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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

This week: a writer/editor who makes $77,910 per year and spends some of her money this week on a Schitt’s Creek plant sign.

Occupation: Writer/editor
Industry: News media
Age: 41
Location: Dallas, TX
Salary: $77,910
Assets: $2,307.12 in checking; $3,961.68 in a high-yield savings account; $2,076 in a CD; $154,744.19 in investments (a money market and Roth IRA); $29,634.81 in my company’s 401(k) (no match).
Debt: My mortgage: $182,028.62; car loan: $4,586.86; and credit card debt $28,687.87.
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $2,488.34; freelance anywhere from $200 to $2,000.
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses
Monthly Housing Costs: $1,600 mortgage for the house that I own and live in by myself.
Monthly Loan Payments: Credit cards/personal loan: $2,932 total; car payment: $315
All Other Monthly Expenses:
Security System: $21.64
Wifi: $55.58
Electricity: ~$50-$60 in the winter; as high as $250 in the summer
Gas: ~$30 in the summer; ~$170 in the winter
Water/Trash/Sewer: ~$70
Cell Phone: $89.52 (work reimburses me $50 of this)
iCloud Storage: $2.99
KERA (Local PBS) Donation: $10
Planned Parenthood Donation: $10
Energy Ogre: $10
Lawn Mowing: $80 (two visits at $40 each)
Home Camera Monitoring: $1.59
Patreon: $13.50 to support two podcasts
Savings Auto-Transfers: ~$100 split between house repair fund and pet costs fund; $120 into regular savings

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Absolutely, and I was very lucky that my parents offered to pay my tuition and expenses if I went in-state (I grew up in Colorado). So my brother, my parents, and myself all attended the same college (University of Colorado at Boulder), and I graduated with no student loans. But then of course I decided to go to grad school… At a private university (Syracuse University in New York)… And I paid for that myself through loans and scholarships. I did a juggling routine by rotating the balance among credit cards through zero-percent APR balance transfers until it was all paid off. The way government interest works, there’s no way I could have paid it off before age 60 otherwise.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My dad was a financial advisor, but surprisingly we barely talked about money. I remember my parents taking me to open a savings account when I was young, and they gave me a credit card when I was 16, but I was only allowed to use it for picking up groceries/running errands for them and gas for the car that was handed down to me from my brother, for which they also paid the insurance. When I was thrust out into the real world, I didn’t know a lot about how money worked.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
I was a hostess at On the Border at 16, because a) it was one of the few places that hired so young and b) all my high school friends worked there. I remember I wanted the job because I wanted to buy CDs. Unofficially, my whole family worked at a bingo parlor to help pay for my ice skating expenses as a kid. My mom sold the cards, my dad called out the numbers, and my brother and I sold dobbers.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Not at all — I saved that for adulthood! My family was relatively well off and my mother didn’t work, plus we often took trips, went out to eat, and my brother and I always had the clothes, food, hobby equipment, and entertainment we needed and wanted.

Do you worry about money now?
It’s better now that I have a plan for paying off debt, but it has really kept me up a lot of nights. I felt like I was drowning in a pool I filled myself. I’m constantly on the lookout for new job opportunities that might pay more, and I’m always hustling with freelance work. I’m on a very strict budget now and track every expense, even before doing this diary!

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I was 26 when I graduated with my master’s in journalism in 2008, at the height of the recession, so those first few years out were really tough. My then-boyfriend and I moved to Arizona so he could take a job… That disappeared six months later when the company shut down. I couldn’t get hired ANYWHERE, not even Target, so my parents truly supported me through that. From there we moved to Dallas, where my ex was from, and we lived with his mother for nearly a year. I was working part time at the mall, then got hired for my first professional writing/editing job, and from there was earning enough for us to get an apartment. I was nearly 30 before I really felt like I could stand on my own. I blew through a lot of my savings trying to pay off my debt, but I’m slowly building it back up. Once all my credit card debt is paid off, I plan to direct that money toward refilling my emergency expenses fund with at least six months’ worth. My parents aren’t really an option for financial support anymore, but my current boyfriend is extremely supportive (not to mention responsible with money!), so I know he would step in if necessary.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
My grandmother left me $40,000 when she died in 2001. That was immediately invested for me by my father into a money market fund, and I’ve only touched it to put an FHA down payment on my first house in 2011.

Day One

8 a.m. — I wake up and snuggle my two senior dogs — one had tumor removal surgery a week and a half ago, so I check that her stitches look okay before getting dressed and taking them for their morning walk. Once back, I brew a big pot of coffee (I like to drink it cold throughout the week) and sit down to work. My company went entirely remote during the pandemic, so I have a cozy home office setup that I also use — and can deduct a portion of on my taxes! — for freelance writing.

1 p.m. — I break for a quick lunch of soup and toast and check in for my virtual psychiatrist appointment. I see him every three to four months for a med check — these pills have seriously changed my life. I pay the $45 specialist co-pay, knowing I’ll have to pay the other $45 once insurance has processed my claim. Luckily my monthly therapist appointment is completely covered by insurance! $45

2:30 p.m. — Every day at 2:30 p.m. I walk my dogs to the neighborhood pet supply store where they receive a few small treats from the very kind owners. I like to support this small local business, so whenever I can I purchase a bag of treats (this time it’s bison bacon) and their big bags of food from there, even if it might be a bit more costly than buying from a big-box chain. $8.88

7 p.m. — I put myself into major debt during the pandemic, mostly due to buying things I absolutely did not need. Last summer, my boyfriend J. helped me map out a plan to be debt-free within 18 months. To help cut costs, J. has been helping me make a weekly meal plan and then food prep it on Sundays. So I have lasagne to reheat, along with carrots and tomatoes to chop and throw into a salad. J. and I talk a bit on the phone as he’s driving home from his night classes (he’s finishing up his bachelor’s, having quit 10 years ago to start working earlier — he does not recommend this, friends!), then the dogs and I crawl into bed to read for a bit (right now it’s Lessons in Chemistry, found in my neighborhood’s Little Free Library) before it’s lights out.

Daily Total: $53.88

Day Two

8:15 a.m. — Wake up and it’s another walk with the dogs. Today is the Gotcha Day for the older one — I can’t believe I’ve had him for 14 years now! — so I excitedly remind him of this often while he casually sniffs everything, completely nonplussed. At home, I pour copious amounts of creamer into my “iced” coffee, then start my workday. I was never a coffee drinker until I met J. nearly three years ago, but he’s slowly been converting me. However, I still need my coffee to taste like a milkshake. Log onto my laptop and see that my wifi has auto-paid. I’m generally against auto-pay, because often I had to pay bills only when I knew I had the money in my account. But this saves me $5 a month, so I tolerate it but also track the payments intently.

4:45 p.m. — Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and J. has class, so I’m a little in my feels about being alone and go to the grocery store to help fill the hole. I buy chocolate brownie cookies, a sushi sampler, baked potato chips, a two-pack of Reese’s Hearts, more creamer, and a bottle of rosé. Look, I know it’s bad for my health and my budget, but I likely blacked out and I do plan on sharing the cookies and Reese’s with J. when he comes over this weekend. $43.65

6 p.m. — I have three nieces in Colorado, and the middle one is turning 10 next week. I write a little message in her birthday card and add a crisp $20 before sealing and addressing the envelope. I established a few years ago that I was the Money Aunt, and it’s really fun for me to see what they choose to spend the cash on. I pop the card in my mailbox for USPS to collect tomorrow. Then I get changed and head out for a run around the neighborhood. I famously hated running for most of my life, but my boyfriend’s a runner so I kind of picked it up from him. Now I actually enjoy it, and running outdoors is free! Thankful for the warm Texas weather that makes outdoor exercise in February possible. $20

Daily Total: $63.65

Day Three

10 a.m. — Valentine’s Day! I am very excited about having a cookie for breakfast, but also notice that the CO2 in my SodaStream is running low. I live on seltzer and wait until I have four empty cylinders to exchange, because that’s the threshold for free shipping. I used to exchange them in person at Bed Bath & Beyond, where I could also use the famous 20% off coupons, but alas that’s no longer an option. $73.57

3 p.m. — When I bought my first home I had grand plans of mowing the lawn myself, but quickly realized it was worth the cost to pay someone to do it quicker (and better) than I ever could. Now, in my second home, I have a great guy who comes every other week and is finished within 30 minutes. It’s completely money well spent, especially since my backyard is large and my front yard has a few small hills. I zelle him the money before I can forget. $40

8 p.m. — It’s irrational, but I’m still a little blue about being alone on this totally commercial holiday. After a glass of rosé I decide to get on Etsy (dangerous) and order myself a small present. I recently finished watching Schitt’s Creek so I’m tickled by a brass plant sign that says “I have asked you thrice for water.” In just a few short weeks, one of my office plants will be channeling David Rose. $17.54

Daily Total: $131.11

Day Four

8 a.m. — Final morning walk for the surgery pup, who is VERY ready to be out of the cone of shame. We walk by a neighbor who recently lost her own dog, so she calls for me to stop while she goes inside to get treats for my dogs. It makes me happy that my dogs can give her some small measure of comfort, so we stay and chat for a bit while she loves on them. I got paid today, but almost immediately my mortgage and car payment are taken out so the total in my checking account is way less satisfying than it could be.

