This week we’re hearing from a 29-year-old who moved from Finland to London in January, and has spent the year since working out what London life really costs. She tracks every pound, invests every month, and has her eyes set on paying off her (Finnish) student loan. This week’s account follows her rollercoaster week of annual leave - the highs of Wimbledon and the lows of a stomach bug.

To read Open Account #2: A week in North London on £50k (household £160k) + the 50/50 debate

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The Diary

Open Accounts #3

Anonymous · 29 · 📍 London · Finance strategy and development · Large listed industrial company

About me

I have been living in London since the beginning of this year. My husband and I relocated here from Finland. We moved for my husband’s work, but I was also able to transfer to my company’s UK office and continue in the same role. Because of this, I have recently spent a lot of my free time exploring London and adjusting to the lifestyle.

Currently I’m focused on advancing in my career but I also value my free time. I’m very lucky that my job provides an excellent work-life balance. Outside work, I love being active and exercising every day, mainly running, going to the gym or playing tennis. In addition to sports, I like to read, focus on eating healthy and home-cooked meals, and spend time with my husband and friends as much as possible, so nothing out of the ordinary.

How do you split finances with your partner?

My partner’s base salary is very similar to mine (78,000 annually), but his bonus potential is much higher than mine. However, as the bonus can vary a lot, we don’t count that in when budgeting and split our fixed expenses like rent and bills 50/50.

How much are you able to save, invest or put towards debt each month?

I was quite worried about the cost of living in London when we moved, but I have been positively surprised, and I’m actually able to save a bit more than I was back in Finland.

My company contributes 4% towards my pension and I contribute the same (£250) before tax. I will increase my contribution significantly if we end up staying in the UK in the long term, but I have decided to contribute the minimum for the first year and get more familiar with the local pension system. I also invest £900/month in index funds (I’m not planning to touch this money before retirement) and put £500 in a shorter term savings account (this money is used mainly for traveling and holidays).

I put £450 towards my student loans (I have approx. £10,000 left to pay and this monthly payment is more than required, but I want to pay it off soon).

Income and Outgoings

What are your best essential and non-essential purchases?

I consider my gym membership and tennis lessons as essential. Like some famous person said, 1 hour of exercise a day gives you 2 extra hours of energy, and this is definitely something I live by.

For non-essentials, I actually had a bit of a health scare recently, and decided to go to a private clinic for a follow-up appointment the very next day. I got a referral to an NHS hospital from my GP, but it would’ve taken 2 weeks to get the appointment. I ended up paying close to £1,000 for the private appointment, but it gave me so much peace of mind that I was happy to spend money on that. This experience actually made me so grateful for having extra savings and being in a solid financial position.

What is your biggest financial worry right now?

I’m in a very lucky position and don’t have major financial worries at the moment. However, I have recently learned how expensive it is to start a family in the UK (bad maternity leave duration + pay and basically no paternity leave, childcare costs, etc.), so while we are currently quite comfortable as a couple with no kids, I’m already conscious of how much more expensive our life will become if we decide to start a family in the UK. Whether we will be able to purchase an apartment/house and afford starting a family in London in the next 5 years will determine whether we will stay in the UK or move back to Finland / relocate elsewhere.

What has been your best money decision?

Putting money towards savings/investments right when the money hits my account on payday and paying off my student loan faster than required. I have worked full-time for 3 years now (in Finland most people tend to complete both bachelor’s and master’s degrees and therefore graduate a bit later) and the entire time I have tried to put at least 20% of my income towards investments and my student loan. I have so far paid off over 50% of my student loan and have a solid emergency fund, which now allows me to invest more. Sometimes when I’m spending a bit more money on shopping or eating out, I have to remind myself that I’m actually quite financially responsible as I always pay my future self first on payday.

Was money talked about openly growing up?

