Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
This week: a financial coordinator making $43,000/year who spends it on cabs to and from her boyfriend's place.
Occupation: Financial Coordinator
Industry: Medical
Age: 27
Location: NYC
Salary: $43,000
Paycheck Amount (weekly): $650
Monthly Expenses
Monthly Housing Costs: $640 a month, utilities included. I'm a single parent and live with my aunt and my son.
Monthly Loan Payments: $0 since I qualified for financial aid.
All Other Expenses
Gym membership: $10.45
MetroCard: $31/week, pre-tax
Credit Cards: $70/month. (Why was I so reckless?!)
Savings: I really try to save at least $100/month.
Phone bill: My share on a family plan is $80/month.
Apple Music: I pay $7 and my sister pays the rest of the $14.99 subscription.
Netflix: $0, thanks to my older sister.
Health insurance: $65/week for me and my son. (My son's dad is unemployed at the moment and not helping me financially right now.)
SEE ALSO: I'm an attorney in New York City who makes $240,000 a year — here's what I spend in a week
Day One
7 a.m.— I refill my weekly MetroCard before heading to work. $31
8 a.m.— I get to the hospital where we have a Starbucks onsite. I order a grande iced coffee and then go to the cafeteria for tater tots with sausage. I would save a lot more money if I didn't spend so much on food. I almost never cook — I really hate it — so I eat out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. $6
12 p.m.— I go to the hospital cafeteria and buy a really decent-sized salad for lunch, and I get 15% off because I am an employee. I'm trying to eat healthier and go for salads at least three times a week. $4.40
5 p.m.— I head to my dermatology appointment on the Upper West Side. I have pretty nasty eczema out of nowhere and it's driving me insane. My insurance covers me 100%, no copay.
8 p.m.— Finally home after my derm appointment. I have an allergy test on my back and have to go back in two days to remove it. I spend some time with my son and make him a sandwich for dinner. We cuddle a little bit before bed.
Daily Total: $41.40
Day Two
6:20 a.m.— My alarm goes off. I stay in bed for a little bit and browse through Amazon. Prime is legit a lifesaver. I order some cups for my son and new tweezers because I have no idea where I put mine. I jump in the shower and then get my son ready. After I drop him off at school, I head to work. $20
8 a.m.— I go to the hospital cafeteria and order breakfast and a coffee from Starbucks. I use my discount and then head upstairs to my room. $6
12 p.m.— I'm feeling lazy and decide not to walk to the other side of the hospital for my salad. Instead, I go to my regular café and get a ham and cheese whole-wheat wrap. I have water upstairs, so I don't need to spend money on a beverage. During the week, I only drink water and coffee, no juice or soda. $5.40
5:30 p.m. — I make it home from work and call my boyfriend. We usually see each other twice a week, so we chat for a bit and make plans to see each other tomorrow. I make dinner for my son — mac and cheese and a glass of milk — and we watch Moana on our Amazon Fire stick. (Thanks, babe.)
8 p.m.— It's time for bed.
Daily Total: $31.40
Day Three
6:30 a.m.— I snoozed this morning so I'm rushing to get my son ready for school. I don't have to worry about breakfast for him because his school provides free breakfast. He eats waffles or cereal once he gets there at 7:30.
8 a.m.— I go to Starbucks and have a medium iced coffee and sausage with corned beef hash. $6.00
1 p.m.— I take lunch a little later since a coworker brought me another coffee around 11 a.m. I walk over to the other hospital building and buy a crispy chicken salad. $4.40
5 p.m.— I get to my dermatology follow-up appointment. She checks the allergy test (apparently, I'm allergic to nickel) and gives me suggestions for a new body wash and soap to use. I make a mental note to stop by Duane Reade during lunch tomorrow to pick them up.
6:30 p.m.— I'm really lucky to live with my aunt; she's amazing. She picks up my son from school and feeds him once they're home, usually rice and chicken. Once I get home, I make him a ham and cheese sandwich and we cuddle and watch Wall-E until bedtime. I make myself a tuna sandwich before bed.
8 p.m.— I take a Lyft to and from my boyfriend's house; he lives in the Bronx, about 20 minutes away from me. We catch up on The Flash and cuddle. I almost always pay for my own cabs because I make more money than he does, but when we go out for date night (usually once a week, instead of staying in) he picks up the tab. I leave around midnight and climb into bed when I get home. I'm going to be so tired tomorrow. $40
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