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 26-year-old living in Sheffield with my boyfriend. We don’t have any children and at this stage we don’t think we want any. We also don’t have any pets yet, but have plans to get a cat in the future. We moved to Sheffield only three months ago and have just bought our first house here. We have really stretched our budget with our house and bought a more expensive house than I think an average first-time buyer might buy, but we both work remotely, so we wanted the extra space, and I was keen to live close to the city centre. I’m really happy to finally be on the property ladder and have my own space.
Previously, I lived at home with my parents after university, which ended up being for five years. I’m very grateful for this as it allowed me to save lots of money quite quickly and still maintain a good quality of life.
I work in developing assessments now for health and safety professionals. I have worked in the health and safety industry since graduating but love what I do now as it combines my skills well. My family and several of my friends live in my home city so I have struggled with the adjustment to moving to Sheffield, but I’m getting used to it now and I’m sure I’ll feel happier and less lonely here as time goes on!
In my spare time I like to go the gym, do classes, swimming and cycling. I also love to travel and can’t resist a cheap city break.”
Occupation: Assessment developer
Industry: Assessments
Age: 26
Location: Sheffield
Salary: £45,000
Paycheque Amount: This is a new job and I haven’t had a normal paycheque yet, but I estimate around £2,700-£2,800 ish — depending on what my student loan repayments are and how much I decide to contribute to my pension.
Number of housemates: One, my boyfriend J.
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £858.72 mortgage payment — for my half.
Loan payments: I have no outstanding debts apart from my mortgage and my student loan. I estimate I will pay about £250ish a month towards my student loans.
Pension? I have been paying into my workplace pension since I turned 22. It is currently with Aviva and worth about £9,000 ish which I know isn’t very good, but I will start building it up. Currently my employer pays 5% and I will try to match this once I have my paycheque and can review everything.
Savings? I have several savings pots within my Monzo account, these are for various things such as holidays, my car, Christmas etc — the total value of these is £3,100. I have a stocks and shares ISA, the value of this is £675 (It was higher but has dropped significantly in value recently due to global events.) I have a separate savings account with Nationwide, which sits at 6% interest, the current value of this is £1,200. I also have €3,000 euros in an Irish bank account.
Utilities: We split everything 50/50, my share is £28 water, £63 council tax, £83 gas and electric, £15 internet. I also personally pay £220 car tax and £300 car insurance annually.
All other monthly payments: £8 phone, £17 Monzo Max, £72 gym, £40 nails, £37 brows. Subscriptions: £1.59 Google storage, £10.99 Spotify, £2.40 Patreon.
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? I went to university when I was 18 to do an undergraduate degree. I then decided to stay at the same university and complete a master’s degree. I paid for these using the student loans system and now have a large student loan debt. I had a part-time job while at university to top up my maintenance loan. My parents did not give me an allowance, however, did send me money here and there and often paid for my food shopping.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money?
We had a comfortable upbringing and both of my parents worked very hard. They are from poor backgrounds but worked to give us a great upbringing and a good start in life. The attitude to money differed, my mum is very savvy with money and taught me to budget well and to allow room in my budget for the small little treats as these are important. My dad, on the other hand, often made money a pressure topic. As I got a bit older, I educated myself about investing, credit and budgets, and continue to do so.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents/guardian’s house?
I initially moved out at 18 to go to university, then moved back to my parents’ house at 22, just as my master’s was coming to an end, due to COVID. I moved out fully at 26 when I bought this house.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life?
I would say age 26 when I moved out. Up until then I lived at home rent-free and didn’t contribute anything, apart from the occasional takeaway etc. I am aware of how privileged this situation is, but my parents did not want me to pay them anything as they wanted to help me to save for my house deposit, which I did. Now that I don’t live there anymore, when I go back to visit, I make an effort to pay for things such as a lunch out, or some nice extra food bits. I am very grateful for the leg up that living at home rent free has given me.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was as a lifeguard at a swimming pool at a holiday resort on the coast. I got it because I wanted to go on holiday to Barcelona with one of my friends!
Do you worry about money now?
Yes, although I now have a good salary, I also have high outgoings. We did take on a large mortgage, which I worry about sometimes. We also have lots to buy as our house still feels empty! Overall, I think I have enough money left over to treat myself a little each month, which is important.
I think about money all the time and track all my spending via my Monzo account. I used to do this manually. I am very aware of what goes in and out of both my account and our joint account. I want to build wealth and am aware of lifestyle creep. There are of course, aspects of my life I want to and will upgrade, but I don’t want to just earn more and spend more.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income?
My parents gifted me £5,000 when I bought this house, which I’ve used to buy furniture and household appliances etc. My parents sold a house in Ireland and gifted me €3,000. I’ve not used this yet but will probably put a deposit on a car at some point.
