Mamamia’s What My Salary Gets Me series 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 32-year-old tradie shares her money diary.
Age: 32
Job: Tradie, civil construction
Income: $75,000 per year
Housing: I live in a shared apartment with one housemate. I have a slightly larger room and my share of the rent is $255 per week.
Watch: Simple Budgeting with a banana. Post continues below.
Regular expenses (monthly):
Rent: $1020
Health insurance: $35
Phone: $116
Savings: $1000
Credit Card: $7000
Assets: Car $3500
Netflix and Stan: $30
Spotify: $11 (family plan)
Monday - Day One
Today I finally paid off my $28,000 loan. I've been paying it off for seven years and the last payment was $500. Before moving into construction recently I was on a much smaller salary and took a long time to get my budgeting butt into gear.
In my job I work away, and I'm currently travelling all around QLD. I still pay rent but my expenses are low on the road and I only pay for food and leisure. Today I spent $10 on a coffee round, and $15 on lunch.
My boss bought us dinner today which is a huge bonus!
Daily total: $525
Tuesday - Day Two
Again, I only paid for my food today. I spent $15 on lunch but I repaid my boss' generosity and bought dinner. I got us sushi and it cost $35 for both of us.
It was hot today and you build up a strong thirst working on the tools so I took advantage of the servo deal, two Powerades for $5.
Daily total: $55
Wednesday - Day Three
I wanted a healthy lunch and dinner today so I grabbed some salad bowls and roast chicken from Coles, $18.50.
My boss and I split the money for dinner which was salad and a couple of steaks, $34 ($17 each).
I paid my phone bill today $115. I've just switched phone companies and got a new phone so it was a little more than what I used to pay but the service is great, especially when working in rural locations!
Daily total: $167.50
Thursday - Day Four
Today was a good day! It's the day before pay day so my boss bought lunch and dinner - he's a good egg.
I shouted the coffee, which was $10.
No other expenses so more pennies in the bank!
Daily total: $10
Friday - Day Five
Pay Day! Woohoo! But also rent day. My rent including my share of the bills comes to $546.
My rego is coming up so to I put aside $300 to have that ready (nothing worse than getting a big bill you haven’t covered yourself for!)
I also paid $150 off my never ending credit card debt and sent my mum $150 for a bit of coin that I owe her.
Daily Total: $1146
Saturday - Day Six
I knocked off early and went to the pub. I had a delicious, juicy steak, chips with salad ($24)and washed it down with some schooners.
I'm not sure how many we had, but by the time we left I was feeling pretty slippery so I’d say between shouts I spent roughly $70 on beer for the both of us!
I also spent $45 on a packet of cigarettes. (I’ll quit soon I promise!)
Daily total: $139
Sunday - Day Seven
Today was a sabbath day and we rested - mainly to nurse our heads after the pub shenanigans! I spent the day laying on the couch, ordered pizza, my shout using the Dominos three pizza deal for $35.99.
Daily total: $35.99
Weekly total: $2,078.49
Reflection:
This week was a bit higher in expenses as it was the fortnightly rent week.
My boss and I share a lot of expenses so there’s a good balance of savings there, especially when he’s feeling generous.
My main focus this year was to pay off all my debt and build up my savings to $5000 by December.
So far my goal is on track for success!
I’m paying sh*t off, saving cash and have plenty of play money left over. The new job and the pay increase has definitely helped improve that but as long as I stick to my “non-negotiables” plan of bills, rent, debt payoff and savings, finances are looking pretty good.
You can catch up on our previous What My Salary Gets Me series here:
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 30-year-old on $65,000, living with two housemates.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 47-year old talent acquisition specialist on $112,000 a year.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 47-year-old on $46,000 a year, with two teenage sons and a mortgage.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 32-year-old media worker on $95,000 a year.
Feature Image: Getty