12:30 p.m. — My dog was a champ at the vet, so we stop at McDonald’s on the way home. I exclusively use the app so I can earn points, and order a six-piece chicken nuggets meal in which most of the French fries go to my dogs. The app saved me 20%, so it’s a little treat for everyone! $5.26

7 p.m. — It’s another night of reheated lasagne and salad, following by watching a few episodes of Upload. I’m planning on getting rid of Amazon Prime before it renews in April — the free shipping is too tempting to me, plus I don’t like that there are now ads in the TV shows and movies.

Daily Total: $5.26

Day Five

10 a.m. — I have my yearly physical today, so I make sure to fast and not drink my creamer-laden coffee. My doctor is in a large medical complex near downtown, so it costs $5 to park (boo) but at least the physical will be free. $5

11:30 a.m. — I am starving after a morning of fasting and getting blood drawn, so I walk next-door to the attached Potbelly for an early lunch. My love of rewards club apps has paid off, and I have a free sandwich to use so I only end up paying for the chips and drink. $4.21

7:30 p.m. — J. typically stays with me on the weekends, so he arrives after work (with belated Valentine’s flowers!) and we do our Friday night ritual of dinner out. We go to a favorite Mexican spot and notice that they’ve raised their prices — with this new total, it might be a while before we go back. We swing by the nearby pie shop to take advantage of their after-Valentine’s sale, and I offer to pay since he got dinner. J. has been extremely supportive about me paying back my debt, so he often covers meals if we go out on the weekend, but I sometimes feel guilty that I can’t be more equal with money right now. The pies aren’t as cheap as we thought they’d be, but we consider it and the dinner our V-Day gift to each other. $54.12

Daily Total: $63.33

Day Six

8 a.m. — We’re up early to walk the dogs before heading to the gym — I’m on J’.s membership, and we like to go work out together on the weekends if we can. He makes a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast while I hop in the shower, since we have a full day of errands planned.

11 a.m. — I’ve been putting off getting an oil change for a while, but a nearby dealership sent me a great coupon for $29.99. But after waiting for nearly two hours for them to be done with my car, J. and I swear to never go to the dealership again, no matter how tempting the deal. Drive-thru oil changes only from now on! $36.57

1:30 p.m. — My neighborhood pet supply store is having its grand opening celebration today — it recently moved into a bigger building — so we stop by. There are animal adoptions, an elote cart handing out free cups, and lots of samples from different pet brands. It’s also doing 20% off the brand of food I feed my dogs, so I buy a huge bag that should last them several months. $77.90

2:30 p.m. — I’ve been meaning to be better about my oral health, so we head into CVS so I can buy some mouthwash to round out my current brushing and water flossing routine. While there, we also pick up more ibuprofen and two cans of Celsius (J. is low-key addicted). We then take some of my clothing donations to Goodwill. I’m slowly but surely decluttering my house in anticipation of J. moving in, so donating things I no longer wear feels great for several reasons. $26.46

Daily Total: $140.93

Day Seven

10 a.m. — We both sleep in, then make coffee. My brother and SIL got J. and me a coffee grinder for Christmas, and I love how excited he gets to use it to make us fresh coffee on the weekends. Another work out at the gym and a walk for the dogs before spending most of the day being lazy watching TV and movies on the couch.

2 p.m. — Time for our weekly grocery shopping trip! This week’s menu is using some ingredients I already have (chickpeas, couscous) so I mainly just need to buy carrots, tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, a red bell pepper, and more olive oil to round it all out. We roast the chickpeas, carrots, and bell pepper with spices, then chop the rest of the veggies to make into a salad tomorrow night. I’ll also make the couscous fresh then. $13.87

4 p.m. — I had a very good month of freelance writing, so I decide to make an extra payment on one of my credit cards. In the past, I would have split it up among all the cards, not realizing that doing so wouldn’t make much of a dent. Now I know to direct it all toward one account (in this case, one of the two with the highest APR) to really make a difference. J. and I do a quick finance check-in to see how I’m faring so far this month, and talk a little about the vacation we want to take later in the year to celebrate my paying off three more accounts by then. It feels amazing that debt-free is getting closer and closer to being a reality. $600

6 p.m. — J. and I go out to dinner, this time to another favorite Mexican spot (we love our Mexican food here in Texas!). I get shrimp tacos and J. orders chicken enchiladas, and I get a big margarita. Since J. is sober, I send him $10 to cover my drink — it doesn’t feel fair that he should have to pay for my alcohol, and it’s my way to contribute at least a little to the bill. We finish the night by watching a few episodes of Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on Max. We’re planning to cancel that subscription soon too (J. and I pre-paid for six months and split the cost), so we’re trying to cram as much in from it as possible before it’s gone. $10

Daily Total: $623.87

The Breakdown

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Mercury retrograde ends this week on the 25th — hooray! But before we get there, we’re still integrating the potent effects of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Taurus that we experienced last Saturday (the 20th). We’ll continue to feel the effects of this conjunction for weeks and months to come, so make sure to look at your birth chart to see where Taurus energy falls in your birth chart, as this will be the sector that is most potently transformed over the course of Taurus Season. 

Speaking of Taurus Season, we’re officially in the first full week of the season, and all zodiac signs will feel a remarkable shift from the more energetic and unpredictable energy of Aries Season to the more grounded, mellow, and stubborn vibes of having the sun in Taurus. Then on the 23rd, the Scorpio full moon lights up the skies and infuses the cosmos with much passion, power, and magnetism, making this week an ideal week for saying yes to what makes you feel emotionally fulfilled. 

Start the weekend in the spirit of celebration because you will have made it through the first Mercury retrograde of the year once Mercury shifts direct in Aries at 8:54 a.m. on the 25th.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries Season has come to an end, but with Mercury shifting direct in your sign on the 25th, Venus still in your sign until the 29th and Mars getting ready to enter your sign on the 30th, you’ll very much feel like you’re experiencing the sequel of Aries Season, and that your powers of magnetism and attraction are deepening each day. This is partially due to the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Taurus that took place last week in your sector of security and money — tap into that abundant energy as you set your goals for the week, and know that your manifestation abilities are intensely strong right now, Aries. 

The Scorpio full moon on the 23rd makes you act in more Scorpio-like ways, because both you and Scorpio are ruled by Mars, the Planet of Action. Since your sector of health, wellness, and service is lit up by this moon, you may suddenly feel inspired to improve your health or daily routines. Just make sure to not overdo it, because the final days of Mercury retrograde in your sign can make you feel restless and all over the place. Fortunately for you, Mercury ends its retrograde in your sign on the 25th!

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Happy Taurus Season! The Sun is officially in your sign for the next four weeks, making you the cosmic favorite. This is doubly the case, because last Saturday’s Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in your sign transformed your life for the better, from the inside out. If you don’t yet feel the positive effects of this conjunction, stay patient and you’ll start to notice them unfolding in the days and weeks to come. Perhaps you’ll manifest a dream partner (or deepen a connection with an existing one) due to this week’s Scorpio full moon in your partnership sector. Do not fear the love entering your life — instead, fully embrace it. 

