is good today. I spend a lot of time debating but come away with a blue jumpsuit and a puff-sleeve denim top/dress. I don’t know if it’s intended as a top or a dress but I am quite short and it’s a short dress on me. So is it a top for average height people? Or is it a dress that’s intended to show a bit of bum? It will remain a mystery, £33.50.
5 p.m. — Spend the rest of the day enjoying the weekend and eating the brownies. I continue tidying up and generally laze around until bedtime as I’m quite knackered from our late night.
10 p.m. — Sleep.
Total: £60.07
9 a.m. — The last day of the weekend is here. My boyfriend decided to buy Baldur’s Gate 3 so we begin playing (it is worth the hype).
11 a.m. — I have a lot of things on my to-do list today: visit a local country park with a farm, do some gardening, make cheese and book a holiday. We achieve the first two (I always plan in more than we actually do). I enjoy some time in my garden, planting seeds while drinking prosecco.
6 p.m. — After a lot of hours of video games, we are hungry. We decide to have the steak I bought yesterday with chips and peas for dinner. I pop out to Morrisons to get the chips, and pick up a bottle of red wine and cheesecake for dessert, £7 for my half.
7 p.m. — I get home and put on the chips. While they are cooking I trim my boyfriend’s beard. Afterwards I put on the steaks. I manage to do them medium rare and they are very good (I think they needed to be a little more rare but I chickened out). I make a red wine jus and feel very fancy. I also drink some of the wine.
8 p.m. — After dinner we tell ourselves we’ll go to bed early and book a trip. This does not happen because we play video games until 11 p.m. I will be tired tomorrow but the game is good. I can never seem to get to bed early on a Sunday because I don’t want to admit the weekend is ending.
11:30 p.m. — Sleep.
Total: £7
“It’s interesting to see this totalled up. This week was probably slightly higher than normal as we don’t usually go out for dinner and drinks twice every week (though it’s not unheard of). I think I will try to cut down a small amount of spending as I know that if I do this every week, it will make a big difference, and I think I’ll still be enjoying myself. I’m not at all surprised that food and drink is the main thing I spend on as especially over the colder months, this is mainly how I socialise.”
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