Money Diaries: A Week in the Life of a Programme Manager
Exploring Financial Habits: A Week in the Life of a Programme Manager
Welcome to Money Diaries, where we delve into the often-unspoken subject of finances. We invite individuals to share their spending habits over a week, meticulously documenting every expense.
This Week’s Diary Entry:
“I am a 30-year-old programme manager employed at a university in South Wales. I relocated here for my studies and have since made it my home, leaving behind the Midlands. My role is fulfilling and offers an excellent work-life balance; I highly recommend pursuing a career in higher education due to its generous leave policies and other benefits.”
“My partner, D, and I purchased our first house 18 months ago after being together for five years. We were fortunate enough to secure an attractive fixed interest rate of 3% for five years. When it comes to finances, I tend to be quite prudent and lean towards saving rather than spending extravagantly—nothing excites me more than finding significant discounts at the grocery store!”
“The past year has been challenging as my mother passed away over 18 months ago; grief has impacted every facet of my life. Initially, I kept myself busy with shopping as a way to cope but eventually realized that this was detrimental to my financial health. I’ve since worked on reducing unnecessary purchases while confronting my grief head-on through counseling (both privately and through work), although I’ve paused those sessions for now.”
“For some time, money was tight as I was primarily responsible for our household expenses while D worked part-time. Now that he has returned to full-time employment, we are able to share financial responsibilities equally and can start planning long-term goals like marriage or home renovations.” For now, we cherish our cozy life with our two cats.”
Personal Details:
Occupation: Programme Manager
Industry: Higher Education
Age: 30
Location: South Wales
Anual Salary: £40,521
Total Monthly Paycheck: £2,496.35 (with £750 allocated towards savings and £850 towards shared bills including groceries)
No of Housemates: One (my partner D) along with two cats named T and S.
< strong > Loan Payments: Student loan repayment – £80 (likely never fully paid off).< / li >
< strong > Savings Status? : Instant savings account holds £2382 , joint savings account contains £700 , ISA balance stands at £21 ,000 . Recently opened stocks & shares ISA with Monzo aiming monthly contributions between£50 -£100 ; currently only holding£5 . Utilize ‘save the change’ feature on debit card which rounds up transactions transferring approximately£30 monthly into savings without much notice.< / li >
< strong > Pension Contributions? : Contributing6 .1 %of salary while employer adds14 .5 %but unsure about total saved amount due consolidation from previous jobs.< / li >
< strong > Utility Bills Breakdown: :< / strong >
Broadband -£26 .20;
Billed water costs every six months total around£240 ;< / li >
Energ y costs fluctuate between70 -170 depending on variable rates;< / li >
Council tax amounts up-to161 ;< / l i >
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A Week in My Life: Balancing Work, Home, and Self-Care
Day One: Gardening and Family Time
9 a.m. — I slip into some comfortable old clothes and venture into the garden to tackle some weeding while enjoying a podcast. Having our own garden is such a joy after living in a rented apartment, even though my gardening skills are quite limited. The garden was incredibly overgrown when we first arrived, making it quite the learning experience! This year, we’ve managed to clear out many weeds and plant new flowers and vegetables. It’s rewarding to see what has flourished, although I wouldn’t claim to have a green thumb.
11 a.m. — After refreshing myself with a shower, I head over to Lidl for our weekly grocery shopping. Both Lidl and Aldi are conveniently located nearby; however, the allure of Lidl’s bakery is hard to resist! I spend £70.22 on groceries that include halloumi cheese, chicken breasts, part-baked baguettes, sausages, ice lollies for summer treats, milk, cereal for breakfast options like puff pastry flatbreads with ham or yogurt topped with bananas and berries—plus salad ingredients—and essentials like cat litter and kitchen cleaner.
1 p.m. — D’s family invites us over for an impromptu Sunday dinner since his sister’s boyfriend is visiting this weekend. We drive half an hour to their favorite pub where I enjoy roast beef accompanied by Yorkshire pudding while D’s family generously covers the bill. Afterward, we stop by their home for tea before heading back.
6 p.m. — Once home again it’s time to feed our cats before finishing up an episode of Severance. What an incredible show—it left us on such an intense cliffhanger!