Then on the 25th, Mercury, the Planet of Communication, ends its retrograde through Aries. This retrograde activated your sector of healing, closure, and solitude, which is why you may have been a bit of a hermit these past three weeks. But now that Mercury is shifting direct, you’ll feel more ready to share some of your spiritual downloads and awakenings with those who are a vibrational match. Open up and heal in community.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Congrats, Gemini — as of the 25th you will have made it through your ruler Mercury’s first retrograde of 2024. It took place in your sector of friendship, tech, and social networks, so if these areas of your life felt a bit wonky, you’ll slowly but surely start to feel like it’s all starting to realign and that you have greater clarity about who you can lean on in your community, and who you may have outgrown or are not compatible with at this phase of your life. 

The Scorpio Moon on the 23rd activates your sector of health and wellness, encouraging you to get clear on toxic habits that may be holding you back from the next level of your ascension. Use this full moon to purge the dead weight and acknowledge unhealthy patterns. Be patient with yourself during this process, as Mercury will shift direct on the 25th but will be in its post-retrograde shadow phase until May 6. Make your healing process a gradual and consistent one. 

Cancer Sun & Rising:

It’s a full moon week, Cancer, so if you’re feeling extra sensitive, it’s absolutely normal. The Scorpio full moon takes place on the 23rd in your sector of fate, true love, and creativity. Since you’re moon-ruled, you’ll feel the effects of this lunation for the rest of the month of April — and potentially longer. The key is to be honest with yourself about ways you haven’t let your inner child play, be loved, and have fun. This week is your chance to start over and to prioritize your bliss, unapologetically. 

Mercury ends its retrograde in Aries on the 25th in your sector of career, legacy, and reputation. We’ll still experience a post-shadow period until May 6, but you’ll already start to feel more confident and optimistic about what’s possible for you professionally. If you’ve been underpaid or unsatisfied with your current occupation, you may receive an opportunity to switch up your career or leap into entrepreneurship. If it feels right, go for it.

Leo Sun & Rising:

Now that you’ve experienced the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in your career sector, you’re acting, moving, and breathing differently. This first full week of Taurus Season has you reflecting on ways to make strategic but also simple shifts to your work routine so that you’re less frazzled and more grounded in your decision making. Just keep in mind that Mercury remains retrograde until the 25th, so it might not be until this weekend that you start to notice your brain fog decreasing. 

On the 23rd, a full moon in Scorpio activates your sector of roots, the home, and your legacy. A major development from the past six months is likely to come full circle around this time. This may mean birthing a baby, moving in or out of a home, redecorating, relocating, or re-evaluating what your values are and why. Your mission is to not take yourself or others too seriously under this more intense transit. Learn the lessons but also be able to let go of your need to fully master them. Use Mercury’s shift direct on the 25th to take it all breath by breath. 

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Virgo, your planetary ruler Mercury ends its retrograde in Aries on the 25th. There will still be a two-week post-shadow experience to navigate, but you’re almost on the other side of what was quite a restless and at times confusing retrograde. On the 23rd, the Scorpio Full Moon provides you with a sense of closure regarding matters you’ve been wanting to speak your mind about. But keep in mind that it may not be until May that you really gain clarity in that regard, so pace yourself and avoid prematurely burning bridges. 

Once Mercury shifts direct in Aries on the 25th, you’ll start to feel greater confidence when it comes to any joint ventures you’ve been trying to get off the ground these past few weeks. If you’ve been exasperated by miscommunications, you may notice yourself laughing through the awkwardness now that you’ve made it through the Scorpio full moon and that Taurus Season is harmonizing with your Virgo nature. Do something fun this weekend that reminds you to not take yourself or life too seriously. 

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, now that the sun is traveling through Taurus, you’re being encouraged to slow your roll and tend to life’s details. The south node in your sign has made you hyper focused on fixing yourself, but what if you just focused on being yourself? Use the Scorpio full moon on the 23rd to get clear about what your values and most important priorities are. Chances are that whoever or whatever has been distracting you (in an unhealthy way) will naturally fade out of your life around this lunation. Send them off with peace. 

Once Mercury shifts direct in Aries on the 25th, you’ll receive even more enlightening downloads regarding who your true ride or dies are. The final stretch of April will help you better discern when people have your best interests at heart, and when you’ve overly compromised your own needs in order to not rock the boat. Now that you know better, move better. 

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

You’ve been paying attention to the signs, symbols, and synchronicities in your life, Scorpio, and it’s all aligning beautifully for you this week due to the Scorpio full moon occurring on the 23rd. You’ll feel the effects of this lunation as soon as the week begins, and all throughout Taurus Season. 

The fact that this full moon occurs three days after the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction and two days before Mercury retrograde ends means that you may be at a crossroads of sorts. You’re being asked to tune into your heart center, block out all the distractions, and make an intuitive and honest decision. 

But since Mercury is still retrograde until the 25th (and we’ll experience a two-week post-shadow period), you shouldn’t make a decision that’s set in stone. The Universe is asking you to focus on how you want to feel right now in the present moment, while also acknowledging that life is evolutionary in nature, and your needs or desires may shift. Use this first full week of Taurus Season to work out any confusing matters with someone in your orbit who you deeply trust. 

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sag, how are you feeling now that your planetary ruler Jupiter has conjoined with Uranus, the Planet of Surprise? You’re most likely buzzing with excitement at whatever positive shifts have occurred in your life lately. And if you don’t yet see signs of progress, be patient just a while longer, because Mercury remains retrograde in Aries until the 25th, which could lead to delayed gratification. Now that the sun is in Taurus for the next four weeks, you’re being encouraged to take the step-by-step approach rather than rushing to the finish line. 

On the 23rd, the Scorpio full moon lights up your sector of spirituality, healing, and closure. You may not be in the mood to be the life of the party this week, but rather the quiet recluse who’s observing their environment and taking mental notes. This may initially surprise your friend group or loved ones, but you don’t have to explain yourself right now… There’s a lot of shadow work you’re undergoing this week, but you’ll soon re-emerge with a new set of wings. 

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, this first full week of Taurus Season is likely to feel good for your nervous system, especially after the more tumultuous vibes of Aries and eclipse season. But since we’re still experiencing Mercury retrograde in Aries until the 25th, you’re not fully out of the woods when it comes to unexpected challenges, so do your best to avoid getting caught up in ego trips or power struggles if things don’t seem to go your way at some point this week. Keeping your cool and maintaining your composure will pay off for you. 

The Scorpio full moon is a major highlight of the week, and it takes place in your sector of friendship and social networks. You may decide to call it quits in regards to a group that you’re part of, or you may acknowledge the fact that you’ve outgrown some parts of your social circle. There’s no need to be super dramatic about it, but if you feel the urge to distance yourself or do your own thing, trust it. At the same time, this full moon could help kickstart a new or evolved way of making friends and connecting with your community, both online and offline. 

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, you’ve made it through the conjunction between Jupiter and your planetary ruler Uranus, and you’re probably looking at life from a completely different perspective than you were just a week ago. Give yourself plenty of time this Scorpio full moon week to integrate into this new dimension of life, especially now that the sun has entered the grounded sign of Taurus for the next four weeks. While you may initially feel uncomfortable with the slower pace of this transit, you’ll also realize that there are benefits to intentionally pacing yourself. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that Mercury is retrograde in Aries until the 25th, and this activates your communication sector. So even if your mind is buzzing with plenty of visions and ideas due to the recent conjunction, you’d benefit from writing them down in your journal and circling your favorites rather than trying to immediately leap into action. Once Mercury’s post-shadow period ends on May 6, you’ll have the green light to move full steam ahead.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, you’ve just experienced an epic conjunction between your planetary ruler Jupiter, and Uranus, the Planet of Surprise. This first full week of Taurus Season is about expressing and exploring your multi-dimensional nature with the spirit of fun and play at the center of it all. Enjoy this final full week of Venus in Aries, activating your sector of security and self-esteem. This transit has boosted your confidence and overall ability to magnetize what you want into your life, so make the most of it. Get dressed up, flirt, dance, and make love if you feel called. 

