
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 46-year-old with two teens shares her money diary.
I am a 46-year-old Financial Controller and my husband is currently re-training after some time out of the workforce. We have two teenage children and our yearly income is $89,000.
When I say I budget, I mean I have a spreadsheet which tracks the expenses each month and everything is on this, including birthday presents, car services, vet bills and all incidentals. There is a budget for everything! Being on one income and paid monthly, there is a calm that comes over me when I budget.
Weekly Expenses:
Mortgage: $220
Bills:
Electricity: $35
Phones: $25
Rates: $23
Internet: $17
Insurance and rego: $66
Water: $26
Other bills, Foxtel and Netflix: $19
Debt consolidation loan: $44
Car loan: $52.75
Savings: $75
School fees: $100
Total: $703.05
Monday - Day One
Get a coffee on the way to work, but it’s free due to my loyalty card.
I take breakfast, lunch and a snack to work every day.
There’s a coffee machine at the office, but the shop-bought ones are always better!
Daily total: $0.00
Tuesday - Day Two
I accidentally put my son's GoCard in the wash yesterday and it snapped in half, so I have to stop at the 7-11 and purchase a new one, $10.
I'm able to go online and transfer the balance from the old card over, which is a relief.
My husband has a doctor's appointment after work. It costs $76 as there’s no bulk billing in our area and it’s after 5pm.
We should get the rebate in a few days.
We order pizzas for dinner as it’s pretty late and I have stuff to do at home that isn’t cooking. $18.00
Daily total: $104
Wednesday - Day Three
Our teenagers' phone bills come out of the account today.
They are on SIM only plans, which are really good value - $10 each.
I grab a coffee mid-morning, $4.50.
Daily total: $24.50
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