Money Diaries, a feature focused on the financial habits of everyday individuals, recently highlighted the spending and saving characteristics of a 28-year-old head of marketing for a tech company based in Manchester. The individual, who earns £60,000 annually, gave a detailed overview of her weekly expenditures and her attitudes towards money management.
She shared that she currently works in a hybrid setting, splitting her time between her home and the office. Her leisure activities mainly revolve around socializing, which often entails visits to cafés, restaurants, and sprucing up her apartment, as she lives alone. The fluctuation in costs depends on her social activities and the furnishing needs for her apartment. Living alone means utilities are higher, so cooking meals at home is a primary way she keeps costs down, balancing it with social dining experiences.
The individual’s monthly expenses include £900 in rent, £380 in utilities, and a £68 phone bill. She also spends about £100 for gym or workout classes, £50 on streaming subscriptions, and she dedicates around £1,000 to her savings. The individual shared that she started covering her own expenses around the age of 21 when she was already working and simultaneously paying for her university degree.
Throughout her diary, we see a wide range of expenditures. For instance, on the first day, she indulged in a takeaway coffee for £4.20 and bought a lunch from Itsu for £15. She also attended a Pilates class for £17 and did a food shopping costing £12. The second day had similar expenses with coffee, a home-prepared lunch, 35.80 for dinner out with friends, and £20.50 for cocktails.
On the third day, she bought lunch for £8 and coffee at an independent café for £4. She made an off-the-cuff purchase of new boots for £105. Other days had variations in costs, with the fourth day seeing expenses reaching £421.20, largely because of her love for investing in homewares.
Despite buying a lot of coffee out, she also owns an espresso machine at home used occasionally during the week. Her food shopping is sporadic instead of planned weekly, and she usually buys items like snacks, veggies, and beans. She watches movies in the cinema and prefers to bring her own snack to avoid the high cost of popcorn.
Overall, the head of marketing exhibits a balanced approach to spending. While she does indulge in luxuries like workout classes and home aesthetics, she diligently prepares her own meals and watchful of her expenditure to ensure she isn’t overspending.