The Scorpio full moon on the 23rd is one of the sweetest lunations of the year for you, but also potentially one of the most dramatic. It activates your sector of expansion and philosophy, allowing you to daydream about new places you’d want to move to, subjects you’d want to study, and people you’d want to meet. But since Mercury is still retrograde in Aries in your money and security sector until the 23rd, you’re being asked to balance practicality with imagination. You can dream up infinite possibilities, but also remember the importance of coming back down to earth and tangibly making those dreams come true. 

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Like it or not, sweaty season is (almost) upon us. In other words, it’s finally time to pack away your puffer jackets, but the changing weather also calls for an update or two in your skincare routine — especially for those of us who have oily skin. There are a handful of factors that cause oily skin, ranging from hormonal changes and humidity to stress and genetics. You might’ve already tried a niacinamide moisturizer to control shine or a salicylic acid toner to deep clean your pores. But using the right facial cleanser is your first line of defence against that persistent greasy feeling, not to mention reduce clogged pores and adult acne breakouts.

There is certainly no shortage of cleansers. Every skincare brand will offer some sort of face wash product, but not all of them are created equal. You might be looking for something with high efficacy in terms of oil control, but if it strips your skin’s moisture barrier, it could irritate your skin in the process.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve tapped a lineup of trusted skin experts and beauty editors to share their favorite cleansers for oily skin.

The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, $10.50

“I highly recommend The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser for acne prone and oily skin. It is on point price wise. Squalane is great for congested skin because it effectively removes dirt, makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. It’s non-comedogenic, meaning it’s [less likely to] clog pores, and it helps to balance oil production, reducing the likelihood of breakouts and congestion. Additionally, squalane has moisturizing properties that can help soothe and hydrate the skin, promoting a clearer complexion.” — Justine Masters, facialist

Shop The Ordinary

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser, $22.99 $17.24

“My choice for people with oily skin would be Effaclar Cleansing Gel from La Roche-Posay. It is an affordable option and has great ingredients including thermal spring water to soothe the skin and zinc PCA, which regulates oil production and has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects. It’s a foaming gel that is suitable for oily and acne prone skin and can even be used on the body.” — Dr Shaaira Nasir, consultant dermatologist

Shop Ulta Beauty

Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Cleanser, $42

“My recommended cleanser for those with oily skin this summer would have to be the Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Cleanser. This contains a combination of salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which effectively exfoliates the skin, unclogs pores and helps to control excess oil production. These ingredients also address blemishes, which can be a concern for those with oily skin. The cleanser includes a blend of botanical extracts which soothes and calms the skin, and reduces inflammation.”— Dr Derrick Phillips, dermatologist

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CeraVe Blemish Control Face Cleanser, $17.99

“This is an all-in-one cleanser for oily skin. The formulation is gel to foam, which penetrates the skin well and is helpful when trying to remove impurities. The ingredients have a powerhouse trio: salicylic acid 2% (to exfoliate and reduce pore clogging), niacinamide (which provides an anti-inflammatory action and protects the skin barrier) and ceramides (which trap moisture and maintain hydration). This combination makes the product easily tolerable by oily skin. The cleanser also includes hectorite clay, which absorbs excess sebum. It can easily be used twice a day; remember to rub into the skin well for up to a minute before washing off.”— Dr Alia Ahmed, consultant dermatologist

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Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser, $44

“This cleanser has been designed to combat acne and prevent future breakouts while gently cleansing the skin, so is perfect for my own acne-prone skin. It contains 3% sulfur to help reduce acne and prevent excess oil production, as well as AHAs [exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids, like glycolic and lactic acid] to exfoliate and unclog pores. It’s very well formulated and foams well leaving the skin feeling clean, but not stripped.” — Dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and founder of Self London

Shop Ulta Beauty

The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser, $12.50

“I used this gel-to-foam cleanser down to the last drop, it’s that good. The smallest squeeze goes a long way to dissolve a day’s worth of makeup and oil. It’s all thanks to star ingredient glucoside, which is a very mild surfactant and creates a creamy lather. It leaves my skin feeling clean, but not squeaky — a downside of many foaming or oily skin cleansers. In fact, it’s so gentle, I use it in the morning, too.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director

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Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse, $40

“My skin can feel quite greasy and congested when I wake up, and this gel cleanser has made a big difference ever since I added it to my morning skincare rotation. It contains Japanese kyo-matcha, classified as the finest grade of green tea powder produced in Kyoto. You’ve probably heard of matcha and its powers as an antioxidant (that’s how I justify my expensive matcha latte habit to myself, anyway).

“I can vouch for its effectiveness at taking away excessive sebum on my skin without stripping the moisture barrier. The gel-like texture works up a strong lather with just a splash of water, and leaves my skin feeling clean but not dry or tingly. Other star ingredients include mugwort — a herb often used in Eastern medicine to calm irritation — plus willow bark and coix seeds, both BHA alternatives to gently buff impurities away. I love using this at the start of my day to lift any sense of greasiness. For my double cleanse at night, I like to swap in a more gentle cleanser (my go-to is Tatcha’s The Rice Wash).”— Venus Wong, Senior Writer

Shop Tatcha

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, $17.99 $15.27

“In my experience, most [cleansers designed for oily skin] are too strong and often leave the delicate skin barrier tight and dry and imbalanced. I feel that so-called combination skin is actually oil-prone skin with a disrupted skin barrier that is now losing moisture, and as such is dehydrated.

“So in essence, when I am managing those with oily skin, especially if blemish-prone, I often suggest using the most gentle cleanser such as the CeraVe Hydrating Wash. It may sound counterintuitive, but so often after using this wash, those with oil-prone skin often report to me that their skin is softer, more hydrated and appears to be less oily and blemish-prone. Essentially it is happy, hydrated, balanced skin.” — Dr Justine Hextall, consultant dermatologist and medical director of Tarrant Street Clinic

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Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse, $27

“Oily skin often leads to breakouts — something I know very well. This is the only cleanser that tackles both concerns without completely decimating my skin barrier. It contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) including lactic acid, which exfoliates the surface of the skin, and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) — namely salicylic acid, which gets deep inside the pores and breaks up the paste-like combination of dirt, oil and dead skin cells that cause blackheads. It has a gentle foaming action, so it chips away at face grease, sunscreen and makeup. I use it in the evening, rather than the morning. If your skincare features any exfoliating acids, consider adding a high factor, broad spectrum SPF to your morning skincare routine, as they can make skin sensitive to sunlight.” — Jacqueline Kilikita, Deputy Beauty Director

Shop Medik8

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Face Wash, $19.99 $14.99

“I have oily, acne-prone skin and this is my holy grail cleanser. For starters, the bottle is very generously sized and easily lasted me an entire year with once-daily use. (I personally like using it in the morning since the gel-to-foam formula gently whisks away oil without over-stripping my skin.) Post-use, my skin feels clean and fresh, but not tight or dry at all. In other words, it’s the perfect face wash if you’re looking to curb excess grease while keeping your skin happy and healthy.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer

Shop Ulta Beauty

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Wedding season is upon us. If you’ve been scouring the internet for a wedding guest dress that’ll stand out from the crowd, we suggest you narrow your search to just one place: Rent the Runway. The rental platform holds thousands of nuptial-appropriate styles from over 750 designers, with hundreds of new arrivals each week. 

In particular, Rent the Runway’s latest Spring 2024 collection features a covetable wedding guest edit with looks for various bridal occasions (i.e. bridal showers and rehearsal dinners) and wedding dress codes (i.e. black tie, cocktail, and destination). To help you find the perfect dress (or dresses) for your upcoming spring and summer weddings (without committing to an expensive style you’ll likely only wear once), we’ve selected our favorite styles for every type of wedding celebration. 

If you’re new to the world of rental fashion, the way it works: After selecting a monthly subscription plan, you can choose designer dresses for as low as $30. Even better: You can secure your rental dress up to 60 days in advance, receive two sizes in the mail, hold onto them for four to eight days, and have the option to purchase the style at a discount if you fall in love with it. 