Not really. My family was financially very comfortable but money wasn’t openly discussed. I think it would be helpful for children to understand approximately how much money their parents are making, saving and spending, to set realistic expectations for the time when they have to become financially independent. I always knew that my parents didn’t have financial worries and they were able to provide my siblings and I amazing things like travel, expensive hobbies, etc., but it wasn’t easy to figure out how much money I should make to afford the same lifestyle.

The Spending Diary

This diary is from last week. I was on annual leave the whole week, had a friend visiting, and went to Wimbledon. I didn’t necessarily spend that much more in total than normally since I didn’t have any commuting expenses etc., but I spent more money on eating out and food in general.

On Monday, I treated myself to a takeaway lunch from Chipotle and had my lunch in a park. It was a hot day so I stayed in the park for a while reading. I also went to the gym in the morning, ran some errands, and deep-cleaned our flat, so a pretty normal day.

I woke up early as usual. My husband and I had booked a tennis court for the morning, so we cycled to the court and played for an hour from 7 (my husband had paid for the reservation). After the tennis, my husband left for work, and I decided to pick up a coffee for my 2-mile walk home. I had a pretty relaxed day at home and got some bits from the supermarket for lunch.

In the evening, it was still quite warm outside, so I picked up pizzas and met my husband in a park for a picnic.

I went to the gym at 7 and after that I picked up a bagel and a coffee from my favourite bagel place. They have a great deal in the mornings - you get a free beverage with any breakfast bagel. I definitely don’t normally eat out as much as this week, but since I didn’t have any special plans for some of my annual leave days, I wanted to enjoy a bit more special food. I had my bagel and coffee in a park and then headed home.

My husband was traveling for work so I organised our flat for my friend’s arrival and picked up some breakfast items and other essentials from M&S. In the afternoon my friend arrived in London and we went to my favourite Italian restaurant in our neighbourhood for dinner. My friend paid for the dinner (and some other expenses as well later in the week since I paid for our Wimbledon tickets) and after dinner we just headed home.

I woke up around 6 and after having some coffee, went for a walk with my friend to show her around the neighbourhood. We had breakfast at the flat and then headed to Wimbledon (first time for both of us!). We spent the entire day watching the matches and then just came home and fell right asleep.

I only spent money on some souvenirs from Wimbledon and the underground to get there and back (my friend paid for all of our food and drinks during the day). My phone bill was also due on Thursday so that money left my account during the day.

I woke up with a stomach bug so I stayed home the entire day (therefore, no pictures). I ordered toast, bananas, sports drink and orange juice from a supermarket via Uber Eats, and looking back, I have no idea how they cost that much...

I was feeling better in the morning so I went for a walk with my husband and we picked up bagels and coffee from the same place as I did on Wednesday. We sat outside in a park for a while and then came home. My husband left to play tennis with his friend around noon, and I got ready to head outside as well. In the evening, my husband and I met some friends in a pub and had dinner with them as well. My husband paid for my drink and dinner this time.

While we split our rent and bills 50/50, we are not too strict with other expenses. As we don’t utilize a joint account, we take turns paying in the supermarket and restaurants, and likely end up paying close to equal amounts. With bigger purchases (which we have had quite a few since moving to London!), we always share the cost.

We had a relaxed morning at home with coffee and breakfast. Before noon, I left for my weekly tennis lesson, which I only pay £9.50 for since I have purchased a £100 annual membership which gives me 50% discount on all classes. I went to the supermarket on my way home and that was my spending for the week.

Weekly total: £288.22

Anything else you’d like to add?

I’ve really enjoyed reading the Open Accounts so hopefully someone finds this helpful as well! I have actually achieved a lot of peace of mind with my finances over the past year and I think it’s due to two things:

1) Always investing/saving first before spending money on anything else, and

2) Tracking every pound I spend. I know this is very common advice, but it’s such a nice feeling when you are on top of your spending and able to avoid any bigger financial stress.

The Debrief

Thank you so much to OP for sharing their Open Account. A move to a new country, with a whole new way of life (and new pension rules!) can be a tough one to navigate, but it sounds like she’s taking it all in her stride and making the most of it.