5:45 a.m. — Wake up. J commutes to his office twice a week and leaves early. Sometimes I get out of bed and do some household tasks or go to the gym but today I just scroll on my phone.
7:30 a.m. — Finally get out of bed. Strip the sheets as it’s time for some new ones. Jump in the shower and spend time shaving as I have my laser hair removal appointment this evening.
8:50 a.m. — Make my Nespresso coffee, a hazelnut one today with coconut milk, log in for work.
10 a.m. — Make breakfast of smoked salmon and a protein bagel. J doesn’t like fish, so I often eat it for my meals when he isn’t around. As I’m eating my bridesmaid dress arrives! One of my best friends from school is getting married this year and I’m so excited, it’s my first time being a bridesmaid! I love the way the dress fits, so I text my friends to let them know.
1 p.m. — Lunchtime. I heat up last night’s chilli con carne with rice and eat at my desk as I already have plans for my lunch break.
2 p.m. — Set off on a short walk to get a Dermaplaning facial. I love getting beauty treatments, it’s one of my more extravagant areas of my spending. I paid a £10 deposit yesterday so this costs £20.
2:45 p.m. — Back at my desk. I am on the panel for some interviews for people who want to become chartered health and safety professionals. I have one interview which takes me to 4:30 p.m. This is voluntary work and not paid, but I like to give back and it’s good for my CPD.
5:20 p.m. — Head back out for my laser appointment. I get my underarms and lower legs done. This is my second session, but I’ve had laser done before and personally think it’s great, I hate shaving/waxing!
6 p.m. — Log back on to work for a little. I don’t usually do this, but I wanted to make up the time I was doing the interview for. Work is flexible for me and I am flexible for work, it’s all about balance.
7 p.m. — Cook dinner. Thai green curry tonight. J is back later than usual tonight as he has gone to a leaving drinks for a member of his team.
8 p.m. — Make chamomile tea and head to bed to watch a cartoon.
9:30 p.m. — Brush teeth, do a basic nighttime skincare routine, just cleanse and moisturise because of my dermaplaning.
10 p.m. — Sleep!
Total: £20
5:45 a.m. — Wake up. J is going to work again. He doesn’t usually go in two consecutive days in a row but as a team member is leaving, he is going to the office.
7 a.m. — Get up and start to reset the house. I love to do cleaning in the early morning when I’m home alone. I find it so satisfying.
8:45 a.m. — Jump in the shower, do my skincare and brush my teeth. Then get dressed so I’m ready for the day.
9 a.m. — Log in to work and do some emails.
9:30 a.m. — Time for coffee. I have a vanilla Nespresso pod with oat milk.
9:50 a.m. — Pop out to the dentist which is only five minutes away. I have a consultation for teeth whitening this morning. I know it’s expensive but it’s something I have wanted to do for years and it seems like there will never be a ‘good’ time, so I might as well just do it now. Decide to go ahead with my first appointment in two weeks. Pay a £50 deposit. The total cost will be £435 in total.
10:10 a.m. — On my way home, I accidentally fall into Costa and get a chai latte and a brownie, £5.52. This is not something I would usually do — I try to avoid buying coffee out routinely as I can make it at home.
10:20 a.m. — Back home, heat up a couple of protein pancakes for breakfast, and crack on with work.
1:30 p.m. — Lunchtime. Heat up the leftover Thai curry I made last night. Eat this then continue working.
3 p.m. — Have a one-to-one with my manager, which goes well. I’m pleased as this is a new job and I feel like I’m only just finding my feet.
5 p.m. — Log off from work for the day and make a start on dinner, which will be meatballs and pasta. I’m not a confident cook at all so I do my best, but it will only get better with time.
6 p.m. — I pack my bag and plan my outfits for this weekend. I’m heading home to meet my friend to do some planning for my aforementioned friend’s hen do! Excited.
6:30 p.m. — Finish tidying up from dinner and hop in the shower, at which point J comes back from work. We catch up for a bit and end up getting very distracted looking at blinds which we desperately need for our house now it’s getting so much lighter!
7:30 p.m. — We finally eat dinner while watching the Formula 1 documentary on Netflix, honestly more interesting than it sounds!
8:30 p.m. — Hot chocolate time! J got me a velvetizer from Hotel Chocolat and we absolutely love it. It’s fast becoming a bit of a nightly habit. I’m sure we’ll be less into it in the warmer months. We share the brownie I bought in Costa earlier.
10 p.m. — Time to head to bed with some chamomile tea and watch a cartoon before bed.
Total: £55.52
7 a.m. — Unfortunately, the sun wakes me up as we have no blinds. It annoys me, so I don’t wake up in the most positive mood.
7:30 a.m. — J makes us coffee to have in bed and we relax and read the news for a while. (read: we watch TikTok and Instagram reels).