From Refinery29 reader-favorite brands like Reformation, LoveShackFancy, Farm Rio, and  Simon Miller to luxury designers like LaPointe, Jason Wu, and Zac Posen, ahead, the only wedding guest dresses you need this season.

Black Tie Wedding Guest Dresses

For a black tie wedding, you’ll want to stick to a formal dress code (meaning: floor-length gowns). But your look can be much more playful than a typical black dress, and Rent the Runway has plenty of appropriate styles in spring-ready colorways and fabrics.

Choose between satin body-skimming silhouettes, formal pleated styles, and strapless tulle gowns if you want to be one of the best-dressed guests. Or keep it chic and classic with a black ruched dress (which may be versatile enough to convince you to buy it in the end).

Cocktail Wedding Guest Dresses

Cocktail attire broadens your horizons a bit more, allowing you to explore more silhouettes and lengths. We’re gravitating toward the flowy midi dresses and maxi dresses with halter and one-shoulder necklines. You could even explore prints, from traditional florals to unique celestial patterns. 

Garden Party Wedding Guest Dresses

Warmer weather means more outdoor celebrations. For country club, vineyard, and garden weddings, breezy dresses with flowy, tiered silhouettes and lightweight fabrics are great options. And of course, floral dresses are a sweet nod to match your surroundings. But beyond floral prints, you can also opt for petal-inspired puff sleeves or rosette appliques.

Destination & Beach Wedding Guest Dresses

Whether you’re traveling to Hawaii, Mexico, or Cape Cod, your upcoming destination wedding deserves a dress that’s just as breezy and carefree. For seaside nuptials, opt for dramatic (but flowy) gowns, sleek midi dresses in vibrant hues or tropical flower prints, and lightweight maxi styles.

Casual Wedding Guest Dresses

Casual weddings in backyards, barns, breweries, and courthouses — or the events leading up to the big day (rehearsal dinner, etc.) — call for relaxed dresses, leg-baring minis, and one-and-done jumpsuits. And don’t think casual equates to boring — you can steal the spotlight by stepping out in something standout, like a sequin dress.

Shop all Rent the Runway Spring 2024 wedding guest dresses

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Tulips are blooming, puffer coats are being shed for denim jackets, and the Met Gala is right around the corner. Spring is definitely here. And with a new season comes the perfect opportunity to refresh our spring wardrobes with some new Free People goodies. As we kick off our favorite flannels, your spring styling answer is simple: layers. And no one does that better than Free People. Fortunately, some of the brand’s most layerable pieces are on sale right now.
That’s why we went through Free People’s sale section to unearth the discounted gems that are under $100. From the trendiest monochromatic looks to flowy dresses, there’s a host of versatile goodness ahead — and none of it is full price. So sit back, click on, and enjoy all the time we saved you with our roundup of the best deals from Free People’s sale section.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

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As professional online shoppers, Refinery29 affiliate writers have a *spidey* sense for the best virtual sale sections and limited-time deals. Whether it’s Lululemon’s ol’ reliable We Made Too Much sale or a flash deal on bestselling skin-care brands — where there’s a clearance rack, there’s an R29 shopping editor sizing up its price-slashed goods. And today, we present to you the best sales happening this weekend, according to us.

The best sales and/or deals must meet at least one of the following criteria: The discount is applied to a Refinery29 reader-favorite item (according to our anonymous shopping data), and it either takes a minimum of 20% off the full price or it’s an item that’s rarely discounted, making a slightly smaller price slash still notable. TL;DR: The following sales are ones to watch and worthy of a spot in all budget-friendly carts — we mean, in our opinion.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

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The sun will be in the earth sign of Taurus from April 19 to May 20. This marks the middle of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a time when we put our creativity to the test and feel an increase in joie de vivre. It’s also a moment to pause and reflect; we will all, slowly, smell the roses.

Venus, the Planet of Love, money, and confidence, rules over Taurus. And this month, our focus is on romance, pleasure, and luxury. We want to engage with the world through our senses and awaken our gentle emotions. However, due to Taurus’ stubborn nature, we may encounter some tense moments when changing our perspectives and beliefs, despite the cosmic push to do so in the upcoming weeks.

The Jupiter and Uranus conjunction in Taurus, happening on April 20, will push us out of our comfort zones. Change can be difficult during Taurus Season as we love comfort and predictability. The Jupiter-Uranus alliance will cause us to make significant changes, ones that could enhance our lives permanently. Jupiter is the Planet of Expansion, and Uranus is the Planet of Revolution, which means there will be exciting and surprising results, particularly when it comes to love and money. But this event will also have a global effect, and we can expect shifts in political power.

A few days after the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, the pink full moon in Scorpio rises on April 23. The Scorpio moon is a lunar placement that makes us go deep within ourselves. Since it opposes the sun in Taurus, we are struggling with the need to simplify matters rather than to intensify them. We are going to feel a tug of war within our hearts — do we want to chase our passions or do we want to play it safe. With the full moon squaring Pluto in Aquarius, we will be drawn to, once again, embracing change and augmenting our dreams to attain a tangible version of our desires.

Mercury’s retrograde journey from the beginning of the month is ending on the 25th, which is good news for all of us — this period made us reflect on and contemplate the issues that came up during this time. It’s worth noting that Mercury will remain in its post-retrograde zone, known as retroshade, until May 13. Therefore, we may see a resurgence of the situations and drama we faced during the eclipse season and the retrograde. However, we must continue to strive for the best until we find a way to overcome them.

With the commencement of Venus entering Taurus on April 29 and Mars moving into Aries on April 30, we are going to witness several changes. This is because both Venus and Mars will be in their dignified positions, thereby gaining immense strength. This could result in significant declarations of love and financial disagreements. It is crucial to find a common ground to resolve these issues. However, Taurus is known for its charm and charisma, which can help in temporarily resolving problems.

From May 2 to October 11, Pluto will be retrograde, beginning in Aquarius and dipping back into Capricorn. During this period, we’ll have the opportunity to reflect on our personal growth and relationships and avoid repeating past mistakes. We’ll be able to revisit unresolved issues from the past year and work towards healing and resolution.

The upcoming new moon in Taurus on May 7 is an excellent opportunity to turn our dreams into reality. With the grounding energy of Taurus, we can channel our efforts into manifesting our deepest desires. By nurturing our creative and innovative ideas, we can bring our visions to life. Remember to be patient and persistent, as the process may take some time, but the result will be well worth the effort.

Mercury’s movement into Taurus on May 15 will make us more stubborn than ever. There will be no flexibility and flux in our mindset, making us stick to the plans instead of understanding that things can change and happen along the way that can temporarily detour us from our path. Reach out for help, let your feelings be known, and take everything carefully. Also, feel free to alter your perspective or stance without hesitation.

Let’s take small steps towards growth and be open to new opportunities. Though it may be challenging to break away from our old ways during Taurus Season, exciting changes are on the horizon that will bring amazing experiences.

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We’re less than a month away from Mother’s Day, so if you haven’t thought about what you’re gifting the mother figures in your life, here’s your chance to get all your shopping done right now. Kate Spade Outlet always has gift-worthy accessories at affordable prices, but the retailer is offering even deeper discounts right now. From today through April 22, everything sitewide is on sale for up to 70% off, with select styles eligible for an additional 20% off with code SAVE20. That’s a whole lot of stylish savings! 

To help you choose the best Kate Spade Outlet Mother’s Day gifts, we’ve narrowed down standout styles from garden-print handbags and embroidered espadrilles to a nameplate necklace set that any mother figure would adore. And thanks to the retailer’s mega discounts, each product comes in well under $200 (with many gifts under $25), ensuring you won’t break the bank. 

Scroll on to peruse our favorite Kate Spade Outlet spring-ready (and downright adorable) handbags, wallets, shoes, and jewelry. And make sure you cart up your favorite styles before May 5 to ensure they arrive by Mother’s Day on May 12.

Strawberry Garden Collection

Florals? For spring? Absolutely! Especially when the print in question also features sweet berries. Kate Spade’s Strawberry Garden print is a fan favorite, and we think the mom in your life will find it incredibly cheerful and charming. Find the design across several giftable bag styles from tote bags and satchels to crossbody bags and wristlets. 

