Mamamia’s Money Diaries 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 22-year-old in finance tells all.
Industry: Finance
Age: 22
Salary: $55,000
Housing: Renting with husband and another couple
Regular expenses (monthly):
- Rent – $430
- Phone – $130 – I regularly go over my data
- Transport – $120
- Gym membership – $140
- Internet – $15
- Car loan – $620
- Car insurance – $90
Savings: $0
Debt:
- HECS – $8,000
- Car loan – $20,000
- Credit card – $4,500
Assets: My car…?
Top Comments
This one I catually enjoyed more than most. Why? Because she spent money of fuel, loans, credit card, bills, regular things. All the others seemed to spend on food/shopping and I felt they were forgetting or ignoring their other spending. Obviously these things must be paid for some time!
Where does the author live? $430 per month for one person is loco! I live in a nice house in St Kilda in Melbourne and my rent is $225 per month (and my husband pays the same).
Also, you've got to get a new plan girl! I used to go over all the time too - you have to take the plunge and get a more suitable plan :)
She mentions Canberra Day, so I'm guessing Canberra where $215 a week for a room (assuming the 430/month is her half) in a share place isn't that high.
How is $430 a month expensive? Less than $60 per week for rent in St Kilda sounds like Australia's biggest bargain!
I took the $430 per month as her share, otherwise it wouldn't make sense to include the full amount in her budget.
I agree that $215 for your portion of the room is totally normal (see my own comment) - but $430 is crazy.
Sorry, my son pays $130 week ( $520a month) for rent in Brisbane and that is a REALLY good deal. $60 a week (what you seem to be paying in st kilda) would be in some sort of boarding house here.