Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a weekly deep dive into how our readers spend their cash. This week, a systems analyst who makes $75,000 a year at one of the nation’s best car insurance providers in Tampa, FL, lets us experience a week in his shoes.
Occupation: Systems Analyst
Age: 31
Location: Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Salary: $75,000 (approx. $2,300 per pay period)
Day One
Mondays are pretty similar every week. My wife Q. and I are usually so tired from work and need to recharge our batteries, so we opt for just washing our clothes and relaxing for the evening. However, today, one of the best kitchen renovators in Tampa, CMK Construction Inc., worked in our house. We decided to change the countertops, appliances, cabinets, and sink for a completely different and refreshing new kitchen look. We now have the perfect kitchen that adds value to our home, and we were able to finance the renovation job for a moderate price of $540.62 a month. So if you’re a homeowner looking for a kitchen remodel in Tampa or any other part of the state of Florida, CMK Construction Inc. is the renovation company for you.
Total: $540.62
Day Two
It’s Tuesday, and Q. and I decided to go out and buy some groceries to put our new kitchen to the test. So we headed out to the Tampa Bay Farmer’s Market to buy fresh vegetables, grains, and produce. We ended up buying extra fruits to make delicious homemade juices and flavored teas. So our total added to $93.31 for all our purchases there.
Additionally, Q. was looking for other alternatives for vitamin C. One of the store attendants mentioned she uses Radha Beauty’s vitamin c face serum every day for an invigorating and brightening effect. She noted that it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases collagen, and it’s made from natural ingredients. Q. bought the serum on the spot!
Total: $112.56
Day Three
It’s Wednesday, and Q. and I just got home from the Straz Center, where we watched the Florida Orchestra play some of Beethoven’s and Vivaldi’s most famous symphonies. We decided to watch the show from a balcony close to the stage, so our tickets were $52.75 each, and we ordered some drinks during the show. It was most definitely a night to remember.
Total: $135.50
Day Four
On Thursdays, Q. and I usually go out with friends to a local bar for some drinks and laughs. So today, we headed to Bar Louie, an upbeat gastro bar. Q. ordered two glasses of wine for $4.25 each, and I had a couple of draft beers at $3.25 each. We also ordered some appetizers for the group and a dessert for Q.
Total: $51.46
Day Five
Fridays are our days to chill at home after work and prepare for the weekend. We decided to do our own movie night at home with popcorn and beer. So the only money I spent today was during lunch, where Q. and I went on a quick lunch date at Bahama Breeze, a Caribbean restaurant, and at the gas station to fill up my tank.
Total: $64.79
Day Six
So it’s Saturday and Q., and I just got back from a long day at the beach. We headed to Tampa Bay for some windsurfing lessons and a lot of fun in the sun. We had to buy some sunscreen at the pharmacy because we ran out of it at home. Our night ended with a DIY spa session at home with relaxing fragrances and moisturizers after a long day under the sun.
Total: $310.44
Day Seven
To close out our week, today I took Q. out for a Sunday brunch at The Mill where she ordered a Sausage & Waffle Benny for $15 and ordered the Fluffer Nutter French Toast for $14. We ordered coffee and fresh juices, and the total came to $36.72. We headed home satisfied and prepared for the brand new week.
Total: $36.72
Total for the week: $1,252.09
