I love reading Money Diaries on Refinery29 where people anonymously share their financial situations, so I thought I’d do a similar post. Here is everything I spent money on in one week in LA.
Occupation: Media Planning Manager
Industry: Advertising
Age: 25
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Debt: Whatever I have on my credit card which I pay in full every month
Monthly Expenses:
Rent & Utilities: $1,600 for half of a 2 bed/2 bath (for utilities, I split wifi, gas, and electricity with my roommate)
Dental & Medical Insurance: $111 (automatically deducted from my paycheck)
Spotify: $5 (I split a Premium account with my sister)
Netflix: $3 (I don’t watch that much TV, but I pay my roommate $36 every year to add an extra screen to his family’s Netflix account)
LA Fitness: $10 (normally $35, but I’ve had my account frozen since the pandemic but don’t want to cancel since I have a good rate)
ClassPass: $49
Cell Phone: My parents have let me stay on their family plan, so this is the one expense that I don’t pay for
Adobe Photography bundle: $10 (written off as a business expense since I do freelance photography on the side)
Annual Expenses:
I pay for car & renters insurance (Geico), Amazon Prime, AMC Stubs Premiere, McAfee, Costco, Bluehost, Flickr, and my Alaska Airlines credit card annual fee as yearly sums that total about $3,100/year.
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Yes, I always grew up knowing I would go to college and it was expected that my sister and I would get good grades in school. Both of my parents are college-educated and thankfully planned for my college tuition for years, if not decades. I was able to get a $20,000/year scholarship to Chapman University, and my parents paid the rest, so I didn’t have any debt coming out of college. I graduated in 3.5 years, and only took 2 classes during my last semester, so that also cut almost a year of tuition.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
Both my parents are accountants, so we’ve always talked about money and my dad set up my investment account when I was little. They walked me to the bank to get a credit card when I was a freshman in college and taught me how to use it and to make my payments in full and on time. They definitely cultivated my interest in personal finance, and I’m grateful that they taught me the importance of saving and spending within my means.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
Besides catsitting our neighbors’ pets, my first job was being a self-employed photographer. I started my portrait photography business when I was a junior in high school to make some spending money. My first job where I was employed by an actual company was being a cashier at Big 5 Sporting Goods the summer before I studied abroad during my sophomore year of college.
Did you worry about money growing up?
I never worried, and if my parents did, they didn’t do it in front of my sister and me. I can’t remember a time when my parents never told me no to something that I actually needed, but I knew better than to ask them to buy me any impulse buys. We always bought things when they were on sale (we still do) and didn’t eat out very much when I was growing up.
Do you worry about money now?
More than I should since I have a decent-paying job and can pay for everything I need. Living in LA is just so expensive that it’s easy to overspend and I can’t afford to do everything I want to do. I don’t spend money on makeup, food delivery, alcohol, or Ubers, so I know that saves me a lot of money. I am pretty strict about my budget, and over 20% of my paycheck goes straight into my 401K or health savings account, so I know that I’m allowed to spend whatever does make it into my bank account.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I was financially responsible for myself at 22 when I graduated and got my first job, but I was on my parent’s health insurance until I was 23, and they still cover my phone bill. If something were to happen, I have 6 months of savings in my savings account and my parents would let me move back home if I had to.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Yes. In college, my parents paid for my tuition and rent until I graduated from college. They also bought me a car, so I thankfully don’t have a car payment.
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Day 1: Sunday, 1/15
7 am – My alarm goes off. I snooze it and stay in bed for 10 more minutes before getting up. I am trying to get up at 6 am every morning but I stayed up too late last night watching Pressure Cooker, a reality cooking competition on Netflix that is a mix of Top Chef and Big Brother. I do my 2023 morning routine of drinking a glass of water and doing my 5-Minute Journal before grabbing my recently washed mesh produce bags and going to the grocery store.