Floral Embroidered Styles

Rather than giving your mom a bouquet of flowers, gift her a floral-embroidered bag or shoes that will last for years to come. We’re particularly head over heels for Kate Spade’s straw espadrille wedges with flower and strawberry embroidering. But we’re also eyeing the retailer’s popular Phoebe bag collection in raffia, which will be trending come summer. 

Luxury Leather Bags

Beyond its quirkier, kitschier styles, Kate Spade is known for its tried-and-true bag silhouettes, ranging from top-handle satchels to mini crossbody bags, in high-quality textured Saffiano leather. For the mom with timeless style, cart up a chic leather bag in a classic neutral… or a bright pink, yellow, or green hue to get her ready for the spring. 

Accessories, Jewelry Sets & Bundles

For a one-and-done pick, consider one of the boxed gift ideas, like jewelry sets with dainty crystal flowers (bonus: many are under-$100, and even under-$50). Or give a sweet wallet style (even better if it’s matched with a Kate Spade handbag!), or go all out with a diaper bag bundle for the new mom in your life.

Shop all Kate Spade Outlet gifts

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

This week: a project analyst who makes $70,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on repairing a leaking pipe.

Occupation: Project analyst
Industry: Telecommunications
Age: 29
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Salary: $70,000. My husband, N., and I have combined finances. N. is prior-enlisted military and is in grad school full time which is covered by the military. He receives $2481/month 12 months a year and $3636/month prorated for when he is enrolled in school. Both these payments are not taxable; due to the untaxed stipend element of N.’s salary, our joint salary amount is approximate.
Assets: Checking account: $10,000; emergency fund: $42,000; investments: $65,500; my Roth IRA: $110,000; N.’s Roth IRA: $40,000; my Roth 401(k): $3000; my HSA: $500; rental property: $430,000. We also just purchased a new-to-us car worth $17,000.
Debt: Mortgage: $296,000
Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $2,692 (pre-tax)
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses
Monthly Housing Costs: $2,499 (N. and I rent a 706sqft one bedroom/one bathroom apartment which includes one parking space.) We recently moved from the Washington, DC area where I had a home I purchased before we met. We lived in the home for a year before we moved to LA and converted it into a rental property when we left. The property is rented out at $2500/month (this is included in the joint salary amount).
All Other Monthly Expenses
Insurance: $337.31 (This includes car insurance for two vehicles, renters’ insurance, landlord insurance for our rental property, jewelry insurance for my engagement ring, and umbrella insurance)
Gym: $56 (My work reimburses me $20/month)
Spotify: $5.99 (I have a student rate. N. is part of a family plan with his brothers, but they don’t make him pay.)
Water: $100
Electricity: $50
Internet: $30 (We get a military discount with T-Mobile.)
Mortgage Payment: $1276 (for rental property)
HOA: $278 (for rental property)
Property Management Fee: $197.50 (for rental property)
Biweekly Expenses (Paid Per Paycheck):
Health Insurance: $44.47 (pre-tax)
Dental Insurance: $10.67 (for N. and I, pre-tax)
Vision Insurance: $4.28 (pre-tax)
Annual Expenses
My Roth IRA: $7,000
Roth 401(k): $23,000 (my company matches $2,800)
HSA: $3,850 (my company contributes an additional $300/year)
Property Taxes: $4,100 (for rental property)

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Yes, it was really not an option to not go to college after graduating high school. I originally went to an out-of-state public school that was not a good fit for me. After a year there, I transferred to an in-state public school. My parents saved in a 529 college fund for me when I was really young. Both my parents are engineers and my parents budgeted to have our family living on just my dad’s income which left my mom’s income to be saved for various things, including 529 accounts for me and my brother. They put a lump sum in my 529 when I was a baby and let it grow over time. I had more than enough to graduate and still have $5,000 in the account.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
I wouldn’t say my parents and I had any real important conversations about money but I learned a lot from observing how my parents managed their money. It wasn’t a topic that was off the table though. As I got older, when I had questions I felt very comfortable going to my dad.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was a summer job in college working at a retail store. I hated it but I did it mostly because I knew I needed to do something with my summer. I didn’t need the money so I saved all of it.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Yes and no. My mom immigrated to the United States after being a refugee for six months and she really paved a way for herself. She put herself through college and became a very successful engineer. But I wouldn’t say her worry for survival stayed behind when she came to the US. As a child, I could feel her worry even though we were financially stable, which made me worry. That was pretty polar opposite from my caucasian father who didn’t worry. As I got older, I realized that wasn’t a reflection of my parents’ financial state — it was a reflection of my mom’s upbringing in her country.

Do you worry about money now?
Because there have been many years of my adult life where I have worried a lot about money, I still worry now even though I know we’re in a really good place financially. It’s that scarcity mindset: It doesn’t matter how much money I have, I will always think that I would be safer if I had more saved.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I would say it was at 22 years old that I started becoming financially responsible for myself — but because I knew my family would be my financial safety net, I have leaned on them off and on since I graduated college. I made very little money out of college for the first couple years and really scraped by financially. I could cover my basic needs but anything additional was difficult — like for holidays, my parents would pay for my flights to come home. I grew up playing competitive golf and had always wanted to see how far I could go as a career playing golf, so when I was 25 I decided to pursue that. I quit my full time job and for two years, my mom supported me by giving me $3,000 a month and for another year $2,000 month while I was not working full time. When I got married was when my mom lowered how much she was giving me from $3,000 to $2,000. At that time, it didn’t feel right to spend money from my family when I was sharing my finances with someone else, so we saved the $2,000 a month that my mom was giving me and survived off my husband’s income. A year after getting married, I decided to enter back into the workforce and asked my mom to stop helping me financially. As of now, we don’t rely on my family financially on a regular basis. However, I know in the future if something major came up, I could rely on them.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Yes. I received an inheritance from both my grandmother and my aunt, a total of around $40,000. My parents also assisted in helping me purchase my home in the DC area. They gifted me about $50,000 for the down payment.

Day One

6 a.m. — I make a Nespresso coffee. N. goes to a men’s group that meets at 6:30 a.m. so I get the apartment to myself. My work is fully remote so I don’t have to commute anywhere in the morning. I drink my coffee on the couch while reading Have I Told You This Already? by Lauren Graham (aka Lorelai Gilmore, my favorite TV mom). The book is from the library.

7:30 a.m. — I make breakfast before starting work: two eggs with spinach and cheese, half a bagel with butter, and some fruit.

9:30 a.m. — A couple weeks ago there was a water leak in our rental property that cost $1,200 at the time to fix. I filed an insurance claim and just received $958 (after deductible) from insurance for a portion of the damages. I’m still waiting on an estimate for the rest of the damage before submitting to insurance for the rest of the payment.

10 a.m. — N. buys a book on Amazon written by a therapist who hosts a podcast he likes (N is in grad school for marriage and family therapy). N. finished his undergraduate degree when he was still in the military and the military covered all his tuition. $24.12

10:45 a.m. — I finish up the other half of the bagel I ate for breakfast and make a cup of peppermint tea while continuing to work.

12 p.m. — I break for lunch. My go-to has been making a chicken Caesar salad wrap which is what I did today. I eat that with a clementine and some crackers. I’m almost done eating when I get called into a meeting.

2 p.m. — Today has been a pretty chill work day. I take a break for some iced coffee that I make in a French press and keep in the fridge throughout the week. I try to have decaf in the afternoon but I ran out, so caffeine it is! I usually stock up on our sugar-free coffee syrup at Marshalls or TJ Maxx because it’s a fraction of the price compared to anywhere else.

6:30 p.m. — It’s Friday and we’re having some friends over for dinner and board games. N. made shredded chicken for tacos that we served with chips and guac. We are a dry household, but we keep a plethora of sodas and sparking waters on hand.

10 p.m. — Our friends leave and it’s way past our bedtime. N. cleans up while I head to bed.

