Afterpay and pizza dough: What a comms worker on $84,000 spends in a week
By Refinery29 Australia
This article originally appeared in Refinery29 Australia.
Welcome to Money Diaries, where we ask real people how they spend and save their money during a seven-day period, tracking every last dollar. Anyone can write a Money Diary! Want to see yours here? Here’s how.
Today: a communications officer who makes $84,000 a year and spends some of her money this week on a board game.
This week on Money Diaries, a communications officer who makes $84,000 a year and spends some of her money on Afterpay, pizzas, and a board game.Credit: Refinery29 Australia
Occupation: Communications officer
Industry: Advocacy/Activism
Age: 27
Location: West End, Brisbane
Salary: $84,179
Net worth: -$75,000. I have $8993 in super and about $2000 in savings. I have a trip to Asia planned for later in the year, so I’ve been putting a bit of money towards that recently. I’ve also created a new bank account that I can’t touch and I’m in the very early stages of trying to save for a house deposit (the rental crisis is stressing me out).
Debt: About $86,261 ($85,811 HECS debt, $100 ZipPay, $230 Afterpay, and $200 on my credit card)
Pay cheque amount (fortnightly): $2300
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly expenses
Rent: I pay roughly $920 in rent per month. I live in a big share house with five housemates. We split the cost of total rent which is $1000 per week. I really like my living situation and chose to live with housemates, for social as well as financial reasons. It’s likely that our lease won’t be renewed in a couple of months, so I’m definitely worried about finding somewhere affordable to live.
Debt: I pay about $400 towards my HECS per month (and probably will for the rest of my life). I have almost finished paying off my credit card and other loans I accrued while finishing my studies, but I’ve been paying about $500 per month towards these for a while.
Gym membership: $220
Union fees: $80
Internet: $17
Utilities: $55. Utility bills are fairly low because they’re split between so many housemates.
Savings contributions: $500
Phone: $125
Spotify: $11
Streaming: $0, because I use other people’s logins (with permission!).
Crossword subscription: $6
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
I did a double degree of Bachelor of Journalism and Arts (French major) and then a Master of Digital Communication, hence my insane HECS debt that is growing much quicker than I’m able to pay it off. I didn’t really consider HECS to be too much of an issue until indexation made it impossible to make any progress with paying it off.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
I don’t remember having any conversations about money with my parents growing up. Saving, budgeting or investing were never dinner-table conversations. I feel like I’m still trying to figure it all out now and finally build some savings after living pay cheque-to-pay cheque my whole adult life.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was at McDonald’s when I was 14. I wanted some independence and money to spend on 14-year-old girl things, like lip gloss, movie tickets and snacks after school.
Did you worry about money growing up?
My parents always had stable jobs and although we weren’t rich, I don’t remember there being financial stress in my household. We were able to go on some modest holidays and there were always nice presents on birthdays and Christmas. We definitely didn’t have a flashy lifestyle, but my brother and I were able to do most of the things we wanted to do. I feel very lucky to have never really experienced much financial stress.
Do you worry about money now?
Of course! I worry about everything getting more expensive, the real value of my wages declining and being a renter in unstable housing for the rest of my life. I’m lucky to have a fairly well-paid job, but I’ve decided not to have kids pretty much entirely because I think it would be too stressful financially.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I became completely financially independent when I started working full-time almost two years ago. I’m very lucky in that I know if I lost my job suddenly, my parents would help me out.
Do you have, or have you ever received, passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No!
Day 1
7:30am — I wake up and I’m exhausted from a massive weekend. I’d normally go to the gym (I try to go as often as I can muster the energy because it’s super exxy at $55 per week), but I’ve slept in today. I don’t usually eat breakfast during the week, so I start getting ready for work.
8:00am — I decide to walk to work today since I skipped the gym; it takes me about 45 minutes. This also saves me about $4 I would have spent taking the bus. I would normally buy a coffee on my way in, but I’m trying to limit the amount I buy. I try to be as conservative as I can with money during the week because I usually end up having a blowout on the weekends (girls just wanna have fun!).
9:00am — I arrive at work and enjoy a delicious cup of free Blend 43 from the staff kitchen. I tell myself it’s just as good as a $6 one from a cafe. I get settled into a morning of meetings and emails.
12:00pm — Lunchtime! I’ve been really good recently at bringing lunch to work, but I didn’t buy any lunch groceries for this week because sometimes facing a supermarket on a Sunday is too much. I want something cheap, so I head to Woolies and get a katsu curry from the hot food section ($11). Today I’m in the mood to avoid the lunchroom and have some alone time. I go and eat it in the park and listen to a podcast I’m loving at the moment — If Books Could Kill. After lunch, I spend the afternoon scheduling social media posts and finishing a few articles. $11
4:00pm — I catch the bus home ($4) and decide to work on a sewing project for a bit before my boyfriend comes over. At the moment, I’m trying to make a blouse out of a tablecloth that I bought on eBay for $20. I like sewing because it gives me a much-needed break from looking at screens all day. $4
6:00pm — My boyfriend arrives, and I cook us some dinner using things I already have in the fridge. I chuck salmon and potatoes in the air fryer and we have them with a Greek salad. We then watch an episode of The Idol with my housemates. It’s pretty cringe, but I’m definitely hooked, and I am going to watch every episode.
