Overview
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.
This week: A doctoral student and assistant manager at a wellness studio working in clinical psychology who makes $22,223 per year and spends it on a self-care splurge! (I still feel a little guilty about it).
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Occupation: Student and assistant manager at a wellness studio
Industry: Psychology
Age: 31
Location: Arlington, VA
Salary: $22,223
Joint Income/Financial Setup: My partner and I recently moved in together! We don’t currently combine finances. It’s new, so we’re still figuring everything out. He covers the utilities for our apartment and our monthly Costco run, too. I cover the weekly produce run to Trader Joe’s. We split the rent 50/50, which I typically cover with my student loans as I’m not earning a liveable wage.
Assets:
Rollover 401(k): $65,996.71
Employer 401(k): $1,297.21 (the wellness studio I work for doesn’t offer employees a 401(k) match, which I find disrespectful!)
Brokerage: $1,561.89
Brokerage (Race to $100K): $175.96 — I found r/TheRaceTo100K and I’ve been obsessed! I opened this brokerage to help reach this goal, and I want to rollover my funds from my original brokerage account to this one as the new account enables partial share buying, and my original one doesn’t.
Roth IRA: $16,546.06
Health Savings Account: $8,324.17
Checking Account (1): $412.67
Checking Account (2): $224.54 (I sublet my apartment in NYC and I have my tenant’s payments come into this account, so it doesn’t get commingled with my personal finances).
Savings Account (1): $134.16 (This is for sinking funds, but it’s more like limited funds for now).
Savings Account (2): $385.05 (This is what I call my “Bad Bitch Account” and I typically put my emergency fund here, but again, it’s more like limited funds).
Debt: $450,000 (and counting!)
Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $890
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $1,420 starting this month! Prior to this, I was paying $2,600 for a one-bedroom in Arlington, VA. I now live with my partner, and we rent a one-bedroom apartment together.
Loan Payments: $621 — if I pay the minimums on my credit card debt, which is approximately $19,000 across several credit cards that I racked up during the last year of my master’s program. I aim to pay ~$750 per month. I’m currently using the “snowball method” [you aim to pay off your smallest debts first] to pay off this debt and it’s estimated I will achieve this by August 2029. My personal goal though is to have it paid off before I graduate my doctoral program.
Cell phone: $25 (I have Visible Wireless, and it’s the best!)
Hulu: $1.99
HBOMax: $5.49
Apple Music: $4.99 (I’m a Spotify girl at heart, but they discontinued my student discount because “it’s been over four years”. I’m sorry I’m in school until forever).
Therapy: $120
Groceries: $400 (This may change now that B. and I are living together and splitting things).
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?
My father always pressured me to attend college, but he was very much in and out of my life growing up. My mom wanted my siblings and me to go to college, but she didn’t have much experience. I suspect she dropped out, but I’m not sure; she rarely talks about it. Either way, when it came time for me to complete my college applications, my father was nowhere to be found, and my mother was so overwhelmed by the process that she would have an emotional breakdown whenever I asked for help. That left me at 16 years old to navigate the entire process by myself. In hindsight, I wish I had gone to a state school, but I did a pre-college program at NYU and was determined to return to New York City for my undergraduate degree. I ended up graduating with $30,000 in student loan debt, which felt like a ridiculous amount of money at the time.
After five years of work and setting myself up pretty well, I decided to return to school to become a psychologist. I had saved $20,000 in cash and thought that would get me through a two-year master’s program. Long story short, I ended up at one of the most expensive universities in the country and ended up with $200,000 of student loan debt and was ineligible to sit for licensure as a mental health professional. In hindsight, it wasn’t a smart decision, but honestly, I have no regrets, as it was the best two years of my life.
