PerthNow’s Cash Confessions asks ordinary West Australians what their income is and what they spend their money on in a week.
A 63-year-old healthcare worker on $80,000 a year shares her weekly money diary.
Age: 63
Lives: Cannington, WA
Salary: $80,000 pre-tax, reduced hours
Job: Healthcare worker
Monthly expenses
Phone: $30.00
Rent/mortgage: $0
Spotify: $0
Streaming: $0
Internet: $49.00 (slow option)
Weekly expenses
Pet: $38 for food and litter
Petrol: $20.00
Student debt: N/A
After pay: N/A
Car repayments: N/A
School fees/childcare: N/A
Gym memberships: N/A
Meal delivery services: $152.95 per fortnight
I am a 63-year-old healthcare worker heading into retirement and I’m keeping a spending diary for 12 months to get an idea of what a year actually costs me (of course, I will need to take inflation into account going forward!)
I regularly watch YouTube videos about saving and minimalism. Right now, a major upcoming expense will be my “death car” as I call it — my final vehicle.
At 63, I don’t need more shoes or clothes/underwear or shower gels. In fact, I’ve been making an effort to use up things like my lipsticks rather than buy more.
I’ve been getting some satisfaction when I finish a tube of something these days. I have so many lotions, shampoos and conditioners that I need to use up.
I am a huge fan of Lush but have put myself on a shower gel ban until I use up what I have which I have calculated will take three years at least. Even before I got hooked on Lush products, shower gel was something I would impulse buy.
I also plan not to buy any new clothes this year.
My major extravagance is my Lite ‘n’ Easy meals which I have home-delivered fortnightly. Sometimes I buy the lunches too, but not often. It creates less waste and ensures I have variety, even though I live alone.
If I did not work I would likely skip that expense but it actually only works out to $12 a meal which is not bad and I feel it is “next level” frozen food.
My indoor cat does costs me about $38 a week for food and litter. I did start salary sacrificing into super for a few years and this was beneficial and I have also contributed lump sums. I’m contemplating returning to salary sacrifice.
Recently, I’ve been weighing up how many hours I need to work to buy something I don’t really need.
I have a few little jobs to do around the house which won’t cost much.
Last year, I did two trips to Europe but this year I just feel a bit over it with the long plane rides so I have no travel plans.
I don’t mind spending money on cultural experiences, but $100 is my limit.
I am contemplating how I will cope as a single retiree, especially given I won’t be sharing the bills, so that’s motivated me to keep a money diary.
Day 1
I had the day off so I went to the movies to see Force of Nature: The Dry 2. Here’s a hot tip – Hoyts is $9.50 for over 60s with a Hoyts card before 5pm.
I also went to Coles and bought lots of coffee pods that were on special and will last months.
I splashed out on an $8 bunch of flowers from Aldi because flowers make me happy and they were quite cheap.
I also had to get some garden items from Bunnings: fertiliser and snail pellets ( sorry snails!).
Then I popped to the op shop to buy a microwave egg poacher I had seen for $4 as it looked a convenient way to poach eggs. I bought some items I didn’t really need from the 5 for $2 area — two dresses and three tops.
I spent the rest of the afternoon hemming the dress as I didn’t notice in the store that it had been hacked at.
Then I had homemade prawn pitta bread pizza for dinner.
Total daily spend: $120
Day 2
Work was busy today.
I ate a healthy frozen meal for lunch and home-made prawn pitta bread pizza for dinner.
I used two mini pittas and 3 garlic prawns chopped up on each. I managed to get eight mini pizzas in total out of a pack of Kailis garlic prawns and felt like I was living the dream.
Total daily spend: $0
Day 4
Went to Perth for a half-day training session. I did have to pay for public transport.
While I was in the city, I popped into the art gallery and saw a great exhibition about Maralinga — and it was free!
Then I wandered into Kmart but it felt uninspiring.
I restrained from buying a pair of cute pink undies (no, you have enough!)
I took nuts and a muesli bar to my training session which saw me through until I got home.
I had pizza for dinner, McCain as I hadn’t eaten much all day so I could afford the calories.
I also filled in some cracks in my porch with grout that I already had in the house.
I have paint already to repaint the concrete.
Total daily spend: $6
Day 5
I went to Kmart again today but I didn’t buy anything.
I was looking for a light but the one I wanted wasn’t in stock.
Then I went to Coles for bread and milk and a diet coke.
I bought more coffee, muesli bars and a pizza (I know, repeat offender!).
Went for a quick op shop and bought six padded coat hangers and a scarf hanger. Dinner was Lite n Easy. I finally used up the rest of my prawns for lunch. I also finished grouting the porch.
Much of what I bought today was not for immediate use. I stocked up on diet coke, coffee and muesli bars because all were on special.
Total daily spend: $134
Day 6
For breakfast today I had a Coles Raspberry muffin and an espresso coffee as a weekend treat.
Then I went into Perth to see the French movie, Anatomy of a Fall, which was brilliant.
I wore my op shop dress which was nice and cool.
I ended up being successful in Kmart and bought a plant stand, which I had hesitated on the other day, as it was reduced and I bought a pottery making kit because I want to try making a pot. The pottery kit was a non-need, but looked like fun to do. The Kmart spend totalled $20.
My son helped me pick up potting mix, plants and rocks from Bunnings because there was no way I could carry them alone, and I appreciated the help. That came to $140. I also gifted him a large painting I did for his house and the materials for that cost $40.
Total daily spend $225.00 (including gift materials)
Day 7
Stayed home today. Potted up the plants (I already have the pots). Time spent with cat: priceless…well apart from the food, litter, scratching mats and toys.
Spend: Nothing
Reflections
I need to start using up what I have in my freezer for a while. That can be my next challenge.
I have stocked up on coffee pods, muesli bars, and diet coke this week but this is consumable. My favourite muesli bars have been on special and I now have three month’s supply.
I have more Lite N Easy coming but will take a break after that and get my freezer contents used up — that might be a fun project.
This week I spent a lot at Bunnings, but this is not an ongoing expense. I just needed to sort out the garden. I needed to replenish my stones outside.
I wish I could get some travel inspiration happening as I like to plan and look forward to something.
I’m still on track with minimal spending on non-needs so I’m pleased about that.
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