Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a weekly deep dive into how our readers spend their cash.
Today: A lawyer who makes $95,000 per year and spends their money on home improvements.
Occupation: Lawyer
Age: 37
Location: Wilmington, NC
Salary: $95,000
Day 1
I worked from home today because we had a team pressure washing the windows and cleaning the gutters today. These Wilmington, NC experts are the ones we’ve been going to for years. It’s always a great way to start off the spring season. Even though the winter isn’t super brutal here in NC, it’s always nice for a touch-up after the season changes. I love hiring a local company that is super committed to giving us a great job every time. This is one of the best ways to spend my money when Spring is around the corner. I’m so happy to have my clean windows back!
Total: $500
Day 2
Today, I was back in the office working on paperwork for a few of my recent cases. I had a client meeting to get ready for court on Friday. It should be a pretty straightforward case, just finalizing a settlement from a recent workplace injury. My client should get the full amount which is great. On the way back from work, I picked up a pizza for the family to enjoy then we watched a movie altogether to help my oldest relax amidst his college search.
Total: $22
Day 3
Big day after work for my son. He’s a junior in high school now, so it’s time to start looking at colleges. We’re so proud of his academic excellence and his admission into the National Honor Society. We’re even looking into scholarships for high school juniors. He’s hitting all the eligibility requirements and has a great GPA. Of course, we’ll be proud of him no matter what, but if the next education level is his choice, we want to get him as much financial aid as possible. It’s never too early to be thinking of college applications and scholarship programs, so today was when we met with his college counselor to get the ball rolling. They seem to think his prospects are strong, which is a great sign!
Total: $100
Day 4
Work today was chill and fine. Looking forward to court tomorrow should be a basic, straightforward day. I was really looking forward to tonight when I got a chance to catch up at dinner with some of my best friends from the past 10 years. It’s been great to see all of us grow up together and how our kids are now mini-adults. I had one extra glass of wine than I should have, but I don’t regret it in the slightest! What a fun night.
Total: $43
Day 5
Trial day and everything went just as we planned. I got myself my lucky cup of Starbucks before getting to court and picked up my favorite lunch on the way back to the office. Overall, a successful Friday on the job. Now, I’m relaxing and looking forward to the weekend.
Total: $17
Day 6
Today my son and I are taking a day trip to see one of the local colleges he’s most excited about! It was about a two-hour drive away, so we filled up the gas tank and enjoyed a day together. Even picked up a few little trinkets from the bookstore to mark the day. He really loved the campus and I can’t believe my baby is old enough to be looking at colleges!
Total: $112
Day 7
Sunday is the day to recharge and reset. It was a nice day where I got in a little bit of gardening and also went out to grab groceries for the week. Overall a productive but restful day.
Total: $59
Weekly Total: $853