So two years and $200,000 later, I still needed to obtain a license to practice psychology. In my first round of PhD/PsyD applications, I got two interviews and one acceptance. I didn’t want to try my luck again, so I’m at a NOT funded doctoral program, and here we are $419,000 in student loan debt and counting. I believe ~$85,000 is just accumulated interest.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
My father, an immigrant, was always ranting about how we need to save money but never actually taught us anything about saving or investing. My mother is the type of person to die with $100,000 in credit card debt as a “you gotcha” to credit companies. Growing up, I would see my mom with a huge stack of credit cards. Now that I know better, I worry about her retirement plan. My father isn’t in a great financial place either and basically says he’s broke any time I ask for anything.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
I got my first job as a hostess at TGI Fridays at 16 to pay for gas for my car. I got a car as soon as I turned 16, mainly because my mom needed help driving my siblings to and from after-school activities. My money was mine, and I managed it independently, which was nice. At 16, I also accumulated a $3,000 debt to my university for my pre-college program, which I paid off in installments from age 17 to about 21.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes, all the time. I was in charge of making “payment arrangements” for my mom for all the utilities in the house starting around the age of 13. Money was always tight growing up, and I didn’t play many recreational sports because of it. I also used my money from my hosting job to pay for my tennis and cheerleading camps. If I couldn’t afford it, I would rarely ask my mom to pay for it.
Do you worry about money now?
Yes! I have been in denial about my student loan debt. I honestly thought I would practice abroad, but now that I’m in this relationship, I may be staying in the US after I graduate…which leads me to ask: how the hell am I going to pay off nearly half a million dollars? What would my monthly payment be? $5,000? My entire paycheck? It’s soul-crushing, but at this point I have to finish. I can’t have all of this debt and not even be a doctor at the end of it.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I would honestly say as soon as I graduated college and perhaps even as early as high school. If I truly begged my parents for weeks on end, they would perhaps give me some financial support, but it’s not even worth the emotional energy at this point. As a psychologist in training, I have learned that I was a parentified child of two narcissists who don’t have the capacity to emotionally support me but will be elated to attend my graduation and brag to all of their friends that I’m a doctor due to their fantastic parenting.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No, but I’ve been lucky enough to inherit intergenerational ~*`trauma`*~.
Day One: Saturday
6:33 a.m. — Good morning! I’m a bit of a morning person, but 6:33 a.m. on Saturday is criminal, I must admit. I’m babysitting for an event today, so I get an early start to the day. I hop in the shower with a shower cap for the first time in ages. I usually wear mini braids and enjoy the steam fluffing up my hair, but I’m doing a braid-out for the first time this year, and the shower steam is a no-go.
7:21 a.m. — My hair turns out amazing! I’m so happy. Today is going to be a good day. I think I can do a load of laundry before leaving for work ($2.25 prepaid on the laundry app). I’m making breakfast of scrambled eggs with green onions, hash browns, and mango slices for me and my boyfriend, B., who’s waking up. $2.25
8:44 a.m. — Laundry is done! I’m now running late for work. I always wake up incredibly early, and then, for my magic trick, I’m always rushing at the last minute. Thankfully, B. helps with hanging up my clothes to dry on the balcony. B. and I have been dating for a year, and we just moved in together a couple of weeks ago. It’s been great, and I’m so happy to have him.
9:30 a.m. — I arrive early to the event! No one is here yet, so I sit outside the door and get eaten alive by mosquitoes while I read Like Mother Like Mother by Susan Rieger. I’m obsessed with this novel; it’s soooo good!
11:21 a.m. — We have four children for this event and three sitters, thank goodness! The last time I worked this event, it was seven children and two sitters. It was a circus, and I was the biggest clown. This go-around is much more manageable. We take the children outside to the playground. One of the children is absolutely adorable, and he has somehow glued himself to me. He’s over the playground and is now insisting we sit down so he can bear hug me and sleep. While I’m stuck here being snuggled to death by the cutest four-year-old, I check my notifications, and I have an email from my school outlining the procedures for our big comprehensive exam. Ugh, I’m going to have to study once I’m done with this event.
12:45 p.m. — I love working this event because they cater the best food! After feeding the children, I make myself a plate of rice and peas, macaroni and cheese, plantains, and cabbage. It’s delicious!
2:15 p.m. — The event is over, and the company invites us to take home some of the catered food. I grab a container and fill it with rice and peas and mac and cheese. I then think of B. and grab a second to-go container and fill it with jerk chicken and cabbage. I’ve been a pescatarian for nearly two decades, but B. eats all the meats. I’m sure he’ll appreciate the jerk chicken. My boss is so nice and gives the other sitter and me a ride to the metro. We chat about good events to work, and she confirms that this is one of the best!
