Age: 27
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Occupation: Marketing Coordinator
Annual Salary: $75,000 AUD
Monthly Take-Home Pay: ~$4,800 AUD (after tax, superannuation contributions)
Living Situation: Renting a 2-bedroom apartment in Newtown with a roommate (total rent $3,554/month, we both pay $1,777)
Savings: $8,000 in a high-interest savings account
Debt: $16,000 remaining on HELP (student loan, auto-deducted from pay)
Day 1: Monday
Total Spent: $42
- 7:15 AM – Coffee: $5 (grabbed a flat white from the café near the train station, I can’t function without it).
- 7:30 AM – Transport: $4 (Opal card tap-on for train to CBD).
- 12:30 PM – Lunch: $15 (bought a chicken salad from a spot near the office, trying to be healthy this week).
- 5:30 PM – Transport: $4 (train back home).
- 7:00 PM – Dinner: $14 (split a takeaway pizza with roommate, had quite a bit leftover)
Notes: Quiet start to the week.
Day 2: Tuesday
Total Spent: $27
- 7:30 AM – Transport: $4 (train to work).
- 10:00 AM – Snack: $5 (vending machine at work, stress-eating chocolate because the client hated the latest draft).
- 1:00 PM – Lunch: $0 (brought leftovers from last night’s pizza).
- 6:00 PM – Transport: $4 (train home).
- 7:30 PM – Drinks: $14 (met a friend at a pub in Enmore, one $14 gin and tonic).
Notes: Felt good about saving on lunch.
Day 3: Wednesday
Total Spent: $1,866
- 7:30 AM – Transport: $4 (train to work).
- 12:00 PM – Lunch: $16 (2 sushi rolls and a Coke from the food court).
- 5:30 PM – Transport: $4 (train home).
- 6:00 PM – Rent: $1,777 (monthly rent payment. There goes a chunk of my pay).
- 7:00 PM – Groceries & Dinner: $65 (Popped into Woolies, made a stir-fry with chicken and veggies from the trip).
Day 4: Thursday
Total Spent: $67
- 7:30 AM – Transport: $4 (train to work).
- 10:30 AM – Coffee: $5 (coffee with a workmate).
- 1:00 PM – Lunch: $18 (team lunch at a Thai place near work, my share was a pad see ew).
- 5:30 PM – Transport: $4 (train home).
- 7:00 PM – Dinner: $0 (leftover stir-fry from last night).
- 8:00 PM – Online Shopping: $36 (bought a cute top from ASOS).
Notes: The team lunch was fun.
Day 5: Friday
Total Spent: $100
- 7:30 AM – Transport: $3 (train to work, discounted on Fridays).
- 12:30 PM – Lunch: $0 (office had free sandwiches for a meeting, score!).
- 7:30 PM – Night Out: $97 (dinner with friends at a ramen spot in the city [$25], then two cocktails [$40], Uber home [$32]).
Notes: Payday was today!
Day 6: Saturday
Total Spent: $115
- 10:00 AM – Brunch: $28 (avocado toast and an oat latte at a café in Newtown, Sydney prices, am I right?).
- 2:00 PM – Gym Membership: $60 (monthly auto-debit. I go maybe twice a week, need to get my money’s worth).
- 4:00 PM – Shopping: $27 (nail polish and a candle from Chemist Warehouse, self-care is a must).
- 8:00 PM – Dinner: $0 (cooked pasta at home with roommate, used pantry staples).
Notes: Lazy day.
Day 7: Sunday
Total Spent: $24
- 11:00 AM – Coffee: $6
- 1:00 PM – Transport: $4 (bus to Bondi to meet a friend).
- 2:00 PM – Beach Snack: $10 (fish and chips split with my friend).
- 5:00 PM – Transport: $4 (bus back home).
- 7:00 PM – Dinner: $0 (leftover pasta from last night).
Notes: Chill day. Bondi was packed, but the weather was perfect.
Weekly Summary
Total Spent: $2,241
- Fixed Costs: $1,837 (rent $1,777, gym $60)
- Transport: $75 (includes train, bus and Uber)
- Food & Drinks: $266 (includes groceries, takeaways, eating out)
- Shopping: $63 (top, nail polish, candle)
- Net Income This Week: $4,800 (payday)
- Left Over: $2,559 (most will go to bills, savings, and next week’s expenses)
Reflection: Rent is the killer, but I’m managing. I splurge on food and coffee more than I should, might try cutting back next week. Saving $500 this month is the goal, but we’ll see after bills!