As always, please join in the conversation - feedback welcome! What stood out to you in this week’s account? Have you lived abroad and found anything unexpected financially in relocating? And how do you split your salary when it comes in, are you an advocate for spreadsheet tracking and paying yourself first?

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Alice x
Go Fund Yourself

This week, we’re hearing from a 38-year-old Head of Collection in North London on £50k a year (household: £160,000) who wakes up at 5am every morning to read, pays for a dog walker at £15 a day and is facing the biggest career decision of her life.

To read last week’s Open Account: A week in Bristol on £43,000 | Open Account #1

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The Story

Open Accounts #2

Anonymous · Age 38 · 📍 North London · Head of Collection · Museum sector

About me

I love my job and my sector even though it pays horribly and I will be doomed to struggle forever. I love my family and my dog. I have two children and a dog and live with my husband in a 2-bed flat in North London.

At weekends we often drive to Birmingham where our family are and stay with my in-laws. London is too expensive to do anything and we would like to move to Birmingham in the next 2 years to get more space and a more affordable life. My job and sector are very London-focused, which is the main challenge.

I wasn’t taught about money growing up. My dad died when I was 14 and my mum didn’t have a job - she’d never paid a bill. Our life was thrown into chaos. Because of this I’m quite paranoid and handle a lot of the finances, making sure I have a job and that we’re stable. I never want to be in that position.

How do you and your partner split finances?

My husband earns £110,000 and I earn £50,000. The discrepancy is a big challenge. We split bills 50/50, which means I’m stretching a lot further than he is. We try to be fair about it, but it’s definitely something we think about.

Last year we overpaid our mortgage by £15,000 and put £15,000 into a Stocks & Shares ISA. We save between £2,000 and £3,000 a month. My husband has a Stocks & Shares ISA with £18,000 in it and I have £6,000. I also have a LISA with £7,000 and NS&I with £1,000.

The biggest expense is childcare - we pay £30 a day for after-school care plus £15 a day for a dog walker while we both work.

Income and Outgoings

What are your best essential and non-essential purchases?

• Commuting costs. In winter months I spend £70 a month on the tube, and in summer I try to cycle as much as I can.

• I don’t buy anything for myself really, but I do have a weakness for buying questionable paintings from auction houses. That’s probably my only real non-essential spending.

What is your biggest financial worry?

My job function is moving to the Midlands and I don’t know if I will be offered that role. This is terrifying because my job is my stability. I love the work and I love the sector, but we’re also planning to move to Birmingham in the next 2 years anyway. So it could work out - or I could be forced to make a decision I’m not ready for.

What has been your best money decision?

Buying my flat. We bought it for £300,000 in 2013 and it was valued at £600,000 this year. We haven’t spent much on it and my husband and I did a lot of the DIY ourselves - though I should be clear that was mostly my husband, not me. It’s given us financial security that I desperately needed after my childhood.

Was money talked about openly growing up?

No. My dad died when I was 14 and my mum didn’t have a job - she’d never paid a bill. Our life was thrown into chaos because she had no idea how to earn money or pay bills. This has made me quite paranoid and I handle a lot of the finances now. I make sure I have a job. I make sure we’re stable. I never want to be in that position.

And one last thing - is there anything you’d like to highlight or promote to our readers?

I’d like to promote all museums and libraries! Many museums are free, and those that aren’t have revised ticket pricing for people on lower incomes, so the benefit of going to see art is massive for mental well being. For libraries, I cannot emphasise enough how much libraries have enriched my life.

The Spending Diary

Woke up at 5am, drank crappy filter coffee (it's my favourite) and read got 2 hours before the rest of the house woke up. This is my special time!

It’s 'Me-Wash-Monday' which is how I remember to do my own laundry, so I put my load in for an hour and its washed and being tumbled/hung to dry before 6:30. When everyone was awake I gave them yoghurt and strawberries for breakfast and got them dressed, then my husband took them to school and I worked in my kitchen until 11 during which time the food shop arrived.