2:33 p.m. — Wow, I can’t believe how fast I got home! I love my new apartment. I change into an oversized shirt from my friend’s 30th birthday. It reads “D’s Renaissance Act 30.” I’m kinda obsessed with it. I double-check to see if the laundry from this morning is dry, and then I attempt to start a second load. Sadly, someone else is using the washer, and they have six minutes left. I set a timer for nine minutes and pray they’re not doing back to back loads. I watch a YouTube video as I fold my laundry. This will constitute my “rest and relaxation” break before I start studying for the rest of the evening.
2:49 p.m — Ugh, I have to refill my laundry card. $10
3:42 p.m. — B. came home and surprised me with a custom notebook from Papier for my new clinic rotation this year. It’s also the anniversary of the day we met. I feel so lucky to have him in my life. He’s so sweet!
5:18 p.m. — I’m completely overwhelmed and must now take a break. B. heads to the corner store to get surfsides, and I veg out on the couch and pull up our dinner recipe for tonight. We’re having a shrimp Mexican street corn skillet! It’ll be my first time making this recipe. I’m so excited. I also decided to purchase a new running sports bra from Lululemon. After doing laundry and bleaching my white bra for the millionth time, I came to peace with the fact that the stains from my maroon DC Half 2025 T-shirt are never coming out. My friend gave me a $31 gift card for my 31st birthday, and I need to use it before I turn 32 in a couple of months. With my wellness instructor discount and the gift card the $78 bra comes down to exactly $31.01 it seems like a sign. $31.01
7:32 p.m. — The skillet comes out soooo good, and B. even has seconds. I begrudgingly return to studying. There are fireworks in our neighbourhood tonight and I really wanted to go, but I would feel too unprepared for my comprehensive exam this week if we went out. For my consolation prize I choose to work on compiling my notes to take into the exam. They’re very generous and are allowing us 50 pages of notes. It’s mindless and I can do it while watching my favorite YouTuber.
9:10 p.m. — I finished putting everything together for the first study guide, and it came to a whomping 73 pages. Shesh! Thank god for front and back printing! While putting this together, I realized I really need to review my neuroanatomy specifically as it relates to ADHD, autism, and PTSD. I also want to review everything to see what’s repetitive (and can be cut) and maybe put together a quick annotated bibliography for my go-to researchers and studies. This will also likely change a lot the day before the exam depending on the clinical case we are provided. And I will likely put together another 5-10 pages of my thoughts and theories as it relates to the case, so I really want to get my page count down well under 70. I think it’s possible. Plus, I don’t want to have too much material and be completely overwhelmed!
9:35 p.m. — B. and I decide to watch a scary movie: Watchers on HBOMax! B. also thinks we should kill the bottle of White Claw mango vodka I got on this day, one year ago, to celebrate our meeting anniversary. We met on a party bus, and it’s tacky, but I took the bottle I contributed back because otherwise the bus driver was going to throw everything out! We take a shot, I have a popsicle, he has another surfside and we start the movie.
11:01 p.m. — We both fell asleep on the couch! We transferred over to the bed and knock out.
Daily Total: $43.26
Day Two: Tuesday
6:15 a.m. — I wake up naturally. I’m a morning person after all! I meditate in bed and start reading Like Mother, Like Mother. B. is surprisingly up and energized. He’s the definition of a golden retriever boyfriend.
7:35 a.m. — I shower and do my skincare. I can’t remember if it’s okay to mix AHA/BHA with hyaluronic acid? A quick Google search says it’s fine, so I use my COSRX AHA/BHA toner because I have a blemish forming on my forehead! I finish with the COSRX hyaluronic acid daily moisturizer. I put on some comfy clothes and debate what I’m going to have for breakfast….
8:01 a.m. — I land on chocolate chip waffles and scrambled eggs with green onions. It’s delicious! In hindsight, I probably should have added some fruit or something, but oh well. I make J., my cat, breakfast as well and sit down to watch some YouTube videos while I eat. B. has left on his long run for the week. I’m running another marathon again this year and attempting to peer pressure B. to run it with me! I have already signed up for the race, and he’s on the fence about it.
9:34 a.m. — Ugh, I have to start studying again. I’ve been watching natural hair videos on YouTube this morning and committed to ordering some shea butter and flaxseeds. My hair honestly thrives with shea butter as a leave-in, and I want to try making my own flaxseed hair gel. I check my iHerb cart and realize I have a Beauty of Joseon skin serum in it. Randomly, I decide to compare the price to Beauty of Joseon’s website and see that their serums are 50% off! I buy white shea butter, yellow shea butter, flaxseeds, and SOME BY MI pimple patches from iHerb and I’m very tempted to buy the serums from Beauty of Joseon, but I’ll hold off for now. Maybe as a post studying reward. $31
10:22 a.m. — I finally start studying. Being a doctoral student is not fun.