7 p.m. — To combat recent breakouts on my skin I’ve decided it’s time for a face mask treatment tonight while browsing Vinted online where I find some barely-used leopard print flats priced at just £7.11 including delivery—a fantastic deal considering how hit-or-miss secondhand shopping can be!
8 p.m.— Before starting another week fresh tomorrow morning; I quickly tidy up the kitchen area as part of my Sunday reset routine inspired by those satisfying cleaning videos online—even if my schedule isn’t strictly organized it feels great preparing ahead.
10 p.m.— Finally settling down with Dolly Alderton’s latest book titled Good Material, followed by jotting down thoughts in my diary before drifting off around 10:30 p.m.
Total Spent: £77.33
Day Two: A Productive Monday
Date:Total:Date:Total:The Second Day Begins….
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A Week in My Life: Balancing Work, Home, and Self-Care
Day One: A Busy Start
8:30 a.m. — After a refreshing shower and a quick breakfast of banana on toast, I settle down to begin my workday. Today, I have a one-on-one meeting with our team director while my line manager is away. He’s approachable and easy to converse with; however, I leave the meeting feeling like my task list has doubled.
12 p.m. — During my lunch break, I decide to take a stroll to the post office only to find it closed due to staff shortages. Disappointed but undeterred, I carry my parcel back home and make a quick stop at Morrisons for some essentials—toothpaste, mouthwash, and onions—totaling £5.85. Back home again, I whip up a ham salad using whatever random ingredients are left in the fridge.
1 p.m. — Time for some focused work as there’s plenty of planning and reporting that needs attention.
5:30 p.m. — The workday wraps up as D returns home from his day out. For dinner tonight, I prepare a delicious Mexican chicken bowl filled with vegetables, Cajun rice, cheese, and beans—a satisfying meal indeed! We unwind by watching another episode of Ted Lasso, while our cats T and S zoom around us playfully.
7 p.m. — After scrolling through my phone for some time, I decide it’s time to book my next nail appointment for payday in just a few weeks—it feels indulgent but worth it! Since starting BIAB treatments on my nails that used to be brittle and weak; they now look fabulous which boosts my mood significantly! To ease the cost burden slightly; I’ve opted for paying half upfront at £18.
7:30 p.m.— While D immerses himself in video games on his desktop computer; I’m enjoying an episode of The Decameron.
9 p.m.— My evening skincare routine begins with double cleansing using The Inkey List oat cleanser followed by CeraVe hydrating cleanser before applying CeraVe retinol along with Nivea night cream as moisturizer. Previously overwhelmed by numerous products that irritated me; I’ve simplified this routine significantly—and it’s made all the difference!
9:30 p.m.— Finally settling down with an engaging book before drifting off into sleep well before 10 p.m.
Total Spent: £23.85
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A Week in My Life: Balancing Routine and Indulgence
Day Six: A Relaxing Evening
6:30 p.m. — The evening is pleasant, prompting us to take a stroll around town. Just as I step out, my dad calls me while he heads to the pub. We enjoy a brief 10-minute conversation; his schedule is so predictable that I often anticipate his calls.
8 p.m. — We arrive at our favorite local craft pub where D opts for a non-alcoholic beer while I choose a sour drink. D covers the bill, but I soon regret my selection as it tastes like raspberry-flavored saltwater. Nonetheless, it’s delightful to unwind here with some friendly dogs around.
9 p.m. — After returning home, we settle in for another episode of Ted Lasso, accompanied by the small wine bottle I purchased earlier. My Friday nights have certainly transformed since my twenties.
Total Spent: £23.39
Day Seven: Adventure Awaits
The Start of Day Seven
6:30 a.m. — Our cats are quite demanding this morning! Since D is still groggy, I rise early to ensure they are fed and have fresh water and litter before letting them outside for some fresh air.
7 a.m. — After brewing my morning cup of PG Tips—nothing extravagant—I relax on the sofa while scrolling through my phone and enjoying banana toast with peanut butter on top. Spotting an excellent sale at Mountain Warehouse with free delivery prompts me to order new walking socks, a cap, and a six-liter hydro backpack for an upcoming charity hike totaling £41.96.
Lunch Preparations
8 a.m.—I prepare our lunches using leftover chicken paired with tzatziki and salad for delicious sandwiches! To complement these treats, I’ve packed crisps, apples, and wafer bars along with filling up our water bottles before waking up D.