Daily Total: $24.12

Day Two

6 a.m. — I wake up with N. and I make my typical Nespresso coffee with a scoop of collagen. I’m headed to a workout class this morning that’s not included in my gym membership. I don’t like to eat a whole meal before these classes so I just eat a small snack bar at home. $13.50

9:30 a.m. — N. and I head to Chick-fil-A for breakfast because we’ve been talking about going/craving it. $20.87

10:30 a.m. — Last year, N. and I bought a Yakima cargo box for my car thinking we were going to do a lot more outdoor things and we realized that we weren’t using it like we thought we were going to. It’s been on the top of my car since then which has been a hassle because I can’t get into most covered garages. And living in SoCal, we don’t have the space to store it, so we decided we needed to get rid of it. Originally, we were going to sell it on Facebook Marketplace and lose a few hundred dollars on it but I remembered we bought it from REI and we have an REI membership which includes a one-year return policy. So today we were able to return the Yakima to REI and get a full refund for it.

12 p.m. — While we’re already out, I’d been talking about getting a new pair of sneakers and I’ve been eyeing the New Balance 574 Core classics, so we stop by the closest New Balance store and buy them. It has a military discount so we get them 15% off. It was also my birthday last week and we were walking by a Sephora so I stop in for my free birthday gift. $82.42

1:30 p.m. — We get home and eat a late lunch of a mosh posh of leftovers: I have one chicken taco from last night and a single slice of leftover pizza leftover, N. has steak he grilled a few days ago with rice.

4 p.m. — N. and I head to a regional park to go on a walk because it’s beautiful outside. We get in for free because N. has a free veteran annual pass. We talk about where we’re at: We moved to LA about seven months ago for N. to go to grad school and I was looking for a job when we got here, which was incredibly difficult. I was unemployed for five months and we were barely getting by financially until I started a new job two months ago. This week was the first week I didn’t feel an immense amount of money stress.

6:30 p.m. — I have a work trip this week up to San Francisco and I’m finalizing my flights. $159.10 (Expensed)

7 p.m. — Tonight we’re eating a pre-made lasagne that was on sale at Costco with a side salad. We’re watching Gilmore Girls together (it’s N’s first time and my 100th) so we watch an episode of that while eating dinner. We mooch off my parents Netflix account (we actually mooch off friends and family for all of the streaming services we use). I have some gummy bears and Toblerone for dessert. We have an emergency family event that we’re heading out of town for later this week, so we prepay for airport parking — we’ve trialed all the ways to get to the airport and this is most cost effective way we’ve found in LA. $37.82

8:30 p.m. — I think between the workout class and going on a long walk, I’m feeling extra hungry. I search the kitchen for food and settle on a stroopwafel that I saved from a flight I took last week and some trail mix.

Daily Total: $154.61

Day Three

6:45 a.m. — I stumble to the bathroom and I’m confused because I can hear N. messing with the buttons on the oven. It takes me a second to realize it’s daylight savings and he’s adjusting the clocks. I go to the bathroom and then lie back in bed on my phone for a while. I’m super super sore from yesterday’s workout so my body doesn’t really want to move.

7:45 a.m. — I make coffee for N. and I. We sit and talk while drinking our coffee for a bit. We talk about what we each have planned today: N. has some school work and I need to organize my notes and prep for a quiz I’m taking tomorrow in my grad school class.

8:30 a.m. — I make breakfast for myself. Our fresh groceries are running low but I’m leaving on a work trip in a couple days so I don’t know how worth it it would be to go pick to stuff up. I have two eggs with spinach and cheese, half a bagel with butter, and two clementines. I eat that while catching up on a podcast by Dani Austin called De-Influenced. N. makes breakfast for himself a little later.

9:20 a.m. — Since we took off the cargo box from my car, I’m taking off the cross rails. I’m planning on listing these on Facebook Marketplace (these aren’t from REI so we can’t return them). I’ve been wanting to repot one of my plants and since my hands are already dirty, I go ahead and do that. We have a small balcony with all my plants and doing these tasks has really made me want a garage/yard, but I don’t know how likely that’s going to come in the near future.

12 p.m. — I eat some leftover lasagne for lunch and decide that I don’t like it but I hate wasting food. I finish that with some carrots and tzatziki dip and a clementine. I also realize that we desperately need a few groceries to hold us over so I think I’ll head to the store later today. N. goes to the gym and gets a haircut after. $25

1 p.m. — Coffee #2! This time decaf. I sip on that while reviewing some notes from my class that I’m taking. My work covers up to $5,250 annually for tuition and fees if we take any courses related to our job. I took advantage of that and enrolled in a class this semester at a public university nearby. It’s honestly been a lot to work full time and manage this class along with everything else I enjoy doing, so I’m pretty certain I won’t be taking a class next semester.

2:30 p.m. — I take a break to walk to the grocery store since it’s not far and I need at least a little bit of physical movement today. I pick up some things just to get us through the next few days: chicken, milk, Caesar salad kit, berries and some frosted cookies that I saw on sale. $31.40

3 p.m. — N. is home when I get back. I desperately want to do anything other than my homework. I continue procrastinating. For dinner tonight, we really consider going out but begrudgingly decide against it. N. is going to make spaghetti with ground turkey and marinara sauce. We kind of spontaneously decide we want garlic bread — which we don’t have the ingredients for — so N. heads back to the same grocery store I was at to purchase a loaf of bread. $1

6 p.m. — I finally get myself to finish my classwork while N. finishes up making dinner. We eat that while watching a couple episodes of Gilmore Girls. Daylight savings has my body all confused but I try to get to bed before 10 p.m.

Daily Total: $57.40

Day Four

7 a.m. — This is a late wake-up time for me but daylight savings is really getting the best of me right now. I make my coffee for N. and myself and we sit for 20 minutes.

7:45 a.m. — Before starting work, I throw a load of laundry in. When N. and I moved here, one of the top things on our list to have in our apartment was an in-unit washer/dryer. At the time it was really important to us but we downsized when we moved here and I really miss having more space. I think wherever we live next, more bedrooms will be more of a priority.

8 a.m. — Because I woke up late, N. makes breakfast for me while I start working (the usual thing: two eggs with spinach and cheese, berries, and half a bagel with butter). I have a meeting at 9 a.m. so I’m just catching up on anything that happened over the weekend. I hop on the meeting and roll out my walking pad to walk on while the meeting is going. I try to get 10,000 steps everyday even though I sit at a desk all day. My walking pad has really helped make that much easier.

12 p.m. — I’m getting hungry and I have a meeting at 12:30 p.m. so I want to finish lunch before that. I made the same lunch from a few days ago, which is a go-to for me: a chicken Caesar salad wrap with a clementine and some pita crackers.

1:30 p.m. — I make myself an iced coffee from the French press. I also made coffee ice cubes so my iced coffee doesn’t get watered down and that is perfection *chef’s kiss*.

2 p.m. — My meeting wraps up and I decided I’m going to break early to go to the gym. I’m leaving tomorrow for my work trip and I know I won’t be working out this week as much as I’d like.

4 p.m. — Monday nights I have class but my class is hybrid so I do it from home. At the beginning of the semester, I went to class in-person and I really enjoyed doing that but I was getting so stressed with how little time I had for myself during the week (driving to and from class took two hours out of my weeknights), so I decided from here on out that I’d do the class remotely.

6 p.m. — Classes on Monday end with a quiz so as soon as I was done with that I put together dinner for myself. I had the last of the leftover lasagne with some chicken that N. grills, and a frosted cookie. N. heads out to meet with friends (he eats dinner before he goes out).

6:30 p.m. — We need to book a return flight for N. for the family event that we’re going to later this week — I had already gotten my flight back. $253.11

8 p.m. — Since I dipped earlier to go to the gym, I log back in to do a some more work. I’m super super hungry still so I get a variety of snacks: trail mix, clementine, a cheese stick, carrots, and dip.

10 p.m. — I watch YouTube videos until N. gets home and we go to sleep.

Daily Total: $253.11

Day Five

4 a.m. — I wake up from a wild dream but couldn’t tell you a thing that happened in it. I can’t go back to sleep immediately so I’ve accepted that when I do eventually fall back asleep I’ll probably be sleeping later than normal. I finally fall back asleep around 5:30 a.m.

