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 54-year-old community sector worker shares her diary.
Age: 54
Job: My typical day is working four hours a day, four days a week in providing community access and personal care to elderly people in their homes. I do three morning shifts and one afternoon shift per week (16 hours). I choose not to work full time as I have to look after a health condition.
Salary: I work in the community sector and clear $31 an hour after tax. My Earnings are $3757.78 per month, or $822 per week. I also receive a government pension
Housing: I live in public housing and have done for 14 years. I first entered public housing at 40 with my two-year-old daughter to enable me to have housing security. I am extremely lucky to have stable housing and very low rent in a capital city. As a single parent it is extremely hard to survive on a part time income and pay private market rent in our city. An equivalent inner city, two bedroom unit is $440 per week.
Watch: The optimal salary for happiness. Post continues after video.
Regular expenses:
Rent: I pay $110 rent a week on a Friday
Utilities: $129 quarterly
Two mobile phones: $162.60 monthly
Car Insurance: $30.28 monthly
Netflix membership:$9.95 monthly
Apple I-cloud fees: $1.50 monthly
Toll Road fees: $25 monthly (approx)
Other: I give to four charities per month. This seems a lot but I can’t say no. It comes to a combined total of $32.25 a week
Medicines Sans Frontier: $30 monthly
Child Sponsorship Nepal: $30 monthly
Orangutan Project: $30 monthly
Soi Dog sponsorship: $39 monthly
I live very well on $822 a week but I rarely go to anything and spend money only on lunch and coffee, and the occasional movie. I do a lot of free trips to the art gallery or South Bank. I do have a low fee credit card as back up and I can make use of After Pay if needed.
Monday – Day One
I spend four hours with a client and we always have a coffee and cake. It makes her happy to buy me a coffee but I usually pay for myself, $10.30.
I spend the evening watching Mad Men on Netflix.
Total cost: $10.30
Tuesday – Day Two
I spend four hours working, and then I do my own grocery shop at Aldi and Coles. This is my main shop for the week where I buy three meat based meals. Meat is expensive and this costs about $35-40. We also have four vegetarian or fish meals a week.
I spend $82.78 at Coles, and $44.32 at Aldi. I did a bigger shop than usual at Aldi this week as it’s school holidays and I wanted to buy more treats. I also buy the new Frankie magazine at the newsagent ($10.95), and have coffee and lunch at the deli, which costs $14.30.
I make my dinner at home and it’s another evening of watching Netflix.
Total cost: $152.35
Wednesday – Day Three
Today I spent $9.49 at the pharmacy and $40.34 on petrol. I have lunch with my daughter which comes to $35.50. I also buy $85 worth of clothes in a sale as they were 50 per cent off, and buy my daughter a new pair of shoes for $60/
Total cost: $230.33
Thursday – Day Four
I worked a five hour shift today and my client paid for lunch. I pay $20 in tolls for work and altogether drive 106km.
In the evening, I babysit for my niece, and then it’s home to bed.
Total cost: $20
Friday – Day Five
I see clients until 2pm today and then it’s straight home for dinner and Netflix. I’ve spent a lot this week because it’s school holidays.The rent is also due today ($110).
Total cost: $110
Saturday – Day Six
We go to 10 Pin Bowling. It’s $19.95 for an adult and $33 for two student tickets. I also pay $20 for snacks.
Total cost: $72.95
Sunday – Day Seven
We go to brunch for a family birthday. It’s $45.
Total cost: $45
This week I spent: $696.09
What’s left? $125:91
I realise I don’t have a month of cash saved for emergencies which is considered a minimum. I might start putting $60 away a week and eat less cake. I see that I live a fairly spartan life but I’m happy.
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
Read more:
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 29-year-old public servant with a mortgage and a 6-figure salary.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 24-year-old journalist who earns $55,000 a year.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A single mum living in Brisbane with three-year-old twins.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A 23-year-old student pharmacist who earns $51,000 a year.
- What My Salary Gets Me: A part-time physiotherapist who spent almost $2000 in a day.
Top Comments
For someone who lives in public housing she spends A LOT on going out, clothes, etc. I earn a little more than her, actually have to pay my own rent (in Sydney) and go out less and save way more money. Why are we subsidising housing for this woman when she could easily pay if she stopped spending hundreds of dollars a week on clothes and bowling and brunch. I am paying that for her and I can't afford to do it myself!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this!!!