Mamamia’s Money Diaries 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 25-year-old producer tells all.

MONDAY – Day One

12:00pm: My tummy starts to rumble so I venture out in the cold in search of food and find a health store selling chicken soup. Sounds like a great idea until they dish up the wrong batch and I end up with a putrid green kale and quinoa detox soup. I throw my$5.90down the drain, literally.

Daily spend – $18.40

Batch cooking = CHEAP. (Image: iStock)

TUESDAY - Day Two

Daily spend - $35

WEDNESDAY - Day Three

10:30am: A day off means a sleep in, so it's a slow start today. Managing a newly diagnosed chronic illness, I'm still learning to find the right balance between getting enough rest and staying active. Usually at this point I would go for a swim or hit a yoga class but with my cold lingering, exerting that much energy would wipe me out for days. I desperately want to stay in bed but I force myself out to hit the library to stock up on more free books. I then remember that I need to top up my library card for printing which sets me back -$10

11:00am: I head down the street to my local fabric shop to indulge my crafty hobby. My$1.40is swallowed by the parking meter which is now jammed. I'm secretly happy as this is cheaper than the parking rate. I buy$60worth of fabric and haberdashery, which ought to keep me busy for a while. I know sewing my own clothes costs a lot more than just buying them, but it's much more fun and infinitely more sustainable.

Daily spend - $119.90

Listen: financial guru Canna Campbell shares her secrets to saving money.

THURSDAY - Day Four

5:30pm: After work it's time for my favourite sort of shopping - shopping for presents. You don't have to feel guilty about spending money if it's on someone else, right? I buy a set of whiskey glasses for my boyfriend's birthday and for Mother's Day I pick up a pair of slippers (classic) and a beautiful pair of suede gloves. Luckily my sister will go halves in the latter, the perks of siblings! -$105.90

Daily spend - $114

FRIDAY - Day Five

3:00pm: My second day off for the week is infinitely more quiet and I don't spend any money until the afternoon. I head into the city and get in another parking kerfuffle. This time I get stung with Friday rates when I thought it was a Saturday. Instead of $10 all day parking I pay$35for an hour. Ouch.

6:00pm: I take my boyfriend out for a birthday dinner at George Calombaris' Hellenic Republic. Being the sweetheart he is, he insists on paying half and I can't manage to talk him out of it. -$50each.

Daily spend - $85

Me swiping away all my money. (Image: iStock)

SATURDAY - Day Six

10:00am: I bully the birthday boy to let me shout breakfast. He acquiesces. -$42

Daily spend - $72.62

SUNDAY - Day Seven

Daily spend - $24

Weekly spend - $468.92

This week was more expensive than usual (pesky presents!) but I'm relieved that I managed to come out below my wage. It's tough adjusting to part-time pay, especially with the extra time on my hands, but after tracking my spending for the week I can see that my time would be better spent cooking in bulk to avoid eating out. That, and quitting the takeaway coffees. Consider it my challenge for next week...

We'd love to hear your version of The Money Diaries! If you feel like spilling some financial secrets, send us your Money Diary to submissions@mamamia.com.au.