8:30 a.m. — I get up and have a quick shower, do teeth, skincare and get dressed for work.
9 a.m. — Log in and start working on some edits for a paper.
9:20 a.m. — Notice the gardener has arrived, our neighbours have a gardener come every couple of weeks and we’re keen to be involved as our garden is looking a little untidy since we moved in. J goes out to talk to him and agrees we will pay him £22 every two weeks and he will look after our garden. There is nothing to pay this time as he is going to set up a standing order, so this can be sorted next time.
10 a.m. — J and I make breakfast, which consists of one fried egg and smoked salmon with a focaccia sourdough for me. J has the same but significantly more eggs, and no salmon.
1 p.m. — Break for lunch with is last night’s meatballs. I have a protein rice pudding pot for dessert, then J makes coffee and brings me a shortbread biscuit, so I eat this, too.
2 p.m. — Have a team meeting which goes well. I feel like I am starting to settle in and get to know everyone a bit better which is nice. We work fully remote, but I’ve met them in person and am going to meet them again this month for a companywide team building day. I’ve worked fully remote since September 2023 and although I love it and the freedom it allows me, I do get lonely at times.
3 p.m. — I notice we are low on loo roll and washing tablets so I order on Amazon from the joint account, £5.90 for my half.
5 p.m. — I log off from work. It’s J’s night to cook but he’s not feeling well so I help him out. We have 2% fat turkey curried mince with veg and rice, which is healthy and tasty.
6 p.m. — J and I head off for a gym and sauna session. J wants to take it easy and I can never say no to a sauna! We try to sauna three times a week after our workouts. We usually work out five times a week, although we won’t make that this week.
7 p.m. — We train in the gym for 45 mins then head down for a 20 min sauna session. I finish mine off with an ice-cold bucket of water — J skips that for today.
8 p.m. — J heats up dinner while I get my PJs on. We watch the Formula 1 documentary while eating, then have another hot choc and a few squares of chocolate.
9 p.m. — Time to order our blinds! We only get three for now to see how we get on with them. A privacy and blackout blind for our bedroom and a privacy blind for the living room. We have very big windows and these are motorised blinds, so they are pricey, but worth it I hope. We still need three more for our offices and curtains for the living room, but we can’t decide on which ones to get so we’re ordering some samples, too. We flex this cost using Monzo pay in three. I transfer J my half of the first payment, £107.
11 p.m. — It took us ages to get that sorted so we have a much later bedtime than usually. I already did my skincare at the gym so teeth and sleep by midnight.
Total: £112.90
7 a.m. — Alarm goes off. The light did wake me up but not too early so I’m less annoyed today!
8:30 a.m. — We chill in bed then get up and start work. I’m only working a half day today so no morning shower or anything. I just chuck on some clothes and do my teeth and crack on. We’re heading home back to home to our parents house’s later this afternoon.
10 a.m. — J and I have one protein pancake each as they need using up.
12 p.m. — We cook our remaining eggs and have with a crumpet, some tomatoes and a ginger shot. My mum gave us a couple of bottles of premade ginger shots last time we were home and I’m a fan.
12:30 p.m. — Log off from work and jump in the shower. I straighten my hair, do my makeup and generally make an effort, mainly because I feel like it!
1:30 p.m. — Off to get my nails done. They are so long its driving me mad! My nail tech is running behind which really isn’t ideal as I want to get on the road. These cost £40.
4 p.m. — Done and head home to pack the rest of my things. Have a quick late lunch of leftover turkey mince and rice, some rooibos tea and then get in the car to drive back. J is driving this time, yay!
6:30 p.m. — Stop at services for the loo and grab a matcha with vanilla, £5.10 for my half.
8:30 p.m. — We make it back to my parents’ house and it’s so nice to see them again. As per my request, my mum has ordered my absolute favourite takeaway in the world, our local Indian! I haven’t managed to find a better one yet in any city I go to.
10 p.m. — Have a few drinks with my parents, crème Brule liquor for me and a whiskey for J, then head to bed.
Total: £45.10
7:30 a.m. — Wake up and head downstairs to get coffee and a croissant each.
9 a.m. — Hop in the shower and get ready for the day. Skincare, makeup, straighten hair etc. J heads home back to his parents’ house to catch up with them.
9:30 a.m. — Mum and I head into the city for breakfast. I’ve booked us a table and we have avocado toast with Parma ham, a poached egg, fresh orange juice and a ginger and pear tea, all absolutely delicious. I cover the bill for this as mum and dad paid for an expensive takeaway for us last night, £33.40.
11 a.m. — Mum and I do some shopping. I get some more hot chocolate for my velvetizer on the joint account, £27.90 for my half. I also do a mini top-up shop in M&S so we have enough groceries to last us until our big food shop, £15.50.
