MONEY DIARIES: 15 women earning under $40K

 

Reading other peoples money diaries is one of my fav past times. I have gotten into a habit of reading a new one every lunchtime at work.

As much as I find reading about how people on massive salaries spend their hard-earned cash motivating, I prefer to read peoples money diaries who are on the other end of the salary scale. Getting an insight into how people spend their money has allowed me to learn a few new money-saving tricks.

A recent money diary I read spoke about this app called ritual. The girl who was writing about it in her money diary was getting half prices coffees. I googled the app and it turned out it had just launched in Australia. The next day I was enjoying a $2 coffee.

Here are 15 of my favourite money diaries from women earning under $40,000 USD a year.

Click on the images below to take you straight over to the money diary!

A Week In New York, NY, On A $15,000 Income

Occupation: Student (and Resident Advisor, Intern, and Research Assistant)
Industry: Education
Age: 20
Location: New York, NY
Salary: last year it was around $15,000 but it fluctuates
Paycheck Amount (depending on the job, 1x or 2x/semester, my allowance is 1x/month): ~$500-$1,000 from my parents; $3,000/semester from various jobs; around $7,000 from summer jobs
Gender Identity: Woman

 

A Week In Bahrain On A $15,000 Salary

Occupation: CEO/producer
Industry: Film
Age: 30
Location: Bahrain
Salary: $15,000
Paycheck Amount (1x/month): $800–$1,300, depending on projects finished each month
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Northern New Mexico, On A $19,500 Salary

Occupation: Office Assistant
Industry: Tourism Development/Retail
Age: 25
Location: Northern New Mexico
Salary: ~$19,500-$21,000 (varies with the season)
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): ~$800 (combined two jobs, payday for both is same day)
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Boston, MA, On $25,000 A Year

Occupation: Journalist
Industry: Media
Age: 23
Location: Boston, MA
Salary: $25,000
Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $752.77
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Houston, TX, On A $30,000 Salary

Occupation: Clinical Researcher and Part-Time Graduate Student
Industry: Healthcare
Age: 24
Location: Houston, TX
Salary: $30,000
Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $980.64

A Week In Toronto, ON, On A $30,282 Salary

Occupation: Data Associate
Industry: Publishing
Age: 24
Location: Toronto, ON
Salary: $30,282
Paycheck Amount (biweekly): $930.81
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Washington, D.C., On A $32,000 Salary

Occupation: Digital Publishing Representative
Industry: Publishing
Age: 23
Location: Washington, D.C.
Salary: $32,000
Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $998
Gender Identity: She/her/hers

A Week In Austin, TX, On A $32,500 Salary

Occupation: Program Specialist
Industry: Non-Profit
Age: 23
Location: Austin, TX
Salary: $32,500
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,067 after taxes (plus $75-$200 in mileage reimbursement per month)
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In West Michigan On A $34,000 Salary

Occupation: Reporter
Industry: Journalism
Age: 26
Location: West Michigan
Salary: $34,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,090
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Burbank, CA, On A $36,000 Salary

Occupation: Executive Assistant
Industry: Entertainment
Age: 23
Location: Burbank, CA
Salary: $36,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,055
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Victoria, BC, On A $39,866 Salary

Occupation: Sales Associate
Industry: Real Estate
Age: 27
Location: Victoria, BC
Salary: $39,866
Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $839.46 (plus commission paid every month or two)
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In New York, NY, On A $40,000 Salary

Occupation: Assistant Media Buyer Negotiator
Industry: Advertising/Marketing
Age: 23
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $40,000 (+ about $3,000 in overtime)
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,372
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In Austin, TX, On A $40,000 Salary

Occupation: Entrepreneur (Tarot Reader)
Industry: Witchcraft and Spiritual Work
Age: 31
Location: Austin, TX
Salary: $40,000
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In New York City On A $40,000 Salary

Occupation: Junior Associate
Industry: Public Relations
Age: 22
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $40,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,245
Gender Identity: Woman

A Week In New Jersey On A $40,000 Salary

Occupation: Program Coordinator
Industry: Nonprofit
Age: 24
Location: New Jersey
Salary: $40,000
Paycheck Amount (Every Other Week): $1,220.30
Gender Identity: Woman

 

I hope you all have learnt a few new tricks. Let me know your favourite money diary in comments.

If your interested in where you can find some extra financial advice, check out my post all about where my favourite places to get free money advice by clicking here.