Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking a cross-section of women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period – and we're tracking every last penny.
In the second of our Christmas specials, a civil servant at the Department for Education who has been living in London for three and a half years talks us through a very untypical week in the capital. Christmas parties galore!
Industry: Civil Service
Age: 24
Location: London
Salary: £50,860
Paycheque amount per month: £2,600 after pension and student loan deductions
Number of roommates: 1
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £845
Utilities: £100
Phone bill: £51
Gym membership: £37
Netflix: £7
Day One – Saturday
Wake up late with a hangover after a Christmas party the night before. Head to my local Tesco to purchase food shopping for the week, plus a few boring household essentials. Try to buy healthy food but, realistically, know this is optimistic given the amount of parties in the lead up to Christmas. £33.77
After packing away the food shopping, I head to football. Top up my Oyster for the week. £33.50
It's our football Christmas social tonight; I'm hosting pre-drinks so pick up prosecco, gin and some pizzas on my way home. £30
Uber to the party. The other girls have paid for fancy dress etc for the night so I cover this. £17.06
I've already paid for my ticket for the party, which includes three free drinks on arrival. Buy some wine and shots throughout the night and share an Uber home with a few other girls. £20
Total: £134.33
Day Two – Sunday
After a big night out, I wake up feeling terrible. But I have a family lunch so need to kick into gear. Head over to my sister's for mulled wine and pick up mince pies (my contribution) on the way. £1
I take the overground to lunch. I've already paid a £10 deposit so the bill only comes to £16, including drinks.
As lunch was a bit of a bargain, and since I'm feeling terrible generally, I take an Uber home (they've done well out of me this weekend). £15.40
Total: £32.40
Day Three – Monday
Getting up this morning is tough. I've booked into a gym class for the evening in a bid to make myself feel remotely healthy. Get the tube to work and stop at Pret for a coffee on the way (although I should probably just drink the instant I have sitting on my desk). £1
I've brought soup for lunch. Also pick up a Diet Coke and some bread from the work canteen. £1.60
My gym class is included in my membership. I head home afterwards and cook chicken and salad for dinner. Hoping this vaguely makes up for the indulgent weekend.
Total: £2.60
Day Four – Tuesday
Another Christmas party tonight so I need to try and have a cheap day. Homemade green juice for breakfast. It tastes foul.
For lunch, I buy a Pret bread roll and a coffee to go with the soup I brought from home. £1.50
Then head from work to drinks – another football Christmas party. I buy three beers for £10 on a deal at the bar before heading for dinner at a Thai restaurant. Wine and food set me back £37, plus £3 I give to my team mate for covering the uber ride there. Head to another bar and spend £21 on a bottle of wine, before moving on to a club. Other people cover the drinks in the club mainly, but I spend £10 on a G&T before calling it a night around 2am. My housemate pays for an uber home. I'll get the next one.
Total: £82.50
Day Five – Wednesday
After a big night last night work is the last thing I want to be doing, but I have an early-ish meeting. Pick up coffee and paracetamol on the way in, £1 and 80p respectively. Crawl through the morning and then go to the canteen for an unhealthy lunch of a big chicken wrap, a Coke and crisps. Total £6.50. I finish work relatively late unfortunately (typical!) so can't make my usual football training that evening. My housemate is also working late so we agree to join up for an unhealthy dinner. I pick up a big pasta dish with garlic bread plus treats from M&S on the way home. Spend £17, but my housemate transfers me half when I get home.
Total: £25.30
Day Six – Thursday
Busy day at work ahead, knowing I have to fit it around a team Christmas lunch. I have porridge for breakfast that I bring in from home. We are then taken out for a team lunch for a few hours and my boss pays so no cost. Skip on the alcohol because it's been a heavy week already and I know I need a focused afternoon. I leave work around half six and take the tube straight to football where I play a game for my own team and fill in for two others. By the time I finish it's gone 9pm so I stop at Sainsbury's on the way home and pick up a sandwich for dinner. £3.50. Overall a very cheap day.
Total: £3.50
Day Seven – Friday
I have a homemade smoothie for breakfast that I make using the leftover ingredients from my shop on Saturday. I then buy a sandwich from Pret for lunch (£3.50) but barely have chance to eat it because work is so busy. Me and my team had planned a leisurely afternoon with some drinks in the office as we have our Christmas night out that evening but we end up flat out and don't manage to escape the office until 8pm. We decide dinner is essential and head to a local restaurant to start the night. Starter, main course, coffee and lots of wine later I spend £38 on dinner. We then head to bars in Soho, and I spend a further £25 on wine. I call it a night around 1am, as I know I have a football game the next day and want to feel relatively fresh. I fight the urge to get an uber home, knowing it's been an expensive week, and take the night tube.
Total: £66.50
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