7:30 a.m. — I finally wake up because sh*t’s gotta get done. I make coffee and start the morning. I get “ready” — meaning I brush my teeth, brush my hair and apply SPF moisturizer.

8:30 a.m. — I log in. Today some of my team is traveling (including me later today) but we also have a deadline in a couple days so we are grinding to get that together. N. makes breakfast for me again which I’m very thankful for.

12 p.m. — I make my go to lunch: a chicken Caesar wrap with a clementine, crackers, and carrots but I felt full after the wrap and clementine so I put the crackers and carrots back.

12:30 p.m. — I have counseling. I’d say a good majority of our income goes to our individual therapy. It’s really important to both of us (as mentioned, N. is studying to be a licensed therapist). I went to therapy every other week when I was looking for a job because money was tight, but I’m probably going to go back to every week very soon. $100

2:30 p.m. — I do some last-minute packing and decide to wash my hair before I leave because I get in pretty late and I don’t want to worry about it tonight. I don’t normally blowdry my hair but today I do because it’s going to make tomorrow morning much easier.

4 p.m. — I order an Uber to the airport and it’s not my favorite Uber ride. It’s long, bumpy and traffic-y but I make it. $67.16 (Expensed)

5 p.m. — I have access to some airport lounges with my airline status so I head to the lounge, which is pretty much empty. Sometimes I get to the airport early to hang out in the lounge just because it means I’m not rushed for my flight and I can get a free meal. I grab a decaf latte and a sparkling water. I watch some YouTube videos. Later for dinner, I have chicken tacos with a side salad and they have an array of sides so I try them all (my favorite was the pesto pasta). Tacos were okay. I finish off with a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie which was surprisingly really good.

6:15 p.m. — I head to the terminal my flight is flying out of and make sure to fill my water bottle up before getting on the plane. On the flight, I read a couple chapters of Have I Told You This Already?

8:30 p.m. — Finally landed and off the plane. I order an Uber to the hotel. The traffic is gnarly. $93.50 (Expensed)

9:30 p.m. — I unpack enough to take a shower and snuggle into bed. Something about staying in a hotel alone makes me feel uneasy. When I first got into the room, I propped the door open with my suitcase and checked any place in the room that a person could hide. I saw a flight attendant video that showed what she does when she gets to hotel rooms. You prop the door open so you can escape in case there’s someone inside. Some may call me paranoid.

10:30 p.m. — It’s bedtime.

Daily Total: $100

Day Six

4:30 a.m. — Not a good night of sleep. I could hear everything happening outside my hotel room. I lie in bed until I need to get up.

5:30 a.m. — We have a proposal due today and since half my team is in all-day meetings with another client, this is the only time that works for everyone. I do the meeting while still in bed. Genuinely not something I want to become a habit (doing work that early). I get ready while this call is going on.

7:30 a.m. — I meet the rest of my team (three other people) in the hotel lobby. I eat a sub-par hotel breakfast and coffee before we head over to meet our client.

8 a.m. — There is the cutest café outside where we are meeting. My colleagues get coffee and those who didn’t eat breakfast order food. I haven’t drunk all my coffee because it’s not good, and my manager jokes and tells me to throw it out and order a “real” coffee. I order a 12oz latte with whole milk. My manager pays for it with his corporate card. I note in my head for tomorrow to not eat the hotel breakfast.

8:30 a.m. — Our meetings start. My coworker and I are the most junior level people here. I feel a little imposter syndrome. I’m pretty sure my manager brought us so we could learn under him but be able to charge it to the client. So far, I really enjoy working for my manager, which I’m thankful for. They had me working with someone else when I started, and I had a lot of issues with him (I came to find out that a lot of people have issues with him). I am learning a lot in this meeting, but our other work hasn’t slowed down, so I have to focus on other things while in these in-person meetings, which isn’t ideal.

12 p.m. — We break for lunch. My team and I go out together to a restaurant. I order a turkey sandwich that’s way too salty, with a side salad. I eat the salad and half the sandwich. My manager pays with his corporate card.

1 p.m. — We head back to our meeting place for part two of meetings. Someone brings Girl Scout cookies which taste divine.

4:15 p.m. — Our meetings end. My team works in telecommunications, so we visit some sites where utility poles and internet cabinets are located.

5:30 p.m. — We head back to our hotel and say we’re going to reconvene in an hour for dinner. I get back to my room and feel like I can breathe. I’m an introvert and prefer being by myself which was part of why I prioritized finding a remote job. I was willing to take a pay cut if that meant I could work from home. I can handle work trips in short periods of time but anything more than that and I think my job would drain me.

6:30 p.m. — One of my coworkers used to live here so he brings us to a place he recommends for dinner. It’s a taco place that he’d raved about. It’s not that great to me. I get a burrito that I don’t finish. We sit and talk for a while. Then the same coworker suggests we drive into SF (we were closer to San Jose), which we agree to. Little did I know we were going to take an hour-long drive, with a grand tour of the Bay Area, all to sit in a bar/restaurant for 30 minutes and drive an hour back. I think I would’ve rather taken the night to myself in my hotel room. Meanwhile back home, I think N. is running low on food — he goes to get Chipotle because we have a gift card.

10:30 p.m. — I finally get back to my hotel room. I quickly shower and get into bed. I popped a couple ZzzQuil tablets and fall right asleep.

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven

5:30 a.m. — I wake up to people hustling and bustling outside my hotel room. I don’t have to get up for another 45 minutes so I’m definitely staying in bed.

6:15 a.m. — I finally get up and start getting ready. I feel pretty well rested, surprisingly. Probably because I took ZzzQuil. This is our last day here, so I pack up all my things and I head to check out. I take a quick shower because I’m not going to be able to shower tonight. $583.54 (Expensed)

6:45 a.m. — Today is an earlier start to the day because we’re meeting with a vendor at 7:30 a.m. We head over to meet the vendor — which is in a different location than where we were yesterday — but I’m told we’re going to go back to where we were yesterday (to where the yummy coffee café is), so I hold off on breakfast/coffee.

8 a.m. — After meeting with the vendor, I’m told we’re staying here for our meetings today (i.e. not only no yummy café but also no breakfast for me). Someone goes and grabs coffee for us but none of my team eats breakfast. I probably should speak up for myself more but I settle for eating a protein bar and some nuts that I had packed from home.

10 a.m. — I hear from the property manager of our rental house that there’s been another leak. My heart drops because I know that just means more $$$. Fortunately, I have a contractor that did work on my family house growing up who I really trust. He repaired the original leak after the property manager brought in a plumber who wanted $800 just to diagnose the leak. That was a ludicrous number to me so I called my contractor who diagnosed and repaired for $1,200. My contractor heads over very promptly and he sends me video updates as he finds the issue. Now I’m just waiting to hear how much it’s going to cost.

12:30 p.m. — Our meeting ends earlier than I was expecting. My team goes out to lunch and I get a really delicious chicken pesto sandwich with tomato soup. My manager pays with his corporate card.

2 p.m. — I get a text from my contractor for the leaking pipe repair and pay him via Zelle. $450

2:30 p.m. — My manager orders us an Uber to the airport together to head home. My flight isn’t until 9 p.m. so my manager and I do some work at the airport before his flight leaves.

4 p.m. — I head to the airport lounge I can access. My boss leaves to catch his flight and I just breathe. I feel like I’ve been go, go, go for the last couple days and I’m so tired. I go change into comfy clothes, get a cookie and watch some YouTube videos to relax.

6 p.m. — I missed class yesterday because of our meetings so I watch the Zoom recording of it. I didn’t do well on my quiz on Monday and I’m kind of stressing about it even though I’m just trying to finish the class so I can get reimbursed.

7:30 p.m. — I’m only semi-hungry so I have two cups of soup from the lounge buffet. I also have Coke Zero and sparkling water. I remember that the lounge has showers and I get excited for a second because that means I could shower before my redeye, but both showers are out of service.

9 p.m. — I board my redeye flight to DC for my family event. N. took an earlier flight from LA and he just landed in DC. I take a couple ZzzQuil and try to get as comfy as I can to sleep.

Daily Total: $450

The Breakdown

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