‘I had therapy over my financial worries’

Our writer is 31, is paid nearly £60k (after tax) and is learning to enjoy her hard-earned cash

2024-04-27 -

Iwas born in a very sleepy town. Growing up I knew we weren’t well off, but we never went without. I never thought of myself as coming from a working- class family until I went to university, and realised that my parents instilled the value of money, hard work and saving for rainy days. This was rare for students.

I recall having to ask my parents for a deposit for a second year houseshare and felt awful. I had a part-time job, but the feeling of having to ask my parents for money, when I knew they were already doing so much, stayed with me. I worked multiple part-time jobs at university to ensure that never happened again.

I’ve been self-reliant ever since, and I believe the hard-working and frugal lifestyle I’ve grown up in has helped me throughout my adult life.

Moving to London after university was a shock, even though I secured a graduate role with a good business. After a few years I worked my way up and moved to new companies to get a bigger pay jump. It’s one of the only ways to survive in corporate London.

However, I landed a role with a company where I’ve stayed for many years and I’ve been rewarded for working hard. That’s rare and appreciated. I also met my husband and we moved into a rented flat together.

I live with an eating disorder that has always been challenging for partners. I eat my own meals, separate to my partner. It means my food shops are always quite small, but I’m working on expanding what I eat.

During the pandemic we, like others, decided to move out of London. We always knew we would move closer to our parents and this gave us the push we needed. We couldn’t afford to buy in London as my partner’s salary is much smaller than mine, but it’s never caused us any issues in our relationship.

I enjoy the commute two to three times a week to London. The cost of my mortgage plus train fares still doesn’t add up to what we were spending on rent in the city.

A few years ago I consulted a therapist and money came up. In periods of uncertainty I save more, spend less and remove some enjoyment out of life. I’m trying to get past this mental block and I’m very aware that it comes from a feeling that I could lose everything.

Day 1

I wake up at 7am, later than usual. Today is a train strike day. I’m working from home. I start every day with porridge or muesli. It’s the best food. Cheap, nourishing and flavoursome with various toppings. I always shop at Lidl for our groceries. The food is affordable and good quality. I usually spend £150-200 a month on food.

I walk the dog for an hour, then sit in our garden office to work. It cost about £8,000 to build – the best money we’ve spent on the house so far to ensure we separate our home and work life.

I finish at 5.30pm and head to a yoga class at the local leisure centre.

Total: £0 Day 2

Another day working from home. My husband and I are ridiculous tea drinkers. I use Amazon’s subscribe and save service, and buy 1,000 PG tips tea bags every other month.

After work, I treated myself to fire cupping by a massage therapist (£40). It’s my monthly treat to get rid of the knots in my back and neck.

Total: £40 Day 3

Trains are back on. It costs me £27 to travel in to London with my 26-30 Railcard. I will mourn the loss of my discount and youth when it runs out. I arrive in London and get the Tube to the office. I often use the Tube or bus between meetings, which costs about £8 a day.

I buy a Leon porridge (£3.25) before arriving at the office. There, we have free tea (very grateful), which ensures I can save on my industrial tea bag stash at home.

At lunch I have a soup and roll from Pret and also purchase a few other items for colleagues in the office. It cost £10.50 in total. I love Pret, but I have noticed everything has crept up in price recently.

In the evening I met up with a few friends. I’m teetotal and didn’t stay long as I needed to catch the train home. Total: £51.25

Day 4

A London day again. I buy another porridge pot from Leon (£3.25). I absolutely love my job as head of PR and the team. As most of my friends are scattered across the land, it’s where I feel the most social.

On the way home, I treat myself to a Diet Coke for a ridiculous £2.50. Total: £40.75

Day 5

Day off so got to enjoy a three-day weekend. I started with a dog walk before going out for my own run.

I treated my sister to lunch at a local café (£40). I always tip a bit more to local cafés – I like to spend locally considering I commute a few times a week. I also bought a gift for my mother (£82). Total: £122

Day 6

I went to Lidl for a food shop (£63.21). This included “communal products” like washing liquid. We also spend £20.34 on a food bank shop, and delivered it on the way home. We’ve been doing this every month since lockdown.

In the afternoon we visited my in-laws and had dinner at their home. Total: £83.55

Day 7

I woke up at 7am and took the dog for a walk. I spend more on my dog’s supplements than I do on my monthly skincare. We go to a new dog-friendly cafe in town for lunch (£18).

Total: £18

Weekly total: £355.55