7:30 am – I get groceries for the week at Ralph’s and ingredients for this vegetarian crockpot chili recipe and boxed cornbread. My crockpot is smaller than what the recipe asks for so I skip the carrots and celery. The cramped parking lot is empty because who else is psycho enough to be at the grocery store at this time on a Sunday? A lot of employees are restocking shelves but I don’t have to maneuver my cart around too many other shoppers. $50
8:15 am – Unload all my groceries and quickly eat a banana. I change into workout clothes. I have the 23-credit ClassPass plan and signed up for a cycling class at CycleBar in Santa Monica because they were having a Miley Cyrus music-themed class that sounded fun. I actually don’t really like cycling, but it’s a decent way to sweat, and I prefer CycleBar because you don’t have to pay for shoe rental like you do at SoulCycle.
9 am – The class starts and it’s pretty full with 33 of us total. I was able to adjust my bike myself so I was proud of myself. The instructor plays a mix of Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus bops including her new song, Flowers. They email you performance results right after class which show I was #21 out of 33.
10 am – Most Santa Monica public parking garages are free for the first 90mins so I don’t have to pay for parking. I stop by Trader Joe’s on my way home to grab canola oil for the cornbread mix that will go with the chili, Everything But the Bagel seasoning because I’m almost out, and kalamata olives because I use them in salads all the time. $9
11 am – I get home and take a shower then reheat some leftover Bianca pizza from The Doughroom from last night in the oven (no more soggy microwave pizza in 2023!) and start prepping the ingredients for my chili.
1:30 pm – Meet my friend Trisha at the Century City Mall AMC to watch A Man Called Ove. I read the book last year and it wasn’t my favorite, but I love Tom Hanks. I had a $5 reward credit and it was a matinee show, so the ticket was a good deal. $7
4 pm – We come out of the movie with red eyes. I was crying for like the whole movie, it was so sad. My throat hurt from trying to keep the tears back. I make sure to validate my parking ticket before we exit the theater, then drive Trisha back to my apartment and we made cornbread muffins and hot chocolate because it’s drizzly and cold outside.
6 pm – We eat chili with my roommate, Jordan, and I wash dishes. Trisha and I watch a few episodes of Pressure Cooker and then she Ubers home.
9 pm – I finish Pressure Cooker and watch Australian Open with Jordan since he has to do social media coverage for Tennis Channel, and read my book club’s January book, Pachinko. It’s not fun to read, but it isn’t boring. It’s been a long day, but I still can’t get to bed early and go to bed at midnight.
Daily Total: $66
Day 2: Monday 1/16
8 am – I am tired and snooze my alarm a few times before getting out of bed and doing my morning routine of water and 5 Minute Journal. Then, I put away clean dishes, made a breakfast yogurt bowl, and started the dishwasher.
10 am – It’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so I don’t have work. Trisha and I have signed up to volunteer with an organization I found on Google called Big Sunday. We get to the elementary school where the event is taking place, and there’s a whole crowd there with many parents with their kids. They serve bagesl and donuts for breakfast, then put us to work. We’re assembling bags of warm winter clothes for those in need, painting a hallway in the school, making a mosaic, and making cards to go with the bags (with a card it’s perceived as a gift, without a card the bags are perceived as donations – it’s the little things). It’s actually pretty well-organized and there are a few corporate groups volunteering. It actually feels like there are way too many volunteers so there isn’t really enough to do for everyone.
12:30 pm – After making a dozen bags each and decorating a few cards, we leave. We passed a Chevron gas station that was $4.44/gallon which is the cheapest I’ve seen in LA in a year, so I stop and fill up. $42
1 pm – I drop off Trisha at her apartment and call my friend Kyra on my way home to catch up. I start a load of laundry. My apartment has one washer and 1 dryer for the 11 apartment units. It’s not ideal, but I’ve never really had too many issues with sharing. There’s an app to control the machines and my account balance is low, so I have to add funds. Then, I eat leftover chili for a late lunch. $25
4 pm – I list some items in my local Buy Nothing Facebook group then head outside for a run before it gets dark. I hate 5 pm winter sunsets. I take a shower and get dressed for dinner.
