‘I’m 31, earn £60k and buy 1,000 tea bags every other month. This is how I spend my money’

How I Spend It

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I was born in a very sleepy town. Growing up I knew we weren’t well off, but we never went without. I never thought of myself as coming from a working class family until I went to university, and realised that my parents instilled the value of money, hard work and saving for rainy days. This was rare for students.

I remember having to ask my parents for a deposit for a second year houseshare and felt awful. I had a part-time job at the university, but the feeling of having to ask my parents for money, when I knew they were already doing so much, stayed with me. I worked multiple part-time jobs at university to ensure that never happened again.

I’ve been self-reliant ever since, and I believe the hardworking, down-to-earth and frugal lifestyle I’ve grown up in has helped me throughout my adult life.

Moving to London after university was a shock, even though I secured a graduate role with a good business. After a few years, I worked my way up and moved to new companies in order to receive a bigger pay jump. It’s one of the only ways to survive in corporate London.

However, I landed a role with a company where I’ve stayed for many years and I’ve been rewarded for working hard. That’s rare and appreciated. I also met my husband and we moved into a rented flat together.

I live with an eating disorder so eating out, or eating in, has always been challenging for partners. I eat my own meals, separate to my partner. It means my food shops are always quite small, but I’m working on expanding what I eat.

During the pandemic we, like others, decided to move out of London. We always knew we would move closer to our parents and this gave us the push we needed. We couldn’t afford to buy in London as my partner’s salary is much smaller than mine, but it’s never caused us any issues in our relationship.

When we moved, we both decided that we wanted balance. We welcomed a lovely dog and I enjoy the commute two to three times a week to London. The cost of my mortgage plus train fares still don’t add up to what we were spending on rent in the city.

Probably due to my childhood, I’m always saving anything and everything I can. A few years ago, I was speaking to a therapist about other issues and money came up. In periods of uncertainty, I save more, spend less, and remove some enjoyment out of life.

I’m trying to get past this mental block and I’m very aware that it comes from a feeling that I could lose everything I’ve built. I’ve made my parents proud and if I do spend, it’s on them.

Vital statistics:

• Age: 31
• Post-tax annual income: £56,957
• Mortgage: £1,001 per month
• Job: Head of PR
• Bills: £2,442 per month (utilities, insurance, car payments, overpaying our mortgage)
• No kids: one lovely dog

Day 1

I wake up at 7am, which is later than usual. Today is a train strike day – I usually go into London on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but this time I’m working from home.

I start every day with porridge or muesli. It’s the best food. Cheap, nourishing and flavoursome with various toppings. I always shop at Lidl for our groceries. The food is affordable and good quality. I usually spend £150-200 per month on the food shop.

I walk the dog for an hour and then sit in our garden office to work. We spent around £8,000 to build it, and it’s the best money we’ve spent on the house so far to ensure we separate our home and work life.

I have meetings between 9am-12pm and then spend 30 minutes walking the dog again at lunch before having a cheese toastie. I have meetings for the rest of the afternoon, then finish at 5.30pm and head to a yoga class at the local leisure centre.

I’ve only recently extended my membership (£35) to include classes, so I’m trying to ensure I get the most out of it. I left feeling like time is passing by and my body has already given up on me…

Total: £0

Day 2

Another day working from home, so I spent very little.

However, I am still spending on things like heating, endless supplies of tea, etc. As one way to save money, I use Amazon’s subscribe and save service and purchase 1,000 PG tips tea bags every other month. My husband and I are ridiculous tea drinkers. Amazon once sent me an email about business membership, so maybe it thinks I’m actually running an office.

After work, I treated myself to a fire cupping massage (£40). It’s my monthly treat to get rid of the knots in my back and neck.

Total: £40

Day 3

Trains are back on! I arrive at the station early and grab a cup of tea (£2.50). The train to London arrives on time, but the doors won’t unlock. As a crowd we waited for 30 minutes while the passengers inside the train looked on. After 30 minutes they kicked everyone off the train, and we all crammed on to a new train with many people standing.

It costs me £27 to travel into London with my 26-30 Railcard, which I’m clinging on to. I will mourn the loss of my discount and youth when it runs out.

I arrive in London and get the Tube to the office. I often use the Tube or bus between meetings, which costs about £8 per day.

I buy a Leon porridge (£3.25) before arriving at the office. There, we have free tea (very grateful), which ensures I can save on my industrial tea bag stash at home.

At lunch I have a soup and roll from Pret and also purchase a few other items for colleagues in the office. They tried to transfer money but I said no. It cost £10.50 in total. I love Pret, but I’ve noticed everything has crept up in price recently.

In the evening I met up with a few friends, but didn’t have anything to drink. I’m teetotal and didn’t stay very long as I needed to catch the train home.

Total: £51.25

Day 4

London day again! Trains were on time and I brought my own tea in a Chilly’s flask as I feel like I’ve spent too much already this week. Although, looking back, I’ve bought very little.

I buy another porridge pot from Leon (£3.25) and head to the office.

I’m in meetings for most of the day, but take two hours to roam the office. I absolutely love my job and the team. As most of my friends are scattered across the country, it’s where I feel the most social at the moment.

I’m deeply engrossed in conversation and realise I need to catch my train, so run out and race to the Tube. I treat myself to a Diet Coke which cost a ridiculous £2.50 from Liverpool Street Station.

Total: £40.75

Day 5

I had the day off today, so got to enjoy a three-day weekend. I started with a dog walk before going out for my own run.

I went out for lunch with my sister at a local cafe and spent £40 as I treated her. I always tip a bit more to local cafes – I also like to spend locally considering I commute a few times a week.

I bought a present for my mum from L’Occitane (Immortelle Divine Cream), which cost £82 as a treat.

I spend the rest of the day watching Married at First Sight Australia and cuddling my dog.

Total: £122

Day 6

I got up at 9am, which is very late for me. I felt incredibly tired this week and appreciated my body giving me the rest. I went to Lidl for a food shop and spent £63.21. This included “communal products” like washing liquid (despite being married, my husband and I still talk like we’re students).

We also spend £20.34 on a food bank shop, and delivered it on the way home. We’ve been doing this every month since lockdown.

In the afternoon we visited my in-laws and had dinner at their home.

Total: £83.55

Day 7

I woke up at 7am and took the dog for a walk. I spend more on my dog’s supplements than I do on my monthly skincare. She’s pampered but we’re giving her the best life, full of love.

We decide to go to a new dog-friendly cafe in town. We ordered lunch, which came to £18 for two lunches and a pot of tea to share. I thought it was very affordable and a lovely place to take the dog.

I end the week by looking ahead to what’s coming up at work over the next week and planning my meetings. I always enjoy doing this on a Sunday evening. I sleep much better when I know what’s coming up.

I’m a child-free, frugal commuter. It’s not the most thrilling life but I enjoy seeing and spending on people. If someone needed me I would spend £1,000 to get the next train, plane or taxi no matter the time of day – no questions asked. I’m tight, but not when it truly matters.

Total: £18

Weekly total: £355.55

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