Mamamia’s What My Salary Gets Me asks Australians to record a week in their financial lives. Kind of like a sex diary but with money. So not like a sex diary at all. We still find out the best kept secrets though. We discover what women are really spending their hard-earned cash on. Nothing is too outrageous or too sacred. This week a 40-year-old mum tells all.
Age: 40.
Industry: Government (middle management).
Salary: $1,250 per week plus $250 child support.
In total: $1500 a week.
Housing: Single mum living in Inner City Brisbane with my three-year-old twins (who go to daycare four days a week). I was really lucky – my inheritance helped me buy me a house in Melbourne when I was in my early twenties and it made a huge profit when I sold it a few years ago. It’s the only reason I am in such a good financial position now as a single parent.
Regular expenses including annual costs on a weekly basis:
- Gym membership – $17
- Private Health Insurance – $51.50
- Home and Contents insurance – $15
- Groceries – $100
- Electricity – $25
- Water – $22
- Petrol – $30
- Gas – $5
- Car insurance – $9.50
- Car registration – $14
- Car service – $29
- Daycare – $250
- Mobile and internet – $25
- Mortgage – $400
Total costs per week: $993.
Savings: I have $60,000 in my offset account, and around $2000 in mojo.
Debt: I owe $82,000 on my mortgage. I’m paying interest on $22K. The aim is to pay the house off in two years if I pay $400 a week.
Assets: House worth $650,000.
Saturday June 8.
I take the kids out for breakfast with a friend which costs $58. This is not a common occurrence, often we do play dates at the park, but it’s my friends birthday.
I also let the kids buy a toy each at the shops for ($15) with their birthday money.
It’s my kid free night and I always try and be social which ends up being expensive.
I host the girls for a few pre-drinks (they bring booze) so I shout everyone Uber Eats sushi ($88).
I also buy a round of drinks for ($28) and pay for a cab ($14).
Gym membership comes out ($17).
Total amount spent: $220
Sunday June 9.
Rest day! I do some study (I’m studying at the moment in addition to full-time work) and buy the kids McDonalds for dinner ($12).
Total amount spent: $12
Monday June 10.
Kids have gymnastics and we have to leave by 8:30am.
I pay $4.00 for lollies for kids post gymnastics. (I should buy these from the supermarket!)
I pay $18 per child for gymnastics ($36).
Then we go grocery shopping and spend $64. Following this, I meal prep ten meals for my lunches and dinners throughout the week.
Total amount spent: $104
Tuesday 11 June.
Pay day!
Mortgage comes out (covered in weekly expenses) and $10 per child goes into their savings account.
I take my lunch to work as per usual. I make a coffee at home every work day morning.
Total amount spent: $20
Wed 13 June.
Work today.
Travel card comes out – covered in weekly costs!
Child care also comes out.
Total amount spent: $0 (not including regular expenses).
Thursday 14 June.
Off to the dentist but lucky it’s all covered by my health fund.
I resist the EOFY sales in the city… but spend $6 on a coffee for my colleague and I and $24 at the chemist on some essential toiletries I forgot at the supermarket.
Total amount spent: $30
Friday 15 June.
A work day. I take my lunch and made a coffee at home, to avoid spending anything. I hit the gym at lunchtime.
I have organised a quiet night in. A couple of friends swing by to watch the footy on the couch and the kids enjoy a DVD.
Total amount spent: $0. Winning!
Total amount spent: $386. This figure doesn’t include my regularly weekly bills. Including those, it’s $1379.
No wonder I can’t save any money! Luckily, I pay more off my mortgage than I have to.
Want to share a week in the life of your bank account with us (anonymously of course, no judgement here)? Send us your Money Diary to submissions@mamamia.com.au
Top Comments
Love this but I gotta ask, how does a person only spend $64 on a week's worth of groceries for three people and manage to get decent meal prep out of it?
Everyone is different, of course, but it’s nice to read a relatable story like this, as most tend to be from people who are really young but already earning above average incomes. I’m a single mum of 4, and I earn $1000 per week. I’m not a citizen, so get no ftb. I still manage to save about $350 per week, so I’m really proud of myself ( I should mention that I have paid off my mortgage). I really enjoyed reading this article.
Thank you Mamamia for writing about someone different for this series!
Holy crap - you sound like you're fantastic with your money - kudos to you! It would be interesting to hear how your budget AND save for a family of 5 and how you managed to pay off a mortgage as well!
Wow, that’s awesome!
Wow, that is amazing. You should be proud.