12:21 p.m. — It’s time for a study break! I warm up the Mexican street corn with shrimp skillet on the stove. While that’s heating I cut up an apple and pack it along with the leftover mac and cheese and rice and peas for dinner tonight. I turn Tubi on and watch a random episode of The Powerpuff Girls. Mojo Jojo is their babysitter for the night. The only way to get through doctoral programs is to truly get into touch with and heal your inner child.
1:24 p.m. — I wake up from an unforeseen nap.
2:07 p.m. — Take the bus to the wellness studio. I pay with my monthly unlimited metro card.
4:30 p.m. — I’ve finished teaching the first of three classes for the day. I eat a very early dinner but only about half of it because I don’t want to feel too full. I have a bit of down time before my next class so I work on my planner for the week. I have my comprehensive exams next week and it’s really hitting me now. I also realize I need to pay for therapy, drinks with friends, and a birthday brunch, so I decided not to buy the Beauty of Joeson serums.
7:12 p.m. — Nearly done with this shift. Just one more class to teach!
9:22 p.m. — After doing my evening skincare I realize I haven’t had an eye cream in years and I need a new face wash. Plus I learned there was a onsite glitch where people were getting 50% off everything and I missed out!!! I’m getting my skincare. It’s my consultation prize. I get the Tinted Mineral Dayscreen SPF30 in 43W (I hope it matches! I’m also so weary of ordering complexion products online), Revive Under Eye Patch Duo (patches and eye serum), Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser, and the Glow Serum (my favorite!) plus for being over $50 I get a trail size of the Dynasty Cream, full size of the Revive Serum: Ginseng + Snail Mucin, full size of the Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Alpha-Arbutin, and with the eye duo I got a free gift key chain of Glow Knotty which I think is a key chain SPF. Honestly, this feels like such a deal! $70
11:09 p.m. — Finished Watchers! It was pretty good. I thought it was going to be about witches, which it wasn’t, but it was close enough. I immediately pass out for the night as soon as my head hits the pillow.
Daily Total: $101
Day Three: Wednesday
6:30 a.m. — B. and I slowly wake up. I feel bad because my alarm goes off at 5:15 a.m., and I always sleep through it, but he gets up and gets it lol. It’s mainly for when I take 6 a.m. or 6:30 a.m. wellness classes, which is usually a few times a week, but I honestly don’t remember the last time I went to an early yoga class…anyways! B. gets ready for work, and I put on some comfy clothes. I don’t have anything to do today besides study for my exam.
8:15 a.m. — I fold some laundry and decide that for today’s unpacking-and-settling-in task I’m going to unpack the books for the bookshelf. That should get rid of like 3-4 boxes. I check Facebook Marketplace to see if I have any bites on my couch. We currently have both my couch and B.’s couch in the living room. I’ve gotten a few lowball offers, but I’m staying firm with $350 for my beautiful pink couch — I honestly don’t want to sell it! But B.’s couch is bigger and makes more sense for the space. Plus we kept my bed, TV, and dining room table so it’s only fair.
8:56 a.m. — …well, I must admit I’m disappointed that unpacking the books didn’t take longer. I change into my French Connection maxi skirt and an athleisure tank top (I felt like a bum before in my running shorts and Barbie sweatshirt). I’m weirdly not hungry, so I have two Aussie Bites and a cup of green tea for breakfast. I feed J. his breakfast and reluctantly start studying.
11:34 a.m. — Finished the morning study session with one last practice question with my study group. I honestly feel like I’m the least serious and a little not-so-smart in comparison to everyone else in this group. But hey, just like in tennis, it works better in study groups when the other people are smarter than you are! I make a mental note to review all of our study group questions and compile all of the things I missed that they commented on as a “do forget to consider” portion of my notes. I’m a lot hungrier now, so I make avocado toast with Kewpie mayo and dill-seasoned smoked salmon, scrambled eggs with cotija cheese, and a cup of freshly sliced mango on the side. I meant to save half of the mango for B. but it’s just too good, so I eat it all.