12 p.m. — Mum and I get a coffee, which she pays for. I then pick up some clothes in M&S as I have a gift voucher from Christmas to pay for these with.
1 p.m. — Mum drops me at my friend’s house and she drives us to scope out some hen do destinations! I pay for parking, £7.10.
2 p.m. — Unfortunately, as soon as we arrive, I start to feel a UTI. I have had these before and this one is very uncomfortable. I head straight to the pharmacy and thankfully can get some antibiotics. I also get some over-the-counter meds too, £14.38.
3 p.m. — We check out lots of places and stop for a coffee and cake, £13.40. Afterwards, we head to a cocktail bar and grab a couple of drinks (well I do, R is sadly driving), £12 for two cocktails.
5 p.m. — R drops me off at J’s parents’ house and we say farewell.
6 p.m. — I catch up with J’s mum in the kitchen for a while and we have some pink prosecco. Drinking alcohol probably isn’t the most sensible but I’m not in a particularly sensible mood.
6:30 p.m. — J’s dad makes us all a cocktail, it’s called a Clarence and is really nice!
7 p.m. — We eat a delicious dinner of pulled pork, wedges and coleslaw and watch a movie that I find scary.
9 p.m. — J and I head to bed and watch a cartoon to try and relax! I do my evening skincare routine and teeth etc.
10 p.m. — Sleep after a busy day
Total: £123.68
8 a.m. — Wake up and relax for a bit in bed with J. I feel sad this morning, I’m not sure why. Maybe because we are going back to Sheffield today and I find it hard being away from my family and friends.
9 a.m. — Get it together and hop in the shower. Do morning skincare, teeth and put on a nice but comfy outfit which makes me feel better.
10 a.m. — Head downstairs and I feel even better again because J’s mum has made us bacon and eggs AND scotch pancakes — elite breakfast. I grab a coffee and eat loads.
12 p.m. — After chatting with J’s parents and brother for a bit we get our things together and head back to my parents’ house (about a 30 min drive).
2 p.m. — My parents have done us roast beef, my favourite roast, this really has been a weekend of great food! I have a small glass of red wine as J is driving.
3 p.m. — We have a dessert of homemade chocolate pudding with ice cream and mum packs us the leftovers to take away. My parents have also made us a spag bol to take back to our house. I’m very pleased and grateful as we won’t have to cook tomorrow now!
4 p.m. — After having some tea with my parents, J and I decide to get on the road.
5 p.m. — We stop at the same Starbucks, a chai for me this time, and a decaf cappuccino for J, £4.70 for my half.
7:30 p.m. — Back in Sheffield but decide to stop for a McDonald’s. I get a Philly cheese medium meal. Again, paid on the joint account, £9.29 for my half.
8 p.m. — Back home and unpack our stuff. Something has leaked somewhere in the car, so I end up doing laundry. Have a shower to unwind, do my skincare, make us a chamomile tea and grab a hot water bottle.
10 p.m. — In bed watching a cartoon.
11 p.m. — Teeth and sleep.
Total: £13.99
7 a.m. — Alarm goes off and it’s back to work today. I go downstairs and make us a coffee to have in bed.
8:30 a.m. — Get up and get ready for work. Make a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and a bagel.
9 a.m. — Log in to work.
10 a.m. — Our maintenance person has arrived to put up some shelves and wall mount our TV etc. I let him in and show him around.
1 p.m. — The maintenance person leaves and says he will be back later in the week to finish, so we can pay him then. J orders a new cable for our TV from the joint account, £6 for my share.
2 p.m. — J and I have an oven pizza for lunch and continue working.
5:30 p.m. — Log off and make a snack of Greek yogurt, blueberries and honey. We debate the gym as we’re both not feeling great but decide to do a mini gym session and a sauna.
6:30 p.m. — Arrive at gym and do a decent leg workout, head down to the sauna but only manage 15 mins. I finish mine with a cold bucket of water.
8:30 p.m. — J sorts dinner — the homemade spag bol mum gave us yesterday. I order a food cover for our microwave on Amazon on the joint account, £2.51 for my share.
9:30 p.m. — We watch Adolescence on Netflix, it’s good! We have a hot choc for dessert.
10:30 p.m. — Head to bed.
Total: £8.51
Food & Drink: £126.81
Clothes & Beauty: £110
Home & Health: £135.79
Entertainment: £0
Travel: £7.10
Other: £0
Total: £379.70
Conclusion
“This week was expensive! I don’t usually have such a busy and social weekend, but the home purchases are ongoing which does make my spending higher than usual. I enjoyed tracking my spending in this way, although I have always tracked my spending since I got my first job. I have noticed that my spending comes in waves, sometimes I spend lots and this can spiral a little bit, but other times I can be very money conscious and not spend much at all. I don’t think I will change much in the future, although I am aware of lifestyle creep, I also want to enjoy myself now.”
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