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
Thursday - Day Four
I give my daughter some money to purchase tracksuit pants from the school uniform shop as she needs to wear specific ones, $45.
I head to the chemist after work to get my husband's script filled. It’s regular medication so usually lasts for the month. I also get some cleanser on special, $37.20.
I'm up until 11pm helping my daughter get her assignments done. I was going to shop online, so her lack of organisation has saved me some money!
Daily total: $82.20
Friday - Day Five
It's Friday, so I transfer $75 to my husband's account so he has some funds for whatever he needs.
I have to take the kids to school early for a violin rehearsal so I stop at Target to get my husband some stuff for his birthday on Sunday.
I buy a hoodie, some chocolate and cards from me and the kids, $46.
Afterwards, I stop to get a coffee, $4.50.
I top up my groceries on the way home, even though the weekly shop is tomorrow, $14.75.
Daily total: $140.25
Saturday - Day Six
I do the the grocery shop. I get most things at ALDI and top up at Woolies, the total is $218.61 which includes the dog food so that’s pretty good.
I get a trim at the hairdresser which is well overdue, $35.00.
I do some housework, watch some Netflix with the kids and take the dogs to the dog park.
Daily total: $253.61
Sunday - Day Seven
It's my husband's birthday so we have some breakfast as a family (bacon and eggs).
The dogs get leftover bacon and are very happy!
We decide to go for a drive and buy coffees and hot chocolates at a café on the way home. $22.00
Daily total: $22.00
Weekly total: $626.56
Reflection:
As this is the last week in the pay cycle, I'm hanging on to any extra in my account as a contingency.
Next month both my kids have their birthdays so I withheld some of this month's pay to help with that. It seems kind of obsessive the way I budget, but on one income, it really gives me peace of mind, so if we’re out somewhere, I know what I can spend and what I can’t.
The author of this story is known to Mamamia but has chosen to remain anonymous for privacy reasons. The feature image used is a stock photo from Getty.
Mamamia’s What My Salary Gets Me series drops every Thursday. 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
For more What My Salary Gets Me:
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 30-year-old lawyer on $92,000, who owns an investment property.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 22-year-old disability worker who spends $1117.75 on payday alone.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 24-year-old accountant on $70,000 a year, who spends $1500 a month on rent.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 29-year-old on $108,000 a year, with $455,000 in savings.
- What My Salary Gets Me: The 36-year-old project manager who spent $3,795 in one week.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A Sales Director on $120,000 a year, who refuses to cook.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 34-year-old on $21,400 a year, who has hardly any daily expenses.
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