12:38 p.m. — After eating and doing some light chores around the house, I decide to head to CVS to get a binder, so I can put my notes in for the comprehensive exams. At CVS, the binders are $10, which is more than I’m willing to pay. I found a tri-pocket folder that’s perfect and in budget. It’s $6; I have a $4 coupon. I pay cash because after this weekend I’m 99% sure my checking account is overdrawn. $2
1:19 p.m. — I pack up my things and head out for my afternoon study session. It’s a huge food hall with plenty of seating. It’s so spacious I never feel pressured to buy something because there are spaces designated for the restaurants, but also big communal spaces that aren’t attached to a particular restaurant. Honestly, I’m annoyed I pay $90,000/year in tuition and every year our university library is closed for the summer. There should be a major discount on summer tuition because of this, but I digress… I realize I forgot my headphones. Ugh. Huge failure. I double back to get them. And now I’m officially ready to lock in!
4:15 p.m. — Solid study session. I head back home to relax a bit, detangle and rebraid my hair. My shea butter and flaxseeds are already here! That was so fast.
6:05 p.m. — Time to head out for run club! I tried and failed to get B. to come with me. I run with a new friend. We run at a similar pace and talk the entire time. This is my second time running with her, and I love meeting new people. It’s hard to make friends as an adult! We get popsicles at the end of run club, and I head home. Solid three miles!
8:22 p.m. — Shower, and B. and I eat the leftover Mexican street corn. Even better the third time around! I put on the new episode of the House of the Dragon while B. plays video games.
Details
11:00 p.m. — I head to bed — I’m pooped.
Daily Total: $2
Day Four: Thursday
5:15 a.m. — Alarm goes off, and I go back to sleep.
6:30 a.m. — B.’s alarm goes off, and we slowly wake up. I head out for a run while he’s eating breakfast.
8:32 a.m. — I do a solid 3.75 miles this morning and make a coffee/chocolate protein shake for breakfast. Today is the start of my big comprehensive exam, and I’m excited. Maybe I’m nervous, but I’m choosing excitement. I head to school, and a handful of us are waiting for 9 a.m. to hit so we can get our data and get started.
12:07 p.m. — I take a study break to make soup for lunch. Today it’s the garden vegetable soup from Trader Joe’s. I add in some orzo pasta and a slice of avocado toast to make it a bit heartier. I can’t be bothered to cook right now. I feel like every second I need to be in preparation for tomorrow! That being said, I still take a solid hour lunch break and watch another episode of The Bear. Particularly, because this show always makes me anxious and I can’t afford to fall asleep watching something too comforting.
12:48 p.m. — I can’t even finish the episode. Back to studying!
2:10 p.m. — Laptops dying so I take another 30-minute break. I turn The Bear back on and laaaay.
2:46 p.m. — Back at it.
3:44 p.m. — I check my email and notice that my bank rejected my $417 partial (and final!) rent payment to my old apartment. Ugh, there will be a return payment fee. It costs so much money to be poor! I made the payment on Friday (payday) before all the shopping this weekend, but I guess it took a few days to process. I also realize I forgot my therapy appointment today, which sucks because the missed session fee is more expensive than my actual sessions. Ugh. I snack on Oikos High Protein Yogurt and keep studying. I’ll deal with all of this next week. This exam is far more important.
7:38 p.m. — B. brings Tiger Dumplings home for dinner! My absolute favorite. I pack up and head to the wellness studio to teach my late class. I’m “technically” OOO for this week, but I can’t afford to work zero hours as I have no PTO, no sick days, and very little savings.
10:02 p.m. — Finished at the studio! The bus comes just as I’m leaving, and I’m home so quickly. Shower, and then bed — tomorrow is a big day (one of two).
Daily Total: $0
Day Five: Friday
5:15 a.m. — I’m up and off to my 6 a.m. wellness class.
7:20 a.m. — I absolutely love it when I start my day with some movement. My entire body was snapping, crackling and poppin’ in that class, and my low back pain has vanished. Today is the big day, so I shower, then pack a lunch that could feed four schoolchildren and head to campus.
12:58 p.m. — I have been taking breaks every 30 minutes to just step outside and breathe in some fresh air. The exam isn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but I did forget one of my printouts, so I’m winging one of the questions. Qué Será, Será.
3:17 p.m. — I finish and head home!
4:45 p.m. — We head over to B.’s mom’s house and have dinner with her. His mom makes shrimp, salmon, mashed potatoes, and fried plantains — yum! It’s so nice; she’s so sweet!