At 11 I went to the gym and did a spin class and then a weight lifting class. I went home and did more work (didn't have time to shower).

The sun was shining so I picked my children up earlier than usual (which is usually 5:30 as they go to after school club) and took them to the park/playground near school. Took snacks with me so I didn't have to buy any. They played with their school friends for 2 hours then we went home and I cooked chicken with vegetables and noodles for dinner.

Got children to bed which involves bathing, teeth brushing, pyjamas, reading stories, then I showered and washed my hair (finally!). I cleaned the kitchen. Then went and read in bed, asleep by 9:30!

Woke up at 5am again and did my reading. Today was Towel/Sheet Wash Tuesday so I take last week’s dirty bed sheets and put them on for a wash and tumble dry. Children woke up earlier at 6:30 and so played hide and seek with them for a bit then gave them breakfast (baked oats which I'd made at 5am.) got myself ready (a day at work!) and got them ready. Picked up a box of leftovers from Thursday for my lunch and packed an apple and a Nakd bar. Took them to school then got the tube.

Went to the art store but spent the entire day in meetings so I only got to see three paintings in the store as I was walking around, but still this is enough! The art revives me. Ate lunch during a meeting.

Left work at 4:30, collected children, went home, plonked them in front of the TV (the shame!) so I could cook dinner, I made homemade burgers with sweet potato fries and broccoli. Then me and my husband booked our annual trip to Disneyland Paris. Then I got kids to bed showered myself and ordered two presents for my daughter's 9th birthday (a micropscope and a kids digital camera) read a bit and fell asleep.

Woke up at 4 by accident and couldn't go back to sleep, so read for a bit on my phone (free Libby app!)

Made banana muffins for kids’ breakfast (and I’ll have one in my work lunch) and made a wrap for my lunch. Got dressed and took kids to school.

Went to work for another day of full meetings, had my lunch (homemade bean dip with carrot and wrap and that banana muffin) left work at 430. Home to cook dinner, I change all bed sheets. I made chicken curry and no one liked it.

Showered and did a chemical peel on my face. Kids to sleep! Read and go to sleep.

I have a 7:30 train to catch to the art store in the north of England, so get up at 5 as usual but start getting myself together earlier and prepping kids school snacks etc.

My husband has to take them to swimming lessons today so I pack their bags. I leave house at 6:30 without waking anyone up. At train stations I buy my lunch using my work expense card (£15) and sit on train for 2 hours working on laptop. Spend all day in meetings.

Back home home for 7, my husband has made chicken fajitas for dinner. I clean the bathroom before I have a shower and he puts children to bed. Read and go to sleep for 9:30.

Woke up at 5, breakfast for kids (banana pancakes) husband took children to school. I worked from the kitchen until 4:30, throughout the day. I prep dinner - I am doing home made pizza based so there's occasionally a bit of kneading etc, then I went to a circuits class at 5pm, I get kids on way home.

Everyone happy with pizza dinner. I put their monstrous pile of laundry in the washing machine. They go to sleep and I shower then read and asleep by 9:30.

Woke up at 5 as usual, coffee and read, then I go to the gym for 6am, I am back at 7, then make more muffins for kids’ breakfast.

We let them watch TV in our bed for 20 minutes on Saturday mornings so they do that, my husband goes for a run. I put away the children’s laundry and hoover the house.

We leave the house at 8:30 to take my daughter to drama, whilst we wait for her to finish we go sit and have a coffee.

After drama we drive home, my daughter has a tutor once a month because she’s a maths genius and the school don’t have capacity to teach her at the level she needs (Year 5/6 abstract maths - no idea where she gets it from - I struggled to add the totals for this money diary!) The tutor is £35.

After tutor I give them lunch of homemade cheese toasties and then I take them to the cinema using the 2 monthly free cinema vouchers so I pay £15 for myself plus cinema snacks for them. On way home I buy ingredients for dinner from supermarket.

