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 copywriter working in tech who makes $158,600 per year and spends some of it on a very expensive locksmith visit.
This Money Diary was written in 2026.
If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email. Please note: We are legally unable to publish any diaries that have been written with the use of AI.
Interested in taking our latest Money Diaries survey? We’d love to hear your thoughts here.
Occupation: Copywriter
Industry: Tech
Age: 37
Location: San Jose, CA
Salary: $158,600
Joint Income/Financial Setup: I have a partner, L., with a base salary of $180,000. So combined, we make $338,600 + RSUs. (These numbers are all gross pay).
Assets: We just bought a home together!
Debt: $1 million (our mortgage).
Paycheck Amount (2x month): $3,364.28
Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $3,000 for my portion; $4,000 for my partner’s portion. We own and have no roommates.
Monthly mortgage payment: $6,352.85
HOA fees: $739
Cell phone bill: $171 (split with my brother)
GEICO car insurance: $76.36
Adobe portfolio: $9.99 (to host my copywriting portfolio)
Peacock subscription (yearly): $55.67
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, absolutely. There was no question that I would go to college to earn a bachelor’s degree. My parents are refugees from Vietnam, and they wanted us to have a better chance at life.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
The primary conversations my parents had with me about money were about saving, not spending; about always getting discounts, always buying things on sale, or getting them for free. That was all I knew about money growing up. They didn’t educate me further on finances beyond that, and I don’t blame them; they were navigating America for the first time, too.
What was your first job and why did you get it?
My very first job was scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins when I was 16. I think I just wanted to make my own money because I didn’t have a consistent allowance from my parents. If I wanted something, they would have to approve of it and get it for me, or I’d wait for them to get it for my birthday or Christmas.
Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes, absolutely. Some of my core memories around money are of my parents arguing over money or of them making me aware of their money troubles. My earliest memory of money was of them getting into a fight over $100 that my dad sent over to his relatives in Vietnam. So at a very early age, I learned that money was very scarce and valuable.
Do you worry about money now?
I do, but I’m trying to be better about it. It’s hard not to carry the values you grew up with into adulthood. I’ve talked to my therapist about this after buying the house, since it’s the most I’ve ever spent on my cost of living. I’m having a hard time knowing that I’m not saving as much money every month, on top of paying for the hidden expenses that come with a house.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I became financially responsible for myself when I turned 25 and moved out of my parents’ house into an in-law unit in San Francisco. Since my parents had provided things for me for so long, it made me realize that I took a lot of little things for granted, like sponges, soap, trash bags, and even toilet paper! Those things really add up.
I have a bit of a financial safety net for the future. My parents own their home and will split it between my siblings and me, but I won’t get that money unless we all decide to sell it after my parents pass away (and I have a feeling my brother will not want to sell it).
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No, but I have received a very big monetary gift of $10,000 before from my family.
Day One: Friday
9:00 a.m. — It’s Friday, and I’m working from home since I only have to work in the office once a week. I make coffee for myself and my partner, L., and read through some emails. I’ve always got a ton of notifications in the morning because most of my colleagues are in the UK, so they’ve been working since midnight my time. It’s a bit overwhelming to feel like I’m behind, but I remind myself that they know I’m in a different time zone, and it’s to be expected that my responses will come hours later.
5:30 p.m. — I’m feeling a bit hungry, so I decide to drive through Wendy’s to pick up some spicy chicken nuggets with ranch sauce. People are sleeping on these nuggets! $4.10
6 p.m. — I head to my figure skating lesson. It’s been a dream of mine since I was five years old to take figure skating lessons, but my parents didn’t have the money to pay for them when I was a kid. So, I began taking ice-skating lessons about a month ago at a local rink. I go twice a week, and the lessons come out to about $23 each (which I’ve already paid for at the beginning of the season). I’m really getting better at my backward crossovers, and I’m feeling my inner child heal! So I’d say this is priceless.
8 p.m. — I haven’t been dancing in a few months, so when I saw that a Britney Spears tribute band would be playing at a bar, I knew I had to go! Britney’s album was the first I EVER bought, and I never got to see her live because she canceled her tour one month before I was supposed to go see her during her residency. Who needs Britney Spears in Vegas when we have Britney at home? $52
9 p.m. — We’re at a bar, so of course we had to get a few drinks! My partner, L. paid ($30) because I paid for the tickets.
9:30 p.m. — We also got tacos right outside the bar. They were freaking delicious. Partner, L. paid ($20), and I had a bite.
Daily Total: $56.10
Day Two: Saturday
11 a.m. — I get up late because it’s a Saturday, and because I have no kids and no dogs to take care of. I’m feeling hungry from last night, so I pop right up and make tuna on toast for my partner, L. and me. I use two cans of Fishwife tuna, mix them with Kewpie mayo, and put them on some toasted sourdough bread. It is so simple, but so delicious. I also make L. a hot Americano using our espresso machine.
3 p.m. — I’m out running errands (returning things and buying things), and I’m at Whole Foods. I also check to see if any of their prepared foods are 50% off, and just my luck! There is a tasty, curry chicken wrap for half off. I buy that and a bag of pita bread. $10.63
5 p.m. — My partner, L. decides to rent the moving truck today so we can bring more stuff to the new house tomorrow. Mind you, it is pouring rain, and we live on the third floor — no elevators or escalators! I agree to start moving (because I’m a ride-or-die chick), and we’ve got the truck. L. also buys a few more moving boxes, too.
8 p.m. — We are famished after moving some boxes up and down in the rain. I pull out some frozen Persian kotlets (meat-and-potato patties) I made two weeks ago and fry them. We put them in the pita bread I bought earlier and douse them with ketchup. Again, such a simple dish, yet so delicious.
