Ever wondered how other people spend their cash? Three weekly budgets reveal different ways to handle the spend-and-save juggle.
A lab tech and content creator from Brisbane on $90,000 per year
After moving to Australia to study science, this busy 23-year-old lab tech balances her day job with retail shifts and online content creation. She saves every payday without a specific goal in mind and relies on frugal habits to stretch her income. She sometimes worries her money mindset is too conventional.
My money story
“Even though I make sure I earn enough for the things I value – like socialising and travel – I do have some budgeting habits. I take my lunch to work every day and I wear my shoes until they are falling apart – to the point that my friends make fun of me. My mum always instilled in me the value of questioning if something is a need or a want and I feel like I’ve carried that through with me. I want to continue my studies in Australia but I also want to travel the world and get on the property ladder. I’m torn on what to choose and how best to spend the money I’ve saved.”
My weekly spending
- Monday: $10 on groceries for dinner to top up last week’s shop – if I catch myself dining out too often, I put myself on a ban and cook at home for friends instead.
- Tuesday: $25 on a split dinner bill with friends at a Thai restaurant. Whoops!
- Wednesday: I took a Pilates class after work but had prepaid for a year and then ate dinner at home. Unintentional no-spend day – yay!
- Thursday: $50 gift for a friend. This was a close friend so I spent a bit more. I’d usually split the cost with a group and pay about $30. $475 on my fortnightly rent.
- Friday: $60 on a bigger grocery shop – I bought salmon, rice and green beans. I had to top up my oil and cleaning supplies, too.
- Saturday: $20 on dining out, $6 on skincare products. It was originally $30 but I had a gift card so used that.
- Sunday: $50 on lash extensions. I get them about once a month. They’re a luxury but I love them.
I also spend about $50 a week on transport, which includes buses and car-share apps.
Total: $746
A student working as an au pair and babysitter, living mostly on savings
This 21-year-old student moved from Ireland to complete a master’s degree in Sydney and, like many of her peers, started out renting in “County Bondi”. When the high costs became too much, she took on an au pair role in the Eastern Suburbs, which covers her accommodation and even comes with an e-bike for morning beach rides. She now lives mostly off her savings, topping up her income with babysitting.
My money story
“I come from a fairly privileged background but my parents are very anti-material things. They made me and my siblings set up strict savings plans from the minute we could work an after-school job and the running joke in the family is that they’d recycle toilet paper if it meant saving a quid. I resented them for it a bit growing up but I’d never have been able to build up my savings the way I have if it wasn’t for their guidance – and for them letting me live almost rent-free.”
My weekly spending
- Monday: I had a haircut and colour at a salon my friend works at. Even with a discount, the bill came to $250, which I’m told is cheap for Sydney.
- Tuesday: I booked six weeks of surf lessons as a birthday gift to myself – $55 per session. I finally stood up on my third lesson so it felt worth it this week.
- Wednesday: I had to sort out some visa issues, which meant an additional application: $70. I also bought ice-creams for the kids I look after ($25).
- Thursday: Even though my meals are included, I like to have some of my own snacks and treats at home – $75 on groceries, plus $15 on a face mask from Mecca.
- Friday: Dinner and drinks with friends, plus an Uber home made for an expensive night: $156.
- Saturday: I spent the day at the beach and bought a wrap and drink for $21 then I went home to babysit for the evening, which meant I didn’t spend anything.
- Sunday: Coffee and a croissant: $11, Pilates reformer class: $20 (part of a pack of 10).
Total: $698
A marketing assistant from Gold Coast earning $75,000 per year
This 26-year-old marketing assistant has just returned from a five-week trip around Europe with her partner, leaving her savings in the red and her spending back in strict budget mode. Living with flatmates on the Gold Coast helps ease the sting of high rents and she’s focused on rebuilding her finances after the big holiday splurge.
My money story
“The first time I ever successfully saved more than $1500 was for our Europe trip. We travelled for 5.5 weeks and I managed to save $30,000 in the two years leading up to that trip, which felt like such a big achievement. Before then, I had this idea that I was bad with money but my boyfriend is good with it and I basically just followed his spreadsheet. I think because there was someone else invested in my savings, I stuck to the plan and scrimped a lot. I haven’t bought any new clothes in about a year.”
My weekly spending
- Monday: $200 on groceries for the week. We meal-prep so this will hopefully see us through for the whole seven days.
- Tuesday: I didn’t leave the house all day as I worked from home, which meant I didn’t spend anything at all.
- Wednesday: I spent $6 on a coffee during my morning walk with a friend then my gym membership came out for the week, costing me $45.
- Thursday: I spent $56 on some containers to sort out our pantry. And we went for a drink after our evening walk with our dog, which turned into a late dinner: $59.
- Friday: I had a pot-luck dinner at my friend’s place. I was on appetisers so I made a baked brie that cost me $27. I also bought a bottle of wine for $19.
- Saturday: I did puppy yoga with a friend. It was $45, which is pretty steep for yoga – but puppies!
- Sunday: I spent $18 on a breakfast roll and coffee at the beach then I bought us both new toothbrushes, costing $16. Afterwards, I had a massage at a local place. I had a voucher but opted for a longer treatment so I paid the difference: $56.