6 pm – I meet a couple of my friends for sushi at Sugarfish in Beverly Hills. It’s their first time and they are now big fans. My friend pays and I Venmo her. $38
8 pm – Beverly Hills has a ton of public parking garages that are free for the first 2 hours. Unfortunately, I am 3mins late. Sigh. $5
12am – I finish Pachinko. It was just such a downer of a book, but it was still good, so I give it 4 stars on Goodreads, and then go to sleep.
Daily Total: $110
Day 3: Tuesday, 1/17
8 am – I get a late start to my morning routine. I take out my Spanish for Dummies workbook for the first time in a year and read 4 pages and learn numbers. I make another yogurt bowl for breakfast.
9 am – Time for work. I have a bunch to catch up on after the holiday weekend.
12:30 pm – Lunchtime. I make an avocado rice cake with Cholula, everything but the bagel seasoning, and a drizzle of honey. Jordan had requested money for our gas utility bill so I Venmo him. $10
7 pm – Finally done with work! Trisha has been giving me packages of dehydrated Indian meals her family sends her from India. The last time was paneer, this time it’s a lentil stew called dal makhani. It doesn’t look like it will make a ton, so I cook some quinoa and pan-fry up a can up of garbanzo beans for even more protein. It’s flavorful but surprisingly spicy, and I have enough for another meal.
8 pm – I need dessert, but I don’t have anything. Jordan orders a pizookie from BJ’s, but hate spending money on food delivery, so I just break open the jar of Nutella that was in my Christmas stocking (among other things lol) and eat a spoonful. We watch more of the Australian Open and I scroll on my phone before going to bed at 11:30 pm.
Daily Total: $10
Day 4: Wednesday, 1/18
6:50 am – I wake up early to give away my toaster to a girl from the Buy Nothing group who was stopping by to pick it up before heading to work. Then, I do my morning routine and read 2 more pages of Spanish.
7:30 am – I decide to make some more chili since I bought two sets of ingredients and needed dinner. After, I clean up a little and go for a walk. It’s amazing what I can accomplish before work if I actually get up early.
12:30 pm – Work is very busy since we have a project due on Thursday. I heat up the leftover dal for lunch and eat at my desk.
4 pm – The chili is ready. Jordan hadn’t eaten all day, so I serve him a bowl of chili with a cornbread muffin from Sunday. I’m such a good roommate.
7 pm – After I finish work, I eat chili. I added quinoa to add some extra substance. I’m in my baking era and I decide to make banana bread since we have overripe bananas in the freezer and some ripe ones on the table. I intend to double a recipe but realize that Trader Joe’s gluten-free flour is only 3 cups of flour, which I’m using because I’m bringing some into the office tomorrow and one of my co-workers is allergic to gluten.
8 pm – I put the banana bread into the oven and start cleaning dishes. Then, I start researching to put together a Grand Canyon day trip itinerary for when I go to Arizona later this year.
9:30 pm The loaf of banana bread is finally done baking and I slice it, then wash more dishes. This is the most annoying part of cooking.
10 pm – I shower and then get ready for bed. I start reading The Last Thing He Told Me and go to bed at midnight.
Total: $0
Day 5: Thursday, 1/19
7:30 am – I do my morning routine, then get ready for a day at the office. My team has a vendor event after work, so we usually go into the office and Uber together. Tonight, we’re getting dinner and then seeing Mean Girls the Musical at the Hollywood Pantages Theater with a sales rep that we work with.
9 am – I get to the office and make my packet of oatmeal for breakfast. Then, start my morning meetings.
12:30 pm – My co-workers go buy lunch from a restaurant down the street, but I packed a pyrex of chili, so I microwave it and eat it at my desk.
5:45 pm – I send our media recommendation to our client and then our team can log off! We Uber to Wood & Vine and have the worst driver who speeds up and runs several red lights, yikes. The ride is covered by a voucher from the rep.