10:00pm — We scroll TikTok together in bed before falling asleep. This is a sacred ritual — he saves the videos I’ve sent him to watch when we’re together.
Daily total: $15
Day 2
6:30am — I get up and go to a 7am class at the gym. Although group fitness is pricey compared to a normal gym, it seems to be the only form of exercise I’m able to commit to.
8:00am — I can chill for a bit when I get home from the gym because I’m going to a conference with work today, and it doesn’t start til 10, plus the venue is only a 15-minute walk from mine! I use the extra hour to spend some time with my pet rats, wash my hair and drink a sachet of instant caramel latte.
10:00am — After walking over and meeting my colleagues, the morning consists of workshops and speeches. Then, much to my surprise and delight, they bring out free sausage rolls for morning tea. This is perfect because I haven’t brought any food with me today.
1:00pm — After some more workshops, it’s time for lunch — it’s free food again! An assortment of sandwiches this time. TBH, the food isn’t great, but I am stoked to save $15. It’s two days before payday, so every dollar counts right now.
5:30pm — The conference comes to a close and we have an hour to kill before the dinner. We head to a bar and I buy a wine for myself and my work friend ($31.69). The service is so slow because they’re understaffed and we pretty much have to scull them then leave straight away. $31.69
6:30pm — We walk back to the venue for our fancy three-course dinner (free again!). It’s a cheese platter to start, chicken and veg for mains and sticky date pudding for dessert. There’s also free booze. It’s a pretty fun night of eating, drinking and chatting. I end up drinking way more than I had anticipated (free booze is dangerous), but it’s nice to get to know my colleagues a bit better as I haven’t been in this role very long.
12:00am — I jump in my friend’s Uber and get dropped off on her way home, she pays. I head to bed exhausted after a massive day.
Daily total: $31.69
Day 3
7:00am — I wake up with a bit of a headache from the night before, jump in the shower and pull myself together for day two of the conference.
9:00am — The conference starts at 9am today, so I walk over and arrive just in time. My colleague has generously bought me a coffee. Everyone seems a little low energy today following last night.
10:00am — Another morning of workshops before a free party pie intermission! This is my first ever party pie and I rate it. I love eating anything beige and stodgy.
1:00pm — Lunchtime — some more sandwiches. I will miss these catered lunches. I swear I don’t usually get this much free food.
3:00pm — We finish a little earlier today, which is perfect because I feel wrecked. My housemate invites me to the gym when I get home, but I opt for a lie-down and doomscroll instead.
4:30pm — State of Origin is on tonight and we’re having some friends over to watch the game and make pizzas. My friends are bringing toppings, and I’m on dough duty, so I pop to the shops to buy flour as I’ve run out ($1.20). While I’m there, I buy some blue cheese from Harris Farm Market because I really want some on my pizza and I doubt anyone will bring any since it’s controversial ($4.70). $5.90
5:00pm — I prep the dough and leave it to rest. While it’s resting, I do a little bit of sewing while I wait for everyone to arrive.
6:00pm — My friends arrive and we have a nice time making pizzas. Everyone has a few drinks, but I sit out as I was drinking last night. I’m shocked at how many pizza bases a dollar’s worth of flour makes (six, to be precise!).
8:00pm — The game starts. I don’t understand the rules and I’m really just there for the good times and the food. Queensland wins. Go the Maroons.
10:00pm — I’m so happy to finally be in bed. My social battery is running quite low.
Daily total: $5.90
Day 4
6:30am — Back to the gym this morning! How good is not being hung over?!
8:20am — I’m also back in the office today, so I get ready quickly after the gym and catch the bus to work ($4). I stop at the markets that are outside work every Thursday and buy a large long black since I haven’t bought any other coffees this week ($6). $10
10:00am — I have a fairly chill morning catching up on things after a couple of days away from my desk.
12:00pm — Since we made six pizzas last night, there are plenty of leftovers for lunch today. I go and eat it in the park alone and scroll TikTok since I’ve had two full-on days of socialising with work people.
1:00pm — My pay comes through, and I pay off the last $65 towards some shoes I bought using Paypal’s Buy Now Pay Later service. Then I pay off $81.59 of my Afterpay debt which was spent on clothes and gym shoes. I am really bad for using BNPL services to buy random things for myself, and it definitely builds up quickly, but it’s a habit I am working to break. $146.59
4:15pm — I finish up with work and catch the bus home ($4). I quickly shower and get ready to leave the house again. $4
5:10pm — I drive to my laser hair removal appointment. This doesn’t cost me anything because I bought a bulk pack of sessions when they were on sale.
6:00pm — From my laser appointment, I drive to a ramen shop where I’m meeting a friend for dinner. We catch up and enjoy some delicious karaage and spicy ramen ($55.70) — my absolute fave! I pay because it was her birthday recently, and I promised her a birthday meal. $55.70
6:45pm — After dinner, we need to go to IGA to buy something so I can get my parking ticket validated because I used their car park. After wandering around for a bit, I settle on a bottle of orange juice. $4.95
7:00pm — My friend and I head back to mine, so we can plan our trip to Asia — we’re going to Thailand and Vietnam in November. We look at some hotel options for Bangkok and then watch a Thailand episode of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, feeling inspired.
10:00pm — After another busy day without much downtime. I’m exhausted and it’s time for bed.
Daily total: $221.24
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