9:10 p.m. — B. and I attempt to watch the new version of MacBeth on Apple TV, but we quickly lose interest and decide to head to bed early.
Daily Total: $0
Day Six: Saturday
6:30 a.m. — Snooze!!!
7:47 a.m. — I’m so sleepy and so close to the end of my book, Like Mother, Like Mother, so I decide to read in bed while B. packs for his trip. He’s heading off to a bachelor party for the weekend, so I’ll have the apartment all to myself.
8:41 a.m. — I head to campus to pick up the data for the LAST day of my comprehensive exam. I’m so excited to get this over with. I pick up the data and chat with my classmates who are also here to collect their data packets. I ended up finishing Like Mother, Like Mother this morning, so I drop it off at the library. Every few months I go to the library to get 6-7 books and just slowly read them. This keeps me reading because I always have my next book on my nightstand. But because I do hog them a bit, I make an effort to return them as soon as I finish them.
10:20 a.m. — B. is not a traveler and is struggling with his suitcase, so I tell him to use my carry-on instead. It’s much larger than the one he has. He makes us breakfast while I study. This morning he makes scrambled eggs, avocado toast with smoked salmon, and hash browns.
12:10 p.m. — B. is off for his long weekend! I take a study break and moisturize my braids.
4:25 p.m. — Honestly…I feel really prepared for the exam tomorrow. My study group and I discussed our strategy for each day of the exam and I’ve just about finished our “preparation checklist.” I check Facebook because I’m supposedly selling my old couch today. I never trust strangers on the internet, so I have a backup buyer just in case!
5:20 p.m. — The buyer came! And I got $350 for my old couch. I decided to pay my gas bill. I also want to pay some of my past due rent, but I have a credit card payment due in three days, so I need to sit down and do some “creative financing” to figure out how I’m going to pay everything. I’ll do that later…. $27
9:18 p.m. — I need to sit down and catch up on all my journaling. When I was living by myself I was really consistent about writing every morning and every night before bed. Now that B. and I live together I need to figure out how to balance it all. I think I just get swept up in the excitement of living together and completely forget my hobbies. But not tonight! I take all my journals, sticker books, markers, and sprocket with me to bed and go to town!
Daily Total: $27
Day Seven: Sunday
5:15 a.m. — Hit snooze (big mistake!)
5:25 a.m. — I’m awake and scrambling to make it to the 6 a.m. wellness class. I miss the 5:35 a.m. bus, but luckily I can still make it in time if I walk. The class is great and just what I need to start my day.
7:47 a.m. — I pack my bag and make sure I have everything for the last day of my comprehensive exams. Sadly, the printer at the studio ran out of ink, so I spent extra time trying to work out how to print on campus.
9:08 a.m. — Made it to campus and printed my notes! Unfortunately, I realize that I have forgotten my packet with my clinical data at home. It’s annotated, and I really don’t want to waste time re-reading and re-annotating blank clinical data. I make the decision to go home and get it. I should be back at 9:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m. — I really called it on the time! I’m back with my clinical data and starting my FINAL comprehensive exam.
12:10 p.m. — This is soooooo hard. I’m fucked.
4:17 p.m. — I finished! That was exhausting. A few of us have plans to meet for a drink after so I head over to the bar. I’m telling myself my budget is $30….
5:58 p.m. — So…I ended up ordering three drinks and a pizza. It comes out to $47, which isn’t too bad considering the drinks were $6 on Happy Hour. I’m full and happy. I’m also so proud of my cohort. We really did that! $47
6:30 p.m. — I’m home and put the salmon I was supposed to cook for dinner in the fridge. I check my phone and notice my $30 weekly bitcoin purchase went through. I set this up like eight years ago, and honestly my bitcoin nest egg has really supported me throughout my graduate journey. I’m not rich by any means (I actually do have a friend who owns one bitcoin, and I’m lowkey jealous!), but when I started my doctorate program it was worth ~$10,000, and it helped A LOT. Anywho, I put on random YouTube videos, and I pass out by 7. $30
11:00 p.m. — I move from the couch to bed! Goodnight!
Daily Total: $77
The Breakdown
Conclusion:
I actually loved doing this! And I want to do another to reflect on my spending as my career progresses and I actually start making money again. I’m a long-time Money Diaries lurker and very happy to give back to the community in this way.
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