We go home, I plop them in front of telly with my husband and go and walk my dog again. Then I make dinner, spaghetti bolognese with chocolate pear pudding. We all play a letter board game my youngest - he’s learning to read. Try and watch a film with my husband but I fall asleep.

Woke up at 5! Read a bit.

When kids woke up made them pancakes ( a Sunday ritual) then my husband took them swimming (his health club offers free family swimming on Sundays) whilst I go to a reformer Pilates class.

After the class I buy a small birthday present for my friend’s daughter who we are meeting later.

Have bean dip and carrot for lunch, go to playground (it's right behind our house) for a bit then meet our friends for early dinner at an Italian for 5pm.

Home for 7pm. Early bed, plus chemical peel again.

Weekly total: £885.00

The Debrief

Thank you to OP for sharing their Open Account. Please join in the conversation and feedback welcome! How does your spending differ? Any tips for purchases or things you found inspiring/useful? I imagine what will spark a conversation about this Open Account is the 50/50 split. Is this fair? Would you do this under any circumstances?

Leave a comment

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Please vote in the poll! 📊

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Go Fund Yourself

First, we’re hearing from a 36-year-old product manager in Bristol on £43k who is paying off debt from a career change, owns a flat she rents out, loves fabric shops and has very strong feelings about light blue. The photographs included have been shared by OP.

Open Accounts #1

Anonymous · Age 36 ·📍 Bristol / Exeter · Product Manager ·

About me

I work in Exeter and live in Bristol. I care deeply about the climate and try to live as sustainably as I can. I absolutely love dancing - it’s one of the things that brings me the most joy but I don’t get to do it as much as I’d like to now all my friends have babes. I’m mixed race (white & black Caribbean), and though this is important to me I didn’t think about it much growing up. I went to a very liberal primary school, where we learned Jimmy Cliff songs, danced to the Beatles and welcomed refugees from Bosnia into our classroom and communities. My secondary school was primarily mixed race and black pupils. I loved and felt supported by my community and my schools.

I used to work in the publishing industry but when I moved to Bristol (which was before the pandemic), I had to give this up as remote working was not an option but my heart is still very much in the culture sector.

I’m originally from South London and while I often miss it, I’ve been building my own life here in Bristol for the past seven years. Many of my friends now have children and I’m one of the few who is still child-free. I’m still figuring out how I feel about having kids myself. I’m currently in a two-year relationship and my partner would like children, so it’s something I’m continuing to think about.

A few years ago I changed careers to increase my income. That meant retraining, which unfortunately led to some serious debt that I’m still paying off. The good news is that I quickly got a good job with a FANTASTIC pension (28.9%), was recently promoted and received a £10k pay rise, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I believe I could have got my current role without spending the money to retrain - I don’t regret it though, despite the cost and the frustrations, I built a pretty cool app (I retrained in web development and coding) and it was nice to take a break from work to be back in education for a bit.

In terms of living arrangements, I own a two-bedroom flat that I rent out, and I currently live with my partner in the two-bedroom house he owns nearby.

Splitting finances

My partner is currently freelance after being made redundant. He was on £65,000-£70,000 but because of the nature of his work (TV - short term contracts), despite working for 8 years at the same company, he had a very small redundancy pay. He went freelance and started his own company. So income fluctuates but he’s currently in a good position. We currently split 50/50.

Income and Outgoings

Best purchases

• All my money goes on fabric, I’ve spent £230 on dressmaking fabric this month. I can’t resist... however I rarely buy clothes and I know that what I make will fit my body shape perfectly. I would class fabric as an essential purchase.

• I guess my powered oat milk is pretty niche too, but it has very little packaging, and works out pretty cheap considering the amount of milk you can make.

• At one point I was subscribing to 5 different podcasts. Definitely non essential and I quickly scaled this back!

• I also pay for a budgeting app - You Need A Budget, would recommend.

Biggest financial worry

I’m not sure if this counts as a financial worry, but my fear currently is that there is an expectation that I will sell my flat to combine finances with my partner. I don’t feel comfortable with that. Owning my flat gives me a sense of long-term security that is really important to me.

