Welcome to the “My 2 Cents Transaction” Series, a money diary log written by contributors of all different income levels, locations, and occupations. Each contributor will be logging their weekly expenses in either food, lifestyle, or activities/entertainment. This is not meant to flaunt what other people are doing or how much they are spending but to open the eyes of individuals about money and how to take control of your future finances. Thanks so much for reading as always & if you’d like to be an anonymous contributor feel free to email me at rachelmchow@gmail.com or message me on Insta/Twitter. xx Rae
Occupation: College Student, PR Intern Age: 21 Location: New York, NY Salary: $35K-38K Total Spent This Week: $600.37
Sunday: Sunday was a huge day for me! It was my honors convocation, my mother came early and we got breakfast (I used my meal card so that's free money in my eyes). After honors convocation, I swindled my dad and step-mom to take me out to Bar Taco in Portchester, NY. Bar Taco is a compliation of delicious tacos, guac, corn, mojitos. You name it. They paid ($145) but it was my day right! Total Spent: $0
Monday: This was the Monday of ALL Monday's. After honors convocation my dad informed me that I was driving with an expired inspection...woops. So I woke up and went to Mavis. Of course there was a million things wrong with my car inluding my brakes, tires, and shocks totalling a whopping $407. After this terrible event, I went to work my school front desk for 2 hours and then I babysat. I took the girl I babysit to the mall and of course couldn't leave without a treat from Auntie Anne's ($5.64). Total Spent: $412.64 (although it was a necessity to pay for my car otherwise you know - I could've died?)
Tuesday: Tuesday! Woo! So I had to go in for interning in NYC and when I got to my office I realized I needed an orange juice so I stopped at Guy & Gallard and got one ($3.10). As the day went on I realized I didn't have any lunch, I ordered Pret via Uber Eats ($14.78). I literally had the longest day of interning thus far and was at work until 7:30pm. By the time I got home I had a good ol' cup of noodles soup, watched Sons of Anarchy and went to bed. Total Spent: $17.88
Wednesday: Today I had interning again, this day was big because it was my intern project presentation day. I have been working on this for a month and now the day was here. After I nailed my presentation I went out to dinner with a good friend for all you can eat sushi. Then we went to the bar for a pitcher of Budlight. Total Spent: $27
Thursday: More life, more interning. I have a sick of obession with bagels, so I was due for one from Guy & Gallard and another orange juice ($4.90). I'm feeling sick/allergies so this is me getting in my Vitamin C. After interning me and my Little went to the Yankee game. Forget my metro card and had to buy a single ride ($3). Can't go to the Yankee game without getting a beer so I got one heniken ($12.50). After that headed back to school, didn't want to use my ten-trip peak ticket so I had to purchase a ticket ($9) and then somehow I got convinced to go to the local tavern #Beechmont and spent $10. Total Spent: $39.40
Friday: Last day of interning woo!!!!! Casually of course I woke up and needed a, you guessed it, bagel. So again stopped at Guy & Gallard and got one ($4.90). My boss took me out to lunch at Poketeria, it was good but I would recommend Sons of Thunder over it. I left interning early and headed to CVS to buy new makeup, lady things, and toilet paper - took cash out in case there was a cover at the bar ($74). Bought a big mac on my meal card, so that's free $$. Went to the store and got an 18-rack and then at the bar I spent $20 (that I took out earlier). Oh what a night. Total Spent: $99.90
Saturday:
I woke up and headed to taco bell with friends. I wasn't feeling too hot after last night so I didn't get my regular instead I got Fiesta Potatoes and a Loaded Potatoe Griller. I was supposed to go to the Yankee game but due to rain it was postponed. Spent the rest of the day in bed.
Total Spent: $3.55
The $600 is alarming...but the $200 not so much. I spend a lot of money on food and beer and I''ve known this already. It's hard to say no but I definitley could budget better. I think now that I'm out of college and will be paying for more things on my own I need to track. I certainley don't need to spend majority of my money on beer. As far as my car issues go - my parents told me if I paid more attention to my brakes it woldn't have been so expensive. So I definitley need to take more care of my car. Doing this exercise made me more aware of my spending habits and I might need to continue it in the future!