6:30 pm – We get to dinner and I get a mocktail that’s basically fizzy strawberry lemonade. The rep had already put in orders for food, and we share a bunch of plates family-style. I see the rep like every other month which is honestly more than most of my friends, so the conversation is comfortable and I also get to talk to one of my co-workers I rarely see, so it’s a fun dinner. The rep picks up the bill.
8 pm – We walk across the street to the theater and barely make it before the show starts.
10:30 pm – I like how diverse the cast was, but I didn’t love the show and have a deeper appreciation for the movie. We Uber back to the office and then drive home, shower, and go to bed around midnight.
Total: $0
Day 6: Friday, 1/20
7:30 am I do my morning routine and eat a banana bread muffin before starting a 20-minute guided run on the Nike Run Club app. I realize it’s basically an active mediation. The voice of Coach Bennett is inspiring and every run always leaves me in a better mood.
9 am – Start work after showering.
12 pm – I heat up chili for lunch. I consider myself a foodie, but I have no problem eating the same meal several days in a row. I also just love chili, especially with the cheese, green onions, and cornbread that I add to it.
3:30 pm – Our client emails us that he has no feedback on the media plan we submitted, which is basically unheard of. My team is ecstatic and I’m happy because we don’t have any more urgent work to do for the day!
5 pm – I log off and walk to happy hour at a nearby Mexican restaurant to celebrate with my roommate. I don’t drink, but the food is $6-$10. I split chips and salsa with Jordan and ordered taquitos and a fish taco for dinner. $22
7 pm – Jordan and I start to watch The Mummy because he learns I’ve never seen it and I make hot chocolate with my new milk frother. The movie is kind of gory and neither of us is really paying attention so Jordan switches to Oregon Women’s Basketball game while I type out this blog and text my friend to finalize outfit details for tomorrow’s photo shoot.
11:30 pm – I read some more of The Last Thing He Told Me and then go to sleep.
Daily Total: $22
Day 7: Saturday, 1/21
9 am – I didn’t set an alarm and still woke up at 7:30 but let myself stay in bed when my friend calls me. She’s on East Coast time and I’m awake anyway so I answer and chat with her while I eat a slice of banana bread and get ready for the day.
10 am – I head to the library to return a book. They have a book sale and I don’t buy anything even though I saw Girl, Wash Your Face which is a self-help book I’ve been seeing around for years. I was planning on going for a run by the ocean, but it’s getting late, so I just go on a run in the neighborhoods near the library.
11 am – I get some groceries at Trader Joe’s. I have two vendor events that should give me leftovers next week, so I really only need to plan for a few meals at home. I have a bottle of curry sauce in the fridge that should be used up, so I grab a bag of spinach, a yellow onion, and orange bell peppers that I can add to a can of chickpeas and cook up over quinoa. I spy the frozen hashbrown patties I’ve been looking for literally months and grab a pack. I grab a couple more items and everything fits into the tote bag I brought. $28
2 pm: I meet up with my friend Alison for a photo shoot at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It’s both of our first times going, so we just walk around and explore. I thought it would be huge and crowded and touristy, but it’s pretty casual. Some families bring folding chairs and sit with coolers near their loved ones’ graves. There are randomly a lot of peacocks roaming around and in the pond, there are geese, swans, ducks, and turtles. I don’t want to be disrespectful, so we don’t shoot among the graves in the grass. We do shoot in one marble mausoleum but mostly stick to the architectural park elements of the cemetery.
5 pm: It takes me almost an hour to get home. I read for a bit and then paint my nails.
7:30 pm: Jordan and I heat up the last of my chili for dinner then he works on more graphics for the Australian Open and I work on this blog.
Daily Total: $28
Overall, I’d say this was a pretty normal week for me, except I might go to one more restaurant on the weekend or make an Amazon purchase so that would be another ~$50. I don’t usually spend a lot of money during the week because all I do is work, so I really only spend money on the weekends.
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