Growing up, I saw the stability that my mum had from owning her own home - first her flat and later her house - and that’s something I value. Having that foundation is important to me, and I think I will always want to keep that sense of financial safety for myself.

Best money decision

Spending all of my savings in my mid-twenties to go travelling and ultimately move to Vietnam for 3 years. I had so many people tell me I was brave to do this, but it didn’t feel brave, it was a well considered decision and one I’d do again in a heartbeat.

I set myself the challenge of making back the money I had left with before returning home, which I did. I was also fortunate to be approached for a role by my old manager when they heard I was moving back which was £12k more than the one I had left.

Money growing up

I recently admitted to my mum, that even though I’m in debt and always a little conscious of money, deep down I always know I’ll be ok. I’m very privileged to have a large and loving family that would take me in if I needed, a good career history, close friendships etc, a uni degree.

What surprised me was her reaction. She cried - which almost never happens. She told me that throughout her life she had consciously tried to make sure that her own sense of financial insecurity wasn’t passed on to me. Hearing that I had grown up feeling secure was incredibly emotional for her.

She grew up poor (and happy!), on the largest post-war council estate in Europe (Leigh Park in Portsmouth), and into adulthood and still today has worried about her finances.

However as a single woman in her 60s she paid off her mortgage on a teacher’s salary. Absolutely incredible. I’m so insanely proud of her.

So although money wasn’t spoken about, I have never felt like we were lacking. I’m aware in retrospect that my mum went without a lot to ensure I was happy.

My dad is another story... didn’t speak about money and was terrible with it. I think he bought his house in the 1980s for around £30,000 and I don’t think he’s paid it off. Always remortgaging to make money and always buying new cars. He used to get me all the knock off versions of whatever was popular from down East Street Market in South East London. Things like Baby-C watches and a 24-in-1, aka fake Tamagotchi... I still didn’t equate this with not having much money. He also always gave me £50 notes to buy sweets from the shop... so occasionally I felt very flush...

The Spending Diary

My diary starts at about 1am on Sunday morning as I was still out from the night before and dancing at the Jam Jar in Bristol.

I bought four rounds of drinks totalling: £34. Can not remember what I was drinking, but it was cheap.

I woke up with the fear at 10am, but an hour later I was feeling fresh and headed to Aldi to buy some basic groceries totalling £21.06.

I made myself a roast and watched Girl Bands Forever. Cried with nostalgia, reminisced with my pal Zoe about our 90s childhood, fell asleep on the sofa to All Saints and only took myself to bed when I awoke to the smell of smoke - my fancy candle had burned down to the wick and the giant flame was lit by the soy wax. Almost burned the house down.

60p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

I work from home most of the time, so I rolled out of bed around 6.30am, fixed myself an egg for breakfast and sat at my desk for 8.25 hours.

Texted my mum to talk about my grandad George who would have been 100 years old on this day. Miss him.

Had expected to have a phone call with my partner who is away working in Nigeria but lost my voice at around 1am on the dance floor at Jam Jar. Rescheduled.

In the evening, I watched the entirety of Boy Bands Forever. Realised I had a new crush, Robbie Williams.

Took myself to bed.

61p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

Got up around 6.30am in order to drive to Exeter to work. I love this drive. I put on the longest true crime podcast I could find, one that would stretch the whole 1.5 hour journey and headed out.

Arrived to work about 8.30am. I love being in the office. Said hello to some pals and worked. Someone nearby me was very loud on a Teams call. Felt awkward. Bought my first coffee of the day (oat milk latte) in order to get away from them: £2.20. Cringed at my London accent (lar-tay. 🤢).

It was the leaving do of a former colleague so went along to the speeches and grabbed some homemade Victoria Sponge. Free.

Bought another coffee: £2.20.

Got hungry at 2pm. Bought some pistachios: £1.19

Did some more work.

