Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a week deep dive into how our readers spend their cash.
Today, a lawyer who makes $50,000 a year in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., lets us into his week’s expenses.
Occupation: Lawyer
Age: 28
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Salary: $35,000 (approx. $1,800 per pay period)
Day One
Mondays are great because I go to work for half a day and come back home to finish my workload. I enjoy taking cases home and diving into them without being interrupted. Most importantly, today, I get to host a team of professionals from wagnermechanical.com at home to fix my home’s HVAC system. My air conditioner and heater have recently started making some weird noises, and I’m not sure how to fix it. The professional team is here, and they’ve dismantled the AC and say it’s not as bad as it sounds—it’s just a loose part. Their friendly service was worth it—they fixed my HVAC system, and now they are on their way.
Total: $24.22
Day Two
Work today was a bit rough, so I’m glad the day’s over. I’m reading about a creepy stroll with the best company offering ghost tours in Savannah, U.S. Ghost Adventures. The staff tells strange tales of Savannah’s dark past and explains mysterious apparitions throughout the historic district. The tour guides are very knowledgeable of local legends and make it a very fun experience for everyone. I watched some of their clips online, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep easily tonight.
Total: $0.00
Day Three
It’s hump day and my team at work decided to go out for lunch at a nearby Thai place. I got some pho noodles, and they were quite tasty. My coworkers all ordered the same dish because of how good it tasted. We finished at the restaurant and headed back to the office. I’m stuffed and ready to go home. The clock strikes 4 P.M., and I’m officially headed home now. Ready to vegetate all night long.
Total: $18.43
Day Four
Thursday’s here and that means I get to go home and order some Chinese food and relax on my sofa. I’m very tired, so I’m just browsing Amazon looking for new bedding. My current one is looking a bit old and faded. It also has a little hole, and I have no patience to get that fixed myself.
Total: $43.66
Day Five
Friday means I get to hang out with a couple of my best friends in town. We meet at my place and hail an Uber to head downtown. We usually go bar hopping and end up at a sports bar to watch a game. My friends have been there for me in the worst of my times as well as my greatest moments. I buy them a round of beers, and we’re ready to head out to our respective homes.
Total: $67.11
Day Six
It’s already noon on Saturday, and I’m not ready for Monday to get here again. I spend my day simply watching movies and enjoying my own company. It’s been a while since I haven’t worked on the weekend, so I’m going to enjoy this the best way I know.
Total: $0.00
Day Seven
Sunday’s here at last. I watched the news to see what my week may hold at the office. It’s not looking great, but hopefully, we don’t get rough cases. I’m going to take a break and watch a classic movie because I’m honestly not too ready for Monday to arrive. The day went by so fast, I’m already climbing into bed and bracing for this new week.
Total: $0.00
Total for the week: $153.42