Daily Total: $10.63
Day Three: Sunday
11 a.m. — I’m a big proponent of making breakfast at home. So this morning I steam and fry some frozen potstickers for L., and me. He eats them in bed while I eat mine at the counter.
2:30 p.m. — We meet L.’s family at our new house (after driving through some rain) and go out to a nearby pizza place. His cousin and uncle are in town, so they join us too. I use L.’s card to pay for the pizzas.
6 p.m. — We haven’t moved into the place fully just yet, and have already run into some issues with the house! L. wants to change the locks on the door that have been there since the ’80s and install smart locks. He thought he could do it himself, and, well, long story short, we had to call a locksmith and do the job for two doors. It cost us $650, which L. paid for because I didn’t want these locks in the first place.
9 p.m. — Finally, after the lock-ness nightmare, we pack our stuff and head back to where our bed still resides. We were not expecting to be at the new house this late, so we were both in a grouchy mood as we drive back. Once home, we immediately get ready for bed because it’s been quite the day; we’re exhausted and know we have work tomorrow.
Daily Total: $0
Day Four: Monday
1 p.m. — As we’re packing, we realize we need even more boxes. So I go to U-Haul and buy more boxes. Since this is L.’s apartment that we’re packing up, I use his credit card to pay for it.
4 p.m. — There’s this soft-serve ice cream place near where I live, and they introduce limited-time flavors now and then. This week, they have two new flavors: Rolo and raspberry! I just had to go try them. So I go through their drive-through and get both flavors in a medium to bring home to eat. $8
6 p.m. — I have ice skating lessons again! This time, we’re learning how to do a three-turn on two feet, then one foot. It is very difficult not to fall. Some of my classmates ate ice. $23
7:30 p.m. — I’m trying to cook everything in the fridge and refrigerator, so I take some chicken breast and frozen vegetables and make a meal out of it. Pro tip: Turmeric elevates everything!
Daily Total: $31
Day Five: Tuesday
2:00 p.m. — I really don’t feel like working today. I’m feeling a bit lethargic and in need of a mid-day pick-me-up. So I decide to walk around the mall with boba tea in hand. I went through Macy’s to check out their couches and rugs; I didn’t see anything I liked. $8.15
3:00 p.m. — On my way home from the mall, I decide to get an In-N-Out burger because why not! The drive-through line was the shortest I’ve seen it. I get a double single with an extra toasted bun, extra lettuce, whole grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard. I wait to get home to reheat it because I like my food extra hot. $6.56
7 p.m. — It’s dinnertime again! And since we’ve packed away all our cooking utensils, we pop a CookUnity meal in the microwave and eat it for dinner. L. paid for these. They come out to about $11.88 for 16 meals, and these are the best subscription microwave meals I’ve tried! We’ve been using them for almost a year now during weeks we know we would be too busy to cook and go out to eat.
Daily Total: $14.71
Day Six: Wednesday
10 a.m. — My thumb has been bothering me for about a month, so I finally decide to have a doctor look at it. She decides I need to get an X-ray and thinks it’s either a fracture or arthritis. Apparently, it’s very common for women my age to start getting arthritis! I’m hoping it’s nothing too serious. I pay the $15 copay. $15
1 p.m. — Before getting my X-rays, I wanted to make sure my insurance would cover them. I have this horror story of when I fractured my pinky, went into the ER, and I had a $4,000 bill that my insurance didn’t cover! It was enough for me to never want another X-ray. Thankfully, I was all cleared to get it with a $15 copay. I was surprised it only took about 20 minutes.
1:30 p.m. — After having a health scare, I certainly deserve a treat, don’t I? I go back to UME tea (same as the day before) because they’re doing a BOGO on their Mango Twilight drink. I drink one and save the other for L. $8.10
Daily Total: $23.10
Day Seven: Thursday
10 a.m. — It’s the morning, and I make L. a latte. I’m working on my latte art, and it’s not going well, but I’m going to keep trying. I make a hot white chocolate matcha latte for myself and start looking at work emails.
12 p.m. — It’s lunchtime, and I don’t really want to eat another CookUnity meal or the chicken meal I made, so I decide to get some banh mi. I buy two: cold cut and BBQ pork. I’ve never tried this place before, so I’m excited to see how their banh mis taste. I really want to get one of the many milk tea options they have, too, but I remind myself that I’ve already treated myself with boba twice this week. $22.33
2 p.m. — It’s my turn to pay for the CookUnity meals, so I choose our meals for next week, and the charge processes. I usually cook, but since we are moving, I won’t have time to — after all, all of our stuff is in boxes. I opt for the 16-meal plan because it’s the best deal at $11.88 per meal. Did I mention that these meals are so good in a pinch? (Not sponsored) $190.08
6 p.m. — My friend, B. texts me about the move, and I’m reminded I still owe her my share of the Peacock subscription (no ads). It’s split between three people, so my portion is $55.67 for the year. $55.67
Daily Total: $268.08
The Breakdown
Conclusion:
I’m realizing how much I’m spending on treating myself, especially on sweet treats. But, I think it’s worth it to get me through the workday and the workweek.
Money Diaries are meant to reflect an individual’s experience and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more Money Diaries, click here.
Do you have a Money Diary you’d like to share? Submit it with us here.
Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here or email us here.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
A Week In Washington, D.C. On A $116,000 Salary
A Week In Portland, OR On A $108,000 Salary
A Week In New York, NY On A $90,395 Salary
from Refinery29 https://ift.tt/hjPF4EM
via IFTTT