Got hungry at 3pm. Bought an apple. Barista told me to take two because she couldn’t believe how expensive one apple was. Got 2 x apples for: 0.65p

Listened to Nirvana, Pixies & PJ Harvey on the way home.

Finally had the call with my boyfriend. He had success on his filming project. A family of 5 wild elephants. What an amazing world.

62p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

Woke up bright and early.

Made myself some breakfast and some coffee. Listened to I’m Glad My Mom Died.

Bought a dress pattern and some labels on my lunch break: £29. Realised it looked a lot like a friend’s recent hospital gown. Vowed not to make it in light blue.

Felt bougie - I got paid last week and had a 40% discount offer on Uber Eats so bought myself the best sushi of my life and browsed the online shops for fabric. must. not. buy. blue. Didn’t buy blue. Nothing suitable. Watched Sherlock.

63p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

Thursday! What a day! Jk. Rolled out of bed around 6.30am. Did some cleaning and sat at my desk for 8.25 hours. Did some training.

Went to Aldi at lunch to stretch my legs: 0.95p

Bought my first item of clothing in a long time. A gorge dress from Omnes. It’s light blue.*: £33

Had a phone call with an old school friend and reminded me how despite seeing each other only once every 2/3 years when we get on the phone we could be 15 year old school girls again. Love her.

64p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

*Doesn’t matter! Cos looks nothing like a hospital gown.

Friday I had 6 guys from the Black Country putting up solar panels. My pal, also from the Black Country, was coming to work from mine as we both work from home on Friday.

Before she arrived I got veg for roasting from my local shops. I’m lucky that I have some very Bristol, very spenny, but very good quality grocers near me. I bought bread, 5 peppers (red & yellow), a courgette and some coffee as I wanted nice coffee for the builders who were doing a pretty tough job out there: £17.94

Went round the corner to the other pretty spenny, but cute shop and bought hummus: £5.15...

Had hummus and roasted veg on posh bread for lunch. Played Wordle, Quordle and hangman with my friend.

After work went to a pal’s house to hang out. Our boyfriends are away working together in Nigeria filming. It’s pretty amazing work. We went for a walk around the park, had a gossip and bumped into another friend. We convinced her to have a glass of wine with us at a wine bar down the road. She did: £19.13

(That’s for two wines. My pal reimbursed me so: + £8.50)

Wine was delish and the free crisps were so v oily and so v delicious. She left to meet a dog called Elvis and we went back to our original plan - an M&S dine in for two - trout & mash. So fancy.

65p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

I woke up early - tried to lie in but am incapable of doing so.

I found a fabric shop in Stroud, The Fold, a couple of days earlier, that I was keen to visit so I planned a trip there. Only 45 minutes from my house.

Put petrol in the car: £59.49.

Arrived in Stroud, as is my fear whenever I leave a big city, was expecting to see England flags lining the streets - was instead greeted with a huge Palestine flag. I am safe here.

Bought parking for 2 hours: £1.50

Bought myself a coffee: £4.35

Spent 45 minutes in The Fold. Highly recommend! Bought around 7 metres of 3 types of fabric. Not light blue. = £155.80

Walked around the market. I was so impressed with the variety on offer and all from local farms, breweries and individual makers. I needed mustard - which I didn’t find. So slightly embarrassed to admit that I went to Lidl on the way home: 0.49p

Got sushi again cos it’s a Saturday and I’m not going out: £37.10

Bought 3 x credits on Audible: £23.99.

Downloaded and listened to The Housemaid. Terrible. Money NOT well spent.

Took out £50 in cash as was going to get my car cleaned the next day.

Made myself a dress with my new fabric from The Fold and the pattern from earlier in the week. Came out beautifully <3

66p came out of my account into the Monzo 1p savings challenge.

7 Days
Weekly total spend: £520.67

Thank you to OP for sharing their Open Account. Please join in the conversation and feedback welcome! How does your spending differ? Any tips for purchases or things you found inspiring/useful?

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Alice x
Go Fund Yourself